"I think Milly'll be here in a minute," I stammered, and then I stopped,
tongue-tied and blushing.
He came towards me, saying abruptly: "May I tell you what I thought when I
saw you above us--" I didn't need to ask when or where. "--I thought: The
Queen has come to her coronation."
One's own stupid self is so perverse! Of course I meant to thank him for
his silent help the night before, but I asked with a rush of nervous
confusion:--
"You--were you there?"
I could have suffered torture sooner than own that I had seen him.
"Were you there, Ned?" repeated Milly, blundering into the room. "Why, we
didn't see you."
Of all vexatious interruptions! Behind her came John and most of the
family.
"The servant of The Presence would fain know if The Presence is well,"
John said, coming quickly to my side and peering down at me with a dark,
worn look upon his face, as if he hadn't slept, and a catch in his voice
that irritated me, in spite of his playful words. I knew well enough that
his anxiety had been on my account, but it was so unnecessary!
"The child bears up wonderfully," cried my Aunt, before I could answer;
"but to-morrow'll tell the story; to-morrow she'll feel the strain.
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