“What are their names?” inquired Cryton. “Crowell—Milton and Vaughn, of San Francisco.” She watched the young men narrowly.
“Yes, indeed!” replied both of them without the least hesitation.
“And my Aunt Emeline?”
“No, we have never met her.”
Alice’s face clouded; it was unlikely that the boys were carrying out a mission for a woman whom they did not know. They probably were not lying, or they would have concealed their acquaintance with her cousins. Alice heaved a sigh of disappointment.
Mae, who had noticed both Daisy’s and Florence’s interest in the young men, contrived to seat them next to each other at the table; and during the whole meal they so succeeded in absorbing the girls’ attention that it was noticeable to the other members of the party. Marjorie even made a remark to this effect to John Hadley.
He hesitated a moment, choosing his words carefully before he ventured a reply.
“Marjorie,” he said, almost under his breath, “I don’t like those two young men.”
Marjorie, who had been thinking the same thing herself, was surprised at his opinion.
“But why?” she asked.