Page:Pratt portraits - sketched in a New England suburb (IA prattportraitssk00full).pdf/46

 "I went to walk with Frank Enderby. We walked away out into the country and it was perfectly glorious."

The girl had turned her glowing face toward her mother.

"Frank Enderby!" Harriet repeated, with increased displeasure. "Was that Italian-looking man, waiting for you at the gate, Frank Enderby?"

"Why, yes! Did you see him? And didn't you know him?"

"I never thought of such a thing. When did he come back?"

"The 14th of last month," said Lucy, with prompt exactitude.

"And have you seen much of him?"

"I've seen him three times, not counting to-day."

"Where have you been seeing him?"

"The first time was at Annie Owen's party. And then I saw him at church the next Sunday; and yesterday he was calling at Annie's when I was there."

"Why didn't you mention him to me?"

"I don't know," said Lucy, promptly taking refuge in a time-honored subterfuge.

"You must at least know that you were behaving very improperly, when you took a long walk with a young man I'm not acquainted with."

"I know, Mother; but I really didn't mean to. He asked me if he might not walk with me to