Daniel was in conversation with a perfect godsend of a girl who understood Latin and had taken up Greek.
Billy was taking a moment's vacation from his boys and girls, busy with “Old Maid” in the extension room, and whispering, with his hand in mine, “Oh, don't I wish she were here!” when a fresh invoice of ladies, just unpacked from the dressing-room, in all the airy elegance of evening costume, floated through the door. I heard Lu say:
“Ah, Mrs. Rumbullion! happy to see your niece, too. How do you do, Miss Pilgrim?”
At this last word Billy jumped as if he had been shot, and the bevy of ladies opening about Sister Lu disclosed the charming face and figure of the pretty girl we had met at Barnum's.
Billy's countenance rapidly changed from astonishment to joy.
“Isn't that splendid, Uncle Teddy? Just as I was wishing it! It's just like the fairy books!” and, rushing up to the party of new-comers, “My dear Lottie!” cried he, “if I had only known you were coming I'd have come after you!”
As he caught her by the hand, I was pleased to see her soft eyes brighten with gratification at his enthusiasm, but my sister Lu looked on, naturally with astonishment in every feature.
“Why Billy!” said she, “you ought not to call a strange young lady 'Lottie? Miss Pilgrim, you must excuse my wild boy—”
“And you must excuse my mother, Lottie,” said Billy, affectionately patting Miss Pilgrim's rose kid, “for calling you a strange young lady. You are not strange at all—you're just as nice a girl as there is.”
“There are no excuses necessary,” said Miss Pilgrim, with a bewitching little laugh. “Billy and I know each other intimately well, Mrs. Lovegrove, and I confess that when I heard the lady Aunt had been invited to visit was his mother, I felt all the more willing to infringe on etiquette this evening, by coming where I had no previous introduction.”