He flushed at Jeanette's speech, but offered no reply.
No one else spoke at this moment because Via was seen approaching, walking down the avenue from the house and holding the Silver Arrow in her outstretched hand.
CHAPTER VI
THE LAW OF AVERAGES
As Olivia paused not far away for a moment, she made a charming picture. She was wearing a white dress, and overhead the light filtered on her through the gray-green foliage of the tall cottonwood trees.
Embarrassed and excited by the fact that so many pairs of eyes were fastened upon her, a soft wave of color flooded her cheeks.
Observing her sister, Jeanette experienced a mingled emotion of affection and envy. Small wonder that Olivia was a favorite with everybody, with her father, with her new stepmother and her own favorite sister! Gentleness was always attractive. Her own sarcastic speech to Cecil Perry a few moments before had not injured him, but reflected upon her.
At this instant she was astonished to see Cecil spring up from his seat on the ground and make a sudden plunge forward. The following moment he had thrown his arms about the young girl in the pathway, dragging her a few feet from the spot where she had been standing. To the spectators a heavy branch of the cottonwood tree appeared to strike the ground at the same instant.
Cecil staggered and went down on his knees, while Olivia remained untouched. The limb of the tree had fallen athwart his shoulder.
He was up immediately.