I like him very much; but--" Here she stopped, for she did not know how to tell Hugh that she was not glad in the way which he supposed.
"But what ?" he asked, "What were you going to say ?" and in his eyes there was a look which drove Alice's courage away, and made her answer: "It's queer the doctor did not tell him anything except that 'Lina was sick." "There are a great many queer people in this world," Hugh replied, rather testily, while Alice mildly rejoined.
"The letter has been delayed, and he will be here day after to-morrow.
Did you notice ?" "Yes; and as I am impatient to go for Adah, the sooner he comes the better, for the sooner it will leave me at liberty.

Would it be very impolite for me to go at once, and leave you to entertain him ?" "Of course it would," said Alice.

"Adah's claim is a strong one, I'll admit; but the doctor and Mr.Murdock are doing their best; and I ask, as a favor, that you remain at home to meet Mr.Stanley." Now Hugh knew that nothing could have tempted him to leave Spring Bank so long as Irving Stanley was there; but as he was just in a mood to be unreasonable, he replied that, "if Alice wished it, he should remain at home until Mr.Stanley's visit was ended." Alice felt exceedingly uncomfortable, for never had Hugh been so provokingly distant and cool, and she was really glad when at last a carriage appeared across the fields, and she knew the "city cousin," as Hugh called him, was coming..