39
two bracelets for me to decide between them, Oswald, both lovely. However did they let you carry off two, Ewan?”
“They know me there. I always pay my bills, Myra. I don’t know why, but I do. I suppose it’s the Scotch in me.”
He wished us all good-night.
“Give a kiss to Esther for me,” said Mrs. Henshawe merrily at the door. He made no reply, but bent over her hand and vanished.
“What he really wanted was to show me some verses he’s made for her,” said Mrs. Henshawe, as she came back to the fire. “And very pretty ones they are, for sweet-heart poetry.”
Mr. Henshawe smiled. “Maybe you obliged him with a rhyme or two, my dear? Lydia—” he sat down by my aunt and put his hand on hers—“I’d never feel sure that I did my own courting, if it weren’t that I was a long way off at the time. Myra is so fond of helping young men along. We nearly always have a love affair on hand.”
