Her eyes twinkled, and Gordon appeared half teased, though he was inwardly pleased.
Mrs. Yorke looked shocked.
"Oh, Alice, Dr. Balsam did not say that, for I heard him!" she exclaimed reprovingly. "Dr. Balsam was very complimentary to you, Mr. Keith," she explained seriously. "He said your people were among the best families about here." She meant to be gracious; but Gordon's face flushed in spite of himself. The condescension was too apparent.
"Your father was a pre--a--a--clergyman?" said Mrs. Yorke, who had started to say "preacher," but substituted the other word as more complimentary.
"My father a clergyman! No'm. He is good enough to be one; but he was a planter and a--a--soldier," said Gordon.
Mrs. Yorke looked at her daughter in some mystification. Could this be the wrong man?
"Why, he said he was a clergyman?" she insisted.
Gordon gazed at the girl in bewilderment.
"Yes; he said he was a minister," she replied to his unspoken inquiry.
Gordon broke into a laugh.