Part 44 (1/2)
”She'll be very good if she does,” said Norton. ”But I'll tell her you said so. Do you think she would come?”
”I'm certain of it.”
CHAPTER XI.
Norton made his way to the brown door of the parsonage, and knocked; but the person that opened it was the minister himself. Norton was a little confused now, remembering what his errand meant there.
”Norton Laval, isn't it?” said Mr. Richmond. ”You are very welcome, Norton, at my house. Will you come in?”
”No, sir. If you please----”
”What is it? Something you would rather say to me here?”
”No, sir. I was coming----”
”To see me, I hope?”
”No, sir,” said Norton, growing desperate and colouring, which he was very unapt to do. ”If you please, Mr. Richmond, I was sent to speak to--I forget what her name is--the woman who lives here.”
”Miss Redwood?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Who sent you?”
”Matilda Englefield.”
”Did she? Pray why did not Matilda come with you?”
”She could not, sir; she was very busy. She asked me to come.”
”You can see Miss Redwood,” said Mr. Richmond, smiling. ”I believe she is always ready to receive visitors; at least I never saw a time when she was not. You have only to walk right in and knock at her door there. When are you coming to see _me_, Norton? You and I ought to be better friends.”
”I don't know, sir,” said Norton. ”I would not intrude.”
”Ask your friend Matilda if I do not like such intrusions. I shall have to invite you specially, I see. Well, go in and find Miss Redwood. I will not detain you now.”
Norton went in, glad to be released, for he did not exactly want to tell his errand to the minister, knocked at the kitchen door and was bade to enter. It was full, the kitchen was, of the sweet smell of baking bread; and Miss Redwood was busily peering into her stove oven.
”Who's there?” she asked, too much engaged in turning her loaves to give her eyes to anything else, even a visitor. Norton told his name, and waited till the oven doors shut to with a clang; and then Miss Redwood, very pink in the face, rose up to look at him.
”I've seen you before,” was her remark.
”Yes. I brought Matilda Englefield here one day,” Norton answered.
”H'm. I thought she brought you. What brings you now?”
”Matilda wanted me to come with a message to you.”