"A man"—she made a gesture of contempt—"very careless about his linen?"
"I didn't notice."
"—without gloves? Hands rather grimy—"
"Aunt Valeria said he was a great scholar."
"A great fiddlestick! Of course it's Tom Rockingham."
This was evidently a most exciting character, and in any case it was pleasant to have a visitor who didn't merely leave cards and go away, as all the others did.
"Aren't we going in to see him?"
"No, certainly not, unless he stays too long."
She threw back her head in that way of hers. They walked up and down the back veranda in silence, Ethan as well aware as if she had poured forth torrents that his grandmother's ire was growing with every moment. Presently she dropped his hand, and going to the door, she called, in an unmistakable tone:
"Valeria!—Valeria!"