"Are you going to move?" he asked quietly, "or have I got to make you?"
Peg grew very red. She began to say, "Make me?" but changed her mind and stood on one side with a sudden meekness that would have amazed anyone who knew her. And the Beggar Man opened the door and went out into the passage.
She followed him then and spoke in a subdued way. "Look here, I'm not taking sides any longer, so don't you think it. But Faith's a little bit of a thing, and she's sad, and she's sick. I can't stop you going in to her if you mean to, but——" She paused. "If you're the sport I almost think you are, you won't, at any rate not to-day," she added earnestly.
It was very clever of her, and the Beggar Man stopped and wavered.
For an instant they looked at one another silently, eye to eye; then he turned back.
"Very well; but as soon as she's well enough you understand that nothing you can say or do will prevent me." Peg laughed grimly.
"Oh, yes, I understand that," she said.
And so it was left, and for the following sad days Forrester kept his word and Faith was left in peace. There was nothing seriously the matter with her, the doctor said, but she was suffering from shock and nervous prostration, and must be kept quiet.
Peg and Forrester got to be almost friendly during that week. There was so much to see to, so much to arrange.
Forrester had given notice to the two school teachers who had lodged with Mrs. Ledley, and had told the landlord that he was giving up the house. Then he went to Shawyer and asked how a man set about finding a school for two little girls.