Part 31 (1/2)
”Pooh,” said Eustace, ”that was only his fun Aunt Dorothy knew it”
But Nesta could not stand teasing herself, and was sure no one liked or understood it
”I don't know,” she said; ”she used to get red sometimes And I'm not so sure Bob did lish I irls' pluck now”
”If you do,” said Eustace, with sudden ferocity, ”I'll never speak to you again”
Nesta stared at him in dismay
”Why ever?” she asked dully ”Wouldn't he like to talk about her?
Didn't he like her, really?”
”Like her!” Eustace exclaimed ”Oh, you little stupid! Didn't you see hi us about her? Didn't you hear Bob then? Can't you understand?”
Nesta stared in blank silence for soasped, ”I didn't know! I never thought of that!
I--I wasn't looking at hi else,” said Eustace; ”but I guess he wouldn't like to think any one knew, so weand asking hi questions”
”I won't,” said Nesta, with unwonted uess?”
”Only then,” said Eustace; ”but now I can re to her better than any one Bob didn't want her to go Bob asked her to come back”
He broke off short and slammed out of the room It was as bad to think of as it had been to bear histhen for her, he could do nothing now for Bob
It was a matter of conjecture between the tas likely to happen next They really expected that, when Peter ell enough for the rough journey, they would all go back to the plantation, and settle down again for ever and ever
A telegram had been dispatched with the bad news to Mr and Mrs
Chase The reply was an urgent appeal for the on the plantation in Bob's care, Mr Orban decided to take his wife and fa they had anticipated; and Mrs Orban would need him, he knew
”We must do e can for the poor dear old people,” Mr Orban explained to Bob ”Dorothy was their baby It is a terrible loss to them”
”To every one,” said Bob briefly
CHAPTER XVII
MOTHER'S HOME
In the length and breadth of England there could hardly have been found a er houses in the neighbourhood, with rounds; but as Brenda Dixon stood on the terrace and gazed doards the good old English park she felt a real glow of pride and pleasure in belonging to such a place It was the sort of feeling she had whenever she brought a new school friend ho, lean, and very gentlereat joys that he always looked a gentleirl herself, with features a little too pronounced for accurate beauty; but this very fault had the effect ofher handsome She had little personal vanity-- for--but pride of birth and of the old home were deeply rooted in her
”I think Nesta and Eustace ought to be surprised,” she was thinking; ”they won't have seen anything like it It will see and splendid to them after the kind of life they have had”