Page:Gissing - The Unclassed, vol. I, 1884.djvu/51

 business-like proceeding, and you’ll excuse me if I don’t take it kindly. There’s the door, and good morning to you!”

The door opened, and a young man, looking pale and dismayed, came out quickly, and at once left the house. Behind him came the last speaker. At the sight of the waiting child he stood still, and the expression of his face changed from sour annoyance to annoyed surprise.

“Eh? Well?” he exclaimed, looking closely at Ida, his eye-brows contracting.

“I have a letter for Mr. Abra’m Woodstock, sir.”

“Well, give it here. Who’s it from?”

“Mrs. Starr, sir.”

“Who’s Mrs. Starr? Come in here, will you?”

His short and somewhat angry tone was evidently in some degree the result of the interview that had just closed, but also pretty clearly an indication of his general manner to strangers. He let the child pass him, and followed her into the room with the letter in his hand. He did not seem able to remove his eyes from her face. Ida, on her side, did not dare