“It is no disgrace,” answered Nurse Ives. She rose to her feet, then suddenly fell on her knees. She was close to Tarbot now, and, stretching out one of her hands, she clasped his. It had been lying in his lap, and he had not time to withdraw it.
“I long to be your servant,” she said, and she kissed the hand which she held.
He laid the other for a moment on her head.
“I did not know you had such good hair,” he said. “It is thick and abundant. It suits you arranged like this.”
“It is not really thick, but I puffed it out by artificial means. I am glad you like it. I did the best for my appearance for your sake. I know I am not beautiful.”
“All the same, you look well in that dress,” he answered. “Dress can do much for you.”
“It shall do much for me, Luke.”
He suppressed an involuntary shudder when she called him by his Christian name.
“It shall do much for me,” she repeated. “You will never be ashamed of me when you see me at the head of your table.”
He did not reply, but started restlessly from his chair and stood with his back to the gas stove.