Arthur answered evasively:
“It must have been the great heat of the sun. She complained of the warmth of the weather while we were watching the steamer come into port.”
The carriage rolled along toward their hotel, and Mrs. Varian grew gradually better, opening her eyes presently and faintly apologizing for the fright she had given them.
“I am almost well again, and I think we can return to Newport to-night,” she said.
Foster’s thoughts recurred again to his friends, and he exclaimed, regretfully:
“I am very sorry that I lost sight of my friends, the Dawns and Madame Ray. They, too, are going to Newport, and if I only knew at what hotel they intended to stop, I would go and persuade them to make a party with us going there.”
“Please do not, Fred. They might think us officious, being strangers,” Mrs. Varian cried, hastily.
Frederick laughed roguishly, and answered:
“I serve notice on you that you will not be strangers long, for I intend to make Miss Dawn your niece, if she will give her consent!”
“Ah!” cried Arthur, in a strange tone of suppressed emotion; but Frederick did not notice, he was so absorbed in the thought of Cinthia.