To do this fully, however, was impossible. Her manner was too evidently changed; and her face wore too dreamy and sad an expression to deceive her daughters, who inquired, with much tenderness and solicitude, whether she was not well, or whether anything troubled her.
"I am only a little indisposed," was her evasive reply to her children's kind interrogatories.
"Can't I do something for you?" inquired Ellen, with an earnest affection in her manner.
"No, dear," was her mother's brief response; and then followed a silence, oppressive to all, which remained unbroken until the tea things were removed.
"Alfred is again away at tea-time," Mrs. Graham at length said, as they all arose from the table.
"He went out this afternoon with Charles Williams," Mary replied.
"Did he?" the mother rejoined quickly, and with something of displeasure in her tone.
"Yes. Charles called for him in his buggy about four o'clock, and they rode out together. I thought you knew it."
"No. I was lying down about that time."
"You do not seem to like Charles Williams much."