Jack looked up with interest.
"I'm glad there's another fellow coming," he said. "There are almost too many girls around here."
"Jack, how hateful of you, when you always have said I was as good as another fellow!" exclaimed Cynthia.
"Well, so you are, almost; but I'm glad he's coming, anyway."
The new horse was bought, and a pretty and comfortable cart for them to use, a "surrey" that would hold two or four, as occasion required. At first Edith would not use it. She jogged about with the old horse and buggy when she went to the village, thereby exciting much comment among her friends. Every one suspected that Edith could not reconcile herself to the coming of her step-mother.
The day of the tournament arrived. Before Mr. Franklin went to Boston that morning he called Edith into the library and closed the door.
"I have something to say to you, Edith. I have been perfectly observant of your conduct since I came home, though I have not spoken of it before. I preferred to wait, to give you a chance to think better of it. Your treatment of my wife is not only rude, it is unkind, as rudeness always is."
"Father, I haven't been rude. Why do you speak to me so? It is all her fault. She has made you do it."
"Hester has not mentioned the subject to me, Edith. You are most unjust. You are making yourself very conspicuous, and are placing me in a very false light by your behavior. Are you going to the tennis tournament to-day?"
"Yes, papa."