'He knows how to take care of himself. He'll be all right,' cried the
young man heartily.
'If you could get some o' the boys to let him know I wasn't safe from a
sundowner, or a drunken drover, or someone, I'd be much obliged,' said
Mrs. Haddon.
'Very well,' replied Harry, laughing. 'I'll manage that.'
Mrs. Haddon smiled through her tears, much comforted, and turned her mind
to other things. Within the space of about two minutes she had satisfied
herself that no woman in all the world would make Harry Hardy a better
wife than Christina Shine, and, being convinced, it was manifestly her
duty to help the good cause.
'Won't you stay awhile an' keep me company, Christina?' she asked.
'Harry'll see you home.'
Miss Chris would stay with pleasure, but she couldn't think of troubling
Mr. Hardy, and she said so with a girl's shyness. Mr. Hardy stammered a
little and tried to say that it would be no trouble at all, but the
effort was not a brilliant success considered as a compliment. He longed
to stay, and yet hated and feared to stay. This anomalous frame of mind
was new; it confused and staggered him. He seemed to be swayed by an
external impulse, and resented it with miserable self-deceit. But he
stayed.
Harry did not greatly enrich the conversation during the hour spent in
Mrs. Haddon's kitchen, but he found his eyes drawn to the handsome
profile of Christina Shine, standing out in its soft fairness against the
dark wall like a wonderfully carven cameo.
Pages:
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143