"Certainly, come in," Guy said, and folding his arms he leaned against
the mantel, watching her as she hunted for the missing book.
There was no pretense about Maddy Clyde, nothing put on for effect,
and yet in every movement she showed marks of great improvement, both
in manner and style. Of one hundred people who might glance at her,
ninety-nine would look a second time, asking who she was. Naturally
graceful and utterly forgetful of herself, she always appeared to good
advantage, and never to better than now, when two pairs of eyes were
watching her, as standing on tiptoe, or kneeling upon the floor to
look under the secretary, she hunted for the book. Not the remotest
suspicion had Maddy of what was occupying the thoughts of her
companions, though as she left the room and glanced brightly up at
Guy, it struck her that his face was dark and moody, and a painful
sensation flitted through her mind that in some way she had intruded.
"Well," was Mrs. Noah's first comment, as the door closed on Maddy,
but as Guy made no response to that, she continued: "She is pretty.
That you won't deny."
"Yes, more than pretty. She'll make a most beautiful woman."
Guy seemed to talk more to himself than to Mrs. Noah, while his foot
kicked the fender, and he mentally compared Lucy and Maddy with each
other, and tried to think that it was not the result of that
comparison, but rather Mrs. Noah's next remark, which affected him
unpleasantly. The remark or remarks were as follows: "Of course she'll make a splendid woman. Everybody notices her now for
her beauty, and that's why you've no business to keep her here where
you see her every day. It's a wrong to her, lettin' yourself alone."
Guy looked up inquiringly, and Mrs. Noah continued: "I've been a girl myself, and I know that Maddy can't be treated as
you treat her without its having an effect. I've no idea that it's
entered her head yet, but it will by-and-by, and then good-by to her
happiness."
"For pity's sake, what do you mean? Do explain, and not talk to me in
riddles. What have I done to Maddy, or what am I going to do?"
Gay spoke savagely, and his boots were in great danger of being burned
as he kicked vigorously against the fender. Coming nearer to him, and
lowering her voice, Mrs. Noah replied: "You are going to teach her to love you, Guy Remington, just as sure
as my name is Noah."