“May I, really?”
“Of course you may, puss. Now I’ll warrant anything you have walked many a carpet bare with your own father. See! this is almost in holes; those are Polly’s steps, these are mine.”
“Oh—yes—well, father isn’t that sort of man. I’ll take your arm if I may, Doctor. Thank you. I didn’t think—I don’t exactly know how to say what I want to say.”
“Take time, my dear child; and it is no matter how you put the words.”
“When I heard that there was no mother here, I did not want to stay long. That was before I knew you. Now—I came to say it—I do want to stay, and so does David.”
“But you don’t really know me at all, Flower.”
“Perhaps not really; but still enough to want to stay. May I stay?”
Flower’s charming face looked up inquiringly.
“May I stay?” she repeated, earnestly. “I do wish it!—very much indeed.”
Dr. Maybright was silent for a moment.