He knew what they meant, but why was she wearing them, and why did Mrs. Marsh and Amy and Ruth seem so bewildered and Alex. so nervous, and why was Sherry so white?
An awful dizziness was coming over her again, and the black specks were thick before her eyes. Turning to No. 4, she said:
“Polly, will you take my place? I must have air.”
She was white as a corpse, and the rings around her eyes grew darker as she left the room, with Alex. beside her.
“What is it, Miss Sherman?” he said, adopting the name Craig had given her. “Why have you never told us you were Craig Saltus’ friend?”
“I don’t know,” Sherry answered faintly, as she sat down on the side piazza, where she had waltzed with Alex., and where the dog came bounding to her and began to lick her cold hands. “Go back,” she said to Alex. “I shall be better alone. By and by I’ll tell you why I was so foolish.”
Alex. went back, finding his mother and Amy and Ruth in a state of great excitement, and Craig quite as much surprised, as each listened to the other and told what they knew of the young lady,—Miss Sherry Sherman, Craig called her, repeating to Alex. what he had already said to the ladies.
“One of the very best families in Buford,” he said. “We know them well; and Rose is very fond of Sherry and her sister Katy.”
“Sherry,” Alex. exclaimed. “I thought her name was Fanny.”
“So it is in part,” Craig answered; “Fanny Sheridan Sherman, but she is called Sherry in Buford.”