“Somehow, I hadn't thought until now how dreadful it would be if he didn't. He knows about you, though, papa. He knows you're all right—that's one comfort.”
“And he takes my word for it that you are,” said Mr. Harris; “so be sure you don't go back on me either of you. You will have to be on your good behavior every minute.”
Marie-Celeste gave her mother a little significant look, which her mother answered as significantly, and which gave Mr. Harris to understand that good behavior would depend altogether upon circumstances.
“It would be just as bad,” Marie-Celeste said thoughtfully, “if we didn't like Harold, wouldn't it? And there's Ted; we don't know much about him, do we?”
“Excuse me, my little daughter,” said her father, laughing, “if I casually remark that young in years though you be, you are just like a woman. Who has said a word until now about any ifs in connection with this trip of ours? But no sooner are we actually off, scarce ten minutes from home, in fact, than the great, uncomfortable, intimidating creatures come trooping in from every quarter, and the particular one that comes to me is this, If you find you don't like it when you get there, don't forget where the blame lies. I remember a little maid who said that go to Cousin Harold she must, whether or no.”
“So do I,” with a little shrug of her shoulders; “but you can't help thinking about things, all the same. What is Ted like, papa?”
“Well, Ted's a handsome, overgrown, headstrong boy, I should say—at least, he was when I was in Windsor four years ago; but you see he's a young man by this time and quite another fellow probably.”
“It is strange Harold didn't say anything about Ted in his letter,” remarked Mrs. Harris.
“Oh, that was pure accident, I imagine! Ted must be all right, or Harold would have said something about it which was rather wide of the mark in 'Uncle Fritz,' as you and I happen to know.”
“Overgrown and headstrong doesn't sound very nice,” Marie-Celeste said slowly; “I'm really not a bit afraid about Harold—I love him already, but I don't feel sure about Ted, somehow.” And if the truth be told, neither did Mr. Harris nor Mrs. Harris, nor anybody else, for that matter.