"But you took tea there, Eleanor? With whom?"
"I took tea with Julia and her sick friend. Why not? She was making a cup of tea for him and gave me one. I was very glad of it. There was no one else in the house."
"How is your sister allowed to do such things?"
"For a sick friend, Mr. Carlisle? I think it is well anybody's part to do such things."
"I think I will forbid embroidery frames at the Priory, if they are to keep me from seeing your eyes," said he, with one arm drawing her back from the frame and with the other hand taking her fingers from it, and looking into her face, but kissing her. "Now tell me, who is this gentleman?"
Eleanor was irritated; yet the assumption of authority, calm and proud as it was, had a mixture of tenderness which partly soothed her. The demand however was imperious. Eleanor answered.
"He was Alfred's tutor—you have seen him—he has been very ill all summer. He is a sick man, staying in the village."
"And what have you to do with such a person?"
"Nothing in the world! I stopped there to rest myself, because I was too tired to walk home."
He smiled at her kindling indignation, and gave her a kiss by way of forgiveness for it; then went on gravely.