"What was the occasion of that remarkable disappearance of yours a year ago? Surely you can tell me now; I've never been so curious over anything in my life."
"I've never told anybody about that, neither my father nor Stonewell nor Helen nor anybody else."
"Well, I declare! I don't suppose it amounted to much, anyway. And perhaps you think you're more interesting if you're mysterious. Now, Mr. Robert, tell me something else; why wasn't Harry Blunt with us this afternoon? I asked him and he said you hadn't invited him. Don't you like him, Robert? I think Harry is a nice boy."
"Don't talk to me about Harry Blunt. Let's talk about his sister. Helen is a very good friend of mine, and her father is one of the finest——"
"Robert," suddenly interrupted Nellie, "something is going to happen to you again—that colored man in the doorway motioned to you; just look at him, he's motioning to you now; he wants to speak to you,—oh, I just knew something would happen to you."
"Nonsense. That's old Grice. He's a great old chap. He just wants to see me about something—I'll take you to where Mrs. Blunt is and then go see what he wants."
"What is it, Grice?" asked Robert to the old man at the door, a moment later.
"Sompin' powerful bad, Mistah Drake; I'se feared to talk heah. Can yo' come outside, suh? I'se somef'n mighty bad to tell yo', suh!"
The old darkey shook his head and rolled his eyes, making a grotesque effort to express the worried feelings evidently in his mind.
"Come outside, but hurry. I'm here with some young ladies, and I haven't much time to talk with you."