I am not one to turn a deaf ear to the cry of the orphan and fatherless." Mr.Wordley frowned and reddened, and cut in before Mr.John Heron could finish his sentence even more offensively, and so rouse Ida's spirit, and render his offer impossible of acceptance.
"Quite so, quite so, my dear sir," he said.

"I am quite sure you will feel only too delighted and honoured at the prospect of taking this dear child into your family." "Yes," said Mr.Heron, unctuously, "we will take her in as a lamb gathered into the fold, as a brand is plucked from the burning." Ida looked at him half stupefied, and it is to be feared some doubts of his sanity arose in her mind.
"Quite so, quite so," interrupted Mr.Wordley again.

"Then I think the sooner Miss Ida joins you the better; and I would suggest that she goes with you to-morrow.

I will close the house and leave Jessie, the maid-servant, and Jason in charge.

You and Miss Ida can depend on my guarding her interests as jealously as if they were my own.