She gave a hasty side-glance to her cousin, but would
not trust herself to do more in the presence of others.
"Mr. Van Berg, I would like to see you alone a few moments," said
Stanton in a low tone.
The artist hobbled cheerfully into one of the small private parlors,
and stretched himself out very luxuriously on the sofa, saying as
he did so, "Take the rocking-chair, Ik."
"No, sir," said Stanton stiffly. "I shall trespass but a few
moments on your time--only long enough to keep a promise and perform
a duty. In circumstances that you can scarcely have forgotten,
you assured me that I was in honor bound to give my cousin, Miss
Mayhew, a brother's care. You asserted very emphatically that with
her peculiar temperament she ought to be saved from any serious
trouble. What I then promised from a sense of duty I now perform
from warm affection. As far as a brother's love and care is
concerned, Ida Mayhew is my sister, and as a brother I insist, in
view of your relations with Miss Burton, that you do not give to
her so much of your society. Not that I mean to insinuate in the
faintest possible way, that my cousin entertains for you anything
more than an ordinary and friendly regard.
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