Part 14 (2/2)

”Not the lady,” she denied indignantly. ”Both of us. You shan't go out with her alone. She is a terrible flirt, and very pretty. Where you and she goeth, I shall goeth also.”

”Well, I can stand it. But what is to become of my own future? Why should I neglect my legal interests to beau another fellow's sweetheart about the town?”

”Because you always help me out of a tight place,” she said wheedlingly.

”And because you do not approve of my campaign. But if you are nice and help me this time, I think I can everlastingly prove that I am right.”

”If I do the work, seems to me I do the proving.”

”Yes, but it is my theory, so I get the credit. Of course you must be very gay and make quite a fuss over Miss Weldon, but don't you carry it too far, or you'll be in bad with me.”

Anything that meant the eclipse of the Handsome Member could not be other than satisfactory to Nolan. He agreed with a great deal of enthusiasm, only stipulating that all evenings previous to the arrival of the pretty fiancee should be devoted to private rehearsal of his part under the personal direction of the Dutiless Theorist.

So it was Nolan and Eveley who met Miss Weldon at the station upon her arrival. They stood together beside the white columns, searching the faces of the pa.s.sengers as they alighted. When a slender, fair-haired girl swung lightly down, they hurried to greet her.

”Miss Weldon?” asked Eveley, with her friendly smile. ”I am Eveley Ainsworth, and this is my friend, Mr. Inglish. Mr. Baldwin could not get away to-night--'way up to his ears in work. But he is coming up to see you later this evening.”

If Miss Weldon was disappointed she gave no sign. Instead she turned to Nolan with frankly approving eyes, remarking his tall slim build, his thin clever face, his bright keen eyes.

”Are you so devoted to business, Mr. Inglish?” she asked, as she opened her small bag and took out a solitaire, which she placed on the third finger of her left hand. At the smiles in the eyes of Eveley and Nolan, she only laughed. ”Why flaunt your badge of servitude? But don't tell Timmy, will you?”

She was indeed very pretty, with warm s.h.i.+ning eyes, and a quick pleasant voice. She was full of a bright wit, too, and the drive to Eveley's Cote in the Clouds was only marred for Eveley by the fact that she, being driver, had to sit in front alone.

”We shall not do much cavaliering in the car,” she thought grimly. ”Not when there are only three of us. We'll walk--three abreast.”

Miss Weldon was enchanted with the rustic steps, but a little fearful of them as well, and appropriated Nolan as her personal bodyguard and support. She squealed prettily at every creak and rumble.

”I shall never try these steps alone, Mr. Inglish,” she said, clinging to his not-unwilling hand. ”I shall always wait for you.”

”I'll roll her down, if she begins that,” thought Eveley.

But in spite of her disapproval, even to her there was something very attractive in the pretty girlish merriment and interest of her young guest.

”I do not see why Nolan had to squeeze in on this,” she said to herself most unfairly.

Miss Weldon was charmed with the dainty apartment, and loved the cunning electric fixtures in the tiny dining-room. She tucked an ap.r.o.n under her belt, and appointed Nolan her a.s.sistant in making toast, while Eveley finished the light details of serving dinner.

”It certainly is a silly business all the way around,” Eveley decided.

After their coffee, and after Nolan had finished his second cigar, Miss Weldon said, ”Now since Miss Ainsworth got dinner, we must do the dishes.

I shall wash, and you must dry them, Mr. Inglish, and be sure you make them s.h.i.+ne, for I am very fussy about my dishes.”

And Eveley had to sit down in a big chair and rest, though she did not feel like sitting down and hated resting--and look quietly on while Miss Weldon fished each separate dish from the hot suds and held it out playfully for Nolan to wipe. It made a long and laborious task of the dish was.h.i.+ng for Eveley, and she was quite worn out at its conclusion.

”Funny that some people can't do their plain duty without getting the whole neighborhood mixed up in it,” she thought resentfully.

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