His hands, clasped lightly in front of him, trembled incessantly.

Little as I liked the man, he did really impress me as a pitiable object at that moment.
"Do you mean that you want to speak to me to-night ?" Naomi asked, in undisguised surprise.
"Yes, miss, if you please, at your leisure and at Mr.Lefrank's." Naomi hesitated.
"Won't it keep till to-morrow ?" she said.
"I shall be away on farm business to-morrow, miss, for the whole day.
Please to give me a few minutes this evening." He advanced a step toward her; his voice faltered, and dropped timidly to a whisper.

"I really have something to say to you, Miss Naomi.

It would be a kindness on your part--a very, very great kindness--if you will let me say it before I rest to-night." I rose again to resign my place to him.

Once more Naomi checked me.
"No," she said.