Lily, with flying locks, looked over the balusters, and then ran
noiselessly down to the hall.
"Oh, Teddy, I couldn't go to bed for thinking of your party and how much
you must be enjoying yourself! But what is the matter? You look
so--funny!"
Somehow Everett found himself telling her the whole story, and never
perhaps has humiliated mortal found a kinder little comforter. Far from
laughing at him, as he may have deserved, tears filled her pretty eyes
at the recital of his unfortunate evening, and no amount of petting was
deemed too much. She took him to the drawing-room, where she had
hitherto been sitting unplaiting her hair; stirred the fire into a
brighter blaze, wheeled him up the easiest couch, and, signal proof of
feminine heroism, braved the kitchen beetles to get him something to
eat.
What a delightful impromptu picnic she spread out upon the sofa! How
capital was the cold beef and pickles, the gruyere cheese, the bottled
beer! How they laughed and enjoyed themselves, always with due
consideration not to disturb the sleepers above. How Everett, with the
audacity born of the swing back of the pendulum, seized upon this
occasion to--
But no! I did not undertake to give further developments; these must
stand over to another time.
Pages:
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159