“Why, Rufus James himself.”
The young man saw that he was observed, and looked at the two women with surprise in his face. Then his face darkened and he flushed and turned his head quickly away.
“He reco’nized me,” Mrs. Burrell exclaimed. “You could see that plain enough. And he never had the politeness to lift his hat.”
“Can you blame him?” Helen asked, with a faint smile.
It was Mrs. Burrell who flushed now.
“He’s good-looking, isn’t he?” Helen went on. She was secretly pleased by the young man’s show of spirit.
Mrs. Burrell remained silent for several minutes. Helen waited. “Oh, I know you think I’m as hard as a rock,” she blurted out at last. “Just because——”
“Oh, no,” Helen interposed, quickly.
Mrs. Burrell grew humble. “Do you think I ought to have let him come?” she asked. “To the house, I mean?”
“It’s always a pity when those things have to go on outside the house.”