Master Caleb was close behind me, and at this moment, just when it was most needed, Mrs. Janet completely lost all presence of mind.
She tried to put herself before Dorothy, to hide her, but Master Caleb had already seen her, and stood at the door as if he were turned into stone.
There was a dreadful long minute, and then Dorothy came slowly forward. She had a colour in her cheeks that I had never seen before, but she spoke almost as quietly as ever—
'Master Caleb, Mrs. Janet brought me here.'
'Janet! and you let her—you came?'
'I came,' she said, the red flush deepening in her cheeks, 'because you asked me yesterday.'
'Did Janet say I was unhappy?'
'She said,'—he bent down, for he could scarcely catch the words—'she said you really wanted me.'
Master Caleb grasped both her hands.
'Dorothy, did you come to me because you pitied me?'