"Of yours? No! But they are all I have in the world!" said Rotha, with fire in her cheeks and in her eyes. Mrs. Busby went on with her breakfast and avoided looking at her. But Antoinette cried out.
"All she has in the world! Mr. Southwode! Pretty well for a young lady!
Mamma, do you hear that? Mr. Southwode is all she has in the world."
"Once hearing a silly thing is quite enough. You need not repeat it,
Antoinette."
"Didn't he come to say good bye?" asked Rotha, her eyes blazing.
"I do not answer questions put in that tone," said Mrs. Busby, coldly.
"I know he did," said Rotha. "What did he go to England for, Mr. Busby?"
"Mr. Busby," said his wife, "I request you not to reply. Rotha is behaving improperly, and must be left to herself till she is better- mannered."
"I don't know, my dear," said the gentleman, rising and gathering his newspapers together, previous to taking his departure. "'Seems to me that's an open question—public, as you say. I do not see why you should not tell Rotha that Mr. Southwode is called home by the illness and probable death of his father. Good-morning, my dear!"
"Did you ever see anything like papa!" said Antoinette with an appealing look at her mother, as the door closed. "He don't mind you a bit, mamma."
Mrs. Busby's slight air of the head was more significant than words.