"Oh, I want you!" he said. "I was afraid you were already gone.--Caroline, come here."
Caroline came, expecting, as Shirley did, a lecture on not having been visible at church. Other subjects, however, occupied the rector's mind.
"I shall not sleep at home to-night," he continued. "I have just met with an old friend, and promised to accompany him. I shall return probably about noon to-morrow. Thomas, the clerk, is engaged, and I cannot get him to sleep in the house, as I usually do when I am absent for a night. Now----"

"Oh, I want you!" he said to Shirley. "I was afraid you were already gone. - Caroline, come here."
Caroline came, expecting a lecture on not having been in church. Other subjects, however, occupied the rector's mind.
"I shall not sleep at home tonight," he continued. "I have just met with an old friend, and promised to accompany him. I shall return probably about noon tomorrow. Thomas, the clerk, is engaged, and cannot sleep in the house as usual when I am absent for a night. Now-"
