"Yes," she replied indifferently, "the girls have closed up the
tea-room, and are just out in the meadow. I felt more like
sitting here."

He drew up a chair and sat down uninvited. Cora never did like
Rob Roland, now she disliked him.

"You are the very person I am most anxious to talk to," he began,
"and this is an excellent opportunity."

"About what, pray?" asked Cora. "I must go with the girls very
soon."

"Oh, no, you must not," he replied, and, handsome though he was,
there was that in his manner that deepened the very lines nature
had done her best with, and his eyes were merely smoldering
depths.

Cora felt she should not betray the least nervousness, for, though
Rob Roland was known to be a gentleman, he might take advantage of
her helplessness to gain from her some information. Ed had warned
her to beware of him.

"Of course you know all about Cissy Thayer," he began. Cora
resented his insolence, but dared not show it. "You know how she
has been getting around my little cousin, the cripple."

Cora glared at him. She felt that his cowardly attack was simply
a display of weakness, and she knew a coward is easily overcome.