Alban Morris--discovered by Emily in concealment among the trees--was not content with retiring to another part of the grounds.
Alban Morris looked at her with his grimly humorous smile.
"What does mother do when you bring the jug back safe and sound?" Alban asked.
Alban carried the jug until they were within sight of the laborer.
On the point of hurrying away, without a word of farewell, she remembered the laws of politeness as taught at the infant school--and dropped her little curtsey--and said, "Thank you, sir." That bitter sense of injury was still in Alban's mind as he looked after her.
Her manner, like her dress, said as plainly as words could speak, "No matter how long I may have lived, I mean to be young and charming to the end of my days." To Alban's surprise she stopped and addressed him.
Careless to conceal the unfavorable impression that she had produced on him, Alban answered roughly, "Straight on," and tried to pass her.
Alban felt the reproof; she had appealed to his most readily-impressible sense--his sense of humor.
Alban was on the point of suggesting that she should go on to the school, and make her inquiries there--when he happened to notice her eyes.
Still examining the housekeeper with mingled feelings of interest and distrust, Alban answered ungraciously: