I expected you to stay to tea; Ive had a place set for you.
Id like to very muchits kind of you to ask mebut Im afraid not
to-night. Ill see you to-morrow, Sutton, I suppose. Good evening, Mrs.
Alexander. His hand-touch seemed to give an intimacy to the words.
Your stick is out here in the hall somewhere, said Justin,
investigating the corners for it, while Zaidee, who had followed the
two, stood in the doorway.
I wonder if this little girl will kiss me good-by? asked Girard
tentatively.
Will you, Zaidee? asked her father, in his turn.
For all answer, Zaidee raised her little face trustfully. Girard dropped
on one knee, a very gallant figure of a gentleman, as he put both arms
around the small, light form of the child and held her tightly to him
for one brief instant while his lips pressed that warm cheek. When he
strode lightly away, waving his hand behind him in farewell, it was with
an odd, somber effect of having said good-by to a great deal.
For the second time that day, it seemed that Zaidee had been the
recipient of an emotion called forth by some one else.