Nathan Gomer looked at him with inquiring eyes, and watched him read every word in the document with careful attention from the first to the last.
When he had ended his perusal, Nathan Gomer smiled.
“Nothing informal or contrary to law there?” he exclaimed.
“Nothing!” said Charley with a sigh.
“This is dreadful!” murmured Lotte.
Flora, however, was not further distressed—at least she displayed no additional grief at this new incident. She had, in fact, been so stunned and overwhelmed by the first event of the morning—that which involved the compulsory absence of her father—that any circumstance of a minor description could neither add to nor diminish her sorrow.
Nathan Gomer turned to Mr. Jukes.
“You can go,” he said “and you may take your myrmidons with you.”
“And return the writ to the sheriff with nully bony on it, I s’pose?” exclaimed Mr. Jukes, chagrined.
“Whatever you please,” returned Nathan; “my name, if it suits you.”