Miss Prince smiled a wry smile.
“I’m positive that something happened lately which changed their relations to one another. Harry’s afraid of her—he avoids her.”
“I’ve never noticed anything of the kind,” said the other brusquely.
Miss Prince looked vexed; no gossip likes to be contradicted, and she proceeded to pay the doctor out.
“Your niece seems to be giving great satisfaction at the Etna factory,” she observed.
“I think she is—I hope she is! Jean’s a good conscientious girl.”
“And so attractive, too! Every one was saying how pretty she looked at the cricket match. Times are changed since we were young, Dr. Maclean. What would my father have said if I’d insisted on being boxed up hour after hour with an old bachelor like Mr. Dodson—or an attractive young married man like Harry Garlett?”
The doctor felt annoyed. What a spiteful woman Miss Prince was, to be sure!
“I don’t think she runs any risk with either of them.” He tried to speak jokingly, but failed.
“How about them?” she asked meaningly.