Part 21 (2/2)
”Pen!”
He started toward her, seemed to remember, hesitated and then asked lamely:
”What have you been doing all day?”
Her former little air of raillery crept back momentarily at his change of tone.
”A narrow escape,” she thought, as she said aloud, reckless of consequences: ”I motored into town by myself; bought some new clothes; had dinner with an old friend; saw an aeroplane go up and--”
He smiled in a bored way and asked her some irrelevant question.
”The easiest way to deceive, as Hebby always said, is to tell the truth,”
she thought.
”Pen!” He spoke with a return of his first manner. ”I--”
”I am very tired,” she quickly interrupted, ”I think I will say good-night, now.”
”Don't go yet,” he urged, ”I--”
”I want to be alone,” she replied wearily.
”There is something I want to say to you. Jo Gary comes to-morrow!”
”Yes,” she answered indifferently. ”Mr. Westcott found another manager, did he?”
”You knew Jo was at Westcott's?” he gasped.
”Certainly. I've seen Jo a number of times.”
”When, where?” he demanded in displeased tone.
”Let me think. Why, he came back from Westcott's the day after my arrival.
Their manager postponed departure. So Jo was here for the dance, and on field day--and--I think he went back to Westcott's the day you came back.
Wasn't it all right to see him?” she asked guilelessly. ”Mrs. Kingdon didn't object.”
”What other times did you see him?”
”I heard him whistle one night, and I slid down the big tree near my window. Then he came one morning to bring me flowers. I am glad he is coming for keeps. He livens things up, Jo does.”
”Why did neither you nor he speak of your having met?”
”I begged him not to, because I felt that you wouldn't approve.”
An intense silence followed.
”Do you think,” he asked bitterly, ”that you are fair to Jo--”
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