“They are all good girls, those who will help at the treat—the first class at the Sunday-school.”
“Oh, those! Then I am sure you need not be afraid.”
“And they will want to amuse themselves, and take up the time of the sellers, your sisters and Miss Christie and—”
“I’ll keep them off, Mrs. Manners. The sellers shall not be teased by any impertinent and trifling young men. I’ll devote myself to looking after them.”
Simple Mrs. Manners, who had been in deep earnest all the time, began to have a suspicion that there was a lurking mirthfulness under Mr. Reade’s gravity; so she said severely—
“You will have to work, not to play, if you come, Mr. Reade, and set a good example to the others.”
“I will; but I sincerely hope they will not all follow it,” said he, in a laughing tone; then he turned and looked at me and made me blush.
And in the slight bustle of departure he whispered to me—
“Wait, and I’ll come back and take you home.”
But, when I had put on my hat and mantle, and Mrs. Manners had led me down into the drawing-room again, to say a few last words to me, and I was wondering how I could wait until Mr. Reade kept his promise and returned, I heard a ring and Mr. Rayner’s voice in the hall. I started and blushed, and Mrs. Manners stopped in her talk and looked at me very searchingly.