“One would think, Papa, you had always been dealing with tradesmen!” remarked Rose, to whom her father now accorded the treatment due to a sensible girl.
Laxley was present at the family consultation. What was his opinion? Rose manifested a slight anxiety to hear it.
“What those sort of fellows do never surprises me,” he said, with a semi-yawn.
Rose felt fire on her cheeks.
“It’s only what the young man is bound to do,” said Mrs. Shorne.
“His duty, aunt? I hope we may all do it!” Rose interjected.
“Championing him again?”
Rose quietly turned her face, too sure of her cold appreciation of him to retort. But yesterday night a word from him might have made her his; and here she sat advocating the nobility of his nature with the zeal of a barrister in full swing of practice. Remember, however, that a kiss separates them: and how many millions of leagues that counts for in love, in a pure girl’s thought, I leave you to guess.
Now, in what way was Evan to be thanked? how was he to be treated? Sir Franks proposed to go down to him in person, accompanied by Harry. Lady Jocelyn acquiesced. But Rose said to her mother:
“Will not you wound his sensitiveness by going to him there?”