“I vill do dat. In de meantime enjoy yourself. Forget there iss such a t’ing as a concert. To-morrow night, vhen you stand before de great audience in de theater, iss time enough to t’ink of dat.”
Aunt Betty at first thought she, too, would remain behind, but after lunch she was feeling in such unusually good spirits that she announced her intention of going, if only to have an old-time chat with the Judge.
“Auntie, you are getting younger every day,” cried Dorothy, pleased that her relative was so spry at her advanced age.
“And I intend to continue to grow younger as long as I may, dear. It is a privilege not given many women, and I shall make the most of it. If I have the opportunity I may even set my cap for a beau.”
“Oh, Aunt Betty, how can you say such a thing!”
“‘Such a thing,’ as you call it, would be perfectly proper. Would it not, Judge Breckenridge?”
“Quite proper, madame—quite proper,” responded the judge gallantly—“in fact, judging by the evidence of my eyes, I see no other solution of the matter.”
“What a gallant speech,” laughed Molly. “You may be a semi-invalid, papa, but you will never, never lose your courtly ways.”
“An example which all young men should emulate,” said Aunt Betty, looking pointedly at Jim, who grinned broadly.
It was a merry party that boarded the trim gasoline yacht Nautilus at one of the wharves an hour later. Aunt Betty, assisted by the Judge and Jim, was the first aboard. Doctor Sterling, with Dorothy and Molly followed.