“Don’t let him tease you, Lulie,” said mother, coming to her aid; “Frank has mistaken the roses which our fresh air has given her for blushes at his presence.”
“Not at all, Mrs. Smith; I am too much of a connoisseur in ladies’ faces to mistake confusion for health. I will leave it to Miss Rurleston if Lulie wasn’t ashamed to meet us.”
But Carlotta, with her face all bright with animation, was deeply engaged in questioning Ned about Mr. and Mrs. Cheyleigh, and expressing her gratitude for their kindness, and did not hear his remark.
“Well, boys,” interrupted mother, “I suppose you are both dusty and warm, and wish to go to your rooms. John, show them up; and remember one thing, you came up here to enjoy yourselves; do so to the fullest extent. Everything on the premises that will serve your amusement is at your service; the house and furniture are old, so you need not fear to be as boisterous as you please. When you come down from your rooms your breakfast will be ready, or I will send it up, if you prefer it.”
“You are very kind,” said both, “we will soon be down.”
I had persuaded mother to fix the large room for us all three, so that we could enjoy ourselves more together than if formally separated.
As soon as we got into our room, and Frank had thrown off his duster and coat, he broke forth in his praises of Carlotta.
“I’ll vow she is superb; my life! what an eye she has! I had no idea, when I wrapped her up in our jackets on the beach, and she looked so cold and pitiful, that she was such a beauty. Ned, she seemed to tackle to you strongly. I could not make her hear me.”
“She was only asking me about home. You know she staid there several days before she came up to Col. Smith’s.”