"And when did you see your charming friend, Mrs. Harrington, last?" asked Mr. Rhodes.
"The oddest thing!" said Elsie. "Why, she is here now; hadn't you a suspicion of it, Mr. Rhodes?"
Miss Jemima's face changed so suddenly, that Tom made a great effort to keep from laughing outright.
"Oh, Mr. Rhodes," continued Elsie; "I am afraid the attractions of this house are only borrowed ones."
The good man was thrown into a state of blushing and pleasant confusion, but the spinster brought him through it without mercy.
"If there's company we won't stay, pa," said she.
But Elsie would not permit her to go; she whispered again about Tom, and between her desire to stop long enough to fascinate him and her fear of exposing her father to the wiles of the artful widow, Jemima was in terrible perplexity.
In the midst of it Elizabeth entered, and welcomed her neighbors; Mellen followed; and after a few moments the widow swooped down on the unfortunate Mr. Rhodes in spite of the dragon, as a well-practised hawk pounces on a plump chicken.
"Ah, Mr. Rhodes, this is such a surprise," she cried, fluttering up to him with a simper on her face, which of late years had done the duty of a blush.
"I dare say a great surprise," snapped in Jemima, siding up to her father.