But she saw at a glance that she was lovely, and her soul was
filled with strange misgivings. She was like all sisters who have pet
bachelor brothers. She hoped that poor Tom hadn't gone and made a fool
of himself. The few minutes' conversation she had had with the
stranger only served to increase her alarm. Miss Cameron's voice and
smile--and her eyes!--were positively alluring.
She had had a night letter from Tom that morning in which he said that
he was bringing a young lady friend down from the north,--and would
she meet them at the station and put her up for a couple of days? That
was all she knew of the dazzling stranger up to the moment she saw
her. Immediately after that, she knew, by intuition, a great deal more
about her than Tom could have told in volumes of correspondence. She
knew, also, that Tom was lost forever!
"Now, tell me," said the Countess, the instant they entered the
Courtney apartment. She gripped both of his arms with her firm little
hands, and looked straight into his eyes, eagerly, hopefully. She had
forgotten Mrs. Courtney's presence, she had not taken the time to
remove her hat or jacket.
"Let's all sit down," said he. "My knees are unaccountably weak.
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