Alexander felt a little guilty as he walked into their presence.
But he was instantly consoled and reassured by the manners of both old gentleman and young lady.
“Oh, is that you, Alick? Good morning. Sit down. Excuse me for not rising. This is a shocking version of Il Trovatore,” said Anna, without moving, or lifting her eyes from the pages she was studying.
“Ah! how do you do? Glad to see you. Intended to walk around your way this morning and see how you were getting on. But really, in such sharp weather as this, it seems to require an effort to leave the chimney corner. Hope you’ll excuse my not calling.”
“With all my heart, sir,” said Alexander, feeling immensely relieved, and blessing his stars that his uncle had not called on him and discovered his absence after all. “With all my heart, sir! I could not indeed expect, and would not wish you to take the trouble. It is rather my duty always to wait upon you—a duty that I shall always be most happy to perform.”
“You’re a good lad, Alick, a good lad,” said the old soldier, frankly holding out his hand to his nephew.
“I hope I shall always be so happy as to deserve your good opinion, sir,” said Alexander, taking the offered hand and bowing deeply over it.
But as he lifted himself up again he encountered the laughing eyes of Anna, who was regarding him with a mocking smile.
“Now, really, Alick, you know you are growing so Joseph Surfacish, that I am beginning to doubt your sincerity,” she said.
Alexander’s countenance fell. But the old gentleman came to the rescue.