'
'Thank you. Miss Lilias,' he answered, with a bow and a little laugh, as
it seemed just the least bit in the world piqued; 'I know she would do
it zealously; but neither so well nor so wisely as others might; I wish
I dare ask _you_ to lecture me.'
'I!' said that young lady. 'Oh, yes, I forgot,' she went on merrily,'
five years ago, when I was a little girl, you once called me Dr.
Walsingham's curate, I was so grave--do you remember?'
She did not know how much obliged Devereux was to her for remembering
that poor little joke, and how much the handsome lieutenant would have
given, at that instant, to kiss the hand of the grave little girl of
five years ago.
'I was a more impudent fellow then,' he said, 'than I am now; won't you
forget my old impertinences, and allow me to make atonement, and be
your--your _very_ humble servant now?'
She laughed. 'Not my servant--but you know I can't help you being my
parishioner.'
'And as such surely I may plead an humble right to your counsels and
reproof. Yes, you _shall_ lecture me--I'll bear it from none but _you_,
and the more you do it, the happier, at least, you make me,' he said.
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