"If you will send for me, I shall always be glad to come."
"Thank you. Now don't hinder me any longer. Good-bye for to-day."
Miriam moved towards the door.
"You are forgetting your gloves, Mrs. Baske," he called after her.
She turned back and took them up.
"By-the-bye," he said, looking at his watch, "it is the hour at which ladies are accustomed to drink tea. Will you let me make you a cup before you go?"
"Thank you. Perhaps I could save your time by making it myself."
"A capital idea. Look, there is all the apparatus. Please to tell me when it is ready, and I'll have a cup with you."
He painted on, and neither spoke until the beverage was actually prepared. Then Miriam said:
"Will you come now, Mr. Mallard?"