Not receiving any answer, she looked up, her sharp eyes resting on Ben’s face in surprise.
“She’s well, I suppose,” he began. Alexia laid down her pen in astonishment, and stared at him. The color was in his cheeks like a girl’s, and he began to fumble the little envelopes.
“Well, if I can’t help, I won’t at least hinder you,” he said at last with a short laugh, and getting up, he went out.
Alexia deserted her chair, and ran around to Mrs. Fargo’s.
“Did you see? O Mrs. Fargo! did you see?” she cried, shaking that lady’s arm.
“Oh, dear me! now I’ve gone and put a ‘g’ on Mrs. Crowninshield’s name,” exclaimed Mrs. Fargo in vexation. “You shook me just then, my dear.”
“Never mind your ‘g’s’,” said Alexia coolly; “what’s a ‘g’ in such bliss as this? O Mrs. Fargo, did you see Ben Pepper?” She hung over her now in great excitement.
“No; I’m sure I didn’t notice him,” said Mrs. Fargo, trying to erase the “g”; and making it worse, she gave up the note entirely. “And I wish you’d go back to your own seat, Alexia,” she added decidedly.
“Oh, I must tell you this!” cried Alexia; “it’s my duty to, if you didn’t see it for yourself, Mrs. Fargo; Ben Pepper,—don’t you see? Oh, how perfectly splendid!” She jumped up, and clapped her hands in glee.
“Alexia Dodge,” began Mrs. Fargo. But as well talk to the north wind.