Look forward to the day when little Mary will have gown up to be a young woman; and I will answer, Mrs.Peckover, for your doing full justice to the importance of my friend's offer." "I know it's all true, sir; I know I'm an ungrateful, selfish wretch--but only give me a little time to think; a little time longer to be with the poor darling that I love like my own child!" Doctor Joyce was just drawing his chair closer to Mrs.Peckover before he answered, when the door opened, and the respectable Vance softly entered the room.
"What do you want here ?" said the rector, a little irritably.

"Didn't I tell you not to come in again till I rang for you ?' "I beg your pardon, sir," answered Vance, casting rather a malicious look at the clown's wife as he closed the door behind him--"but there's a person waiting in the hall, who says he comes on important business, and must see you directly." "Who is he?
What's his name ?" "He says his name is Jubber, if you please, sir." Mrs.Peckover started from her chair with a scream.

"Don't--pray, for mercy's sake, sir, don't let him into the garden where Mary is!" she gasped, clutching Doctor Joyce by the arm in the extremity of her terror.

"He's found us out, and come here in one of his dreadful passions! He cares for nothing and for nobody, sir: he's bad enough to ill-treat her even before you.

What am I to do?
Oh, good gracious heavens! what am I to do ?" "Leave everything to me, and sit down again," said the rector kindly.
Then, turning to Vance, he added:--"Show Mr.Jubber into the cloak-room, and say I will be with him directly." "Now, Mrs.Peckover," continued Doctor Joyce, in the most perfectly composed manner, "before I see this man (whose business I can guess at) I have three important questions to ask of you.