Oliver was pleased to hear this. What boy would not be pleased to hear such a confession from the lips of a pretty girl?
"I thought Roland would make up for my absence," he said slyly. "He told me when we met the other day what pleasant calls he had at your house."
"The pleasure is all on his side, then," said Carrie, tossing her head. "I hate the sight of him."
"Poor Roland! He is to be pitied!"
"You needn't pity him, Oliver," said Frank. "He loses no opportunity of trying to set us against you. But he hasn't succeeded yet."
"And he won't!" chimed in Carrie, with emphasis.
This conversation scarcely occupied a minute, though it may seem longer. Meanwhile Dr. Dudley and Nicholas Bundy were left out of the conversation. Oliver remembered this, and introduced them."Dr. Dudley," he said, "permit me to introduce my friend, Mr. Bundy."
"I am glad to make the acquaintance ofany friend of yours, Oliver. We are just going in. Won't you and Mr. Bundy join us at dinner in the hotel?"
Nicholas Bundy did not in general take kindly to new friends, but he saw that Oliver wished the invitation to be accepted, and he assented with a good grace. The boat was turned, and they were soon on land again.
"Who is this man, Oliver?" asked Frank in a low tone.