“Wait till I put on my things, dear.”
“No; I shall only go for an hour now, and I will come back and fetch you later on.”
“But, papa dear!”
“There, there, there! don’t be alarmed, I shall not get out of temper with Crampton now. That will keep.”
“Then you will go—now?”
“Yes,” he said decidedly; “I cannot sit here.”
“But you hardly tasted your dinner. Let me get you some tea first.”
“My dear child, I can touch nothing; and pray don’t oppose me. I am in such a state of nervous irritation that if you do I am sure I shall say something unkind, and then I shall be more upset than I am now.”
“I am not afraid,” said Louise, hanging on his shoulder for a few moments, and then kissing his wrinkled, careworn brow.
“Thank you, my darling, thank you. You will not mind being left? Harry ought to be here.”