Yes, certainly Mrs. Stuart held her head high; everybody said so. She held it high literally as well as figuratively, being very tall and thin and upright. A greater contrast could hardly have been found than between this cold-mannered handsome woman, and the bright little roundabout Susan Dunn.
Even towards Archibald, Mrs. Stuart was not gentle or warm in manner. Dearly, even passionately, as she loved her boy, he seldom had from her a look or word of tenderness. She indulged him in many ways, but she expected him always to conform to her will. As yet they had seldom had collisions. Archie was a good-humoured kind-hearted fellow.
"Mother," said he, about an hour after his return, "there's a family of Dunns come here to live. Dunn spoke to me to-day, and said he used to know you and father."
Mrs. Stuart did not seem very much interested. Archibald had to make the remark over again before it brought a response.
"Dunn!" she said indifferently. "Yes, I remember a man of that name. He used to work under your father about the time we were married."
"He seems a nice sort of fellow," Archie observed.
"I never cared much about him. He never came in my way," said Mrs. Stuart.
"But I think they are people we shall like," persisted Archie. "And they don't know anybody here; you might befriend them, I should think. Couldn't you?"
"I dare say I could if I chose," said Mrs. Stuart stiffly.
"And you'll choose, won't you—if I ask it?" Archie put on a coaxing air, sometimes effectual.