So I have just
brought her to you to know if her mother's old friend thinks it is a
right thing for Kathleen Elmsdale's daughter to put herself under the
feet of a parcel of ignorant, purse-proud snobs?"
Mr. Craven looked at the girl kindly. "My dear," he said, "I think, I
believe, there will be no necessity for you to do anything of that kind.
We have found a person--have we not, Patterson?--willing to devote
himself to solving the River Hall mystery. So, for the present at all
events, Helena--"
He paused, for Helena had risen from her seat and crossed the room to
where I sat.
"Aunt, aunt," she said, "this is the gentleman who stopped the horses,"
and before I could speak a word she held my hand in hers, and was
thanking me once again with her beautiful eyes.
Miss Blake turned and glared upon me. "Oh! it was you, was it?" she
said, ungraciously. "Well, it is just what I might have expected, and me
hoping all the time it was a lord or a baronet, at the least."
We all laughed--even Miss Elmsdale laughed at this frank
confession; but when the ladies were gone, Mr. Craven, looking at
me pityingly, remarked:
"This is a most unfortunate business, Patterson. I hope--I do hope, you
will not be so foolish as to fall in love with Miss Elmsdale.
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