“My dear boy—”
“I say, hang it all, Mrs Morley! you might call me a man now,” said Archie, interrupting her speech.
“Yes, my dear, I have plenty of confidence in you; but it’s only you.”
“Why, there will be the Resident’s two chief boatmen, won’t there?—You said there would be two men, didn’t you, Minnie?”
“Yes, of course; and we shouldn’t be above an hour or two, aunt.”
“No, I know, my dear; but—but—”
“There, aunt dear, uncle’s going away so suddenly has upset you, and it does seem selfish of me.—Look here, Archie, it’s very kind of you to offer to take me, but it would be inconsiderate of me to go. I’ll give it up.”
“Oh!” cried the lad, “I am disappointed.”
“Yes, of course you would be,” said Mrs Morley; “and it’s foolish of me to make such a fuss about nothing. There, I am better now. I was a bit flurried by the Doctor going, to be away all night, and leaving us unprotected.”
“And not a British soldier near,” said Archie laughingly.