Bindloss Harold
The Protector
“No; it’s really a most unimportant one; I” – and the slight pause gave the assertion force – “I really mean it.”
Vane partly raised himself with one arm and there was no doubting the significance of his intent gaze.
“I believe I made another blunder – in England. I should have had more courage and have faced the risk. But you might have turned against me then.”
“I don’t think that’s likely,” said Evelyn, lowering her eyes.
The man leaned forward towards her, but the hand he stretched out fell short, and the trivial fact once more roused her compassion for his helplessness.
“You can only mean one thing,” he said. “You wouldn’t be afraid to face the future with me now?”
“I wouldn’t be afraid at all,” said Evelyn quietly.
By and by Mrs. Nairn tapped at the door and smiled rather broadly when she came in; then she shook her head in reproach.
“Ye should have been asleep a while since,” she said to Vane, and turned to Evelyn. “Is this the way ye intend to look after him?”
She waved the girl towards the door and when she joined her in the passage kissed her effusively.
“Ye’ve got the man I would have chosen for ye,” she said.
