Sweet Eulalie.”
As the last plaintive, piercing note died away, and while Vivienne was murmuring her thanks and Judy was examining the singer with a curious and critical eye, as though she had just discovered something new and unusual in his appearance, Mr. Armour came and stood quietly inside the doorway. Vivienne saw the other people in the room looking at him, and turned around. Perhaps owing to his coming within the radiance of the glowing lamp shades, the expression of his face seemed kinder than usual. His eyes were fixed on Judy. There was a sort of friendship between him and his cousin’s child greater than that existing between any other two members of the Armour family. It was a well-known fact that the girl detested her mother, that she often fell into violent passions with Valentine because he teased her, and that she usually ignored Colonel Armour as completely as his elder son did.
Armour and Mammy Juniper were her favorites, and even with them she did not always agree. However, Armour it was who had most influence over her, and he it was to whom Mrs. Colonibel appealed when Judy’s fits of temper threatened to disturb the balance of power in the household.
When Judy saw that Armour’s attention was directed to her, she made a face at him and dropped her head on Vivienne’s shoulder.
“Judy,” he said, “some telegrams have just come in. I must write letters and I have a headache——”
He paused for a reply, and Judy raised her head with an aggrieved expression. “Stanton Armour, am I the kind of person to be mewed up in your den with you all the evening and write letters for love?”
“No, Judy, you are not that kind of person. You require an equivalent for services rendered. I make the usual offer.”
“What do you get, Miss Secretary?” asked Valentine jokingly.
“He,” nodding toward Armour, “gives me a dollar an evening. Do you think it is enough?” suspiciously.
“Enough, Judy?” and Valentine laughed in pretended amusement; “not half nor a quarter enough. A young lady of your abilities should command three dollars at least.”