Galbraith to inspect a recently purchased
barometer. After he had gone the company broke up into little groups.
Mrs. Galbraith and Celestina betook themselves to a shaded corner,
there to exchange felicitations on Miss Morton's nephew; Roger,
Cynthia, and Bob perched on the broad piazza rail and discussed the
recent boat race; and Madam Lee was left alone with Delight. Robert
Morton looked in vain for Mr. Snelling but he was nowhere to be seen,
and presently he learned that that gentleman had taken one of the cars
and gone for an afternoon's spin to Sawyer's Falls. Whether his
absence was a contributory cause or not, certain it was that for the
time being at least Cynthia lapsed into her customary friendly manner
and quite outdid herself in graciousness.
Bob relaxed his tension. The afternoon was moving on with more
serenity than he had dared hope, and inwardly he began to congratulate
himself on the success of it. To judge from appearance every one was
in the serenest frame of mind. Willie was beaming into his host's
face, and both men were laughing immoderately; Celestina, from the
snatches of conversation that reached him, was relating for Mrs.
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