Ascending the steps, Jerry nodded and smiled at the lady, whose expression was not very inviting, and who, to the child's remark, 'I've comed again,' answered, icily:
'I see you have. Seems to me you come pretty often.' Turning to Charles, Mrs. Tracy continued:
'Why is she here again so soon? What does she want?'
Quick to detect and interpret the meaning of the tones of a voice, and hearing disapprobation in Mrs. Tracy's, Jerry's face was shadowed at once, and she looked up entreatingly at Charles, who said:
'Mr. Tracy sent me for her. She was with him yesterday, and he will have her again to-day.'
Then Jerry's face brightened, and she chimed in:
'Iss, I'm visiting, I'm invited, and I'm going to stay to eat.'
Mrs. Tracy dared not interfere with Arthur, even if he took Jerry to live there altogether, and, with a bend of her head, she signified to Charles that the conference was ended.
'Come, Jerry,' Charles said; but Jerry held back a moment, and asked:
'Where's Maude?'