Roberta saw the valise brought in, and she made no inquiries concerning it. She saw the dinner brought on, and she seated herself in her place at the table, and drew the chair holding the valise almost to her side. Then she waited.
Neil entered the room immediately. She did not turn her face to the door when it opened. She said as if speaking to a servant, "Place the soup at the head of the table. Mr. Ruleson is home."
When he took the head of the table, and so faced her, and could no longer be ignored, she said, "Is it really you, Neil? By what train did you arrive?"
"I told you, in my last letter, at what time I should arrive in Glasgow. You did not meet me, as I expected. I had to take a cab home."
"The stable man said one of the horses was acting as if it did not feel well. He thought it had better not be driven."
"He thought it would be more comfortable to stay at home this wet night. I had a very cold, disagreeable drive. I dare say I have taken a severe cold from it."
He did so, remarking the while, "I sent you word I would be home by this train. Did you receive my letter?"
"O you know, you have been coming by so many trains the past week, I thought it best not to take the sick horse out on such an uncertainty as your promise."
"I was, as I told you, detained by business."
"Ah! Then you would not mind the expense of a cab."
"I have never considered the matter," and the little laugh of indifference which closed the sentence, made him look at her attentively.
She was in full evening costume, and it struck him that tonight she looked almost handsome.
"Did you intend to go out this evening? Has my coming home prevented some social pleasure?"
"I had told Reginald to meet me in my box at Glover's Theater. Reginald is a social pleasure no woman would willingly miss."
"I do not approve of Reginald Rath, and I would rather you did not invite him to our box. His presence there, you know, would assuredly preclude mine."
"I cannot interfere with dear Reggie's rights. The box is as much his, as mine. Father bought it in perpetuity, when the theater was built. The Merrys, and Taits, and others did the same--and Father left it to Reggie and myself, equally."
"It would be very unpleasant to you, if Reginald married a woman you did not like--and you really approve of so few women--it is remarkable how few----"