They all strolled out of the dining room together and Walker executed a few fancy little steps for Nan’s benefit, as, when they reached the elevators, he and Alice went on past them to the doors and out.
“Why, Nan Sherwood, it’s a romance. Walker Jamieson is in love with Alice MacKenzie. I’ll bet you anything.” Bess’s face was all alight as she closed the door of Nan’s room. “It’s just thrilling. Did you see the way the two of them walked away together. Why, they were so glad you said you couldn’t be ready until eleven-thirty! I just know they were!” Bess was fairly bubbling over with excitement. “Didn’t you see it at all?”
“See what?” Nan pretended innocence.
“Why, how glad they were, of course,” Bess seemed impatient with Nan’s inability to see a romance when it was right under her nose.
“Oh, Bess, you imagine things,” Nan answered. She didn’t want Bess to be aware at all that she had tried to help Alice and Walker out.
“Imagine things! You’re just blind, that’s all,” Bess was very proud of her discovery. “They are in love with one another and they’ll get married in Mexico. You’ll be the maid of honor and we’ll be the bridesmaids and everything will be just grand, won’t it?”
“Bess, Bess,” Nan laughed, “how you do jump to conclusions! Have you ever considered that the bride has to have someone to give her away and have you tried to imagine cousin Adair giving Alice away?”
Bess was all soberness immediately. “No, I didn’t think of that,” she admitted. “Oh, what can we do about him?” she puckered her brows as if Adair was an immediate and very difficult problem. “If we could get him right after he has had a good breakfast,” she laughed, “maybe he would be as nice as he was this morning and then I’m sure everything would be all right.”
“Or,” she continued, as a new and better idea came to her, “they could elope. Wouldn’t that be exciting, Nan? And just think how mad your cousin would be. No, that’s not so good either. Mr. MacKenzie would probably disown Alice and then they wouldn’t have all his money.”
“Bess!” Nan exclaimed, “how you do run on.”