SON OF THE WIND
eyes might be suffering. His rosolution to keep Mrs. Rader's plea to him a secret, and depart, valiantly silent, melted at the sight. "I am going because I've been asked to," he said, and could not resist a grimace.
She gave him a stare, haughty and astonished. A flag of color flew in her cheeks. "What do you mean?"
"Your mother," Carron said. It was wonderful to see how the color failed, and returned again.
"Did she—?"
"No, she didn't see anything—at least anything that matters. But, as perhaps you know, she came in just as you rushed out; and, well, she saw there had been some little disturbance. She's never had any great fancy for me, thinks I'm a poor sort of person to have around, and I believe she found it a good opportunity to make her suggestion."
"What excuse did she give?"
Carron felt the matter was assuming an alarming aspect. "Well, house-cleaning, you know. Men are rather in the way."
"After you'd helped her!"
"You mustn't fly off and say anything about this," he protested, "and make it worse."
"But how could she? What right has she to interfere with us? I'm of age!"
216
