Mrs. Cramer could hardly repress signs of her annoyance.
“I am very sorry—� she began. “It is unfortunate Mark is not here or that you did not take the trouble to inquire beforehand. For he decidedly objects to anything of the kind here in his absence.�
Truly, Alice was becoming brave.
“I am sorry for Mark’s blindness,� the Professor said, with priestly assumption.
“Mark blind? How very strange. I should never have suspected it,� said Tibby with childish naivete.
“He is blind to the truth, Miss Waring. A sort of moral blindness, which is the worst form of ophthalmia.�
“Oh!� Tibby opened her eyes to their widest extent and met his look squarely. Then her eyes narrowed until only a rim of blue was visible, and she did not take them off the visitor. It soon became evident that the Professor was annoyed by this childish scrutiny. He changed his position several times and finally turned upon the girl abruptly.
“Have we ever met before, Miss Waring?�
“I think not,� Tibby said, with an emphasis that sounded much like “I hope not,� but she did not relax her persistent watchfulness. Surely the girl, though handsome, was very ill-mannered. She acted like a child who had met an interesting specimen.
“Have you had any new experiences, Mrs. Cramer?� the man asked, again changing his position nervously. He was evidently upon the defensive so far as Tibby was concerned, and did not care to longer challenge her attention.