Mrs. Phillips descended as early as the three
girls,--earlier, in fact, than Hortense, who entered informally through the
butler's pantry and apparently in full possession of last night's facts.
Carolyn inquired civilly after his condition; Amy Leffingwell, with her
blue eyes intent upon him, expressed concern and sympathy; Hortense, with
her lips closely shut in a satirical smile, said nothing at all: a possible
exhibition of self-control which gave her aunt some measure of solicitude.
It was not always well when she talked, and it was not always well when she
kept silent. Mrs. Phillips pressed the toast upon him and recommended the
grape-fruit. He took both with satisfaction, and a second cup of coffee.
With that he felt he could easily walk to his class-room; and the walk
itself, in the fresh morning air, would brace him further for his hours of
routine with his students.
"What a regular nuisance I've made of myself!" he said, on leaving the
house.
"Oh, haven't you, just!" exclaimed Mrs. Phillips joyously.
"Your name as an entertainer will be all over town! I'm sure you gave some
of those poky people a real touch of novelty!"
Amy Leffingwell was in the front hall at the same time, with her music-
roll.
Pages:
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151