"Mr. Hall," said she aloud, "If Julia's secret will keep, mine will not; and since you are determined to remain here, why you must be a sharer in it; there is no help for it."
"By all means," replied he, coolly, "I am all attention."
"You will only hear part of it; but men are so curious, I dare say you will soon ferret out the rest. Can I trust you?"
"Of course. It is only the fair sex that are not to be trusted."
"I have no time to quarrel with you, or I would resent such a rude speech. Now will you attend, please. I am going to ask you to help me--that is if you will."
"I am desirous of leaving the room without Miss Strickland's knowledge; can you help me to manage it?"
He went over to where Frances still stood by the piano; with huge, ungainly strides, as though a newly ploughed field was under his feet, instead of the soft velvet carpet.
"What an awkward bear he is!" said Anne to her sister, as she watched him; "I shall give him a hint to get drilled, or become a volunteer parson, he would be sure to shoot himself the very first time he handled a rifle; do only look at him Mag, he is like a large tub rolling along."
"Do not abuse him Anne, see how quickly he has done what you wished; I am sure he deserves praise for that."
"I wish he always would do what I wish; and then I should not be tormented with him so often," replied Anne.
Thus, when I felt the force of love, When all the passion fill'd my breast,-- When, trembling, with the storm I strove, And pray'd, but vainly pray'd, for rest; 'Twas tempest all, a dreadful strife For ease, for joy, for more than life: 'Twas every hour to groan and sigh In grief, in fear, in jealousy.
Frances did not look very well pleased when she saw Mr. Hall advancing; in fact turned away her head almost rudely, so that any very timid man would have taken the hint and retreated.
But Mr. Hall, however simple he looked, was not timid; he had a way of always carrying his point. That strong unflinching will of his would have subdued a much more formidable enemy than a proud, weak woman. I say weak, because when a woman gives way to or does not strive against any besetting sin, she lays herself open to attack, and is easily wounded when that most palpable fault is assailed. So it was with Frances.