Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/97
“No. It is not necessary: she is a good girl and will come soon.”
However, when the servant had gone Mrs. Harnham arose, went up to her room, cloaked and bonneted herself, and proceeded downstairs, where she found her husband.
“I want to see the fair,” she said, “and I am going to look for Anna. I have made myself responsible for her, and must see she comes to no harm. She ought to be in-doors. Will you come with me ?”
“Oh, she's all right. I saw her on one of those whirligig things, talking to her young man as I came in. But I'll go if you wish, though I'd rather go a hundred miles the other way.”
“Then please do so. I shall come to no harm alone.”
She left the house and entered the crowd which thronged the market-place, where she soon discovered Anna, seated on the revolving horse. Aa scon as it stopped Mrs. Harnham advanced and said, severely, “ Anna, how can you be sach a wild girl? You were only to be out for ten minutes,”
Anna looked blank, and the young man, who had dropped into the background, came to her assistance.
“Please don’t blame her,” he said, politely. “It is my fault that she has stayed. She looked so graceful ou the horse that I induced her to go round again. I assure you that she has been quite safe.”
“In that case I'll leave her in your hands,” said Mrs. Harnham, turning to retrace her steps.
But this for the moment it was not sé easy to do. Something had attracted the crowd to a spot in their rear, and the wine -merchant’a wife, caught by its sway, found herself pressed against Anna’s acquaintance without power to move away. Their faces were within a few inches of each other, his breath fanned