"Why, I wanted them," she faltered, bewildered by his obvious
displeasure at what she thought would be welcome news, "and I thought
you would."
"I'd rather you hadn't. Aren't we enough by ourselves?"
"Yes, of course. But they're our friends. We traveled with them for
days and weeks, and it's made them like relations. I was so glad to
see them I cried when I saw Bella. Oh, do try and seem more as if you
liked it. They're here and I've brought them."
He slouched forward to greet them. She was relieved to see that he
made an effort to banish his annoyance and put some warmth of welcome
into his voice. But the subtlety with which he could conceal his
emotions when it behooved him had deserted him, and Bella and Glen saw
the husband did not stand toward them as the wife did.
It was Susan who infused into the meeting a fevered and fictitious
friendliness, chattering over the pauses that threatened to fall upon
it, leaving them a reunited company only in name. She presently swept
Bella to the camp, continuing her nervous prattle as she showed her the
tent and the spring behind it, and told of the log house they were to
raise before the rains came.
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