"You said I could come to-morrow, so I haven't disobeyed in spirit."
Miss Warren still stood in the hall, but seeing that I had recognized her, she came forward and gave me her hand as she said:
"No one is more glad than I that you are able to come down."
Her words were very quiet, but the pressure of her hand was so warm as to surprise me, and I also noted that what must have been a vivid color was fading from her usually pale face. I saw, too, that Mr. Hearn was watching us keenly.
"Oh, but you are shrewd!" I thought. "I wish you had cause to suspect."
I returned her greeting with great apparent frankness and cordiality as
I replied, "Oh, I'm much better to-night, and as jolly as Mark Tapley."
"Well," ejaculated Mrs. Yocomb, "thee has stolen a march on us, but
I'm afraid thee'll be the worse for it."
"Ah, Mrs. Yocomb," I laughed, "your captive has escaped. I'm going to meeting with you to-morrow."
"No, thee isn't. I feel as if I ought to take thee right back to thy room."
"Mr. Yocomb," I cried to the old gentleman, who now stood staring at me in the doorway, "I appeal to you. Can't I stay down to supper?"