"'She, indeed,' said he carelessly, 'and what does the poor and rather bad tempered Zillah have to say?'
"He sat down by his wife's side, playing with the flowers that lay on her cushions, and did not observe the quick, angry, defiant look that James shot at him as he spoke.
"'Poor girl,' said Mrs. Harrington, as she finished reading the hurried scrawl, 'she is pining to come and join us; she says she is much better, but so lonely and homesick that she feels it will be impossible for her to get well until she is safe with us again.'
"The General shrugged his shoulders.
"'Your spoiled Zillah is seldom contented,' he said, pleasantly enough.
"'Just read the letter,' Mrs. Harrington said, placing it in his hands. 'I am sure you will be sorry for her—she says she feels like a poor little Italian grey-hound left out in the cold.'
"The General read the letter and returned it to his wife, saying—
"'I suppose she is lonely, and since she is well enough to travel, of course she had better come on at once—she can be of service to you, I dare say, even if she is not strong enough to resume her old duties.'
"'I really want to see her, pretty creature,' Mrs. Harrington said, glancing over portions of the letter again.
"'I feel quite lost without her caprices and bad temper—besides, she always knows exactly what is to be done for me, and does it in the best way.'