She glanced at Frithiof and saw quite plainly that he shrank from the idea, and that it would go hard with his proud nature to accept such an offer. She glanced at Sigrid, and saw that the sister was ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of getting the little girl to England. Then, having as much tact as kindness, she rose to go.
“You will talk it over between you and let me know your decision,” she said pleasantly. “Consult Mr. and Mrs. Boniface, and let me know in a day or two. Why should you not come in to afternoon tea with me to-morrow, for I shall be at home for once, and can show you my canaries? Cecil will bring you. She and I are old friends.”
When she was gone Sigrid returned to the room with dancing eyes.
“Is she not delightful!” she cried. “For myself, Frithiof, I can’t hesitate for a moment. The work will be easy, and she will be thoroughly kind.”
“She has a bad temper,” said Frithiof.
“How do you know?”
“Because no sweet-tempered woman ever had such a straight, thin-lipped mouth.”
“I think you are very horrid to pick holes in her when she has been so kind to us. For myself I must accept. But how about Swanhild?”
“I hate the thought for either of you,” said Frithiof moodily.
Somehow, though his own descent in the social scale had been disagreeable enough, yet it had not been so intolerable to him as this thought of work for his sisters.