The song died away just in time or Opal might have screamed. She was
easily wrought up. And then this strange anomoly of a girl, her young
hostess, turned to her with a natural smile just as if nothing
extraordinary had been going on and said: "Now, shall we say good-night and go upstairs? I know you must be tired
after your long ride, and I know father has had a hard day and would
like to get the house settled for the night."
Opal arose with a wild idea of screaming and running away, but she
caught the twinkle of Laurie's eyes and knew he was laughing at her. So
she relaxed into her habitual languor, and turning haughtily requested: "Would you send your maid to the cyar for my bag, please?"
Before anyone could respond the minister stepped to the door with a
courteous "Certainly," and presently returned with a great blue leather
affair with silver mountings, and himself carried it up the stairs.
At the head of the stairs Marilyn met him, and put her head on his
shoulder hiding her face in his coat, and murmured, "Oh, Daddy!"
Severn smoothed her soft hair and murmured gently: "There, there little
girl! Pray! Pray! Our Father knows what's best!" but neither of them
were referring to the matter of the unwelcome guests.
Mrs. Severn was solicitous about asking if there was anything the guest
would like, a glass of milk, or some fruit? And Opal declined curtly,
made a little moue at Shafton and followed up the stairs.
"Well!" she said rudely, as she entered the lovely room and stared
around, "so this is your room!" Then she walked straight to the wall on
the other side of the room where hung a framed photograph of Mark at
twelve years old; Mark, with all the promise of his princely bearing
already upon him.
"So this is the perfect icicle of a stunning young prince that was down
on the lawn, is it? I thought there was some reason for your frantic
indifference to men. Is his name Billy or Mark? Laurie said it was
either Billy or Mark, he wasn't sure which."