'
'Oh, yes, everybody thinks so, till they know her.'
'I know her and I think she's adorable.'
The word was startling from his lips. Charles, too, she exclaimed
inwardly. Was Aunt Rose even to come between her and Charles?
'But of course'--he remembered his lesson--'you're the most beautiful
and the best woman in the world.'
'I'm not a woman at all,' she said angrily: 'I'm a fiend.'
'Yes, to-day; but you won't be to-morrow. You'll feel different
to-morrow.'
He had, she reflected, a gift of prophecy. 'Yes, I shall,' she said
softly, 'I'm stupid. It will be all right to-morrow. I shan't even be
angry with Aunt Rose and you've been an angel to me. I shall never
forget you.'
He said nothing. He seemed very much interested in his cake.
And because she foresaw that her anger towards Aunt Rose would
soon be changed to pity, she apologized to her that night. 'I'm afraid
I was rude to you at luncheon.'
'Were you? Oh, not rude, Henrietta. Perhaps rather foolish and
indiscreet. You should think before you speak.'
This admonition was not what Henrietta expected, and she said, 'That's
just what I was doing. You mean I ought to be quiet when I'm
thinking.'
'Well, yes, that would be even better.'
'Then, Aunt Rose, I should never speak at all when I'm with you.'
'You haven't talked to me for a long time.'
She made a gesture like her father's--impatient, hopeless. 'How can
I?' she demanded.
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