I drew nearer, impatiently; and was conscious that
four other young men in white waistcoats and gloves
quite as irreproachable as my own stood ready to claim
her the instant she was free. I did not propose to be
thwarted by the beaux of Cincinnati, so I stepped toward
Doctor Armstrong.
"I beg your pardon, Doctor-," I said with an assurance
for which I blush to this hour.
"All right, my boy; I, too, have been in Arcady!" he
exclaimed in cheerful apology, and she put her hand
on my arm and I led her away.
"He called me 'my boy,' so I must be passing muster,"
I remarked, not daring to look at her.
"He's afraid not to recognize you. His inability to
remember faces is a town joke."
We reached a quiet corner of the great hall and I
found a seat for her.
"You don't seem surprised to see me,-you knew I
would come. I should have come across the world for
this,-for just this."
Her eyes were grave at once.
"Why did you come? I did not think you were so
foolish. This is all-so wretched,-so unfortunate. You
didn't know that Mr. Pickering-Mr. Pickering-"
She was greatly distressed and this name came from
her chokingly.
"Yes; what of him?" I laughed. "He is well on his
way to California,-and without you!"
She spoke hurriedly, eagerly, bending toward me.
"No-you don't know-you don't understand-he's
here; he abandoned his California trip at Chicago; he
telegraphed me to expect him-here-to-night! You
must go at once,-at once!"
"Ah, but you can't frighten me," I said, trying to
realize just what a meeting with Pickering in that house
might mean.
"No,"-she looked anxiously about,-"they were to
arrive late, he and the Taylors; they know the Armstrongs
quite well. They may come at any moment
now. Please go!"
"But I have only a few minutes myself,-you
wouldn't have me sit them out in the station down
town? There are some things I have come to say, and
Arthur Pickering and I are not afraid of each other!"
"But you must not meet him here! Think what that
would mean to me! You are very foolhardy, Mr. Glenarm.
I had no idea you would come-"
"But you wished to try me,-you challenged me."
"That wasn't me,-it was Olivia," she laughed, more
at ease, "I thought-"
"Yes, what did you think?" I asked. "That I was
tied hand and foot by a dead man's money?"
"No, it wasn't that wretched fortune; but I enjoyed
playing the child before you-I really love Olivia-and
it seemed that the fairies were protecting me and that
I could play being a child to the very end of the chapter
without any real mischief coming of it. I wish
I were Olivia!" she declared, her eyes away from me.