"
"Oh, Mr. Beverley!" she sighed, looking up at him with tear-dimmed
eyes, but with the ghost of a smile hovering round her scarlet lips,
"I thank you,--indeed, indeed I do, but how can I? How may I?"
"Quite easily," said Barnabas stoutly, "oh quite--until I bring your
father to you."
"Dear, dear father!" she sighed. "Is he much changed, I wonder? Is
he well,--quite well?"
"Yes, he is very well," answered Barnabas, "but you--indeed you
cannot stay here--"
"I must," she answered. "I can earn enough for my needs with my
needle, and poor little Nick is very kind--so gentle and considerate
in spite of his great, rough voice and fierce ways. I think he is
the gentlest little man in all the world. He actually refused to
take my money at first, until I threatened to go somewhere else."
"But how did you find your way to--such a place as this?"
"Milo brought me here."
"The Viscount's little imp of a groom?"
"Yes, though he promised never to tell--_him_ where I was, and Milo
always keeps his word. And you, Mr. Beverley, you will promise also,
won't you?"
"You mean--never to tell the Viscount of your whereabouts?"
Clemency nodded.
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