Page:The Van Roon (IA thevanroon00snaiiala).pdf/30

 "You've come to stay, Miss Gedge, haven't you?"

"Yes," said June, "if I can make myself useful to Uncle Si."

"But aren't you adopted? The master said a fortnight ago he was going to adopt you."

"Uncle Si says I'm half and half at present," said June demurely. "I'm a month on trial. If I suit his ways he says I can stay, but if I don't I must get after a job."

"I hope you will stay," said William with obvious sincerity.

There was enough Woman in the heart of the niece of S. Gedge Antiques to cause her to smile to herself. This was a perfect Simple Simon of a fellow, yet she could not deny that there was something about him which gave her quite a thrill.

"Why do you hope so?" asked Woman, with seeming innocence.

"I don't know why I do, unless it is that you are so perfectly nice to talk to." And the Simpleton grew suddenly red at his own immoderation.

Woman in her cardinal aspect might have said "Really" in a tone of ice; she might even have been tempted to ridicule such a statement made by such a young man; but Woman in the shrewdly perceptive person of June was now aware that this air of quaint sincerity was a thing with which no girl truly wise would dare to trifle. William was William and must be treated accordingly.

"Aren't you very clever?"

She knew he was clever, but for a reason she couldn't divine she was anxious to let him know that she knew it.