We had settled that I was to wait in the poor Professor's study while he spoke to Mistress Dorothy in the parlour.
I had scarcely been in the room since that day, that seemed so long ago, when Professor Bruce was beginning to pack up his books, and Mistress Dorothy laughed at him for making the room untidy. It was not untidy now. All was in dreary order, speaking sadly in its cold lifelessness of the master that would never return to it.
No one was in the parlour, and Master Caleb came back to the study, walking on tiptoe and speaking almost in a whisper.
'I have sent to ask if she will see me,' he said; 'I expect that she will send for me immediately. You wait here, Willy: that's all you have to do. Just stay quietly where you are.'
He was pushing me backwards all the time, without very well knowing what he was about. At last he got me into the window, and told me again to wait there for him.
'It won't take long,' he said, turning a shade greyer than before, 'and then'——
The door opened, and Mistress Dorothy herself came into the room. She moved so quietly that Master Caleb, staring out of window at the blank wall, clasping and unclasping his hands nervously, did not hear or see her until she spoke his name.
He turned round with a great start and went to meet her.
'Mistress Dorothy, I hope you will forgive me for coming so soon. I just happened to be passing, and so'——
Happened to be passing! In my corner I could not help wondering at Master Caleb. But it was very uncomfortable not to be able to get out—I was hidden by the window-curtain, Mistress Dorothy had not seen me, and my master, I was quite sure, had forgotten all about me. They stood just in the way of the door, and I knew that if I disturbed Master Caleb now, he would never be able to begin speaking to Mistress Dorothy again. There was nothing for it but to read a book, and try not to listen, but my heart was beating fast. I could not help hearing.