And again Cecil Laurens applauded this resolve. He had as deeply grained a prejudice against “that theater child” as had old Mrs. Barry herself, and desired just as ardently to keep Louise at Ferndale.
“I shall go to the White for a week myself just as soon as I get my business here over,” he said, and Mrs. Barry replied that she was very glad. It would be pleasanter for her and Louise having an old friend there.
But when this confidential conversation was over, Mrs. Barry began to think that her niece stayed upstairs a long time. She sent Ginny Ann to call her down.
Ten, then fifteen minutes elapsed before Ginny Ann reappeared with the announcement:
“I done argyfied my breff mos’ away, mistis, but I carn’t budge dat chile! She done laid herseff down on dat flure, a-cryin’ and a-cryin’ her bressid eyes out!”
CHAPTER X.
Mrs. Barry rose with as much haste as her age and infirmities would permit, and excusing herself to Cecil Laurens, went upstairs after her obdurate niece.
The young man, left alone, said to himself:
“Mrs. Everett has proved herself a wise woman and refused to let her niece leave Ferndale. I applaud her good sense.”
And he did not alter his opinion even when Molly came down presently with red-rimmed eyes and a doleful expression that proved how deeply she had taken her disappointment to heart.