“Why, he was affected something as you are,—or, as you were——” but Wise couldn’t stand for what seemed likely to be a long story.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Vail,” he interrupted her, “but, really, I must run away now, and I want a word or two with Mr. Rivers first.”
The good lady subsided, but it was plain to be seen she was disappointed.
“May I come in?” and a smiling Olive appeared in the doorway. “Am I wanted?”
“Are you wanted?” the eager, hungry smile Rivers gave her was pathetic. For it was so spontaneous, so gladly welcoming that it was as if a light was suddenly extinguished when the man, on second thought, hid his real feelings and advanced with a courteous but rather formal air.
“You’re always wanted,” he resumed, lightly, but the joy was gone from his tones, and a mere friendly greeting resulted. Surely, he was a gentleman, but he would make no advances while uncertain of his claim in full to that title.
And then, he looked at her curiously, as if wondering whether she would hold any place in his restored memory,—should the restoration really occur.
It was Zizi who broke the silence that fell on us all.
“I want my way, Penny,” she said, in such a wistful, pleading tone, that I felt sure no breathing human heart could refuse her.
“What is your way, Zizi?” Wise said, gently.