THE UNWISHED-FOR HAPPENS
“Where do you come from after all this time?” asked the cousin.
“From the garden,” was the reply.
“That is quite possible, but where were you before that?”
“With Martha,” Cornelli answered.
“If you could only learn to answer more pleasantly!” remarked Miss Dorner, “it would be to your own advantage, for you do not have many pleasing things about you; it would only make you more attractive, and you really should strive to become so.
“Next time you want to stay so long at this woman’s house you have to ask my permission. I absolutely forbid you to stay away so long without asking me, do you hear? You deserve to be scolded for your long absence to-day, but I shall not say anything further. But why do you look so pitiful! What is the matter? Have you a toothache?”
“No,” Cornelli quickly gave forth.
“Have you a headache?”
“No.”
“What is the matter with you?”
“Nothing.”
105
