"Papa said he had made you a director."
"Yes," I said, taking my cue from her manner. "I have the happiness to
share the honor with three other dummies. Your father makes the fifth."
"How absurd!" laughed Luella. "Do you want to provoke me?"
"Oh, of course, I mean that your father does the thinking, and--"
"And you punch the head he points out to you, I suppose," said Luella
sarcastically.
"Exactly," I said. "And--"
"Don't mind me, Henry," interrupted the voice of Mrs. Knapp.
"But I must," said I, giving her greeting. "What service do you
require?"
"Tell me what you have been doing."
"I have just been telling Miss Luella."
"And what, may I ask?"
"I was explaining this morning's troubles."
"Oh, I heard a little of them from Mr. Knapp. Have you had any more of
your adventures at Borton's and other dreadful places?"
I glanced at Luella. She was leaning forward, her chin resting on her
hand, and her eyes were fixed on me with close attention. "I should
like to hear of them, too," she said.
I considered a moment, and then, as I could see no reason for keeping
silent, I gave a somewhat abridged account of my Livermore trip,
omitting reference to the strange vagaries of the Doddridge Knapp who
traveled by night.
I had reason to be flattered by the attention of my audience. Both
women leaned forward with wide-open eyes, and followed every word with
eager interest.
"That was a dreadful danger you escaped," said Mrs.
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