From all the indications I have
seen, Van Berg is the last man to follow you here or anywhere else,
even though he knew of your prospective movements. He is here, as
scores of others are, for his own pleasure. So follow your mother
to your room, smooth your ruffled plumage and come down to supper."
Even Miss Mayhew's egotism could find no fault with so reasonable
an explanation, and she went pouting up the stairway in anything
but a complacent mood.
Stanton stepped out upon the piazza to greet his friend, saying:
"Why, Van, it is an unexpected pleasure to find you here."
"I was equally and quite as agreeably surprised to see you drive
to the door. If you cousin had not come I might have helped you
exercise your bays. I am doing some sketching in the vicinity."
"My cousin shall not keep you from many an idle hour behind the
bays--that is, if you will not carry your antipathy so far as to
cut me on account of my relationship."
"I'm not conscious of any antipathy for Miss Mayhew," replied Van
Berg, with a slight shrug.
"Oh, only indifference! Well, if you will both maintain that
attitude there will be no trouble about the bays or anything else.
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