The pair were scrupulously polite to each other, but they seldom spoke except when others were present, and Mr.Daniels made it a point apparently to be present whenever Miss Howes was in the room.

He continued to bring his little offerings of fruit and flowers and his invitations for drives and picnics and entertainments at the town hall were more frequent.
Sometimes Emily accepted these invitations; more often she refused them.
John also occasionally invited her to drive with him or to play tennis on his cousin's courts, and these invitations she treated as she did Heman's, refusing some and accepting others.

She treated the pair with impartiality and yet Thankful was growing to believe there was a difference.

Imogene, outspoken, expressed her own feelings in the matter when she said, "Miss Emily likes Mr.Kendrick pretty well, don't she, ma'am ?" Thankful regarded her maidservant with disapproval.
"What makes you say that, Imogene ?" she demanded.

"Of course she likes him.