Poor Miss Talbot! Hugh saw that she was genuinely troubled about him, and resolved to offend but seldom, while he was under her roof.
“Perhaps, when you know me longer, you will find I am steadier than you think.”
“Well, it may be. But steadiness won’t make a Christian of you.”
“It may make a tolerable lodger of me, though,” answered Hugh; “and you wouldn’t turn me into the street because I am steady and nothing more, would you?”
“I said I was sorry, Mr. Sutherland. Do you wish me to say more?”
“Bless your kind heart!” said Hugh. “I was only joking.”
He held out his hand to Miss Talbot, and her eyes glistened as she took it. She pressed it kindly, and abandoned it instantly.
So all was right between them once more.
“Who knows,” murmured Miss Talbot, “but the Lord may save him? He’s surely not far from the kingdom of heaven. I’ll do all I can to make him comfortable.”