Where is he?"
"Oh!" cried the girl, clasping her hands upon her heart, her voice
growing soft, and her eyes dim with a sudden mist. "I am so thankful!
I am so glad!" The change in her voice and in her eyes so affected Mr.
Martin that he put his hands resolutely behind his back lest they should
play him tricks, and should, without his will, get themselves round her
and draw her close to his heart.
"So am I," he said, "awfully glad! Never was so glad in all my life!" He
was more conscious than ever of bewilderment and perplexity in the midst
of increasing problems that complicated themselves with mist brown eyes,
trembling lips, and a voice of such pathetic cadences as aroused in
him an almost uncontrollable desire to exercise his utmost powers of
comfort. And all the while there was growing in his heart a desperate
anxiety as to what would be the final issue of these bewildering desires
and perplexities; when at the extremity of his self-control he was saved
by the girl's suggestion.
"Let us go and find my brother."
"Oh, yes!" cried Martin, "for heaven's sake let us."
"Wait until I get my hat."
"Oh! I wouldn't put on a hat," cried he in dismay.
"Why?" enquired the girl, looking at him with surprised curiosity.
"Oh! because--because you don't need one; it's so beautiful and sunny,
you know.
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