"Do! ah! do!"
"But why?"
"I must see you there--I thought you'd like to help me...."
The answer seemed to the girl to come softly with a tremble from amongst
the blossoms: "So I do!"
And she stepped into the open space of the window.
"How stuffy it is here!" she said; "I can't bear this scent!"
Her eyes, so angry and direct, swept both their faces.
"Were you talking about the house? I haven't seen it yet, you
know--shall we all go on Sunday?"'
From Irene's face the colour had flown.
"I am going for a drive that day with Uncle Swithin," she answered.
"Uncle Swithin! What does he matter? You can throw him over!"
"I am not in the habit of throwing people over!"
There was a sound of footsteps and June saw Soames standing just behind
her.
"Well! if you are all ready," said Irene, looking from one to the other
with a strange smile, "dinner is too!"
CHAPTER II--JUNE'S TREAT
Dinner began in silence; the women facing one another, and the men.
In silence the soup was finished--excellent, if a little thick; and fish
was brought. In silence it was handed.
Bosinney ventured: "It's the first spring day."
Irene echoed softly: "Yes--the first spring day."
"Spring!" said June: "there isn't a breath of air!" No one replied.
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