The older man was looking thoughtfully at the table.
“I—I shall want an assistant if these pictures of mine are the success that Silenski says they will be. Perhaps you can hoe potatoes between whiles—when Ella is married.”
The girl went red.
“Is Ella going to be married? Are you, Ella?” Ray jumped up and, going to the girl, kissed her. “Ella, it won’t make a difference, will it—about me, I mean?”
“I don’t think so, dear. I’ve promised.”
“What is the matter?” asked John Bennett, as he saw the cloud that came to the girl’s face.
“I was thinking of something unpleasant, daddy,” she said, and for the first time told of the hideous visitation.
“The Frog wanted to marry you?” said Ray with a frown. “It is incredible! Did you see his face?”
She shook her head.
“He was masked,” she said. “Don’t let us talk about it.”