“Wait a minute, Ruddle,” said the younger man, whose back was towards us; and I saw that he was leaning over Miss Carr and holding her hand. “If you wish it,” he whispered softly, “it shall be done.”
“I do wish it,” she said with an earnest look in her large eyes as she gazed kindly at me; and the young man turned round, flushed and excited.
I was shrinking away towards the door, pained and troubled, for I felt that I had no business there, when Mr Lister motioned me to stop, and said something to the elder gentleman.
He in turn screwed up his face, and gave the younger a comical look.
“Your father would not have done so, John Lister,” he said. “What am I to say, Miss Carr?”
For answer the young lady rose and went and laid her hands in one of his.
“If you please, Mr Ruddle,” she said in a low musical voice, “it will be a kindly act.”
“God bless you, my dear,” he said tenderly. “I believe if I were with you long you’d make me as much your slave as you have John Lister.”
“Then you will?”
“Yes, my dear, yes, if it is really as he says.”