She had heard their voices.
"Bless you"--she was quite cheerful--"I'm ready to go as far as
they'll carry me! All I ask is that in the next place they'll give
me a window where I can see the boy's lamp when he's built it."
Humility brought in the table and tea-things, and set them out by the
invalid's bed. She went out into the kitchen to look to the kettle.
In that pause Honoria found it difficult to meet Mrs. Venning's eyes;
but the old lady was wise enough to leave grudges to others. It was
enough, in the time left to her, to accept what happened and leave
the responsibility to Providence.
Honoria, replying but scarcely listening to her talk, heard a
footfall at the outer door--Taffy's footfall; then the click of a
latch and Humility's voice saying, "There's a visitor inside; come to
take tea with you."
"A visitor?" He was standing in the doorway. "_You?_" He blushed in
his surprise.
Honoria rose. "If I may," she said, and wondered if she might hold
out a hand.
But he held out his, quite frankly, and laughed. "Why, of course.
They will be lighting up in half an hour. We must make haste."
Once or twice during tea he stole a glance from Honoria to his
mother; and each time fondly believed that it passed undetected. His
talk was all about the light-house and the preparations there, and he
rattled on in the highest spirits.
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