“Give it to me,” said Leslie; “I’ll have it darned in a trice. Ah! there’s mother’s step at last. Dear old mammy, I hope she is not too tired.”
“There is someone coming back with her,” said Kitty. “Don’t you hear two footsteps? Who can it possibly be?”
The next moment the room-door was opened, and Mrs. Gilroy, accompanied by Mr. Parker, came in.
Leslie had not seen Mr. Parker since her interview with him at Wingfield. She now felt herself turning pale; her pallor was suddenly succeeded by a quick flush of color. She hoped no one noticed her agitation; but, raising her eyes, she met those of Llewellyn. His wore a perturbed expression.
Mr. Parker, after greeting the other children, came up to her and offered his hand.
“Glad to see you back again, Miss Leslie,” he said. There was an indescribable, restrained note in his voice.
“Well, children, what do you say to my joining you to-day?” He turned and faced Kitty and Hester. “Your mother was good enough to invite me, and I am as up to a bit of frolic as if I were as young as you. Where is little Dan? He must be my special charge to-day.”
“Kitty, give me those sandwiches. I can finish packing them,” said Leslie in a low voice which she hardly recognized as her own.
After Mr. Parker’s one hand-clasp, which was firm and cordial enough, he had turned his back on her. He still did so, and kept on talking to Llewellyn and the younger children.
Mrs. Gilroy sat down on the sofa.