Page:Watch and Ward (Boston, Houghton, Osgood and Company, 1878).djvu/79

76 to stick in his throat. "Your cousin is gone?" he said.

"To his own room. He has some letters to write."

"Shall I hold your wools?" Roger asked, after a pause.

"Thank you. They are all wound."

"For whom are your slippers?" He knew, of course; but the question came.

"For George. Did I not tell you? Do you think them pretty?" And she held up her work.

"Prettier than he deserves."

Nora gave him a rapid glance and miscounted her stitch. "You don't like poor George," she said.

"No. Since you ask me, I don't like poor George."

Nora was silent. At last: "Well!" she said, "you 've not the same reasons as I have."

"So I am bound to believe! You must have excellent reasons."

"Excellent. He is my own, you know."

"Your own—? Ah!" And he gave a little laugh.

"My own cousin," said Nora.

"Your own grandfather!" cried Roger.

She stopped her work. "What do you mean?" she asked gravely.

Roger began to blush a little. "I mean—I mean—that I don't believe in your cousin. He does n't satisfy me. I don't like him. He contradicts himself, his story does n't hang together. I have nothing but his word. I am not bound to take it."

"Roger, Roger," said Nora, with great softness, "do you mean that he is an impostor?"