“My mother, I suppose, is driving this afternoon,” Dick said hesitatingly. He went through a hasty calculation and saw reasons for cutting out certain of his own engagements. “See here, Miss Huntress, if you’re in such a hurry, I don’t mind taking Miss Quincy up and telling her what I know about old editions and rare folios. I’ll make it right with mother afterward.”
Miss Huntress’ face cleared perceptibly.
“You’re awfully good, Mr. Percival. Won’t you come down to my office now, and I’ll introduce you to Miss Quincy? This is a real favor.” Dick shot a glance of triumph at Ellery, believing himself a skilled sly dog of a manipulator, and not knowing that he was the manipulated. Norris spoke in scorn.
“I suppose righteousness and reform can wait now.”
“You can bet they will. I’ll call on you to-morrow afternoon, Norris.”
“That’s the usual fate of reform. Don’t be a fool, Dick.” But Dick was already disappearing down the corridor in pursuit of the able woman editor.
The girl waiting in the disordered office looked more than ever like a bridesmaid rose, pink and ruffled and out of its proper setting, as she saw Mr. Percival coming.
“Miss Quincy,” said Dick, “I have a motor down stairs, and I’ll take you up to the house right away, if you don’t mind.”
If she didn’t mind!
When youth starts out to revolutionize the world, it meets with many distractions. Even in the hour that Dick spent in the quiet old library with Miss Quincy, he met with distractions. He tried to keep her mind on missals and Aldine editions, but she persisted in poring over old copies of Godey’s Lady’s Book, which she found tucked away in a forgotten corner. Nobody but Lena could have scented them out.