He rose, and drawing himself up to his full height looked for the moment strong and resolute. Taking one or two slow turns up and down the room, he suddenly stopped in front of Innocent.
"We shall be away all day," he said—"I and Ned Landon. Do you hear?"
There was something not quite natural in the tone of his voice, and she glanced up at him in a little surprise.
"Well, what are you wondering at?" he demanded, a trifle testily—"You need not open your eyes at me like that!"
She smiled faintly.
"Did I open my eyes, Dad?" she said—"I did not mean to be curious. I only thought—"
"You only thought what?" he asked, with sudden heat—"What did you think?"
"Oh, just about your being away all day in the town—you will be so tired—"
"Tired? Not I!—not when there's work to do and business to settle!" He rubbed his hands together with a kind of energetic expectancy. "Work to do and business to settle!" he repeated—"Yes, little girl! There's not much time before me, and I must leave everything in good order for you and Robin."
She dropped her head, and the expression of her face was hidden from him.