She gave him her hand. The major took it in his own soft small one—small enough almost for the hilt of an Indian tulwar—and pressed it devoutly to his lips. She did not draw it away, and he felt she trusted him.
Now that the hard duty was done, and if not much good yet no harm had resulted, he went home a different man. A pang of fear for Hester in the power of "that ape Gartley" would now and then pass through him; but he had now a right to look after her, and who can tell what might not turn up!
His host congratulated him on looking so much better for his walk, and Hester recounted to her mother their strange conversation.
"Only think, mamma!" she said; "he offered me a thousand a year not to marry lord Gartley!"
"Hester!"
"He does not like the earl, and he does like me; so he wants me not to marry him. That is all!"
"I thought I could have believed anything of him, but this goes almost beyond belief!"
"Why should it, mamma? There is an odder thing still: instead of hating him for it, I like him better than before."
"Are you sure he has no notion of making room for himself?"
"Quite sure. He would have it he was old enough to be my grandfather. But you know he is not that!"