"Arthur was wonderfully wise in asking Miss Payton to attend to it for him," Miss Eliza said.
"I wonder if—it means anything?" Miss Mary queried, with an arch look. "After all, he must know her very well, to have told her just what we wanted—rooms and bath, and all that. It is rather intimate, you know."
"I hope it means something! I hope he has got over that wicked jilt, Kate Morrison!"
"Well, the Paytons are nice people," the younger sister said; "she was a Holmes, you know."
They were both eager to see dear Arthur and Miss Payton, for they felt sure they would know the moment they saw them together whether he had "got over" Kate. "When people are in love they always betray it," said Miss Eliza.
But when Mr. Weston brought Miss Frederica Payton to call, no "love" was betrayed on either side. In fact, the call was such an astonishing experience to the two sisters that they quite forgot their sentimental wonderings. Frederica accepted their thanks and appreciation very pleasantly, but a little bluntly. Oh, yes, the sunshine in the dining-room was very nice; she was glad they liked it. But she hoped they'd survive the jig-saw over-mantel and the awful tiles in the parlor. "They made me pretty sick," she said.
"Why, I thought the mantelpiece very artistic," Miss Mary said, blankly.
"The porcelain bath-tub is dandy," Fred said, with real pride.
"Dandy?" murmured Miss Eliza.