Part 59 (1/2)
MISS MIDDLETON
I.--TAKING A CALL
”MAY I come in?” said Miss Middleton.
I looked up from my book and stared at her in amazement.
”Hullo,” I said.
”Hullo,” said Miss Middleton doubtfully.
”Are you going to have tea with me?”
”That's what I was wondering all the way up.”
”It's all ready; in fact, I've nearly finished. There's a cake to-day, too.”
Miss Middleton hesitated at the door and looked wistfully at me.
”I suppose--I suppose,” she said timidly, ”you think I ought to have brought somebody, with me?”
”In a way, I'm just as glad you didn't.”
”I've heaps of chaperons outside on the stairs, you know.”
”There's no place like outside for chaperons.”
”And the liftman believes I'm your aunt. At least, perhaps he doesn't, but I mentioned it to him.”
I looked at her, and then I smiled. And then I laughed.
”So that's all right,” she said breathlessly. ”And I want my tea.”
She came in, and began to arrange her hat in front of the gla.s.s.
”Tea,” I said, going to the cupboard. ”I suppose you'll want a cup to yourself. There you are--don't lose it. Milk. Sugar.”
Miss Middleton took a large piece of cake. ”What were you studying so earnestly when I came in?” she asked as she munched.
”A dictionary.”
”But how lucky I came. Because I can spell simply everything. What is it you want to know?”
”I don't want to know how to spell anything, thank you; but I believe you can help me all the same.”
Miss Middleton sat down and drank her tea. ”I love helping,” she said.