And Mary replied, with equal naturalness: "I did what I could. John will have to attend to these things on the floor."
"Yes—I told him to see to that at once."
"He ought to give the closet a good cleaning, too. I'd better tell him—this is just the time."
"I told him to be sure to scrub the closet. It'll be all right."
Looking up, she said: "You seem to have thought of everything."
"Let me get my hat," said Charles.
But Mary, standing in his way, was regarding him with a sudden directness he had no wish to reciprocate. And she answered his remark about the hat with a little exclamation.
"What's the matter with your eye?"
"My eye?" said the young man, and involuntarily put his hand there. Recollecting, he finished: "Nothing—nothing at all."
The school-teacher came a step nearer, but he went round her as he spoke, and continued his way.