“Gracious!” exclaimed Mrs. Hadley, as the waitress appeared again bearing a fluffy omelette and a plate of hot rolls. “The boy must think we are ravenous!”
“I wanted to please everyone, and I thought if I ordered two or three things, I might hit upon something you all liked. It’s been a long time since we had breakfast, you know—”
“All except Marie Louise!” put in Marjorie.
“Early for me, however!” answered the accused. “And I am ravenous!”
“Then you’ve done very well!” said Marjorie, turning her gaze upon John, who sat next to her, and who smiled happily at her.
“If you two will just stop flirting for a minute, and attend to your lunch,” remarked Marie Louise, “I think you will find this omelette delicious!”
“My dear!” exclaimed Marjorie, indignantly; and then she laughed.
John said nothing; he only blushed again. But he had a happy, satisfied feeling inside somewhere—happy because Marjorie was vivacious again; satisfied because, ever since he had discouraged her so in the morning, he had felt like a brute; and he could now see in her eyes that she bore no resentment.
“We’ve been making so much noise with our laughing we have scared all the birds away!” said Marjorie. “How quiet and peaceful it is!”
They sat in silence while the dishes were being removed, and watched the swans gliding majestically about and curving gracefully their slender necks as they dipped their bills into the water. Afar off down the road they could hear the hoof-beats of an approaching horse. A moment later a young girl rode by.