Nellie’s eyes dwelt on her cousin with an amusement worse than anger. “I don’t think I shall ever fall in love with Bob,” she answered, and Emmons, who was sitting beside her, could not repress a slight sniff of contempt.
Mrs. Raikes approached her host.
“Good-night, Mr. Lee. Thank you for such a pleasant after-dinner surprise. Good-night, Mr. Robert Lee. Will you come and dine with me some night? I always keep a fatted calf on hand.”
Vickers laughed. “Don’t you think I’ll get it at home?” he asked.
“Well, you know, Nellie is the housekeeper,” They both glanced at the girl’s impassive countenance, and smiled at each other. They, at least, were going to be friends.
Even after the guests were gone, and the three stood alone on the hearth-rug, Nellie remained silent.
Vickers could not resist saying lightly:
“You don’t seem very glad to see me, Nellie.”
“On the contrary,” she answered, with meaning. “Don’t sit up too late talking to Bob, Uncle Robert,” and with the curtest of nods she was gone.
He turned to Mr. Lee and observed with some bitterness that Nellie’s manner was not very cordial.