"Will, I want to speak to you a moment," I said.
And, when he came to me, I told him to go down to the lodge gates and wait there till I fetched him. Then I tried to make some impression on poor Phyllida, who was indulging in such an abandonment of grief that you would really say that she was enjoying it.
"Phyllida, stop crying," I said, "and listen to what I have to tell you."
"Oh, why can't you leave me alone?," she sobbed.
"Because," I said, "there is great and glorious news for you, and your old aunt is selfish enough to wish to be its bearer."
You may be sure that she stopped her crying soon enough at that.
I told her that Hilary Butler had arrived... And about the accident; she tried to bolt from my grasp, but I contrived to restrain her... And the dreadful fright she had been wicked enough to give us...
"Oh, let me go!," she kept crying.
"A moment more, dearest child," I said. "You are both over-excited, overwrought. Would you not like to meet him alone first, without feeling that the eyes of all your family are upon you?" ...
She is an impetuous, affectionate little thing. In a moment she was kissing me and making my face quite wet with her tears...