“H'm. I read the letters, and I judged from them that one can trust her. Will you be seated?” He placed a chair. “I should like to ask your plans for the summer.”
Mrs. Evringham looked up quickly, startled. “Oh, I haven't any. Have you?”
“Yes. I always seek some cool spot. You have an invitation to View Point, I understand. You could scarcely do better.”
“I have reasons, father,” impressively, “reasons for declining that.”
“Then where are you going?”
“I would just as lief stay here and take care of your house as not,” declared the lady magnanimously.
“Ha! Without any servants?”
“Why, what do you mean?”
“They are going away for a vacation. I am intending to have the house wired, and Mrs. Forbes and Zeke will hold sway in the barn. She doesn't wish to leave him.”
Mrs. Evringham was silenced and dismayed. She felt herself being firmly and inexorably pushed out of this well-lined nest.