Both twins paled and then flushed as they glanced hastily at Sophrona. Her eyes lighted with anticipation.
Armon followed Mrs. Rhy into the dining room. His smile was broad, his face relaxed, and his expression content.
"Afternoon, Mrs. Rhy," he said deferentially to Esme. "Mr. Crabb, Miss Adelaide, Miss Agrippa."
The young man's proper manners made him strangely unfamiliar and conversely unthreatening to the inhabitants of the room.
"Well, good Lord!" Yo exclaimed. "Miz Rhy's got the right of it. You look downright gratified, and talking that way, too. Marriage must agree with you."
"The right woman can change a man's whole outlook on life," Armon said easily. Then, as if suddenly realizing the unintended censure of his words, he gave an apologetic nod to the twins. "Although for certain I've been a fortunate man in all my friendships."
The twins appeared more confused than embarrassed, and Sophrona, sensing their disorientation, hastily stepped into the breach. "I didn't expect you to come down from the mountain to get me," Sophrona declared with pleased surprise.
The formerly arrogant young man actually blushed. "Ah, Phronie honey," he said. "I was calculating how much longer we'd have to be parted iffen I was to let you walk home by yourself."
The pretty young redhead tittered shyly. "I do declare, Mr. Hightower," she said. "You have words that could charm the birds out of the trees."
The twins sat staring at their former sweetheart in disbelief. They couldn't have been more surprised if he'd suddenly grown a second nose right in the middle of his forehead.
"Well, I do believe that I'll go on and take my leave," Sophrona said to Esme. "I'm sure you'll do fine on your own."
"You must come back," Adelaide said. "We haven't learned even half of what we need to know."
"I swear," Agrippa added, "if you'll come back and give us another chance, I'll listen to every word you say."
Sophrona looked at the girls curiously and then exchanged a puzzled glance with Esme.
"Well, of course," she said. "If you want another lesson, I can come back tomorrow." She turned politely to her husband. "That is, of course, if it suits you, Mr. Hightower."
Armon's expression was that of a faithful puppy. "I could walk you here and back home," he said with unreasonable delight.
When the two had taken their leave, Esme turned questioningly to her sisters.
"What made you change your mind?" she asked. "I thought you were all ready just to be yourselves and let Cleavis be embarrassed if he must."
To the twins, the answer was obvious.
"Did you see Armon?" Agrippa asked.
"If being a lady can get a carousing man like him pulled up on a short leash," Adelaide stated, "give me ladyhood and give it to me quick!"
Chapter Twenty-One
“Oh, he's wonderful!" Adelaide sighed blissfully as she leaned precariously out the front window.
"Yes, he's perfect!" Agrippa agreed, joining her sister to stare at the two gentlemen who were exploring the trout ponds with Cleavis.
Leaving at dawn for the train station at Russellville, Cleav had hardly had a moment to speak to the family. And after only perfunctory introductions all three men had eagerly headed out to examine the Rhy experiments in pisciculture.
"And the spectacles just add that special something," Adelaide declared dramatically.
"Spectacles?" Agrippa turned to stare at her sister. "I'm not talking about the four-eyed one," she said. "It's the handsome feller I've got my eye on."
Adelaide looked back at her sister, incredulity written across her face. "The one with the spectacles is the handsome one!"
Her sister laughed. "Adelaide, I'm thinking you might be needing spectacles yourself."
The argument exploded as Esme stepped into the room, amazed at her sisters' unusual bickering. "What are you two doing in here?" she asked.
