Part 14 (1/2)
”I--I think you misunderstand some things. I have been with your father such a lot, and I have discovered that he really wants to live alone. He likes to be free to do things when he likes, and how.”
”He can do that in our home, Miss Ainsworth,” Andy said stiffly.
”Of course he can, but he thinks he can't. He wants to do as Mrs. Severs likes. He is only pretending it is his duty to go, because he thought it would hurt your feelings if _you_ knew he wanted to leave you. He is just crazy about both of you, but he is so used to doing every little thing in his own sweet way. It almost seems your duty fairly to make him go, because he would be happier.”
”I am not one to s.h.i.+rk my duty, Miss Ainsworth. I will sacrifice anything for my father.”
”Of course it will be lonely for you when he goes, but think how happy he will be following his every desire. I should think you would fairly force him to be selfish enough to leave you.”
”You may be right. He does not care for our way of living, I know, and he does like messing around. And then, too, it upsets our plans a lot having him there, but whatever is right for dad, is right for us.”
”Then he must certainly have the little shack we saw the other day--he adored it. You just tell him how lonely you will be, and how you will miss him, Mr. Severs, and then make him take the little cottage.”
Talking it over afterward with Nolan, Eveley admitted regretfully that she could hardly call this a victory--because Father-in-law only moved to do his duty, and the children only allowed him to go for the sake of doing theirs--but since everything worked out right, she was satisfied, though she alone knew that happiness came to the three because each one followed his own desire to the exclusion of other considerations.
CHAPTER XI
THE GERM OF DUTY
The case of the Good-Looking Member strained Nolan's patience almost to the breaking point, but after many days of fruitless chafing, his forbearance was rewarded.
Eveley invited him to dinner.
”Have you rescued the good-looking one from the loveless sea?” he asked sarcastically.
”I have sown the good seed,” she said amiably.
”I never heard of sowing seeds in a loveless sea,” he sneered.
”I have thought up a wonderful scheme. But you will have to help me out.
I always fall back on you in an emergency, don't I?” Eveley's voice was sweetest honey. ”So you must come to dinner.”
”Is the Handsome Member to be among those present?”
”Oh, Nolan, this is our party--to talk things over all by ourselves. It seems such ages since I saw you, and I've been so lonesome.”
Nolan was fully aware that this was fabrication, but being totally male, he found himself unable to resist.
”You do not know what lonesomeness is, Eveley. I nearly died. I almost wished I would die. I shall come early, and please wear the blue dress, and be good to me.”
That evening, after a long and satisfying preamble, they sat before her tiny grate with their coffee, and she broached the wonderful plan.
”He is the most utterly married-to-duty thing you ever saw. He says he can not in common decency refuse to marry a girl who has been engaged to him for five years. He hasn't even seen her for three, and isn't a bit interested in her. Why, they only write once a month, or so. That's no love-affair, anybody can see that. But he won't ask her to let him off, and so we have thought up the most scientific scheme to work it. He is inviting her to come here for a visit, and she is to stay with me. She hates sensible businesslike men, and she adores scatter-brain, fussy ones. So when she comes, he is going to be as poky as duty itself, and wear old grimy clothes, and work day and night, and you are going to don your suns.h.i.+ne apparel and blossom out like a rose, and beau her around in great style. Result, she will fire him, hoping to ensnare you--but don't you make any mistake and get yourself ensnared for keeps, will you?”
”He is going to work evenings, is he?”
”Yes, day times and night times and all times.”
”And I am to cavalier the lady?”