Part 1 (2/2)

Mrs. Roberts: ”How flushed you are, bending over! You're so stout now, you ought to bend sidewise; it's perfect folly, your trying to bend _straight_ over; you'll get apoplexy. But now I _must_ run, or I shall never be back in the world. Don't forget to look out for the cook!”

Roberts, at whom she glances with misgiving as she runs out, holding the parcels on his knees with both elbows and one hand, and contriving with the help of his chin to get his magazine open again: ”No, no; I won't, my dear.” He loses himself in his reading, while people come and go restlessly. A gentleman finally drops into the seat beside him, and contemplates his absorption with friendly amus.e.m.e.nt.

II. _ROBERTS AND WILLIS CAMPBELL_

Campbell: ”Don't mind _me,_ Roberts.”

Roberts, looking up: ”Heigh? What! Why, Willis! Glad to see you--”

Campbell: ”Now that you _do_ see me, yes, I suppose you are. What have you got there that makes you cut all your friends?” He looks at Roberts's open page. ”Oh! _Popular Science Monthly._ Isn't Agnes a little afraid of your turning out an agnostic? By-the-way, where _is_ Agnes?”

Roberts: ”She left her purse at Stearns's, and she's gone back after it. Where's Amy?”

Campbell: ”Wherever she said she wouldn't be at the moment. I expected to find her here with you and Agnes. What time did you say your train started?”

Roberts. ”At ten minutes to four. And, by-the-way--I'd almost forgotten it--I must keep an eye out for the cook Agnes has been engaging. She was to meet us here before half-past two, and I shall have to receive her. You mustn't tell Amy; Agnes doesn't want her to know she's been changing cooks; and I've got to be very vigilant not to let her give us the slip, or you won't have any dinner to-night.”

Campbell: ”Is that so? Well, that interests _me._ Were you expecting to find her in the _Pop. Sci._?”

Roberts: ”Oh, I'd only been reading a minute when you came in.”

Campbell: ”I don't believe you know how long you'd been reading. Very likely your cook's come and gone.”

Roberts, with some alarm: ”She couldn't. I'd only just opened the book.”

Campbell: ”I dare say you _think_ so. But you'd better cast your eagle eye over this a.s.semblage now, and see if she isn't here; though probably she's gone. What sort of looking woman is she?”

Roberts, staring at him in consternation: ”Bless my soul! I don't know! I never saw her!”

Campbell: ”Never saw her?”

Roberts: ”No; Agnes engaged her at the intelligence-office, and told her we should meet her here, and she had to go back for her purse, and left me to explain.”

Campbell: ”Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha! How did she expect you to recognize her?”

Roberts: ”I--I don't know, I'm sure. She--she was very anxious I shouldn't let her get away.”

Campbell, laughing: ”You poor old fellow! What are you going to do?”

Roberts: ”I'm sure I've no idea. Agnes--”

Campbell: ”Agnes ought to have a keeper. You know what I've always thought of _your_ presence of mind, Roberts; but Agnes--I'm really surprised at Agnes. This is too good! I must tell Amy this. She'll never get over this. Ah, ha, ha, ha!”

Roberts: ”No, no! You mustn't, Willis. Agnes would be very much provoked with me, if you told Amy she had been engaging a cook. She expects to smuggle her into the house without Amy's knowing.”

Campbell: ”And she left you to meet her here, and keep her--a cook you'd never set eyes on! Ha, ha, ha, ha! Ah, ha, ha, ha! What's her name?”

Roberts: ”Agnes couldn't remember her last name--one never remembers a cook's last name. Her first name is Norah or Bridget.”

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