"Of the Eliphalet Stearns family?" she demanded.
"That's the bunch," affirmed Bill, wickedly.
She put her hand to her throat and retreated a pace, staring at Bill through horrified eyes.
"You stand there and tell me he is a Stearns?" she whispered. "And you say it without shame, William Marshall? You have brought a Stearns to my house, when you knew—— Oh, William!"
"As a matter of fact," said Bill with sudden generosity, "Pete's all right in his own way, but he's no divinity student. As for his being a Stearns——"
Aunt Caroline stopped him with a gesture.
"Answer my question," she said sharply. "Is he a grandson of Eliphalet Stearns?"
"Uh huh."
"A son of Grosvenor Stearns?"
"That's Pete."