Medora, unconscious that her precious little seed had fallen, after all, on stony ground, turned toward Abner with a smile—an intent, observing one. "Did Mrs. Whyland speak to you about her 'evening'?"
"Her evening? What evening?"
"There, I knew she wouldn't dare. You frightened her almost to death."
"What do you mean?"
"Why, she had been thinking of having a few friends come in some night next week for a little reading and some music. But you were so violent in your comments on the behaviour of society that she didn't dare touch upon her plan. She was meaning to ask you to read two or three things from your Weary World, but——"
"Why——" began Abner.
"Read," put in Bond. "I'm going to."
"Why," began Abner once more, "I had no notion of offending her. But everything I said was the truth."
"She wasn't offended," said Giles, with a smile; "only 'skeered.' You must have been pretty tart."
"I can't help it. It makes me so hot to have such things happening——"