“Yes,” said Dolly, hesitating. She could not refuse to answer him; but to discuss her friends with a stranger was a thing against which her heart revolted. “They did not expect to be away; it was quite unexpected,” she said.
“And I have no reason to complain, for they did not know I was coming. All the same, one may say it is disagreeable, don’t you think? I have to put up in the inn, instead of being in my—instead of being among my own people.”
“Do you know the Markhams, sir?” said Dolly.
She had a way of saying “sir” to men whom she considered old men; but happily Mr. Markham Gaveston did not know what was his title to so respectful an address.
“I know the little boys and the little girls,” he said. “I could wish there were no more.”
“Why?”
Dolly turned upon him with a flash of indignation, with eyes wide open and lips apart.
“Ah! what a silly thing to say, wasn’t it?” he said. “You may be sure I couldn’t have meant it. I want you to tell me about the others—the eldest girl and the boy.”
“I! tell you—about the others!”
Dolly grew pale, and then red again. Either he must be mad, which had been her first thought, or else——