“Oh, no, of course not; that would be too good a joke. Then I shall stay.”
“Our case is different,” said Lydia, turning red, and then pale. “Mr Capel, Miss D’Enghien and I, if we can be of no more use, would like to say good-bye this afternoon.”
“But why?” cried Capel, as he glanced at the speaker, and then fixed his eyes on Katrine. “There is no occasion for you to leave.”
“I think Miss Lawrence is right,” said Katrine.
“But I want help and counsel from both of you. You must not leave me yet.”
“It is impossible for us to stay.”
“Impossible! Why? Etiquette? Is not Mr Girtle here? Are not things as they have been since we met?”
“I did not know that Mr Girtle was going to stop?” said Katrine, softly. “If I felt that we could be of any service—”
“Then you will stay?” cried Capel, warmly.
Katrine hesitated, looked up, then down, raised, her eyes once more, and left her chair to take Lydia’s hand.