Part 18 (1/2)
”But really, really!” protested the other with a helpless shrug to the ladies, who were gasping with dismay.
”You ruffian!” cried his wife.
”Egbert Floud,” said Mrs. Effie fiercely, ”you will apologize to Charles before you leave this room. The idea of forgetting yourself that way. Apologize at once!”
”Oh, very well,” he grumbled, ”I apologize like I'm made to.” But he added quickly with even more irritation, ”only don't you get the idea it's because I'm afraid of you.”
”Tush, tus.h.!.+” said Belknap-Jackson.
”No, sir; I apologize, but it ain't for one minute because I'm afraid of you.”
”Your bare apology is ample; I'm bound to accept it,” replied the other, a bit uneasily I thought.
”Come right down to it,” continued Cousin Egbert, ”I ain't afraid of hardly any person. I can be pushed just so far.” Here he looked significantly at Mrs. Effie.
”After all I've tried to do for him!” she moaned. ”I thought he had something in him.”
”Darn it all, I like to be friendly with my friends,” he bluntly persisted. ”I call a man anything that suits me. And I ain't ever apologized yet because I was afraid. I want all parties here to get that.”
”Say no more, please. It's quite understood,” said Belknap-Jackson hastily. The other subsided into low mutterings.
”I trust you fully understand the situation, Ruggles--Colonel Ruggles,” he continued to me.
”It's preposterous, but plain as a pillar-box,” I answered. ”I can only regret it as keenly as any right-minded person should. It's not at all what I've been accustomed to.”
”Very well. Then I suggest that you accompany me for a drive this afternoon. I'll call for you with the trap, say at three.”
”Perhaps,” suggested his wife, ”it might be as well if Colonel Ruggles were to come to us as a guest.” She was regarding me with a gaze that was frankly speculative.
”Oh, not at all, not at all!” retorted Mrs. Effie crisply. ”Having been announced as our house guest--never do in the world for him to go to you so soon. We must be careful in this. Later, perhaps, my dear.”
Briefly the ladies measured each other with a glance. Could it be, I asked myself, that they were sparring for the possession of me?
”Naturally he will be asked about everywhere, and there'll be loads of entertaining to do in return.”
”Of course,” returned Mrs. Effie, ”and I'd never think of putting it off on to you, dear, when we're wholly to blame for the awful thing.”
”That's so thoughtful of you, dear,” replied her friend coldly.
”At three, then,” said Belknap-Jackson as we arose.
”I shall be delighted,” I murmured.
”I bet you won't,” said Cousin Egbert sourly. ”He wants to show you off.” This, I could see, was ignored as a sheer indecency.
”We shall have to get a reception in quick,” said Mrs. Effie, her eyes narrowed in calculation.
”I don't see what all the fuss was about,” remarked Cousin Egbert again, as if to himself; ”tearing me to pieces like a pa.s.sel of wolves!”
The Belknap-Jacksons left hastily, not deigning him a glance. And to do the poor soul justice, I believe he did not at all know what the ”fuss” had been about. The niceties of the situation were beyond him, dear old sort though he had shown himself to be. I knew then I was never again to be harsh with him, let him dress as he would.
”Say,” he asked, the moment we were alone, ”you remember that thing you called him back there that night--'blighted little mug,' was it?”