“Kitty! Is that Imp still at the school?” said Dodd, his face puckering into a frown as he spoke.
“Why, of course, she is, father; why shouldn’t she be?”
“Ah, well, I could turn her out if I liked.”
“Daddy, why don’t you like poor little Kitty? She’s very fond of you.”
“No, she ain’t; she ain’t fond of me a bit; she’s fond of my money; that’s all she’s fond of. Now don’t let’s talk of her any more; but if there’s a thing which would make me send you two girls from The Red Gables it would be the thought of your spending so much time with Kitty Merrydew.”
“Your father has taken a dislike to her, children; don’t worry him on the subject,” said Mrs. Dodd. “Come upstairs now; you must be hungry. I’ve ordered a high tea for you both; your father and I are going to have tea with you instead of late dinner to-night.”
“Oh what fun that will be!” exclaimed Anne. She tucked her hand inside her mother’s arm, and they went up through the lofty, spacious house into an enormous bedroom, most beautifully furnished.
“I’m glad to see you home, my pets,” said the mother, kissing them both, and then looking at them with satisfaction. “I want you, my darlings, just for yourselves; but your father has set his heart on one of you being a beauty and the other a genius. What is all this talk about a prize?”
“Oh mother, it’s a very long story; we’ll tell it you presently,” said Anne.
“Mother,” said Grace, “I wonder if you can find out for us why daddy has turned against Kitty.”