Miss Barry cleared her throat. "Harriet wishes to put herself on record," she said distinctly, "as entirely disowning any such feeling toward Mr. King as you expressed."
"You know he is her husband's cousin," returned Linda passively. "One must keep harmony in a family."
"More than that, Linda Barry," continued her aunt crisply, "that young man would have had to be guilty of designing your father's downfall to deserve such words and such a manner as yours."
The girl eyed the speaker steadily, and again the fire of excitement glowed in her look.
"You saw that he could not answer my question."
"I saw that he would not."
"It would be a good plan for you to talk with some of the prominent business men of the town," remarked Linda, the light going out of her eyes.
"I don't need any business man to tell me that that poor boy is about used up—and in whose service, pray? Answer me that, Linda Barry."
"Mammon," was the sententious reply.
"Pshaw!" ejaculated her aunt. "A clever man like your father didn't trust that man for no reason. Harriet's and my heart just ached for the poor fellow this afternoon. I thought for a minute after you went out that he was going to faint."