"Your brother?" I questioned, astonished, and I guess my face must have showed it, for Billings' eyes, first opening wide, narrowed, and his countenance began to gather an angry red. He stopped short.
"Didn't he stay with you?" he snapped.
I stared blankly. "Why, Billings—I didn't know—I didn't remember you had a brother. I never have seen him."
Billings' face swelled redder, and he struck his fist down with an oath. He looked angrily toward the house. Then he stepped hurriedly in advance of me.
"Excuse me, old chap, will you?" he said, his voice hardened. "Will see you at luncheon—make yourself at home, won't you?"
CHAPTER XXXIII
UNDER THE PERGOLA
Make myself at home! I sneaked under the quiet shade in a convenient pergola, and, dropping upon a bench, gazed gloomily at the sunlight patches at my feet.
"Oh, here you are, eh?" broke harshly upon me.