And
when he said this. Elizabeth's bright eyes glanced at him a little
keenly.
"She is your adopted sister," she said dubiously; "is that not
rather a difficult relationship, Mr. Herrick?"
"Not at all," he returned quickly, for somehow this, remark did not
quite please him. "Anna was so young when she came to us, I think
sometimes that she quite forgets that she is not really my mother's
daughter."
"She must be a great comfort to Mrs. Herrick," observed Elizabeth,
"especially as you are not always with her." There was nothing in
this speech to offend Malcolm's amour propre, nevertheless a dull
flush mounted to his brow.
"Of course I should not have left my mother alone," he said so
stiffly that Elizabeth opened her eyes rather widely; but her keen
woman's wits soon grasped the situation.
"My dear Mr. Herrick, you must not misunderstand me," she said quite
gently. "I am quite sure that you are backward in no filial duty. To
tell you the truth," colouring a little, "I hardly liked to show you
how thoroughly I comprehended things--your home has never been a
real home to you, and though you love each other dearly, you and
your mother are really happier apart.
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