She roused herself and looked calmly at him, shaking her head.
"You are mistaken," she declared. "It is nothing to me."
"To some one you know, then,—to your sister?"
"How could it be anything to her, if not to me?"
"True; I beg your pardon; but you seem to feel a personal disappointment."
"You do not understand me very well," said she, and turned towards the door in welcome of her sister, who just then came in. She was followed by Doris with a tray on which were heaped masses of black and white cherries in bountiful profusion.
"From our own trees," said Emma, as she handed him a plate.
He made his acknowledgments, and leaned forward to take the cherries which Doris offered him.
"Sir," whispered that woman, as she pushed into view a little note which she held in her hand under the tray, "just read this, and I won't disobey you again. It's something you ought to know. For the young ladies' sakes do read it, sir."
He was very angry, and cast her a displeased look, but he took the note. Hermione was at the other end of the room, and Emma was leaning over her aunt, so the action was not seen; but he felt guilty of a discourtesy for all that, and ate his cherries with a disturbed mind. Doris, on the contrary, looked triumphant, and passed from one to the other with a very cheerful smile.