"And I'll leave you to
digest it while I go and read to Mrs. Blakely."
"Mrs. Blakely! That old lady with the green goggles?"
"Yes."
"What, in goodness' name do you find to admire in her? I thought she
was a cranky old invalid."
"Well, she is not very young, nor handsome, nor pleasant, and she has
trouble with her eyes--but that's just why I do read to her. Now, nice
strong people with good eyes, and manners--like yourself, for instance,
don't need such attention. You can amuse yourselves;" and with a
laughing glance, and little mocking courtesy, she slipped away.
He looked after her with admiring eyes.
"She hit me there!" he owned inwardly. "But even her scorn is
pleasant. Gad! I can congratulate myself that she isn't the one I
insulted. She would never have forgiven me--that's certain! As it is,
this little girl may intercede with her sister and make it easier
there. I'm glad I had the sand to speak out, anyhow!"
He had been seated some time, lost in thoughts that could not harm him,
when Hope came tripping by, intent on finding Dwight, with whom she had
some scheme on hand, her eyes dancing with fun and expectation.
Allyne, looking up, thought his _vis-a-vis_ of a short time since was
back again, the arch, laughing expression with which she had left him
not yet cold on her face. "I have thought it all out," he said
quickly, "and you are right. I mean to try it, at least."
Hope stopped, with a cold stare of astonishment.
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