He
heard and started with eager interest. He knew the voice, sent his eyes
looking and presently found her who called him. With his great lean
muscular arms he sent the crowd right and left like water, and reached
her in a moment.
"Come! come! don't you hurt her!" shouted Mr. Blaney from the top of his
box. "She ain't nothing to you. She's a old friend o' mine, an' I ain't
a goin' to see her hurt."
"You shut up!" bawled Franks, "or I'll finish the pancake you was meant
for."
Then turning to Hester, who had begun to be a little afraid he too had
been drinking, he pulled off his fur cap, and making the lowest and
politest of stage bows, said briefly,
"Miss Raymount--at your service, miss!"
"I am very glad to see you again, Mr. Franks," said Hester. "Do you
think you could get us out of the crowd?"
"Easy, miss. I'll _carry_ you out of it like a baby, miss, if
you'll let me."
"No, no; that will hardly be necessary," returned Hester, with a smile.
"Go on before, and make a way for us," said the doctor, with an
authority he had no right to assume.
"There is not the least occasion for you to trouble yourself about me
farther," said Hester.
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