“I wonder! I met Emily yesterday. You know what a blond child she is? She has short, almost white eyelashes naturally.”
Her grandfather nodded.
“Yes, pig lashes—I remember. What about ’em?”
Virginia laughed weakly.
“She’s painted them. It gives her the most singular look. I can’t think her mother knows!”
“She’s at the monkey age. She’s copying Mrs. William, of course.” He stood a moment, thinking, his thumbs in his waistcoat, and his fine white head bent. “It’s too bad! I—I suppose I’ve got to call, Jinny?”
She hesitated, and he turned his head slowly, looking at her with a fine reluctance. If she was distressed, he did not want to see it. But he was reassured by her face. It was calm; there was only a little higher color in her cheeks, but her eyes sparkled.
After a moment she answered him.
“I don’t see why you have to go. William’s such a young man, and I’ve called and left your card. Perhaps you needn’t—not at once, grandpa.”
“I don’t want them to think——” he stopped with his mouth open, he had come very near to speaking out—“I don’t want to hang back,” he concluded lamely; “but, confound it, Jinny, I don’t want to go alone!”