“So would I,” approved Miss Maggie. “But Jane—well, Jane feels otherwise. To begin with, she’s very much flattered at Gaylord’s attentions to Mellicent—the more so because he’s left Bessie—I beg her pardon, ‘Elizabeth’—for her.”
“Then Miss Elizabeth is in it, too?”
“Very much in it. That’s one of the reasons why Hattie is so anxious for more money. She wants clothes and jewels for Bessie so she can keep pace with the Gaylords. You see there’s a wheel within a wheel here.”
“I should say there was!”
“As near as I can judge, young Gaylord is Bessie’s devoted slave—until Mellicent arrives; then he has eyes only for her, which piques Bessie and her mother not a little. They were together more or less all summer and I think Hattie thought the match was as good as made. Now, once in Hillerton, back he flies to Mellicent.”
“And—Mellicent?”
Miss Maggie’s eyes became gravely troubled.
“I don’t understand Mellicent. I think—no, I know she cares for young Gray; but—well, I might as well admit it, she is ready any time to flirt outrageously with Hibbard Gaylord, or—or with anybody else, for that matter. I saw her flirting with you at the party last Christmas!” Miss Maggie’s face showed a sudden pink blush.
Mr. Smith gave a hearty laugh.
“Don’t you worry, Miss Maggie. If she’ll flirt with young Gaylord and others, it’s all right. There’s safety in numbers, you know.”