"
"It's Dora, not Eugenia," said Mrs. Leah, and instantly the whole
expression of his countenance changed.
"_Dora!_" he exclaimed. "It's a long time since I saw her in
this room. Tell her to come up."
Very gladly Dora obeyed the summons, and in a moment she stood in
the presence of Mr. Hastings.
"I am glad to see you," he said, motioning her to the little
stool, on which she had often sat when reciting to him her
lessons, and when she now sat down, it was so near to him that,
had he chosen, his hand could have rested on her beautiful hair,
for she held her hood upon her lap.
Two months before and he would not have hesitated to smooth these
shining tresses, but the question of his sister, "Do you love
her?" had produced upon him a curious effect, making him half
afraid of the child-woman who sat before him, and who, after
waiting a time for him to speak, looked up into his face, and
said, "Do you want me for anything in particular, Mr. Hastings?"
"Want you, Dora? Want you?" he said, abstractedly, as if that
question, too, had puzzled him; then remembering himself, and why
he had sent for her, he answered, "I want to talk with you, Dora--
to tell you something.
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