Part 23 (1/2)

Better come to-night,” he urged genially, ”seeing my nieces are here and can help make you feel at home. They'll be going back in a day or two.”

Richard, smiling, looked at Aunt Ruth, then at Roberta. ”Do come,” urged Aunt Ruth as cordially as her husband, and Roberta gave a little nod of acquiescence.

”I shall be delighted to come,” he agreed.

”Putting up at the hotel?” inquired Uncle Rufus.

”I'm staying for the present with my friend Mr. Benson,” Richard explained, with a glance toward Benson himself, who had moved aside to speak to a clerk. ”We were cla.s.smates at college. We have--gone into business together here.”

It was out. As he spoke the words his face changed colour a little, but his eyes remained steadily fixed on Uncle Rufus.

”Well, well,” exclaimed Mr. Rufus Gray. ”So it's you who have come to the rescue of--”

But Richard interrupted him quickly. ”I beg your pardon, not at all,”

said he. ”It is my friend who has come to my rescue--given me the biggest interest I have yet discovered--the game of business. I'm having the time of my life. With the help of our mutual friend, Mr. Carson, who is to be the business manager of the new house, we hope to make a success.”

Roberta was looking curiously at him, and his eyes suddenly met hers.

For an instant the encounter lasted, and it ended by her glance dropping from his. There was something new to her in his face, something she could not understand. Instead of its former rather studiedly impa.s.sive expression there was an awakened look, a determined look, as if he had something on hand he meant to do--and to do as soon as the present interview should be over. Strangely enough, it was the first time she had met him when he seemed not wholly occupied with herself, but rather on his way to some affair of strong interest in which she had no concern and from which she was detaining him. It was not that he was failing in the extreme courtesy she had learned to expect from him under all conditions. But--well, it struck her that he would return to his companion in the gla.s.s-screened office and immediately forget her. This was a change, indeed!

”However you choose to put it,” declared Uncle Rufus kindly, ”it's a mighty fine thing for Hugh, and we wish you both success.”

”You will have it. I have found my lavender linen,” said Roberta, turning back to the counter.

Richard came around to her side. ”Didn't you expect to find it?” he inquired with interest.

”I really didn't at all. We seldom find summer goods shown in a town like this till spring is well along, least of all coloured dress linens.

But you have several shades, besides a beautiful lot of white.”

”That's Carson's buying,” said he, fingering a corner of the lilac-tinted goods she held up. ”I shouldn't know it from gingham. I didn't know what gingham was till the other day. But I can recognize it now on sight, and am no end proud of my knowledge.”

”I suppose you are familiar with silk,” said she with a quick glance.

He returned it. ”Aren't you?”

”I'm not specially fond of it.”

”What fabrics do you like best?”

”Thin, sheer things, fine but durable.”

”Linens?”

”No, cottons, batistes, voiles--that sort of thing.”

”I'm afraid you've got me now,” he owned, looking puzzled. ”Perhaps I'd know them if I saw them. If Benson has any--I mean, if we have any,” he amended quickly, ”I'd like to have you see them. Let me go and ask Carson.”

He was off to consult the man in the office and was back in a minute.

When Roberta had purchased the yard of lavender linen he led her into another aisle and requested the clerk to show her his finest goods.