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Her first coherent remark was one which I had not expected and I had expected almost anything. "Oh, Hosy," gasped Hephzy, "tell me tell me before you say anything else. Does he she, I mean look like Ardelia?" "Eh? What?" I stammered. "Look like look like what?" "Not what who. Does she look like Ardelia? Like her mother? Oh, I HOPE she doesn't favor her father's side!
Daughter of the man who robbed us of everything we had." "I know I know. But SHE doesn't know, does she, Hosy. Her father must have told her " "He told her a barrel of lies, of course. What they were I can't imagine, but that fellow was capable of anything. Know! No, she doesn't know now, but she will have to know." "Are you goin' to tell her, Hosy?" I stared in amazement. "Tell her!" I repeated.
If she went alone it would be almost as hard for Frances as if I went with her. And the temptation was very strong. The desire to see her once more, only once.... "I'll go, Hephzy," I said. I didn't mean to say it; the words seemed to come of themselves. "You will! Oh, I'm so glad! I'm so glad! And I think I think you'll be glad, too, Hosy. I'm hopin' you will." "I'll go," I said.
I don't know what skittles are, but I know what tea is. Land sakes! I should say I did. They tell me the English national flower is a rose. It ought to be a tea-plant blossom, if there is such a thing. Hosy," with a sudden return to seriousness, "what are we goin' to do with with HER when the time comes for us to go?" "I don't know," I answered. "Are you going to take her to America with us?"
The fact that they were on an English ship, bound for England, brought the monocles out of their concealment, as Hephzy said, "like hoptoads after the first spring thaw." Her amazed comments were unique. "But what good are they, Hosy?" she demanded. "Can they see with 'em?" "I suppose they can," I answered. "You can see better with your spectacles than you can without them." "Humph!
Suppose we stick to real life and possibilities, Hephzy." Hephzy was unconvinced. "I don't care," she said. "She ought to even if she doesn't. I fell in love with you long ago, Hosy. And she DID bring you here after you were hurt and took care of you." "Hush! hush!" I broke in. "She took care of me, as you call it, because she thought it was her duty.
"You did just right, Hosy," she said. "There was nothin' else you could do. I never liked that Heathcroft man. And to think of him, engaged to another girl, trottin' around with Frances the way he has. I'D like to talk with him. He'd get a piece of MY mind." "He's all right enough," I admitted grudgingly. "He took my warning in a very good sort, I must say. He has never meant anything serious.
"Does she care for him, you mean? I don't think so, Hosy. For a spell I thought she did, but now I doubt it. I think Well, never mind what I think. I think a lot of foolish things. My brain's softenin' up, I shouldn't wonder.
"Hosy," she said, "how much they all think of you, don't they. Isn't it nice to know you're so popular." I turned in the seat to stare at her. "Popular!" I repeated. "Hephzy, I have a good deal of respect for your brain, generally speaking, but there are times when I think it shows signs of softening." She did not resent my candor; she paid absolutely no attention to it.
"For a Knowles or a Cahoon to be seasick," she announced, "would be a disgrace. Our men folks for four generations would turn over in their graves." She was early on deck that first morning and, at breakfast she and I had the table to ourselves. She had the passenger list propped against the sugar bowl and was reading the names. "My gracious, Hosy!" she exclaimed. "What, do you think!
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