“I’ll join you with pleasure,” agreed Gerald, feeling more at home and lighter of heart here than he had anywhere during the day. Lucile seemed particularly near to him. “Have you any intimation that Gail expects to return soon?”
“None at all,” stated Aunt Helen, with a queer mixture of sombreness and impatience. “She only writes about what a busy time they are having, and how delightfully eager her friends have been about her, and how popular Arly is, and such things as that.”
“Arly is popular everywhere,” stated Gerald, and Lucile looked at him wonderingly, turning her head very slowly towards him.
“What do you hear from Arly?” she inquired, holding up her hand as if to shield her eyes from the fire, and studying him curiously from that shadow.
“Much the same,” he answered; “except that she mentions Gail’s popularity instead of her own. She had her maid send her another trunkful of clothing, I believe,” and he fell to gazing into the fireplace.
“I am very much disappointed in Arly,” worried Aunt Helen. “I sent Arly specifically to bring Gail back in a week, and they have been gone nine days!”
“I’m glad they’re having a good time,” observed Jim Sargent. “She’ll come back when she gets ready. The New York pull is something which hits you in the middle of the night, and makes you get up and pack.”
“Yes, but the season will soon be over,” worried Aunt Helen. “Gail’s presence here at this time is so important that I do not see how she can neglect it. It may affect her entire future life. A second season is never so full of opportunities as the first one.”
“Oh nonsense,” laughed Jim. “You’re a fanatic on match-making, Helen. What you really mean is that Gail should make a choice out of the matrimonial market before it has all been picked over.”
“Jim,” protested Mrs. Sargent, the creases of worry appearing in her brow. Her husband and sister had never quarrelled, but they had permitted divergences of opinion, which had required much mutual forbearance.