"He is probably fishing for a tip," said Nell. "It seems to me that
I've seen those symptoms before in a less violent form."
"Don't you tip him," commanded their father. "I'll attend to all that," and he beckoned to Pelletan with his finger and whispered a rapid sentence in his ear.
"What did you say to him, dad?" inquired Sue, gazing in some astonishment after their host's retreating coat-tails.
"I told him to go 'way back and sit down," answered Rushford, going calmly on with his meal.
"Dad, is it true that Lord Vernon is to arrive to-morrow morning?"
"I suppose so."
"In a ship of war?"
"Yes—I've heard that, too."
"You'll take us down to the beach, won't you, dad?"
"What! A free-born American citizen go toadying after the English aristocracy!"