Part 28 (2/2)

Robert Morton speculated as to whether Willie, along with Jezebel and the canary, had fathomed the idyl. He wondered, too, how much Snelling suspected. The New Yorker had an irritating habit of waylaying Delight and making pretty speeches to her, as if for the wanton pleasure of watching the blush rise in her cheek. When it came to women there was no denying Howard Snelling was as great an authority as at building s.h.i.+ps. He understood the s.e.x and knew what pleased them, and with the subtle art of a courtier he breathed into their ears a flattery too delicate to be resented. Beside such an expert Bob, floundering in his first real love affair, felt but a blunderer. Perhaps Mr. Snelling realized this and rather enjoyed the amateur's chagrin. However that may have been, he certainly let no opportunity slip for the display of his proficiency. The discomfited lover fumed with jealous rage; yet on a.n.a.lyzing the causes of his wrath he discovered he actually had but scant ground for complaint. He was not engaged to Delight, and until he was he had no claim upon her and not the smallest right in the world to grumble if another man chose to pay her a compliment. And what were compliments anyway? Only empty words. Yet reason as he would, he wished Snelling twenty fathoms deep in the sea before ever he had come to Wilton, there to haunt Willie's shop and make of himself a menace to all tranquillity.

So the days pa.s.sed in a delirious alternation of ecstasy and despair until one morning when Mr. Snelling came bringing from Madam Lee the long-delayed note which she had promised Bob she would send. She was now quite strong again, she wrote, and she wished him to arrange for his aunt, Mr. Spence and Miss Hathaway to come and have tea with the Belleport family on the following afternoon, when both Roger and Mr.

Galbraith would be at home. With beating heart Robert Morton took the letter into the house and showed it to Delight.

”How nice of them!” she exclaimed. ”Oh, I do wish we could go! Willie would love it. He liked Mr. Galbraith and his son so much! And Aunt Tiny would be in the seventh heaven if only she were able to accept.

She so seldom has an invitation out, poor dear!”

”And you?”

”Oh, I couldn't go anyway.”

”Why not?”

”Well, in the first place, I have nothing to wear to a place like that.”

”Delight!”

”And besides,” she hurried on, ”they are only asking me because I happen to be here in the house.”

”Indeed they're not!”

”But I know they are,” persisted the girl. ”Everybody doesn't want to see me just because you--”

”Because I what?” demanded Bob, with an ominous stride in her direction.

”Because you--and Mr. Snelling like me,” concluded she tranquilly.

”Confound Snelling!”

”Indeed, no. He is a charming gentleman, and I won't have him confounded.”

”Hang him then.”

”Nor hanged either,” she protested.

”Of course if you prefer Mr. Snelling--” began Robert Morton stiffly.

She broke into a teasing laugh.

”I may not prefer him, but nevertheless I will own he is the most wonderful specimen of masculinity that my eyes have ever beheld.

Remember Wilton is a small place, pitifully limited in its outlook, and that I have not traveled the wide world to view the wonders it contains. Hence Mr. Snelling is to me like the Eiffel Tower, the Matterhorn, the tomb of Napoleon, or Fifth Avenue at Easter--something ill.u.s.trious and novel.”

”He is nothing so fine as any of those,” snapped Bob.

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