“How do you do, Florence?” he said; “how do you do, dear Eva? You see I have come to see you early this morning. I want a little refreshment to enable me to get through my day’s duty. The early suitor has come to pick up the worm of his affections,” and he laughed at his joke.
Florence shuddered at the simile, and thought to herself that there was a fair chance of the affectionate worm disagreeing with the early suitor.
Eva said nothing. She sat quite still and pale.
“Why, what is the matter with you both? Have you seen a ghost?”
“Not exactly; but I think that Eva has received a message from the dead,” said Florence, with a nervous laugh.
Eva rose. “I think, Mr. Plowden,” she said, “that I had better be frank with you at once. I ask you to listen to me for a few moments.”
“Am I not always at your service, dear Eva?”
“I wish,” began Eva, and broke down—“I wish,” she went on again, “to appeal to your generosity and to your feelings as a gentleman.”
Florence smiled.
Mr. Plowden bowed with mock humility and smiled too—a very ugly smile.