She patted him lightly with her glove.
"You must be careful of yourself," said she, and paused as if to let him supply her reasons for so saying. "I hope your trouble is over, dear."
"Thank you," said he. "I am sure that after a few hours in my rooms, I shall be quite refreshed. Will you please put me down at the Bellevale House? I shall beg the privilege of calling soon."
"Why!" She looked swiftly at him, looked at the horse, and again at him. "Soon?" she went on, as if astonished. "I shall be alone this evening—if you care about it!"
"Oh, yes!" said he confusedly, "this evening, yes! I meant sooner—in a few minutes, you know!"
"No," said she, in that tone which surely denotes the raising of the drawbridge of pique; "you must rest until this evening. Who is the old gentleman who has been waiting two or three days to see you?"
"Judge Blodgett, an old friend," said he, relieved to find some matter with reference to which he could tell the truth.
"And the queer-looking lady—do you know her?"
"Oh, yes!" said Amidon; "she is a good friend, too."
"Ah!" the girl answered, in a tone which said almost anything, but was not by any means without significance. "And who is she?"