'But I think you are right,' he growled.
'Why do you make yourself disagreeable then?' she asked, sitting down on the stool at his feet.
Not a word was spoken for half an hour; at the end of which time our visitor rose, just as if she were the mistress of the house, and remarked that now she did think it time we were all in bed.
'Good-night,' she said, giving him her hand; 'I hope I haven't vexed you.' She held up her face to him to be kissed, but he did not avail himself of the invitation, and retired to his room.
'He is a very strange man,' she said to us, and I don't quite know whether I like him or whether I don't. Good-night, Chris.'
'Good-night, Jessie.'
My mind was full of her and her quaint ways as I undressed myself, and I found myself unconsciously repeating, 'Good-night, Jessie! Jessie! Jessie!' Her name was to me the sweetest of morsels. 'I am glad she has come,' I thought; 'I hope she will stop.' I had not been in my room two minutes before I heard her knocking at the door of the room in which uncle Bryan slept. I crept to the wall to listen.
'Do you hear me?' she said. 'You can't be asleep already.'
But no response came from uncle Bryan.
'Do answer me!' she continued. 'If you think I have been rude to you, I am very sorry. I shall catch my death of cold if I stand here long. Say, good-night, Jessie!'