"
"But I found I must go to-day. I can give you three minutes. Is it
anything particular?"
Lord Hartledon drew him into his room. "I have come to crave a favour,
Carr. It has been on my lips to ask you before, but they would not frame
the words. This child of mine: will you be its godfather with myself?"
One moment's hesitation, quite perceptible to the sensitive mind of Lord
Hartledon, and then Mr. Carr spoke out bravely and cheerily.
"Of course I will."
"I see you hesitate: but I do not like to ask any one else."
"If I hesitated, it was at the thought of the grave responsibility
attaching to the office. I believe I look upon it in a more serious light
than most people do, and have never accepted the charge yet. I will be
sponsor to this one with all my heart."
Lord Hartledon clasped his hand in reply, and they began to descend
the stairs. "Poor Maude was dreaming of making a grand thing of the
christening," he said; "she wanted to ask Lord Kirton to come to it.
It will take place in about a fortnight."
"Very well; I must run up for it, unless you let me stand by proxy.
I wish, Hartledon, you would hear me on another point," added the
barrister, halting on the stairs, and dropping his voice to a whisper.
"Well?"
"If you are to go away at all, now's the time. Can't you be seized with
an exploring fit, and sail to Africa, or some other place, where your
travels would occupy years?"
Lord Hartledon shook his head.
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