By and by, however, there was a movement on the stairs, in the hall, and Mr. Cary anxiously waiting, heard the Brown Robin’s voice saying, rather commandingly:
“You will be here promptly at nine in the morning?”
The voice of the young man who had brought him to the house was heard in reply.
“Yes, my sister; but you will not see me until that time.”
The other door opened and closed with a bang.
Mr. Cary grinned on hearing this. But whether in satisfaction of the departure of the young man, or in pleased anticipation of a tête-à-tête with the Brown Robin, did not appear.
His face, however, was perfectly composed when the Brown Robin, very cool and elegant in appearance, entered the parlor.
“How good of you, Papa Cary, to come and see me again,” she cried. “You may kiss me.”
She offered her cheek to Mr. Cary, who hesitated a moment and then, as if he could not resist the temptation, awkwardly kissed her, to her great amusement.
She sat down opposite him, saying: