All the coquettish look was
gone.
William turned around, and looked helplessly at Barney, and Barney
looked back at him. Then Barney put on his hat, and shrugged himself
more closely into his great-coat.
"I'll go and get the minister," he said.
Mrs. Sloane thrust her chin out alertly. "Goin' to get her married
right off?" she asked, with a confidential smile.
Barney ignored her. "I guess it's the best way to do," he said,
sternly, to William; and William nodded.
"Well, I guess 'tis the best way," Mrs. Sloane said, with cheerful
assent. "I don't b'lieve you could hire her to come out of that room
an' go to the minister's, nohow. She's terrible upset, poor thing."
As Barney went out of the door he cast a look full of involuntary
suspicion back at William, and hesitated a second on the threshold.
Mrs. Sloane intercepted the look. "I'll look out he don't run away
while you're gone," she said; then she laughed.
William's white face flamed up suddenly, but he made no reply. When
Barney had gone he drew a chair up close to the hearth, and sat
there, bent over, with his elbows on his knees. Mrs. Sloane sat down
on the foot of the bed, close to the door of the other room, as if
she were mounting guard over it. She kept looking at William, and
smiling, and opening her mouth to speak, then checking herself.
"It's a pretty cold day," she said, finally.
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