Nell was on the stairs before the maid had finished, and running into
the library, had got Dick in her arms--and his brand-new hat on the
floor.
"Dick! Oh, Dick! Is it really you?"
"Yes; but there won't be much left of me if you continue garroting me;
and would you mind my picking up my hat? It is the only one I've got,
and we don't grow 'em at Shorne Mills! Why, Nell, how--yes, how thin
you've got! And, I say, what a swagger house! I'd always looked upon
mamma's swell relations as a kind of 'Mrs. Harrises,' until now."
He nodded, as he endeavored to smooth the roughened silk of his hat.
"Mamma--tell me; she is all right, Dick?"
"Oh, yes. I've got no end of messages. She's had your letters, all of
'em; and she hopes that you are taking advantage of your splendid
position. Is it a splendid position, Nell? They seemed to think me of
some consequence when I mentioned, dissembling my pride in the
connection, that I was your brother."
Nell nodded.
"Yes, yes; it is all right, and I am quite--happy. And Shorne Mills,
Dick, are they all well?"
"And kicking. I've got a hundred messages which you can sum up in 'love
from all.' And, Nell, I've only time to say how are you, for I'm going
to catch the Irish mail. Fact! Bardsley & Bardsley are sending me to
some engineering work there. How's that for high? Ah, would you!"
gingerly whisking his hat behind him. "Keep off; and, Nell, how's
Drake?"
The abrupt question sent the blood rushing through Nell's face, and then
as suddenly from it, leaving it stone white.
"Drake--Mr. Vernon?" she said, almost inaudibly. "I--I do not know. I--I
have not seen--heard."
"No? That's rum! I should have thought that tiff was over by this time.
Can't make it out! What have you been doing, Miss Lorton?"
Nell bravely tried to smile.
"You--you have seen him? You never wrote and told me, Dick! You--you
gave him my note?"
Dick nodded rather gravely.
"Yes."
"And--and----" She could not speak.
"Oh, yes; I gave it him, and he said----Well, he looked broken up over
it; quite broken up. He said--let me see; I didn't pay very much
attention because I thought he'd write to you and see you. They
generally wind up that way, after a quarrel, don't they?"
"It does not matter. No, I have not seen or heard," said Nell.