Care of this encumbrance was usually expected of Laura and Mrs. Madison, but to their surprise Cora offered a sprightly rejoinder and presently dropped behind them with Mr. Trumble. Mr. Trumble was also surprised and, as naively, pleased.
“What’s happened?” he asked with cheerful frankness. “You haven’t given me a chance to talk to you for a long while.”
“Haven’t I?” she smiled enigmatically. “I don’t think you’ve tried very hard.”
This was too careless; it did not quite serve, even for Trumble. “What’s up?” he asked, not without shrewdness. “Is Richard Lindley out of town?”
“I don’t know.”
“I see. Perhaps it’s this new chap, Corliss? Has he left?”
“What nonsense! What have they got to do with my being nice to you?” She gave him a dangerous smile, and it wrought upon him visibly.
“Don’t you ever be nice to me unless you mean it,” he said feebly.
Cora looked grave and sweet; she seemed mysteriously moved. “I never do anything I don’t mean,” she said in a low voice which thrilled the little man. This was machine-work, easy and accurate.
“Cora——” he began, breathlessly.