It fell flat that she had last been seen full-dressed going off to a
party.
"Then, if there's nothing, what brought you here? I mean," said poor
Allen, catching up his courtesy, "I'm afraid there's nothing you or
any one else can do."
"Can I see your mother?"
Allen turned him into the library and went off to find his mother,
and instruct her to discover from "that stupid fellow" how Elvira was
feeling it. When, after putting away the papers she was trying to
arrange, Caroline went downstairs, she had no sooner opened the door
than Barbara flew up to her, crying out—-
"Oh, mother, tell him not!"
"Tell him what, my dear?" as the girl hung on her, and dragged her
into the ante-room. "What is the matter?"
"If it is nonsense, he ought not to have made it so like earnest,"
said Babie, all crimson, but quite gravely.
"You don't mean-—"
"Yes, mother."
"How could he?" cried Caroline, in her first annoyance at such things
beginning with her Babie.
"You'll tell him, mother. You'll not let him do it again?"
"Let me go, my child. I must speak to him and find out what it all
means."
Within the library she was met by Fordham.
"Have I done very wrong, Mrs. Brownlow? I could not help it."
"I wish you had not."
"I always meant to wait till she was older, and I grew stronger, but
when all this came, I thought if we all belonged to one another it
might be a help-—"
"Very, very kind, but—-"
"I know I was sudden and frightened her," he continued; "but if she
could-—"
"You forget how young she is.
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