“Then it was you who told them about it,” said Mrs. Hale reproachfully.
“No,” said Kate indignantly. “Of course I didn't.” She stopped, and, reading the significance of her speech in the glistening eyes of her sister, she blushed. Josephine kissed her, and said—
“It WAS treating us like children, Kate, but we must make them pay for it hereafter. For that package and letter to John means something, and we shall probably see them before long. I wonder what the letter is about, and what is in the package?”
“Probably one of Mr. Lee's jokes. He is quite capable of turning the whole thing into ridicule. I dare say he considers his visit here a prolonged jest.”
“With his poor leg, Kate? You are as unfair to him as you were to Falkner when they first came.”
Kate, however, kept her dark eyebrows knitted in a piquant frown.
“To think of his intimating WHAT he would allow Falkner to say! And yet you believe he has no evil influence over the young man.”
Mrs. Hale laughed. “Where are you going so fast, Kate?” she called mischievously, as the young lady flounced out of the room.
“Where? Why, to tidy John's room. He may be coming at any moment now. Or do you want to do it yourself?”
“No, no,” returned Mrs. Hale hurriedly; “you do it. I'll look in a little later on.”