"I hope you're not spoiling the girl, Martha," he said. "If she's ill, say so; but if she isn't, don't let there be any carrying up of trays or nonsense of that kind."
Edna feared from Miss Martha's look that she was going to rise from the table and call the absent one, and she hastily interposed:—
"I assure you, Judge Trent, Sylvia is promptness itself. This is the exception that proves the rule."
"It seems to me that my niece is always proving rules in that fashion," he returned, glancing at Dunham. "Of course, you are a polite hostess, Edna, and wouldn't allow a crumpled rose leaf to annoy a guest of yours."
At these words Sylvia's note seemed to burn in Edna's pocket, and her cheeks grew warm.
"The fact is, I'd like to see something of the girl," went on the judge.
"I shall go up to her room the instant supper is over," responded Edna. "Do have some more lobster Newburg, Judge Trent. Don't you think it's pretty good?"
"I think it's perfect; but I'd better not tempt Fate with any more."
"Oh, lobster here isn't the same as anywhere else. You can eat it right out of this sea as you can ripe apples out of an orchard."
"Indeed? The more the merrier, instead of the sadder?"