“Come!� cried Mrs. Eaton; “dear me, do you imagine that a poor creature like that would lose the chance?�
Colonel Royall smiled whimsically. “Jinny,� said he, “your grandfather made his money selling molasses in New Orleans.�
She gazed at him coldly. “It was wholesale,� she said, with withering contempt.
The colonel shook with silent laughter.
All this time Diana had not opened her lips; she stepped down from the piazza into the grass now and unfurled her parasol.
“I hope you’re not going to make my unfortunate grandfather a reason for inviting Caleb Trench here,� said Mrs. Eaton bitingly, her eyes fixed on the colonel’s flushed face.
“Cousin Jinny, he won’t come,� said Diana suddenly.
Both her father and Mrs. Eaton looked at her astonished. “How do you know?� the latter asked unconvinced.
“I asked him,� said Diana, and blushed.
Mrs. Eaton was amazed. “You asked that man—that person—and he refused your invitation?�