In asking him a question Nan addressed him as Mr. Knight. Then it was
that he stopped and made his startling request. He addressed them all
but he meant only Nan.
"I wish," he said suddenly, "you would not call me Mr. Knight."
Mr. Ainslee and Billy hid a smile, said nothing and walked on. But Nan
stopped in amazement.
"Why not?" she asked a little breathlessly.
"Nobody else does. I was never called that in India. It makes me feel
lonely, and a stranger here."
"But," Nanny's voice was colorless and almost dreary, even though a
wicked little gleam shot into her eyes, "what in the world shall I call
you? I can't call you--_John_. And 'parson' always did seem to me
rather coarse and disrespectful."
He had stopped when she did and now was looking straight down into her
eyes. Before the hurt and surprise and bewilderment in his face the
wicked little gleam retreated and a deep pink began to flush Nanny's
cheeks. The suspicion crossed her mind that this tall young man from
India with the unconquered eyes and the directness of a child might be
a rather difficult person to deal with.
He just stood there and looked at her and said never a word. Then he
quietly turned and walked on up the road with her.
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