A flush passed over her face and
died away as she came.
"You honor our poor house once more?" she said, dropping a mock
courtesy. "I thought you had deserted us."
I was surprised at this line of attack, and for a moment my little army
of ideas was thrown into confusion. I felt, rather than heard, the
undertone that carried the real meaning of her words.
"Not I," said I stoutly, recovering myself, and holding out my hand. I
saw there was a little play to be carried on for the benefit of Mrs.
Knapp. For some reason she had not confided in her mother. "Not I. I am
always your very humble knight."
I saw that Mrs. Knapp was looking at us curiously, and pressed my
advantage. Luella took my hand unwillingly. I was ready to dare a good
deal for the clasp of her fingers, but I scarcely felt the thrill of
their touch before she had snatched them away.
"There's nothing but pretty speeches to be had from you--and quotations
at that," she said. There was malice under the seeming innocence of a
pretended pout.
"There's nothing that could be so becoming in the circumstances."
"Except common sense," frowned Luella.
"The most uncommon of qualities, my dear," laughed Mrs. Knapp. "Sit
down, children. I must see to Mr. Carter, who is lost by the portiere
and will never be discovered unless I rescue him."
"Take him to dear Aunt Julia," said Luella as her mother left us.
"Dear Aunt Julia," I inferred, was Mrs. Bowser.
I was certain that Mr.
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