Rose and her Enemy.
"But if he should find out," said Rose, in terror. "You won't let him carry me off."
"No, I won't. Don't be frightened. Do you like this better than Leonard Street, Rosie?"
"Oh, ever so much."
Rufus looked pleased. He felt that he had made the best arrangement in his power for his sister's comfort and happiness, and that he had been very lucky to find so suitable a person as Miss Manning to place her with.
While he was talking with Rose, the seamstress had been moving about quietly, and by this time the little table was neatly spread in the centre of the room. On it were placed knives, forks, and plates for three. The teakettle had boiled, and, taking out her little teapot, the seamstress put it on the stove for the tea to steep.
"Do you like toast, Rufus?" she asked.
"Yes, Miss Manning; but I don't want you to take too much trouble."
"It's very little trouble. I think Rose would like toast too. I've got a little meat too."
She took from the cupboard about half a pound of steak, which she put on the coals to broil.