Nessie said nothing, leaving Joan to speak for herself; and Joan’s spirit of truthfulness forced an unwilling confession.
“We are not sisters,” she said curtly.
“Not—ah, only cousins?”
Joan counted him interfering as well as disagreeable.
“We are not sisters really,” she repeated; “but it is just the same as if we were. Nessie, I don’t believe it is any use our waiting for the rain to stop.”
“No,” assented Nessie.
“You cannot possibly walk home in this downpour,” objected Mrs. St. John.
“Yes, we can. It doesn’t matter,” said Joan. “And father would not like us to be out so far-away, after dark.”
“Your father?” queried Mr. Brooke. “I suppose—Mr. Rutherford?”
Joan’s eyes flashed an accompaniment to her “Yes.”