"Did you expect him?" asked Roberta, quickly.
"No more than I expected the man in the moon," was the impulsive and honest answer of her companion.
"I am very glad to see you, Mrs Null," said Lawrence, when that lady met him on the porch. And when he was shown into the parlor, he greeted Miss March with much cordiality, but no surprise. But when he inquired after other members of the family, he was much surprised to find that Mr Keswick had gone to Washington. "Was not this very unexpected, Mrs Null?" he asked.
"Why, no," she answered. "Junius told us, almost as soon as he came here, that he would have to be in Washington by the first of this week."
Mr Croft did not pursue this subject further, but presently remarked:
"Are you and I the first comers, Miss March?"
Roberta looked from one of her companions to the other, and remarked: "I do not understand you."
Lawrence now perceived that he was treading a very uncertain and, perhaps, dangerous path of conversation, and the sooner he got out of it the better; but, before he could decide what answer to make, a silent and stealthy figure appeared at the door, beckoning and nodding in a very mysterious way. This proved to be the plump black maid, Letty, who, having attracted the attention of the company, whispered loudly, "Miss Annie!" whereupon that young lady immediately left the room.
"What other comers did you expect?" then asked Roberta of Mr Croft.
"I certainly supposed there would be a small company here," he said, "probably neighborhood people, but if I was mistaken, of course I don't wish to say anything more about it to the family."
"Were you invited yourself?" asked Roberta.