'Mr. Bowles told me himself that he must run no risk of
inflammation.'

'You saw Mr. Bowles?'

'I went with Gilbert.'

'You? I never thought of your imposing so unpleasant a task on
yourself. I fear the boy has been trespassing on your kindness.'

'No, indeed, he never asked me, but--' with a sort of laugh to hide
the warmth excited by his pleased, grateful look, 'I thought it all
in the day's work, only natural--'

She would have given anything to have had time to enjoy his
epanchement de coeur at those words, bit she was obliged to add,
'Alas! there's all the world in the drawing-room!'

'Who?'

'Osborns and Drurys.'

'Do you want me?'

'I ran away on the plea of calling you.'

'I'll never do so again,' was her inward addition, as his countenance
settled into the accustomed fixed look of abstraction, and as an
unwilling victim he entered the room with her, and the visitors were