“The song was worth the effort,” she said. “Mr. Clavering is, however, evidently willing to do a good deal to give folks pleasure.”
Clavering glanced at her with a little smile. “Folks? That means more than one.”
“Yes; it generally means at least two.”
Hetty laughed as she looked round. “Is there anybody else he has been giving music to?”
“I fancy the question is unnecessary,” Flora said. “He told us he came straight here, and there is nobody but you and I at Cedar he would be likely to bring anything to.”
“Of course not! Well, I never worry over your oracular observations. They generally mean nothing when you understand them,” said Hetty.
Flora Schuyler smiled maliciously at Clavering. She did not know that when a good deed hung in the balance she had, by rousing his intolerance of opposition, just tipped the beam.