Mrs. Price gave a single gasp, and drew back
speechless.
"Uncle Dick," said a laughing contralto voice, which, indeed, somewhat
recalled Mrs. Price's own, in its courageous frankness, "I am so
delighted to come, even if a little late, and so sorry that Mr. M'Kenna
could not come on account of business."
Everybody listened eagerly, but none more eagerly and surprisingly than
the host himself. M'Kenna! The rich cousin who had never answered the
invitation! And Uncle Dick! This, then, was his divorced niece! Yet even
in his astonishment he remembered that of course no one but himself and
Mrs. Price knew it,--and that lady had glanced discreetly away.
"Yes," continued the half-niece brightly. "I came from Sacramento with
some friends to Shootersville, and from thence I drove here; and though
I must return to-night, I could not forego the pleasure of coming, if
it was only for an hour or two, to answer the invitation of the uncle I
have not seen for years." She paused, and, raising her glasses, turned a
politely questioning eye towards Mrs.
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