Then she ran hastily over them, suggesting all that Lotte really did feel in opposition to the scheme, with much more, but only to answer and refute all the adverse arguments.
And so Lotte was to be a lady after all—to have a fortune, and ride in a carriage of her own.
The wealth to which Hugh had succeeded would enable him to settle upon her an amount that would do this without in any degree inconveniently trenching upon his very large resources; and as there was really no consistent argument she could offer for its rejection, she, with swimming eyes of gratefulness, expressed her thanks and her hopes to be proved worthy such generous liberality.
Perhaps there was some latent incentive which might have helped to overcome her indisposition to accept an obligation so great, and perhaps a flush heightened the hue of her features as a passing thought suggested the poor sempstress passing before the eyes of old Mr. Wilton in her own carriage, even though he refused to receive her into his family.
Helen kissed her cheek affectionately, and said, delightedly—
“There is nothing, then, to step in between our arrangement.”
“Except your humble servant,” said a strange voice.
Both females uttered a startled cry, and Hugh jumped up and turned upon the intruder.
It was Nathan Gomer who stood near the door.
The same strange, almost unearthly grin was upon his face as usual, and he chuckled as he observed the utter surprise with which he was regarded.