“No; but I heard her play yesterday. She’s a wizard, even if she has got white hair as the nurse told me.”
Ogden gave his head a quick shake. “Don’t be misled by that white hair. I’ve met her several times in the South; and she is just about the last person on earth that I should expect to turn out to be Miss Frink’s niece. In fact”—the speaker paused reflectively—“I must say I can’t help doubting the fact.”
“Oh, yes. I suppose you think she’s an impostor like me.”
“Not like you, at any rate.”
“Any one as strictly honorable as Miss Frink makes an easy prey,” declared Hugh severely, “but it would be a little hard to get away with the false declaration by a woman that she is her niece.”
“A niece more incredible than a nephew, you think?” said Ogden cheerfully.
This persistent light-heartedness was met with a scowl.
“You and I can’t hope to look at this matter alike, Mr. Ogden. You see something amusing in hoodwinking one of the finest, most straightforward women who ever lived in the world—”
“Bully! Bully! Bully!” ejaculated the other. “Better than I could have hoped. Now, hold your horses, boy, you’ve proved you know how, and you’re going to be smiling at me instead of scowling a little later.”