‘Animal does work, sir,’ said the man.

Evan gave directions for it to be looked to, and went on to the doorway, where he was met by a young woman.  She uttered a respectful greeting, and begged him to enter.

The door closed, he flung himself into a chair, and said: 

‘Well, Susan, how is the child?’

‘Oh! he’s always well, Mr. Harrington; he don’t know the tricks o’ trouble yet.’

‘Will Polly be here soon?’

‘At a quarter after nine, she said, sir.’

Evan bade her sit down.  After examining her features quietly, he said: 

’I ’m glad to see you here, Susan.  You don’t regret that you followed my advice?’

’No, sir; now it’s over, I don’t.  Mother’s kind enough, and father doesn’t mention anything.  She’s a-bed with bile—­father’s out.’

‘But what?  There’s something on your mind.’

‘I shall cry, if I begin, Mr. Harrington.’

‘See how far you can get without.’

‘Oh!  Sir, then,’ said Susan, on a sharp rise of her bosom, ’it ain’t my fault.  I wouldn’t cause trouble to Mr. Harry, or any friend of yours; but, sir, father have got hold of his letters to me, and he says, there ’s a promise in ’em—­least, one of ’em; and it’s as good as law, he says—­he heard it in a public-house; and he’s gone over to Fall’field to a law-gentleman there.’  Susan was compelled to give way to some sobs.  ’It ain’t for me—­father does it, sir,’ she pleaded.  ’I tried to stop him, knowing how it’d vex you, Mr. Harrington; but he’s heady about points, though a quiet man ordinary; and he says he don’t expect—­and I know now no gentleman ’d marry such as me—­I ain’t such a stupid gaper at words as I used to be; but father says it’s for the child’s sake, and he does it to have him provided for.  Please, don’t ye be angry with me, sir.’

Susan’s half-controlled spasms here got the better of her.

While Evan was awaiting the return of her calmer senses, the latch was lifted, and Polly appeared.

‘At it again!’ was her sneering comment, after a short survey of her apron-screened sister; and then she bobbed to Evan.

’It’s whimper, whimper, and squeak, squeak, half their lives with some girls.  After that they go wondering they can’t see to thread a needle!  The neighbours, I suppose.  I should like to lift the top off some o’ their houses.  I hope I haven’t kept you, sir.’

‘No, Polly,’ said Evan; ’but you must be charitable, or I shall think you want a lesson yourself.  Mr. Raikes tells me you want to see me.  What is it?  You seem to be correspondents.’

Polly replied:  ’Oh, no, Mr. Harrington:  only accidental ones—­when something particular’s to be said.  And he dances-like on the paper, so that you can’t help laughing.  Isn’t he a very eccentric gentleman, sir?’

‘Very,’ said Evan.  ’I ‘ve no time to lose, Polly.’

‘Here, you must go,’ the latter called to her sister.  ’Now pack at once, Sue.  Do rout out, and do leave off thinking you’ve got a candle at your eyes, for Goodness’ sake!’