Her brother's face is flashed with indignation. "I am glad you had the grace to come, Gertrude," he exclaims, pointedly, and takes her over to Violet, who looks up entreatingly at the tall figure.
"Oh," she says, confusedly, "what a little dot you are! And Violet is such a pretty name for you."
"I hope you will like me. I hope——"
"If you can put up with me," is the rejoinder. "I am in wretched health and scarcely stir from my sofa, but I am sure I shall like you"; and Gertrude resolves bravely that she will be on the side of the new wife, if it does not cost her too much exertion.
"What a lovely house!" and Violet draws a long, satisfied breath. "And the river is so near."
"You must never go without Jane," annotates Cecil; "must she, papa?"
They all smile at this. "I should not like to have her lost," says papa, gravely.
"Do you ever go out rowing or sailing?"
"I never do," and Gertrude shudders. "I cannot bear the heat of the sun or the chill of evening. But we have boats."
"And I am a crack oarsman," says Grandon. "I shall practise up for a match."