Karl left his letters on the table, traversed the garden, and found Adam with Miss Turner. They turned to wait his approach. A half doubt, he knew not wherefore, dawned for the first time on his mind.
"How are you this morning, Rose?" he asked, raising his hat with the ceremony one observes to an acquaintance, rather than to an intimate friend. "Adam, the mother seems vexed: you are keeping her waiting, she says, and she wishes to know the reason of it."
"I forgot all about it," cried Adam. "Deuce take the thorn!"
For just at that moment he had run a thorn into his finger. Karl began talking with Miss Turner: there was no obligation on him to return forthwith to the house.
"Go back, will you, Karl, and tell the mother I am sorry I forgot it. I shall be there as soon as you are."
"A genteel way of getting rid of me," thought Karl with a laugh, as he at once turned to plunge into the wide shrubbery. "Good day to you, Rose."
But when he was fairly beyond their sight Karl's face became grave as a judge's. "Surely Adam is not drifting into anything serious in that quarter!" ran his thoughts. "It would never do."
"Well--have you seen Adam!" began Mrs. Andinnian, when he entered.
"Yes. He is coming immediately."
" Coming!"--and she curled her vexed lips. "He ought to come. Who is he with, Karl?"