The chat at table was far more gay and spontaneous than it had been on the night of their arrival, for all had become used to each other's ways, and had grown to like each other very much. Mr. Forbes, too, had changed from a stiff, somewhat embarrassed host to a genial, even gay comrade. He asked all about their doings of the day, and they told him, with gay stories of funny episodes.
Dolly watched Alicia, but except that her eyes were unusually bright and her laughter very frequent, the Western girl showed no especial excitement.
After dinner they all went to the drawing-room, and it was with a feeling of real sadness that Dolly realised it was for the last time.
Mr. Forbes walked up and down the room as he often did, and then paused in front of the group of girls who were standing by the piano.
"Sit down, girlies," he said; "Alicia and Bernice, sit on that sofa, please,—you two D's on that one."
Uncle Jeff was smiling, but still, there seemed to be an undercurrent of seriousness in his tone, that implied a special talk.
"Did it ever occur to any of you," he began, "that I invited you here for something beside a mere desire to give you young people some pleasure?"
"Why, you've practically said so to us, Uncle Jeff," laughed Alicia; "are you going to tell us your reason?"
"Yes, I am. And I'm going to tell you now."
Mr. Forbes sat down in an easy chair, in such a position that he could look straight at all the girls, but his gaze rested on his two nieces.