Notwithstanding all her misery, Annie could not help laughing.
“The man I was speaking to is my brother,” she said.
“Your brother? I thought you were an orphan and alone.”
“I have one brother; his name is Rupert.”
“And that was he? Why in the world didn’t you ask him to come home with us; I am sure mother would be delighted to see him.”
“He is coming to see me this evening,” said Annie, her heart in her mouth. “Do you suppose that your mother will think that it is——”
“Think what?”
“That he is taking a liberty?”
“Of course not. It is quite natural that a sister should like to talk to a brother: and mother will be full of sympathy. Yes, he is welcome, provided he does not come
more than once. Give him to understand, please, Annie, that we have no time to waste in idle conversation with him. Yes, I will say it frankly, if there is a creature in the wide world I thoroughly despise, it is man in his first adolescence.”