She walked on. The woman's words and her eager look of curiosity were dreadful to her; nevertheless, she knew that her father Jingling the change in his hand he shook his head, under similar circumstances, would have been very patient with this woman.
By and by she arrived at the heavy front door of the old Grange. She walked up the steps and rang the bell.
The door was opened almost immediately by a servant in livery. He knew Effie, and asked her in.
"Is the Squire at home?" she asked.
"I am not sure, miss, but I'll inquire. Will you step in here while I go to ask?"
The man opened the door of a little sitting room. Effie went in, and he closed it softly behind him.
After what seemed a very short time, she heard eager steps coming along the hall—the room door was flung open, and Squire Harvey, accompanied by his wife, came in.
Mrs. Harvey looked like a shadow—but her sweet face had a tender blush-rose color about it, her eyes had the intensely clear look which long illness gives; she was better, but she looked so frail and delicate that Effie's heart went out to her.
"My dear child," said Mrs. Harvey, "how good, how very good of you to come! I am only just downstairs. Dr. Edwards only allowed me down yesterday, but I could not resist coming to welcome you myself. Won't you come into my sitting room?91 It is just at the opposite side of the hall. I'll send Rhoda upstairs to fetch little Freda. She will be so enraptured at seeing you. Come, my dear. Now that we have got you, we won't let you go in a hurry. I think it so sweet of you to come to see us, and under the circumstances. Don't you think it is sweet of her, Walter, dear?"
Squire Harvey had more perception of character than his wife. He noticed how white Effie's face grew; he noticed the pathetic trembling of her hands.
"My dear," he said, "perhaps Miss Staunton wishes to see me by herself. I understood from the servant that she had asked for me."
"Yes, I did want to see you very much," said Effie.
"Of course, dear little thing," interrupted Mrs. Harvey; "but I'll stay while you talk to her. I am immensely interested in you. Miss Staunton. I can never forget, as long as I live, what you and yours have done for us."
"Please don't talk of it now," said Effie. "I mean—I know how kindly you feel, and indeed I am not ungrateful, but I cannot bear to talk it over, and I want very badly, please, to say something to the Squire."
"Come with me to my study, Miss Staunton," said the Squire.
He opened the door, and Effie followed him.
