"Oh yes, I know!" said Joe, looking at his step-brother curiously."I've seen it in stories.She's up-stairs.You'll be a surprise.You're wearing lots of clothes, 'Gene.""I suppose it will seem so to Canaan," returned the other, weariedly."Governor feeling fit?""I never saw him," Joe replied; then caught himself."Oh, I see what you mean! Yes, he's all right."They had come into the hall, and Eugene was removing the long coat, while his step-brother looked at him thoughtfully.
"'Gene," asked the latter, in a softened voice, "have you seen Mamie Pike yet?""You will find, my young friend," responded Mr.Bantry, "if you ever go about much outside of Canaan, that ladies' names are not supposed to be mentioned indiscriminately.""It's only," said Joe, "that I wanted to say that there's a dance at their house to-night.I suppose you'll be going?""Certainly.Are you?"Both knew that the question was needless; but Joe answered, gently:
"Oh no, of course not." He leaned over and fumbled with one foot as if to fasten a loose shoe-string."She wouldn't be very likely to ask me.""Well, what about it?""Only that--that Arie Tabor's going."
"Indeed!" Eugene paused on the stairs, which he had begun to ascend."Very interesting.""I thought," continued Joe, hopefully, straightening up to look at him, "that maybe you'd dance with her.I don't believe many will ask her--I'm afraid they won't--and if you would, even only once, it would kind of make up for"--he faltered --"for out there," he finished, nodding his head in the direction of the gate.
If Eugene vouchsafed any reply, it was lost in a loud, shrill cry from above, as a small, intensely nervous-looking woman in blue silk ran half-way down the stairs to meet him and caught him tearfully in her arms.
"Dear old mater!" said Eugene.
Joe went out of the front-door quickly.