“No,” he said. “By her own confession she has been flitting from one place to another all over the world; and, though perhaps she does not realize it herself, I believe her coming here was merely another effort on her part to get away from this something—this something that while within herself, perhaps, is none the less pursuing her, and making her restless and unhappy.”
“But what can it be?” argued Ned. “She’s not so different from other girls—only nicer. She likes good times and pretty clothes, and is always ready for any fun that’s going. I’m sure it isn’t anything about those socialistic notions that Della used to worry about,” he added laughingly. “She’s got well over those—if she ever had them, indeed. I don’t believe she’s looked toward the mills since she’s been here—much less wanted to know anything about the people that work in them!”
“No, it isn’t that,” agreed Frank.
“Perhaps it isn’t anything,” broke in Della, with sudden cheeriness. “Maybe it is a little dull here for her after all her gay friends and interesting travels. Perhaps she is a little homesick, but is trying to make us think everything is all right, and she overdoes it. Anyway, we’ll ask some nice people up for a week or two. I fancy we all need livening up. We’re getting morbid. Come, whom shall we have?”
CHAPTER XVI
It had been a particularly delightful day with the Hilcrest house-party. They had gone early in the morning to Silver Lake for a picnic. A sail on the lake, a delicious luncheon, and a climb up “Hilltop” had filled every hour with enjoyment until five o’clock when they had started for home.
Two of the guests had brought their own motor-cars to Hilcrest, and it was in one of these that Miss Kendall was making the homeward trip.
“And you call this a ‘runabout,’ Mr. Brandon?” she laughed gaily, as the huge car darted forward. “I should as soon think of having an elephant for an errand boy.”
Brandon laughed.