"Mr. Carleton," she began, and her colour changed.
"Speak, Elfie."
Her colour changed again. "Mr. Carleton, will you be displeased if I say something?"
"Don't you know me better than to ask me that, Elfie?" he said, gently.
"I want to ask you something if you wont mind my saying it?"
"What is it?" said he, reading in her face that a request was behind. "I will do it."
Her eyes sparkled, but she seemed to have some difficulty in going on.
"I will do it whatever it is," he said, watching her.
"Will you wait for me one moment, Mr. Carleton?"
"Half an hour."