“And who do you think was there, papa? Captain Harefield?”
“Captain Harefield! How came that about?”
“James Petrie asked him, it seems. But he said he came because he thought we might be there.”
“But he acknowledged that it was his sister that ‘put him up to it,’” said Jean.
“So the Petries may thank you for the honour of his company. That would rather spoil the honour to them, if they were to hear it,” said Mr Dawson with a laugh.
“Well, very likely he may let them know it. I canna say much for his discretion,” said May with a shrug. “He asked me who made my sister’s gown, and you should have seen his face when I told him that she made it herself.”
“And didna he admire your gown?” asked her father, to the astonishment of the two Jeans, and indeed to May’s astonishment as well.
“Oh! yes. But then he said mine was just like other girls’ gowns, ‘very pretty and all that.’ But Miss Dawson’s was ‘unique,’” said May with a drawl. “And he said he would tell his sister.”
“And maybe she’ll want me to make one for her. She looks like one who cares about her gowns,” said Jean.
“She would be a queer kind o’ a woman if she didna,” said her father dryly.