"Such a gallant speech deserves that I should elucidate," said his son. "Don't you think I should tell him, Miss Ferguson?" And without waiting for a reply he said: "In Miss Ferguson and Miss Waite you see the blind girls whom you were ready to send to the insane asylum."
"Dear me, dear me," the old gentleman began protesting, "that is too bad, too bad of you, Van."
"What's all this?" asked Stuart. "I haven't heard any tale of this kind. What have you been up to, Janet?"
Then the whole story came out, and there was much laughter and many teasing remarks, and afterward all were upon a more familiar footing.
"We are going to have a giddy-gaddy time," Janet told her brother when she had the opportunity of a few moments' talk with him.
"When and where?"
"This summer. I've asked Rosalie and Edna for part of the summer, and Cordelia and Lee for the other part. Mamma said I might."
"Well, I can match you, for I am going to have Van and McBride down for a few weeks. I've promised them all the fishing and sailing they want, and if I add the society of some pretty girls, I don't see what more they can want. What larks we can have. How about the fair maid Marian, why don't you ask her?"
"I have asked her, but she can't come because she is going abroad to join Miss Minnie Austin. I'd like to have Becky Burdett, but nothing will persuade her to give up the Maine coast. I want you to meet Becky, Stuart. She is great."
"Here, here," said the elder Mr. Austin coming up; "this will never do. We can't allow brothers and sisters to pair off in this way. You can see enough of your brother at home, Miss Ferguson; we want him to let us have you this evening."