"She is so kind and good; hemming cambric frills, and stitching wristbands! I wish I could do it. I was always the most wretched little dunce at plain sewing, and could never be taught it. My sister on the contrary——"
"I want to speak a word to you, Arkell."
William turned hastily, wondering who was at his elbow. At that moment the hall-door was thrown open, and the rays of the lamp shone forth, revealing the features of Robert Carr. Charlotte ran indoors, vouchsafing no greeting. She had taken a dislike to Robert Carr. He was free of speech, and the last time he and the young lady met, he had said something in her ear for which she would be certain to hate him for his life—"How was the angling going on? Had Bill Arkell bit yet?"
"Hallo!" exclaimed William as he recognised him. "I thought you were in London! I heard you went up on Tuesday night!"
"And came down last night. I want you to do me a favour, Arkell."
He put his arm within William's as he spoke, and began pacing the yard. William thought his manner unusual. There seemed a nervous restlessness about it—if he could have fancied such a thing of Robert Carr. William waited for him to speak.
"I have had an awful row with the governor to-day," he began at length. "I don't intend to stand it much longer."
"What about?"
"Oh! the old story—my extravagance. He was angry at my running up to town for a day, and called it waste of money and waste of time. So unreasonable of him, you know. Had I stayed a month, he'd not have made half the row."
"It does seem like waste, to go so far for only a day," said William, "unless you have business. That is a different thing."