"_ He smiled as he
wrote that, but half shook his head. He did not (such was his code)
enjoy being agreeable for a purpose. "But I can't help it," he
thought, frowning; "she is so very difficult, just now."
He was right about the postscript; she read the letter with a curl of
her lip. "'A few hours,'" she said; then--"'I want you all to
myself.'" The delicate color flooded into her face; she crushed the
letter to her lips, her eyes running over with laughing tears.
"Oh, David," she cried,--"let's go and tell Maggie--we must have such
a dinner! He's coming!"
"Who?" said David.
"Why, Mr. Pryor, dear little boy. I want you to love him. Will you
love him?" "I'll see," said David; "is Alice coming?"
Instantly her gayety flagged. "No, dear, no!"
"Well; I guess she's too old to play with;" David consoled himself;
"she's nineteen."
"I must speak to Maggie about the dinner," Helena said dully. But when
she talked to the woman, interest came back again; this time he should
not complain of his food! Maggie smiled indulgently at her excitement,
"My, Mrs. Richie, I don't believe no wife could take as good care of
Mr. Pryor--and you just his sister!"
For the rest of that glowing afternoon, Helena was very happy. She
almost forgot that uncomfortable scene with Sam Wright. She talked
eagerly of Mr. Pryor to David, quite indifferent to the child's lack
of interest.
Pages:
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187