"Oh, father!" she said.
"Nonsense," replied the rector impatiently, "you know him well enough to receive him alone. I can't be interrupted. Run along, child."
"Will you come in, Helen, dear?" she pleaded.
"Yes," Helen said, glancing at her with absent eyes; it was hard to leave the intricacies of a theological argument to think of a girl's lover. "I'll come soon."
But in a letter to John she forgot every one else, and when Lois went tremblingly out of the room both the rector and his niece lost themselves in their own interests.
"Good-evening, Miss Lois," Dick said, coming towards her with extended hand.
She could hardly hear her answer for her beating heart.
"I came to say good-by," he went on, his bright blue eyes fastened angrily upon her; but she did not see him.
"You go to-morrow?" she faltered.
"Yes," he answered; "but I could not leave Ashurst without—one more look at the rectory."