Carmella Commands
to talk to him about land? Because, of course, you know you needn’t, if you don’t want to. Perhaps you’d rather wait till you talk with your father.”
But the Norman touch was not needed. Carmella was already quivering with eagerness.
“You bet I’d like to talk,” she said, with a fervor that even Mrs. Barrington, with all her perceptions, did not understand.
Mr. Barrington chuckled, as if relieved from some anxiety, and followed his wife in rising.
“Let’s go into the front room, Kate,” he said. “You can talk with Mrs. Barrington about Hope House after I’ve started for the day’s work at golf. Does your father play golf?”
“My father he works,” said Carmella severely.
“By Jove, I thought I did,” said Mr. Barrington. “Don’t talk to me as if I didn’t, please. Maybe I’ll sell a hundred-thousand-dollar property this very afternoon, Kate, at about the twelfth hole.”
“You play and work too?” asked Carmella.
“I absolutely do.”
This was such a new idea to Carmella that it needed some time for adequate digestion. She was still ruminating when, in the cream-and-gold room, they faced each other.
Mr. Barrington chose to introduce the subject:
“You were your father’s interpreter that day,” he said.
“Yes, sir!”
[93]
