“She has left a lover behind her, of course,” the young man thought to himself, and he said, in rather a cross tone:
“Your aunt would be angry if she heard you abusing Ferndale like that. Do you know that it is considered a fine place?”
“Yes, and I wouldn’t have Aunt Thalia know my private opinion of it. You won’t betray me, will you?” smiling.
“No, but I’m sorry you want to get away from Ferndale,” with unaccountable inward irritation. “Why don’t you tell your Aunt Thalia so?”
“Oh,” with a horrified gesture, “not for worlds. You know—I’m to be her heiress. I must not offend her, or she may disinherit me.”
“So you are mercenary?” lifting his graceful brows into distinctive arches.
“It runs in the Barry blood, does it not?” she retorted.
And he answered gravely:
“I never knew it before!”
Molly laughed merrily.