“What a bargain!” she replied, laughing; and she turned away.
“I don’t think we need keep you, my lad,” said the young man bitterly.
“Indeed!” said the other young lady; “why, I thought he was to carry our parcel of books?”
“But he is a strange boy, my dear young ladies,” said the elder man; “I’ll ring for one from the office.”
“No; don’t, pray!” said the lady addressed as Miss Carr quickly. “I don’t think we will carry the parcel. You will carry it for us, will you not?”
“Oh, yes, indeed I will!” I cried eagerly; and I stepped forward, for there was something very winning in the speakers voice.
“Stop a moment, my man,” said the elder gentleman rather sternly, while the younger stood biting his lips; “where do your father and mother live?”
Those words made something rise in my throat, and I looked wildly at him, but could not speak.
He did not see my face, for he had taken up a pen and drawn a memorandum slip towards him.
“Well; why don’t you speak?” he said sharply, and as he raised his eyes I tried, but could not get out a word, only pointed mutely to the shabby band of crape upon my cap.