"Yes, yes, I can do that."
"Nothing can be helped now by confession; remember that when the truth would leap to your lips in a generous impulse, of which hereafter you would be sorry. Good-bye now."
Mattie stooped and kissed her—the quivering lips, the tear-brimming eyes, suggested a new trouble, and Harriet detected it at once.
"There is something new, Mattie—don't deceive me!"
"Very little—you will know all when you get down-stairs—be on your guard—God bless you!"
And Mattie, feeling her voice deserting her, hurried away. She went at once to Mr. Hinchford's room. Mr. Hinchford was becoming fidgety about his breakfast, and walking up and down discontentedly.
"They'll tell me I'm late again," he was muttering, when Mattie, sans ceremonie, made her appearance.
"Mr. Hinchford, will you let Miss Harriet have that letter at once? She's waiting for it."
"And I'm waiting for my breakfast, Mattie—it's really too bad!"
"I'll tell Ann; and—and the letter?"