“Why, I declare, you are younger than I am!” cried Eve, impulsively. “We were all expecting to see a wrinkled, dried-up old maid. Why, you’d make a much better companion for me than for mother.”
“E––v––e!” cried the elder Miss Glenn, severely, “be kind enough to leave the room.”
“I sha’n’t go one step until I have had my say out,” cried Eve, planting herself firmly down on a hassock in the middle of the floor. “Nobody likes me because I’m rude and free-spoken,” declared Eve, addressing Daisy; “but I believe in letting people know just what I am to begin with. I’m not one of these sleek, smooth, tigery creatures that hide their claws under velvet-paws. We are three model sisters,” she went on, recklessly; “we have tremendous spats––when we are here alone; but if a visitor happens in we all sit with our arms around one another, ‘just to have the appearance’ of affection, you know.”
The elder Miss Glenn arose with dignity, motioning Daisy to follow her.
“Papa will see you later, Eve, dear,” she said, with a baleful glitter in her sloe-black eyes; and as Daisy followed her she could not help but compare her with Pluma Hurlhurst, with that treacherous, mocking smile playing about her full, red lips––and quite unconsciously poor little Daisy fell to thinking.
“Rex will go back to Pluma Hurlhurst now,” she thought, with a bitter sigh. “He has cast me out of his life; he will go back and marry her.”
Poor, innocent Daisy, how little she knew of life or the insurmountable barrier which lay between the haughty, scheming heiress and Rex––her husband!
“I was asking you if you resided in Elmwood, Miss Brooks,” said Bess, raising her voice. “I have asked you twice.”
“I beg your pardon; please forgive me,” said Daisy, flushing painfully. “I––I was not aware you had spoken. No, I lived near Elmwood––between there and Baltimore.”
Daisy was sorely afraid Miss Glenn would ask her to name the exact location. She did not, however, much to Daisy’s relief. By this time they had reached the door of Mrs. 86 Glenn’s room, and as it was slightly ajar Bessie pushed it open without further ceremony and entered.