"Ah—h'm— Miss Bain," he repeated; adding, as he cleared out his throat: "I am very anxious to have the papers read while we breakfast. You may as well begin by reading this morning's reports," he said, handing her a paper which lay folded beside his plate. "You may turn to the stock reports first, Miss Bain. Third column on the first page, Miss Bain."
She had scarcely finished the first paragraph ere the old gentleman commanded her to stop.
"Can you understand one word that this young woman is reading?" he inquired, turning sharply to his wife.
"No. Miss Bain must read louder," she said. "I do not quite catch it."
The perspiration stood out in great balls on Jessie's pale face. She had raised her voice to almost a shout already, and her throat was beginning to ache terribly, for the strain upon it was very great. How she ever struggled down to the bottom of that column, she never knew. The appearance of the breakfast tray was a welcome relief to her.
"You read very nicely," complimented the old gentleman. "I enjoy listening to you. I shall give you the privilege of reading all my papers aloud every forenoon."
Jessie looked helplessly at him. The strain had been so great that her throat pained her terribly; but she made no demur. How could she?
At that moment the door swung slowly open, and a tall, beautiful girl entered.
Jessie knew her at the first startled glance. It was the lovely girl whom she had heard talking to her maid about her, but a little while before.
She took the seat at the end of the table without so much as deigning to glance at the new-comer.