hurried to his story hoping that the incident of the lock would secure him attention i think i convinced her that i liked spring days her better than that other fellow we were standing by the lock � i really do think you might listen my dear fellow i am listening you were both looking at the sunset it really is too bad of course if you don t want to hear and would prefer to go to sleep you have only to say so my dear fellow i assure you i wasn t asleep i only closed my eyes because i can t bear the glare of that candle i know where you were � you were looking at the sunset no we weren t weren t they are you asleep no i am not asleep do hold your tongue i want to hear the story you were standing by the lock mr ah yes so they were i felt it was my duty so i told her that i felt it was my mission to save � to save her from that man and i made her promise me not to see him again then it is all right nobody can be more glad than i am i hate the fellow she will not keep her promise of course she may only have done it to me but as we were going home she said she could not walk out of the room if she happened to be there when he called nor could she leave word with the servants to say that they were not at home � she made a lot of excuses what are you laughing at mrs i am really very sorry mr but i could not help wondering if she would change her mind again if you were to go back to the lock spring days frank took up the candle and turned to go don t go murmured faintly i am very sorry mr � if circumstances permitted i would do all i could to help you this was delicate ground and woke up what do you want me to do have you anything to suggest yes it struck me that we might both go round to the fellow s hotel � you call him i think and you might tell him that his visits must cease at the house and that he must not speak to your sister if he should happen to meet her that should bring the matter to an end he is in � he is staying at the grand we might go round there to morrow morning he might kick us out i only hope he may try i would give him such a but you need not be afraid of that it would not do to have s name mentioned in connection with a vulgar � people are not too charitable my idea is that this business should be conducted in the and most gentlemanly manner possible i think i had better speak to father first no necessity he will be only too glad to get rid of the brute don t you think so mrs i do they then spoke of other things � of the shop the profit they had made on and the losses that had resulted from over themselves with flour at last a loud brought the conversation to a full stop and frank hurriedly bade them good night will let you out said vith a sigh of relief ki spring days the little girl had pulled on her stockings and tied a round her waist so you are going to be married oh you have been listening is she very nice she must be very nice for you to marry her i should like to marry you would you and why oh because you are so very handsome but you will come and see us all the same and let me sit on your knee of course i will and now good night next morning declared himself ready to go and see mr charles and to tell him that he was not to call any more at the house or speak to miss if he should happen to meet her frank wondered if this decision was owing to mrs influence i slept last night at the grand it seemed odd sleeping in the same house � perhaps within a few doors of him if you only knew how i love her if i could only tell you you would pity me you ought to know what i feel � the anxiety the heart ache i know you have gone through it all yes i think i know what it is replied thoughtfully mr is staying here will you inquire at the office sir while the books were being searched the young men consulted together frank said send up your card and say you will be glad to speak to him on a matter of importance of course he will see you but before you speak about you must for my presence you must say that i am a very particular spring days friend and that you thought it better that the interview should take place in the presence of a witness i wish it were all over i would not do what i am doing for any one else i can tell you frank mr is in the hotel sir will you give him my card and say i should be glad to speak to him on a matter of importance very good sir in an to frank was that right quite right oh one thing i had forgotten to ask you am i to shake hands with him you mean if he you his hand yes it is impossible to settle everything beforehand one must act according as the occasion requires that s all very well for you but i am a slow man and am lost if i don 