He was not kept waiting long; had,
indeed, scarcely seated himself and taken up the morning paper, when Mr.
Travilla's Ben appeared with a note, presented it in grave silence, and
with a respectful bow, withdrew.
"Hold on! It may require an answer," Mr. Faude called after him.
"No, sah; Mrs. Travilla say dere's no answer," returned Ben, looking back
for an instant from the doorway, then vanishing through it.
"All right!" muttered Clarence Augustus, opening the missive and glancing
over the contents; an angry flush suffusing his face, as he read.
"What is it? She hasn't declined, surely?" Mrs. Faude asked in an
undertone, close at his side.
"Just that; it's from the mother; thanks me for the invitation, but
respectfully declines; not even vouchsafing a shadow of an excuse. What
can it mean?"
"I don't know, I'm sure. But if they knew you had serious intentions--it
might make a difference."
"Possibly. I'll soon bring it to the proof."
He rose and went out in search of Mr. Travilla, found him alone, and at
once asked his permission to pay his addresses to Elsie.
The request was courteously, but decidedly and firmly refused.
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