“So you’ve been listening again!”
“Anybody could hear that chose. You left the door open so that every one could hear you triumph in rejecting another one of my brothers,” Emmie answered, sulkily.
Frank came hastily to the door.
“Emmie, were you listening?” he asked, in surprise.
“The door was open; I couldn’t help hearing.”
“You might have coughed.”
“Yes; but she didn’t want to!” Thea cried, furiously. “She doesn’t think it any disgrace to eavesdrop. She listened to-day when Tom asked me—asked me—the same thing. Boo-hoo! oh, boo-hoo!” breaking into a sudden storm of sobs.
“Don’t cry, dear; you’ll spoil your eyes for the dance,” Frank said, kindly.
“You needn’t care if she cries them out!” snapped his sister.
“But I do,” said the young man. “And so Tom asked you, too, Thea?” he said, with a short, mirthless laugh. “Well, did you tell him ‘No’?”