"I shouldn't think so, Tom, if I were Blanche. Besides, when you do go to see her—or, rather, when you go to dinner at Uncle Elliston's—you stay so long in the dining-room that Blanche has very little of your company, she says."
"I wonder what she would have," grumbled Tom. "She'll have enough of it by-and-by, I'll be bound," he added.
"That depends. Do you know, mamma is afraid—" It was Catherine's turn to come to a full stop now.
"Well, Kitty?" This after another pause.
"Mamma is afraid that you are running a risk of losing Blanche, after all."
"You don't say so, Kitty?" cried Tom, with an odd expression of alarm, too readily put on to be quite real, his sister thought.
"Mamma says so," answered Kitty, demurely; adding, "She says she is mistaken if—if somebody else, never mind who—"
"Oh, I don't mind. Well?"
"Isn't trying to step into your shoes. That's what mamma says, Tom."
"I hope the old shoes won't pinch the feet," said Tom, laughing.