CLEMENTINA ASKS QUESTIONS Little Duke rapidly recovered from his shock, and the sudden arrival of David Collins gave the entire household something to think of besides the storm. Polly alone bore the brunt of the surprise. She had felt vaguely that sometime this must come--her meeting again with David; but she had thrust aside the thought of it as something not of the present. His appearance, therefore, caught her unprepared, and she suffered in consequence. Yet, so complete was her self-control that none except Lilith guessed of her timorous heart or her aversion to her unexpected guest. She had asked no questions of Benedicta concerning the coming of David, but on the morning after his arrival she accidentally overheard the explanation as well as several other things. “Where did you find Mr. Collins?” Clementina was asking the housekeeper as she lingered in the kitchen after breakfast. “I didn’t find him,” was the answer. “He found me.” “Where’bouts?” persisted the child. “Why, he was on his way to the garage, when he spied the number of my car--or Miss Dudley’s car, I should say--and he raced after me, yellin’ at the top of his voice. He s’posed it was Miss Polly inside. I guess he was amazin’ly flabbergasted when he saw me drivin’,” she chuckled. “What’s ’flapper--grasted’?” questioned Clementina. “Oh, just a good deal surprised,” was the quiet answer. “Why didn’t you say so, then? It’s lots easier.” “It doesn’t tell so much,” replied Benedicta. “I think it tells more. How did Dr. Abbe and Miss Brooks know you were down there?” “They didn’t. I heard the train come in, so I thought I’d see if they’d come. And there they were!” “Had they got married?” “Married! I should hope not! What put that into your head?” “Why, a girl that lived in the next room to me before I lived with Miss Dudley went off to the shore with a feller one day and when they come back they were married.” “Huh! we ain’t that kind up here.” “Anyway, Dr. Abbe’s her beau, ain’t he?” “Not that I know of.” “I don’t see why,” muttered Clementina. “Who did that Mr. Collins come to see?” “Miss Polly, he said.” “Did she ask him?” “I don’t know.” “Is he her beau?” “I don’t know.” “You don’t know very much, do you?” “I don’t know much about beaux and I don’t want to!” “Why don’t you want to?” “Because I don’t! I should if it wasn’t for that.” “Don’t you like ’em? I do.” “Much you know about ’em.” “I do! I’m goin’ to have a beau and I’m goin’ to marry him when I grow up.” “Sinners and snobs! You’d better be playin’ with your dolls than talkin’ about gett’n’ married.” “Why had I? I think it’s awful lovely to get married in a long white satin dress and a veil and a bouquet and go to New York.” “Huh! you’re a great kid.” “Why am I?” “Teeters and tongs! if you don’t stop I shan’t know whether I’m makin’ cocoa gingerbread or coastin’ down Overlook Hill.” “Oh! may I have a piece when it’s baked?” “I’ll see, if you’ll run away now and let me be.”