Mr. Blake was beyond the power of replying. He could only stare in blank and helpless consternation at his brisk, match-making sister.
"I would rather you took Miss Rose," pursued Miss Blake, "she's the best of the two, and a rock of sense; but Laura's very fond of you, and—where are you going now?"
For Mr. Blake had snatched up his hat and started out, banging the door after him. The first person he met, turning the corner, was Mr. Blair.
"So you're going to lose Jo, Blake," he said, taking his arm. "Laura tells me she is off next week in the Ocean Star. What are you going to do with yourself when you lose her?"
"Become a monk, I think," said Mr. Blake, helplessly. "I don't know anything else for it! Jo talks of boarding, but I hate boarding-houses, and where else can I go?"
"Come to us," cried Mr. Blair, heartily. "Mrs. B. thinks there's nobody like you, and you and I will have a fine chance to talk things over together. Come to us, old boy, and make our house your home!"
Mr. Blake closed with this friendly offer at once, on condition that the ladies of the house were satisfied.
"No danger of that," said Laura's father; "they will be in transports. Come up this evening and have a smoke with me, and see if they don't."
Laura Blair's eyes danced in her head when her father told them the news; but the little hypocrite affected to object.
"It will make so much trouble, pa," the young lady said, in a dissatisfied tone, "trouble for ma and me, I mean. I wish he wasn't coming."