“Nor of myself?”
“Not a word. I don't believe he was aware that we were related to each other.”
“He not aware? Why, it's his boast that he knows every one and every one's connections. You never heard him speak without this parade of universal acquaintanceship. But why did he come here? How did you happen to meet him?”
“By the merest accident. Tom found him one day fishing the river close to our house, and they got to talk together; and it ended by his coming to us to tea. Intimacy followed very quickly, and then a close friendship.”
“And do you mean to tell me that all this while he never alluded to us?”
“Never.”
“This is so unlike him,—so unlike him,” muttered she, half to herself. “And the last place you saw him,—where was it?”
“Here in this house.”
“Here! Do you mean that he came here to see you?”
“No; he had some business with grandpapa, and called one morning, but he was not received. Grandpapa was not well, and sent Colonel Sewell to meet him.”