I am afraid he has a higher opinion of me than I deserve," he said, with a boy's pretended modesty, whilst his eyes strongly belied his words.
Mrs.Yorke assured him that such could not be the case.
"Don't you want to know what he said ?" asked Miss Alice, with a bell-like laugh.
"Yes; what ?" he smiled.
"He said if you undertook to carry a bag of salt down a mountain, or up it either, you would never rest until you got there." Her eyes twinkled, and Gordon appeared half teased, though he was inwardly pleased.
Mrs.Yorke looked shocked.
"Oh, Alice, Dr.Balsam did not say that, for I heard him!" she exclaimed reprovingly.

"Dr.Balsam was very complimentary to you, Mr.Keith," she explained seriously.

"He said your people were among the best families about here." She meant to be gracious; but Gordon's face flushed in spite of himself.

The condescension was too apparent.
"Your father was a pre--a--a--clergyman ?" said Mrs.Yorke, who had started to say "preacher," but substituted the other word as more complimentary.
"My father a clergyman! No'm.

He is good enough to be one; but he was a planter and a--a--soldier," said Gordon.
Mrs.Yorke looked at her daughter in some mystification.