He looked surprised at the inquiry. "Yes! Aunt Sarah wrote immediately to my father."
"Ah! I had forgotten that they were brothers. My memory is treacherous. Excuse me! I am wanted in the dining-room!"
Lewis met her just outside the door, and stopped her to bestow the evening kiss he had not cared to offer in Philip's presence.
"Why, you are as rosy as a peony!" he said, jestingly. "Has Benson been paying you compliments, in return for yours to him? I must look after you two, if you carry on at this rate."
With a look he had reason subsequently to recall, but which only pleased him at the time, she raised his hand to her lips—a look of humility, gratitude, and appeal, such as one might cast upon a slighted benefactor—and vanished.
A merry family party gather around the Hammond's generous table, that afternoon. All the Hunts were there—from the father down to Jeannie, who was fast shooting up into a tall girl, somewhat pert in manner, but lovable despite this, at times, unpleasant foible.
"Sister Lucy," she said, after an interval of silence, "Ellen West said, at school, to-day that you were a great belle when you were a young lady; were you?"
"You must not ask me, Jeannie!" The old smile of conscious beauty stole into Lucy's cheeks.
"Was she, sister?" Jeannie referred the case to Sarah.
"Yes, my dear, she was very beautiful," replied the latter, simply.