"No tramp or vagrant," said Seth indignantly; "an honest man bringing his children into the country in search of health."
"I understand they are not your children."
"They are mine by adoption."
"Are their parents living?"
"This child's mother--don't be frightened, Sally--lives in the country, and is unable to offer her a home. So I take care of her."
"A modern Quixote," said the gentleman, with a sneer. "And this child"--once more he looked at the Duchess, whose eyes were raised to his--"and this child----" The imploring gaze of the Duchess appeared to disconcert him, and the sentence remained unfinished.
A singular silence followed, during which they all looked at the gentleman, whose self-possession had suddenly deserted him. Aroused to the fact that general attention was fixed upon him, he broke the silence, with curious pauses between his words.
"I was asking whether these children are sisters?"
"They are not," replied Seth.
"In any way related?"