Part 4 (2/2)

She was still pensive. ”Yes, yes, but then that is so simple.”

I had a short laugh. ”Oh, if you come to the simplicity!”

She nodded, seeming to be doing sums with her pencil.

”Men are always simple--when they're in love.”

I a.s.sented. ”And women--you'll agree?--are always simple when they're not!”

She finished her sums. ”Well, I think he's foolis.h.!.+” she frankly stated.

”Didn't Aunt Josephine think so, too?”

”Aunt Josephine?”

”Miss Josephine St. Michael--my greet-aunt--the lady who embroidered.

She brought me here from the plantation.”

”No, she wouldn't talk about it. But don't you think it is your turn now?”

”I've taken my turn!”

”Oh, not much. To say you think he's foolish isn't much. You've seen him since?”

”Seen him? Since when?”

”Here. Since the postponement. I take it he came himself about it.”

”Yes, he came. You don't suppose we discussed the reasons, do you?”

”My dear young lady, I suppose nothing, except that you certainly must have seen how he looked (he can blush, you know, handsomely), and that you may have some knowledge or some guess--”

”Some guess why it's not to be until Wednesday week? Of course he said why. Her poor, dear father, the General, isn't very well.”

”That, indeed, must be an anxiety for Johnny,” I remarked.

This led her to indulge in some more merriment. ”But he does,” she then said, ”seem anxious about something.”

”Ah,” I exclaimed. ”Then you admit it, too!”

She resorted again to the bland, inquiring stare.

”What he won't admit,” I explained, ”even to his intimate Aunt, because he's so honorable.”

”He certainly is simple,” she commented, in soft and pensive tones.

”Isn't there some one,” I asked, ”who could--not too directly, of course--suggest that to him?”

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