'
How slowly the minutes dragged until it was ten o'clock, and he knew
that John had started for the station to meet the dreaded '_us_.' He had
told everybody that he was expecting his long-absent brother, and had
tried to seem glad on account of it.
'You and he were great friends, I believe,' he said to Squire
Harrington.
'Yes, we were friends,' the latter replied; 'but when he lived here my
health was such that I did not mingle much in society. I met him,
however, in Paris four years ago, and found him very companionable and
quite Europeanized in his manner and tastes. He spoke French or German
altogether, and might easily have passed for a foreigner. I shall be
glad to see him.'
'And so shall I,' chimed in Peterkin, whose voice was like a trumpet and
could be heard everywhere. 'A first-rate chap, though we didn't use to
hitch very well together. He was all-fired big feelin', and them days
Peterkin was nowhere; but circumstances alter cases. He'll be glad to
see me now, no doubt;' and with the most satisfied air the half
millionaire put his hand as if by accident to his immense diamond pin,
and pulling down his swallow-tail, walked away.
Frank saw the faint smile of contempt which showed itself in Squire
Harrington's face, and his own grew red with shame, but paled almost
instantly as the outer door was opened by some one who did not seem to
think it necessary to ring; and a stranger, in Spanish cloak and
broad-brimmed hat, stepped into the hall.
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