“Quite right,” said the young man, holding her hand and looking boldly into her eyes. “I have come to see you.”
Before his look Nora's saucy eyes fell and for some unaccountable reason her usually ready speech forsook her. Mr. Wakeham fell into easy conversation with Mr. Gwynne and Dr. Brown concerning mining matters, in which he was especially interested. He had spent an hour about the Manor Mine and there he had heard a good deal about Mr. Gwynne's mine and was anxious to see that if there were no objections. He wondered if he might drive Mr. Gwynne—and indeed, he had a large car and would be glad to fill it up with a party if any one cared to come. He looked at Mrs. Gwynne as he spoke.
“Yes, Mother, you go. It is such a lovely day,” said Nora enthusiastically, “and Jane can go with you.”
“Jane is going riding,” said Larry firmly.
“I am going to Mrs. Waring-Gaunt's,” said Jane. “I arranged with her last night.”
While they were settling Mrs. Gwynne's protests, and covered by the noise of conversation, Mr. Wakeham managed to get close to Nora. “I want you to come,” he said in a low voice. “That's what I came for.”
Startled and confused by this extraordinary announcement, Nora could think of no answer.
“I think you were to show me the mine,” he added. Then while Nora gasped at him, he said aloud, “My car is a seven passenger, so we can take quite a party.”
“Why not Kathleen?” suggested Jane.
“Yes, indeed, Kathleen might like to go,” said Mrs. Gwynne.