"I see. I've heard that he did. Well, something will have to be done about this. Myself, being the sort of player from whom the bridge world runs as one man cannot help you much. But Elinor might. She is said to be somewhat proficient at it. We'll give Arethusa a bridge-party, how about it, Belovedest?"
Elinor agreed, and so Ross suggested a lesson right away.
And Arethusa was just starting off to fetch some cards and have George bring what Elinor spoke of a "card-table," when George himself knocked at the door to announce that Miss Arethusa was wanted on the telephone.
"Mr. Bennet wishes to speak to her."
Bridge lessons were forgotten as if they had never been heard of. Every vestige of color left Arethusa's face. Her hands clasped tightly over her suddenly tumultuous heart.
"To.... To me, George? To me," she stammered; "are you real sure he said to me?"
George nodded, smiling. "He said, 'Miss Worthington,' very plain, Miss Arethusa."
Then the deepest of red flamed back into her checks and she scuttled off down the hall so fast that she upset every single rug in her path.
Mr. Bennett was Waiting at the telephone!