She caught his hand in both hers, while her face, a moment before so pale, flushed with delight, and the violet eyes were fairly radiant with joy.
“Oh, Ranty, I am so glad! When did you come?”
“Got to Baltimore day before yesterday. I suppose you hardly expected to see me to-night, Erminie?”
“No, indeed! And it is the most delightful surprise!" exclaimed Erminie, her beautiful face irradiated with joy, and forgetting she was no longer speaking to the boy Ranty. But when she caught his eyes fixed upon her with a look the boy had never worn, the flush rose painfully even to her very forehead. She dropped his hand, while her eyes fell, and she said, in a less assured tone:
“Sit down; you must be tired after your journey. I am very sorry Ray is not at home to meet you.”
“Never mind; I will see him to-morrow. And all my friends have been quite well since I left, Erminie?”
“Yes, all. If you had arrived ten minutes sooner, you would have seen Pet. She has just gone.”
“Well, I will shortly have that pleasure. How tall you have grown, and how you have changed since I saw you last, Erminie!”
He meant more the emphatic but undefinable change from childhood to womanhood, than that of her looks. Perhaps Erminie understood him, for she said, laughing:
“Not for the worse, I hope. You, too, have changed, Master Ranty.”