Ranty was out on the veranda, walking up and down with his hands in his pockets and whistling “Yankee Doodle.” Pet favored him with a nod as she tripped into the house, while Ranty’s eyes grew as large as two full moons in his amazement. Darting after her, he caught her by the arm as she was entering the door and exclaimed:
“I say, Pet; what in the world brings you home again? I thought you were gone to school!”
“So I was.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Finished my education. Told you I would in a week,” said Pet, with a nod.
“Randolph, go off and mind your business, sir,” exclaimed his father, sternly. “Here—this way, you.”
So saying he caught Pet by the shoulder, and unceremoniously drew her after him, upstairs into the library. Then shutting the door, he threw himself into his arm-chair, and folding his arms across his chest, favored Pet with an awful look.
Miss Lawless, standing erect before him, bore this appalling stare without blushing.
“Well, and what do you think of yourself now, Miss Petronilla Lawless?” was the first question he deigned to ask her since their meeting.
“Just what I did before,” said Pet, nothing daunted.