‘Our distinguished friend Mr. Atlee is to arrive to-morrow, Dick tells me,’ said Kate, with the calm tone of one who would not permit herself to be ruffled.
‘Indeed! If your remark has any apropos at all, it must mean that in marrying such a man as he is, one might escape all the difficulties of family coldness, and I protest, as I think of it, the matter has its advantages.’
A faint smile was all Kate’s answer.
‘I cannot make you angry; I have done my best, and it has failed. I am utterly discomfited, and I’ll go to bed.’
‘Good-night,’ said Kate, as she held out her hand.
‘I wonder is it nice to have this angelic temperament—-to be always right in one’s judgments, and never carried away by passion? I half suspect perfection does not mean perfect happiness.’
‘You shall tell me when you are married,’ said Kate, with a laugh; and Nina darted a flashing glance towards her, and swept out of the room.