"I shan't tell you, pa," answered Miss Bab, tossing her head in demonstrative indignation, though her whole face beamed with a gratified smile. "The idea! How should I know anything about Mr. Travice Arkell!"
"A good-looking young fellow," said the lawyer, significantly. "Perhaps others may be finding him so as well as you, Bab."
"Pa, then, you are a stupid! And I want to know who it is that's coming to dinner to-day?"
"Coming to dinner to-day, Bab? Nobody that I know of."
"You said last night you had invited somebody, but you went to sleep when I asked who."
"Oh! I remember. I met him yesterday, and he said he was going to call to-day. I told him to come in and dine, if he liked. It's Ben Carr."
"Oh!" said Miss Bab, with a depreciating sniff. "Only Ben Carr!"
"He's over here for a few days, stopping with Mrs. Lewis. He wants to be off to Australia or some place, but the squire turns crusty about advancing the funds. Ben and he came to an explosion over it, and Ben has made himself scarce at home in consequence. What's the time, Bab?"
Barbara Fauntleroy glanced over her father's head at the French clock behind him. "It's twenty-five minutes after nine, pa."
"Eh!" cried the lawyer, starting up. "Why, what a time I have been at breakfast! You girls should not keep me with your chatter."