Part 32 (1/2)
”No,” cried Miss De Voe. ”Oh, won't you please? It's no trouble. I'll not order much.”
”Nothing, thank you,” said Peter.
”Just a chop or--”
Peter held out his hand.
”No, no. Sit down. Of course you are to do as you please. But I should be so happy if--?” and Miss De Voe looked at Peter appealingly.
”No. Thank you.”
”Nothing, Morden.” They sat down again. ”Why didn't you dine?” asked Miss De Voe.
”I didn't care to face the storm.”
”Yet you came out?”
”Yes. I got blue, and thought it foolish to stay indoors by myself.”
”I'm very glad you came here. It's a great compliment to find an evening with me put above dinner. You know I had the feeling that you didn't like me.”
”I'm sorry for that. It's not so.”
”If not, why did you insist on my twice asking you to call on me?”
”I did not want to call on you without being sure that you really wished to have me.”
”Then why wouldn't you stay and dine at Saratoga?”
”Because my ticket wouldn't have been good.”
”But a new ticket would only cost seven dollars.”
”In my neighborhood, we don't say 'only seven dollars.'”
”But you don't need to think of seven dollars.”
”I do. I never have spent seven dollars on a dinner in my life.”
”But you should have, this time, after making seven hundred and fifty dollars in one month. I know men who would give that amount to dine with me.” It was a foolish brag, but Miss De Voe felt that her usual means of inspiring respect were not working,--not even realized.
”Very likely. But I can't afford such luxuries. I had spent more than usual and had to be careful.”
”Then it was economy?”
”Yes.”
”I had no idea my dinner invitations would ever be held in so little respect that a man would decline one to save seven dollars.” Miss De Voe was hurt. ”I had given him five hundred dollars,” she told herself, ”and he ought to have been willing to spend such a small amount of it to please me.” Then she said; ”A great many people economize in foolish ways.”
”I suppose so,” said Peter. ”I'm sorry if I disappointed you. I really didn't think I ought to spend the money.”