Temperance beat a retreat to the kitchen. Mabella laughing turned to Vashti, and for the first time caught sight of Sidney.
“Oh!” she said with a little gasp; then pulling herself together, advanced with outstretched hand. The ready rose dyed her cheek. She looked like some pretty culprit child. Her eyes were blue as a gentian flower—“Lansing blue” the neighbours called them. Her mouth expressed all the sweetness of a pure and loving nature. Her air was full of blithe gaiety. She seemed the incarnation of summery youth. There was something in her manner, too, of tremulous excitement—as of one not yet knowing life’s secret, but in sight of the mystery, eager yet afraid of passing its portal.
Sidney was greatly won by her pretty air of deprecation, which mutely apologized for the small whirlwind she had created by her entrance.
“Come,” said Vashti to Sidney. “It’s too bad to keep you standing here.” So they left the hollyhocks.
“Who is Nathan Peck?” asked Sidney of Mabella.
“Temperance Tribbey’s beau,” she said with a little laugh. “They’ve been keeping company for nineteen years.”
“Don’t they know their own minds yet?”
“Nathan does, but Temperance doesn’t believe in being hasty,” said Vashti with what, in a less majestic creature, might have been a sneer.
“And to tell the truth she doesn’t want to leave us,” said Mabella, who invariably found the best motive for other people’s actions. “She’s the dearest old thing!”
“Father declares,” said Vashti, “that you are to do exactly as you like. He’s working at the hay. They’re working late now and we take them out something to eat at four o’clock. If you would like to come with us——”