Again that singular look passed over Elizabeth Mellen's face; she listened and endured rather than returned the young girl's caress, but Mr. Mellen was watching his sister and did not observe it.
"And isn't he brown?" cried Elsie, rushing over to her brother again; "he looks like an Indian, don't he, Bess? Oh, you bad, bad boy, to stay so long."
Thus Elsie laughed and talked incessantly, begun a dozen sentences without finishing one of them, and was so demonstrative in her expressions of affection to both, so lovely in her youth and brilliant happiness, that it was no wonder her brother regarded her with that proud look; it seemed almost impossible that Elizabeth herself could help being won into happiness by her caressing ways.
"You'll never go away again--shall he, Bess? But isn't it luncheon-time? I could eat no breakfast for joy, but I do think I am hungry now."
Mr. Mellen laughed, and Elsie went on again.
"Oh, Grantley, I saw Dolf on the steamboat; he is coming over with your luggage. The ridiculous creature has more airs than ever. I wish you had forced him to come ashore in the pilot-boat, it would have been such fun, when he got among the breakers; but, oh dear! how frightened I was, hearing how near you were to getting in. It makes, me feel pale now!"
Here Elsie gathered up her bonnet and shawl, tossed her curls back, kissed her brother again, and ran, off, saying:
"I must go upstairs and brush my hair. Do come, Bessie; I never can do it myself."
"I must go and see what the servants are doing," Elizabeth said.
Elsie caught her sister-in-law about the waist, waltzed away towards the stairs and forced her to ascend, while Mr. Mellen stood looking after them with a pleasant smile on his lips.
When they reached Elsie's room the girl drew Elizabeth in and closed the door. Mrs. Mellen sank wearily into a seat, as if glad to escape from the restraint she had been putting upon herself all that day.
"Your note frightened me so!" cried Elsie. "It was wicked of you to write like that."
"He came upon me so suddenly," gasped Elizabeth. "I was out in the grounds in the rain--I had gone to--"
"And Grantley came upon you there?" interrupted Elsie. "What did you do? what did you do?"