But, of course, if you prefer any other
room you will change. Desire, my dear, it is your home, I do not
forget that. I have had your bags carried up. Benis can manage his
own."
If Desire were pale naturally, she was more than pale now. Her
frightened eyes fluttered to her husband's face and fluttered away
again. Why had she never thought of this! Sheer panic held her quiet
in the straight-backed chair.
But Spence, without seeming to notice, had seen and understood her
startled eyes.
"Thanks, Aunt," he said cheerfully. "Of course desire must make her
own choice. But if she takes my tip she will stay where you've put
her. It's a jolly room. As for me, I'm going up to my old diggings--
thought I'd told you."
"What!"
Aunt Caroline's remark was not a question. It was an explosion.
Spence dropped his bantering manner.
"My dear Aunt. I hate to disturb your arrangements with my
eccentricities. But insomnia is a hard master. I must sleep in my
old room. We'll consider that settled."
"Humph!" said Aunt Caroline.
Like the house, she was somewhat old fashioned.
CHAPTER XX
Tea had been laid on the west lawn under the maples.
Possibly some time in the past the Spences had been a leisured
people. They had brought from the old country the tradition of
afternoon tea. Many others had, no doubt, done the same but with
these others the tradition had not persisted. In the more crowded
life of a new country they had let it go.
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