"Naughty Flapper! I won't give you the present I brought for you."
"Oh, yes you will," and so wheedlesome was the lovely face, and so persuasive the soft voice, that Vernie, after a short argument, seized upon a small jeweller's packet and unwrapped a pretty little ring.
"Angel Cousin," she observed, "you're just about the nicest cousin I possess,--beside being the only one!"
"Doubtful compliment!" laughed Braye. "Any way, you're the prettiest and naughtiest cousin _I_ own! As a punishment for your disobedience I challenge you to a round with old Ouija to-night! I'll bet I can make it say something more cheerful than you wormed out of it last evening."
"All right, we'll try it," and Vernie danced gaily away to tease her uncle not to take her home.
A little later, Milly, as housekeeper, discovered some serious shortage in the commissariat department, and Braye offered to drive her over to East Dryden, marketing.
They started off, Milly calling back to Eve to preside at the tea-table, if she didn't return in time.
"All right," agreed Eve, though Vernie vociferously announced her intention of playing hostess in Milly's absence.
The shoppers had not returned when old Thorpe brought in the tea-tray.
"You can pour, Eve, and I'll pass the cakies," said Vernie, who was in high spirits, for she had partially persuaded her uncle to remain longer at Black Aspens. He was just phrasing certain strong stipulations on which his permission was to be based, when the tea things arrived.
They were, as usual, in the hall, for though they sometimes suggested the plan of having tea out of doors, there was no cheerful terrace, or pleasant porch. The hall, though sombre and vast, had become more or less homelike by virtue of usage, so there they took their tea.
Mr. Tracy, always graceful in social matters, helped pass the cups and plates, for no one liked to have the old Thorpes about unnecessarily.
"No tea for me, please," declared Norma; "I think it upsets my nerves,----"
"And that is not the thing to do in _this_ house," laughed Landon. "This is mighty good tea, though,--didn't know anybody could brew it as well as Milly. Congratulations, Eve."
"Thank you," and Eve's long lashes swept upward as she gave him a coquettish glance.