“Eh! Eh!” Hutchinson jerked out. “That'll turn her into a wildcat, I'll warrant. She'll do all th' harm she can. I'm much obliged to you for lettin' us come, ma'am. I want to be where I can stand by him.”
“Father,” said Little Ann, “what you have got to remember is that you mustn't fly into a passion. You know you've always said it never did any good, and it only sends the blood to your head.”
“You are not nervous, Miss Hutchinson?” the duke suggested.
“About Mr. Temple Barholm? I couldn't be, your Grace. If I was to see two policemen bringing him in handcuffed I shouldn't be nervous. I should know the handcuffs didn't belong to him, and the policemen would look right-down silly to me.”
Miss Alicia fluttered over to fold her in her arms.
“Do let me kiss you,” she said. “Do let me, Little Ann!”
Little Ann had risen at once to meet her embrace. She put a hand on her arm.
“We don't know anything about this really,” she said. “We've only heard what people say. We haven't heard what he says. I'm going to wait.” They were all looking at her,—the duke with such marked interest that she turned toward him as she ended. “And if I had to wait until I was as old as grandmother I'd wait—and nothing would change my mind.”
“And I've been lying awake at night!” softly wailed Miss Alicia.