"She would be so startled if I did not," she said. "I really think her happiness will be greater if she expects to meet you."
"As you please," he returned, a little coldly. "I believe you are right. Surprises generally are failures."
"Where is Dolf?" Elizabeth asked.
"I sent him on with the steamer to deliver some letters I had brought for various people; he will be up in the morning. He is just the same remarkable darkey as ever. His language is even grander, I think."
When they were sitting over the fire again, Mr. Mellen said:
"Now, tell me everything that has happened; your letters were all so vague."
"I had nothing of importance to write, you know," she answered; "we were very quiet here."
"Has Elsie changed much?" he asked.
"Not at all; gay and thoughtless as ever."
There seemed a suppressed bitterness in her voice. Perhaps that gayety and frivolity had sometimes jarred upon the deeper chords in her own nature.