That evening Drusilla was sitting down to dinner—or supper, as she called it—when Mr. Thornton was ushered in. He was more severe and uncompromising than ever, and Drusilla said to herself, "I'm in for it. He's heard somethin'."
But she did not show that she was a wee bit nervous. She said, as if it were the usual thing for him to make her an evening call,
"Why, how do you do, Mr. Thornton? Won't you have some supper with me?"
"No, thank you. I came to talk with you."
"Now, that's real nice of you. I always like to talk. Set right down and we'll have a comfortable visit. You'd better change your mind and have some supper."
"No; my dinner is waiting for me."
"I eat my dinner in the middle of the day, though James will call it lunch. I think a great big dinner at night makes you dream of your grandmother, so I have mine like I used to."
"I understand that you have been to court, and brought home with you that woman and her child."
"Well, well! How news does travel! How did you hear that?"
"It is in the evening papers."