"
"Oh, come, now--what nonsense! Of course the mater was a teeny bit
disappointed--that's all. Just a teeny bit. But now it's all over."
"Well, _I_ was a WHOLE LOT disappointed--an' it's all over with me,
too." She started again to get away from him, but he stepped in
front of her.
"Don't go for a minute. Why not forget the whole thing and let's all
settle down into nice, cosy, jolly little pals, eh?"
He was really beginning to warm to his work the more she made
difficulties. It was for Alaric to overcome them. The family roof
was at stake. He had gone chivalrously to the rescue. He was feeling
a gleam of real enthusiasm. Peg's reply threw a damper again on his
progress.
"Forget it, is it? No--I'll not forget it. My memory is not so
convaynient. You're not goin' to be disgraced again through me!" She
passed him and went on to the landing. He followed her eagerly.
"Just a moment," he cried, stopping her just by an a oriel window.
She paused in the centre of the glow that radiated from its panes.
"What is it, now?" she asked impatiently. She wanted to go back to
her room and make her final preparations.
Alaric looked at her with what he meant to be adoration in his eyes.
"Do you know, I've grown really awfully fond of you?" His voice
quivered and broke.
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