She urged strenuously. "She's very worthy! She gives all her old clothes to charity. And Sarah says she's very just, and she'd make your wages go a very long way. Sarah says that's a great thing."
He began to chuckle, but checked it in his distress at having to disappoint her. She came down at last to a humble, "Well, will you please just take her for a walk now?"
She returned, chastened and severe, to the Stronghold. A visit a few minutes later, from Miss Kezia herself, lent an added intensity to the small figure that flung itself desperately at Mr. Mark Yovil, who called to leave some book for Denis.
"Take her away! Walk out with her! She's a wet counterpane on us!"
Mark Yovil, known for his obstinacy, his firm will, was weak where this Atom was concerned.
"I'm going to a lecture," he declared hesitatingly.
"Take her!"
"But, my dear, it's nothing that would interest her. She would not come—"
"Oh, please! 'Magine us—up there—all quiet and still like dead mice! And our letter-day! It—it's really very sad!"
He looked down into her upturned face, into the wild entreaty of her great eyes.