Part 39 (2/2)
”I wonder,” said Nora, giving Jane a little dig.
”I thought I would just run up and see if you had all got home safely last night,” they heard his great voice booming outside to Larry.
”My, but he is anxious,” said Nora.
”But who is he, Nora?” inquired her mother.
”A friend of Jane's, and apparently terribly concerned about her welfare.”
”Stop, Nora,” said Jane, flus.h.i.+ng a fiery red. ”Don't be silly. He is a young man whom we met on the train, Mrs. Gwynne, a friend of some of our Winnipeg friends.”
”We shall be very glad to have him stay with us, my dear,” said Mrs.
Gwynne. ”Go and bring him in.”
”Go on, Jane,” said Nora.
”Now, Nora, stop it,” said Jane. ”I will get really cross with you.
Hush, there he is.”
The young man seemed to fill up the door with his bulk. ”Mr. Wakeham,”
said Larry, as the young fellow stood looking around on the group with a frank, expansive smile upon his handsome face. As his eye fell upon a little lady the young man seemed to come to attention. Insensibly he appeared to a.s.sume an att.i.tude of greater respect as he bowed low over her hand.
”I hope you will pardon my coming here so early in the morning,” he said with an embarra.s.sed air. ”I have the honour of knowing your guests.”
”Any friend of our guests is very welcome here, Mr. Wakeham,” said Mrs.
Gwynne, smiling at him with gentle dignity.
”Good morning, Mr. Wakeham,” said Jane, coming forward with outstretched hand. ”You are very early in your calls. You could not have slept very much.”
”No, indeed,” replied Mr. Wakeham, ”and that is one reason why I waked so early. My bed was not so terribly attractive.”
”Oh,” exclaimed Nora in a disappointed tone, as she shook hands with him, ”we thought you were anxious to see us.”
”Quite right,” said the young man, holding her hand and looking boldly into her eyes. ”I have come to see you.”
Before his look Nora's saucy eyes fell and for some unaccountable reason her usually ready speech forsook her. Mr. Wakeham fell into easy conversation with Mr. Gwynne and Dr. Brown concerning mining matters, in which he was especially interested. He had spent an hour about the Manor Mine and there he had heard a good deal about Mr. Gwynne's mine and was anxious to see that if there were no objections. He wondered if he might drive Mr. Gwynne--and indeed, he had a large car and would be glad to fill it up with a party if any one cared to come. He looked at Mrs.
Gwynne as he spoke.
”Yes, Mother, you go. It is such a lovely day,” said Nora enthusiastically, ”and Jane can go with you.”
”Jane is going riding,” said Larry firmly.
”I am going to Mrs. Waring-Gaunt's,” said Jane. ”I arranged with her last night.”
While they were settling Mrs. Gwynne's protests, and covered by the noise of conversation, Mr. Wakeham managed to get close to Nora. ”I want you to come,” he said in a low voice. ”That's what I came for.”
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