“He’s the dearest, best old fellow in the world?” I said with animation. “Old?”
“No, no,” I said, laughing. “I meant good and kind by old.”
“Oh,” she said, laughing. “But tell me, Antony; is he particular with you?”
“Oh yes; he quite watches me, to make sure what I do, and where I go.”
“Would you like to go to different and better lodgings?”
“Oh no,” I said. “He is going to be married soon to Mary, who was so good to me at Mr Blakeford’s, and they would be so disappointed if I left.”
“He watches over you, you say?”
“Yes, Miss Carr. He was very angry that night when I stopped out late with Mr Hallett, when we had to walk part of the way back.”
“And—and this Mr Hallett, is—is he a proper companion for such a boy as you?”
“Mr Hallett is a gentleman, although he is now only a common workman,” I said proudly.