“I was to look over the pictures,” he explained, noticing her hesitancy.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible to-day,” she told him in a tone of constraint.
“But your aunt asked me to,” he reminded her.
“I know, but there has been an accident.”
“A serious one?” he asked.
“I hope not. But my Aunt Georgina slipped on the attic steps and sprained her ankle. It’s paining her a great deal, and she has gone to bed.”
“Could I possibly see her?”
A ghost of a smile appeared on the girl’s face. It would not be easy to explain to him that no living man had ever beheld her Aunt Georgina in bed. So she merely shook her head.
“Then how about your Aunt Lavinia?”
Again the girl shook her head.