Victor shrugged his shoulders. HE knew more than Edith thought he
did, and waited like herself for Richard's answer. Richard HAD
intended to remain at home, but it seemed that Edith expected him
to go, by her saying WE, and rather than disappoint her he began
to think seriously of martyring himself again. Something like this
he said, adding that he found it vastly tedious, but was willing
to endure it for Edith's sake.
"Pardonnez moi, Monsieur," said Victor, who for the sake of Edith,
would sometimes stretch the truth, "I saw Mr. Floyd yesterday, and
he is coming here this morning to talk with you about the west
wood lot you offered for sale. Hadn't you better stay home for
once and let Miss Edith go alone."
Edith gave a most grateful look t Victor, who had only substituted
"this morning" for "some time to-day," the latter being what Mr.
Floyd had really said.
"Perhaps I had," returned Richard. "I want so much to sell that
lot, but if Edith---"
"Never mind me, Mr. Harrington," she cried; "I have not been on
Bedouin's back in so long a time that he is getting quite
unmanageable, they say, and I shall be delighted to discipline him
this morning; the roads are quite fine for winter, are they not
Victor?"
"Never were better," returned the Frenchman; smooth and hard as a
rock.
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