“Goodness!” she said. “Is that your hat, David?”
“Yes,” he admitted, fingering the battered ruin gingerly. “It got stepped on.”
“A perfectly good hat a moment ago,” said Ruth. “Aren’t men silly!”
“It’s all in a good cause,” returned David with conviction.
In Mrs. Ives’s drawing-room an eager party assembled to greet the conquering hero. Katharine Vance sat behind the tea-table; Marion Bradley and half a dozen other young ladies, all decked out befittingly either with crimson chrysanthemums or American-beauty roses, chatted and watched the door through which Lester must enter. They were interested, too, in Ruth; from one to another had passed the word that she was the girl whom Lester had himself invited! Possibly it made their scrutiny of her a little critical, but she was so full of joyous expectancy that she was not aware of it. Besides, there were other old friends from St. Timothy’s coming up to speak to her, and Mr. Dean sat where he could hear her voice and so received much of her attention.
At last there was the entrance for which they all were waiting. It was not at all in the manner of the conquering hero that Lester Wallace presented himself, but rather as a laughing youth disposed to forestall embarrassing compliments. He shook hands with every one, blushed becomingly, and said little. Only Marion Bradley seemed to watch him with a smile that might be interpreted as perhaps mildly disparaging, gently mocking. David observed it and thought with indignation, “Pity Marion can’t show a little enthusiasm for once!”
Perhaps Lester was not aware of any coolness; surely the interest shown by the other young ladies was gratifying enough. But after he had exchanged a few words with each of them, it was to Ruth that he turned and with Ruth that he talked, even though he intentionally allowed the magic of his smile and the glamour of his glance to shine for other admiring eyes. He could not stop long; that evening the team were to dine together and celebrate their victory. But he would be round the next day with a motor car—if Ruth would go to drive with him?
Katharine Vance had been watching David perhaps no less than she had been observing Lester. She had noticed that his eyes were turned most of the time toward Ruth.
Later, when the guests had departed, David walked with Katharine to the gate.
“Lester doesn’t seem a bit swelled up over it all does he?” he said. “How fine it must be to be in his shoes!”