the eyes of those two strange men." "Better that than dullards," laughed Nan lightly. "Hobson's choice," said Jean dryly. Just then Helen, with a somewhat preoccupied air, pushed back her chair and passed into the house, her mind evidently intent on some domestic question. 50 Nathalie's eyes followed the retreating figure, until it was quite lost from view in the shadowy hallway, and then were bent thoughtfully on her work again. 50 "To change the subject, girls," she began, after a moment, devoting herself energetically to the threading of her needle, and tossing her head impatiently at every unsuccessful effort; "have you heard the news? Helen's friend, Miss Stuart, is coming down upon us for a visit." "Yes, indeed we have." Emily's sigh came from the depths of her heart. "I can't imagine what we will do with another girl here." "What she will do with us may be more to the point," and Jean raised her eyebrows expressively. "I don't know how it is, but I am apprehensive about this visit. I suppose," with a sort of honest protest in her voice, "that I have never really liked Miss Stuart." "Nor I," agreed Nathalie. "There is something about her that I do not trust. And the worst of it is," with a grimace, "that she winds Helen around her little finger. It always makes me so angry." "Nonsense, Nat. You do Helen an injustice," objected Eleanor pleasantly. "However, I frankly confess to a fear that the harmony of our own little circle will be somewhat marred by the advent of a stranger." "That's so, and then you know she is such a swell that she will probably look down upon us poor country girls with the utmost scorn," and Nathalie gave a vindictive tug at her knotted thread. 51 51 "Of course she is devoted to men?" queried Emily lugubriously. "Oh, I should judge so, although I have never seen her with them. You know she has only stopped with us in the winter season, when we have been alone." "Let us do her the justice to suppose that the men are equally devoted to her," added Jean generously.
Prev.
Back
Top