"Do consent," said Harold, with winning brevity. Esther was flushed, and her eyes were bright. It was impossible for her not to feel that the proposal was a more tempting step towards her change of condition than she could have thought of beforehand. She had forgotten that she was in any trouble. But she looked towards her father, who was again stroking his chin, as was his habit when he was doubting and deliberating.
"I hope you do not disapprove of Miss Lyon's granting us this favour?" said Harold to the minister.
"I have nothing to oppose to it, sir, if my daughter's own mind is clear as to her course."
"You will come — now — with us," said Mrs Transome, persuasively. "You will go back with us in the carriage."
Harold was highly gratified with the perfection of his mother's manner on this occasion, which he had looked forward to as difficult. Since he had come home again, he had never seen her so much at her ease, or with so much benignancy in her face. The secret lay in the charm of Esther's sweet young deference, a sort of charm that had not before entered into Mrs Transome's elderly life. Esther's pretty behaviour, it must be confessed, was not fed entirely from lofty moral sources : over and above her really
