"You will communicate with us again?" said Ralph.
"Yes, yes," returned Mr. Bray, hastily thrusting his daughter aside. "In a week. Give me a week."
"One week," said Ralph, turning to his companion, "from to-day. Good morning. Miss Madeline, I kiss your hand."
"We will shake hands, Gride," said Mr. Bray, extending his, as old Arthur bowed. "You mean well, no doubt. I am bound to say so now. If I owed you money, that was not your fault. Madeline, my love—your hand here."
"Oh dear! If the young lady would condescend—only the tips of her fingers"—said Arthur, hesitating and half retreating.
Madeline shrunk involuntarily from the goblin figure, but she placed the tips of her fingers in his hand and instantly withdrew them. After an ineffectual clutch, intended to detain and carry them to his lips, old Arthur gave his own fingers a mumbling kiss, and with many amorous distortions of visage went in pursuit of his friend, who was by this time in the street.
"What does he say, what does he say—what does the giant say to the pigmy?" inquired Arthur Gride, hobbling up to Ralph.
"What does the pigmy say to the giant?" rejoined Ralph, elevating his eyebrows and looking down upon his questioner.
"He doesn't know what to say," replied Arthur Gride. "He hopes and fears. But is she not a dainty morsel?"
"I have no great taste for beauty," growled Ralph.
"But I have," rejoined Arthur, rubbing his hands. "Oh dear! How handsome her eyes looked when she was stooping over him—such long lashes—such delicate fringe I She—she—looked at me so soft."
"Not over-lovingly, I think ?" said Ralph. "Did she?"
"Do you think not?" replied old Arthur. "But don't you think it can be brought about—don't you think it can?"
Ralph looked at him with a contemptuous frown, and replied with a sneer, and between his teeth—
"Did you mark his telling her she was tired and did too much, and over-tasked her strength?"
"Ay, ay. What of it?"
"When do you think he ever told her that before? The life is more than she can bear. Yes, yes. He'll change it for her."
"D'ye think it's done?" inquired old Arthur, peering into his companion's face with half-closed eyes.
"I am sure it's done," said Ralph. "He is trying to deceive himself, even before our eyes, already—making believe that he thinks of her good and not his own—acting a virtuous part, and so considerate and affectionate, sir, that the daughter scarcely knew him. I saw a tear of surprise in her eye. There'll be a few more tears of surprise there before long, though of a different kind. Oh! we may wait with confidence for this day week."
