Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/335

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BRENDA’S SUMMER AT ROCKLEY
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in an attitude that indicated great admiration; and the three schoolgirls exchanged glances which said,—

“Well, really, it looks as if cousin Edward had found some one worth talking to.” It was a standing complaint of Mr. Elston’s that the modern young woman was so frivolous that a sensible man was not justified in wasting his time talking to her.

“Oh,” explained Julia, in answer to a question of Brenda’s, “Miss South has known cousin Edward for a month or so. She wrote me about it. She met him first at a concert at the Eastern club-house, and she has friends on the Neck who know him very well.”

“Ah!” said Brenda, “I thought cousin Edward never went anywhere. He always talks that way.”

“Well, I know that he has invited Miss South to join these friends in one or two sailing parties on the ‘Crusoe’ but Madame Du Launay is nervous about the water, and will not let her go. ”

“It’s a wonder she let her come here to-day.”

“Oh, she likes her to enjoy herself, when there is n’t any danger! She likes to hear what is going on.”

“Well, she has changed!” said Nora, thinking of the isolated life that the old lady had formerly led.

At this moment a shout was heard from the farther end of the room, and looking across, the three perceived Philip the centre of a group. Soon he was led forward on the arm of Tom Hearst, who insisted on his displaying what Philip had found in his piece of wedding cake,—a small stick-pin, enamelled to imitate a bachelor’s button, and