“Why, Nellie,” she exclaimed, “I am so glad to see you!”
“You—you have not seen her before then?” inquired her father gravely.
“Oh, dear, no,” answered Lola lightly. “Hasn’t she told you that?”
John stepped forward impatiently. There must be some good reason for her deceit of them. Surely she should give it, and as Lola turned to speak to Dr. Crossett, he stepped in front of her. “Lola, why did you——”
“Now, John,” she interrupted him, “please don’t be silly. I see that there is nothing for me to do but confess. I had not meant to tell you until after dinner. I have been very selfish. I have been riding, in an automobile.”
“With whom?”
“With nobody dreadful, I assure you.” She turned to her father, laughing at John’s frowning face. “With the wife of one of your old friends, Mrs. Dr. Rupert.”
“You see,” Dr. Crossett sighed with perfect relief. “Why make mountains out of nothing? Surely we do not begrudge our girl a ride.”
“Of course you don’t. I met her as I went out of the house. I fully meant to call on you, Nellie dear, but Mrs. Rupert wanted me very much, and besides, I knew that she could help me.”
The others were smiling now, quite satisfied, but John’s face had not changed, and as he spoke to her, his voice was hard, suspicious.