"
"I want you to come to dinner with us," Harriet said, tremulously,
leaning forward. "Jennie Wynn and I are going to put our baskets
together, and Hyram Longtree and Sue Kirby are coming."
"I thank you," he said, "but I reckon I'll have to eat with Mrs.
Bradley." He might have accepted the invitation if Bates had not been
grinning so complacently and looking at Harriet with such a large air
of ownership.
"Oh, come on," urged Bates. "You get Bradley hash every day; there is
some'n good in our basket; I could smell it all the way out here."
"I wish you _would_ come," urged Harriet. "Mrs. Bradley will let you
off."
There was something in her look and tone that convinced him that she
had detected his jealousy and was sympathizing with him, and that in
itself angered him.
"No, I thank you, not to-day," he said, coldly; "how did you like the
preacher?"
"Very well," she replied, her face falling. "I have heard him before."
He had brought it on himself, but he was stung to the quick when she
touched Bates's arm, smiled indifferently, and said: "I see Sue and
Hyram out there waiting for us; we'd better go.
Pages:
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260