“He does not favor us much with his company, as you will soon see for yourself, Miss Lambert. My stepson is not a society man,” observed Mrs. Sefton.
“So much the better,” was on Bessie’s lips, but she prudently refrained from speaking the words. She was beginning to wonder, however, if Mrs. Sefton or Edna could mention his name without adding something disparaging. Edna especially was forever indulging in some light sarcasm at her brother’s expense.
They sat in the cool drawing-room a little while after luncheon, until the Athertons arrived with their rackets; and then they all went down to the tennis lawn.
The Atherton’s were nice-looking girls, and Bessie was rather taken with them, but she was somewhat surprised when they opened their lips. She was walking across the grass with Florence, the tallest and prettiest of the sisters, and, indeed, she was rather a sweet-looking girl.
“Is it not a lovely day?” observed Bessie.
“Awfully jolly,” replied Miss Florence, in a sharp, clipping voice; and the next minute Bessie heard her call one of her sisters a duffer for missing the ball.
“What would mother say?” thought Bessie. She was not much used to the typical girl of the period; after all, she was an old-fashioned little person.
The Athertons were really nice girls, although they talked slang like their brothers, and conformed to all the foolish fashions of the day, disguising their honest, womanly hearts under blunt, flippant manners.
“What a pity,” said Bessie to herself, when she came to know them better. They were good-natured, clever girls, very fond of each other, and devoted to their mother and brothers. Reggie’s examination—exam., Florence called it—for Sandhurst; Harold’s new coach, and Bertie’s score at cricket, were the theme of their conversation. “I am afraid Harold won’t pass,” observed Sabina sadly. “His last coach was such a muff, but the man he has got now seems a good old sort. Harold can get on with him comfortably.”
“Well, what do you think of the girls?” asked Edna, when she and Bessie were left alone at the close of the afternoon.