"She is a long time," Frederick Varian said, frowning; "I was just thinking that myself. I think I'll go after her."
"No, don't," said his wife, nervously, "you'll get into an argument with her, and never get back! Let her alone,--she'll be here in a minute."
But the minutes went by, and Betty didn't reappear in the open doorway.
"I know what she's up to," and Frederick Varian shook his head, in annoyance.
"Now, Fred, stop," she said; "Herbert, you go up to the house and tell Betty to come along. If she can't find her camera, tell her to come without it. I wish we had a megaphone so we could call her. Go on, Herbert."
"Stay where you are, Herbert," said his brother. "I shall go. It's all right, Minna, I won't tease the child,--I promise you. It's all right, dear."
He kissed his wife lightly on the brow, and started off at a swinging pace up the rocky flight of steps.
"I'll fetch her," he called back, as he proceeded beyond hearing distance. "Chirk up, Minna, Janet; tell her I shan't abuse Betty."
"What does he mean by that?" asked Mrs Herbert of Mrs Frederick, as she repeated the message.
"Oh, nothing," and Mrs Frederick clasped her hands resignedly. "Only you know how Betty and her father are always more or less at odds. I don't know why it is,--they're devoted to each other, yet they're always quarreling."
"They don't mean anything," and her sister-in-law smiled. "I know them both, and they're an ideal father and daughter."
Doctor Herbert Varian stood slightly apart from the rest of the group, his observant eyes taking in all the details of the peculiar situation of his brother's house. His eye traversed back over the short distance they had already come, and he saw a narrow, winding and exceedingly steep path. At intervals it was a succession of broken, irregular steps, rocky and sharp-edged. Again, it would be a fairly easy, though stony footway. But it led to the house, and had no branch or side track in any direction.
"Everything and everybody that comes to this house has to come by this path?" he demanded.
"Yes," said Minna Varian, and added, complainingly, "a most disagreeable arrangement. All the servants and tradespeople have to use it as well as ourselves and our guests."