“Wait here then, for me—and for him,” she disappeared into the room at the back which was called hers, and reappeared in a few seconds, with Mr. Candover himself leaning on her arm.
All were shocked at his appearance. His head was bound up, and his dull eyes seemed to show that he had scarcely yet fully recovered consciousness after the blow he had received from Geoffrey’s poker and the fall which had resulted from the blow.
As if still more than half-dazed, he tottered forward, leaning on his sister’s arm, and stared about him and at the three ladies as if unaware who they were.
Pamela cried out, in an awestruck voice:—
“Papa, papa! Don’t you know us, papa?”
And Babs ran forward to kiss him.
The touch of the warm young lips made him look round and say almost mechanically:—
“Babs! Hallo, Babs!”
Then his sister spoke.
“The girls don’t want to go away with me. Will you tell them what is your wish?”