“Not suitable! Mrs Hallam, I am not worthy of your child. But you are playing with me,” he cried, his words coming fast now. “You will not oppose it. You see I know all. Give me your consent.”
She sat looking at him in silence for some moments, and then laid her hand in his.
“Yes,” she said. “If Julie loves you I will not withhold my consent.”
“And Mr Hallam, may I speak to him now? Of course he will not refuse me. You will tell him first. And Julia, where is she?”
In his eagerness his words came hurriedly, and he caught Mrs Hallam’s hands to his lips and kissed them.
“I will fetch Julie here,” she said gently, and with a strange look of repose coming over her troubled face.
She left the room and sought her child, who looked at her wonderingly.
“Come,” she said with her voice sounding broken and strange; “Mr Eaton wishes to speak to you.”
“Mother!” exclaimed Julia, shrinking.
At that moment they heard Hallam’s steps as he passed across the hall.