"What?"
"I callate to," responded Mr. Hopper again, without rising.
"Please find Mr. Hood," directed Mr. Colfax, with a wave of his cane, "and say that Miss Carvel is here—"
Whereupon Miss Carvel seated herself upon the edge of a bale and giggled, which did not have a soothing effect upon either of the young men. How abominably you were wont to behave in those days, Virginia.
"Just say that Mr. Colfax sent you," Clarence continued, with a note of irritation. "There's a good fellow."
Virginia laughed outright. Her cousin did not deign to look at her. His temper was slipping its leash.
"I wonder whether you hear me," he remarked.
No answer.
"Colonel Carvel hires you, doesn't he? He pays you wages, and the first time his daughter comes in here you refuse to do her a favor. By thunder, I'll see that you are dismissed."
Still Eliphalet gave him no manner of attention, but began marking the tags at the bottom of the pile.