"You know perfectly well, Jack."
"No, really, I did not know what you—bumped into. Did you hurt your nose?"
"Not the least bit, my dear brother. And the real bump—the fact, you know—was that I just discovered how much these two little girls depend upon me. Bess said I was never the least bit afraid——"
"And are you?"
"Perhaps. At any rate, I didn't like the looks of that man, Jack. I don't intend the girls shall know it, but I was just the least bit afraid to come in the house. Who do you suppose he might be?"
"Why, Cora!" and Jack looked his surprise. "What's up? Are you going to strike?"
"Don't you believe me, Jack, that I was afraid?"
"It is not like you. But I suppose there was something——"
"Well, Jack, even a leading lady may get tired. I am going to try to do a little less of the leading."
"Angry with the girls?"