"Not a bit!" replied Linda immediately, her eyes shining at the thought of what she was gaining.
Miss Carlton abruptly changed the subject.
"Do you remember a man named Clavering, Tom?" she asked.
"I remember the name. Connected with oil, wasn't he? Very wealthy?"
"A millionaire, I think," replied Miss Carlton, as if the news were the most important thing in the world. "Well, he has bought an estate just outside of Spring City, and his daughter has just graduated in Linda's class."
"Yes?" remarked her brother, wondering what possible difference that could make to him.
"Well, the Claverings are planning to spend the summer at Green Falls, on Lake Michigan—the resort that Mrs. Haydock and I have selected.... And there is a son in Harvard, who is going to be there."
"Yes?" It still didn't dawn on the man what his sister meant. Perhaps that was because he was not worldly, and money and position didn't mean much to him. Or perhaps it was because it had never occurred to him that his little Linda was old enough to be thinking about getting married.
"You certainly are slow at comprehension at times, Tom," she said, "for a smart man. Do I have to tell you in so many words that young Ralph Clavering is interested in Linda?"
Linda blushed, and Mr. Carlton opened his eyes wide in amazement.