“Will you excuse me, Lily, for a few minutes?” asked Ethel, as the young people seated themselves. “I have a little matter to look after—and you might help me, Marie Louise.”
“Oh, stay!” urged Lily, thinking the excuse was only perfunctory.
“No, really—thanks—but this is important,” said Ethel. “I’m sorry—but I’ll see you later.”
As soon as she was inside the door, she told Marie Louise why she wanted to go.
“I want to go tease Marj,” she whispered. “She pretended to be so indifferent about seeing John, or having company!”
They walked into the sitting-room, and found her still at her desk.
“Who’s out there on the porch?” asked Marjorie, immediately.
“Just a friend of Lily’s,” replied Ethel, provokingly.
“Not John Hadley?”
“No.”