"I trust you will let me be of use," he was saying, wondering what caused that flush of consciousness that came into her face and died away again.
"You are very good," she said, in a low voice.
He made one or two steps nearer her, and, in that small room this brought him close. She shrank back involuntarily, and he saw the movement and it made him savage. But he controlled himself; he began to understand a little of her character; if he intended to win he must be cautious.
"I will go now," he said, taking her cold little hand in his, "but I will not go far, and you must think of me as your friend; will you?"
Again came the faintly-uttered words,
"You are very good."
He gave one lingering look at her and went downstairs, calling Mrs. Munro in a sharp, quick tone.
"Mr. Sandford requested me to see that the sick young lady and her sister had every comfort you can provide. Can you think of anything?"
"Oh dear, sir!" said poor Mrs. Munro, immensely relieved by this declaration, "that poor thing ought to have a nurse, and I've said so over and over again but Miss Margaret she seems afraid of spending. I was quite sure, sir, myself, it would be all right, such young ladies as these are, poor things; and Miss Margaret would not buy herself a sofa—a sofa to sleep on—and I have done my best, having my own work and the house on my hands, and responsibility; night work is not in my way, sir; but the scores of times I've been up and down those stairs, they're not much to look at but they're tiresome to go up and bad to come down when it comes to being often, sir."
"Buy what is wanted and let me know what it is, for Mr. Sandford. Anything wanted you are to get at once, and you need not worry Miss Margaret or say I have had a hand in it. She might not like my meddling. I am Mr. Sandford's acquaintance more than hers and I am acting for him." He went out of the house without waiting to hear her answer.