“That is the question. Of course he will be asked too, as soon as they know, but he hates the thought of it. He says he will stay in San Francisco, and run down and see me occasionally, but I hate to have him there at this time of the year, with those winds and fogs. I want him to stay here and be comfortable. It is such a rest for him after that long trip.”
“Miss Gordon, you are beginning badly. You will spoil him. I should like to marry an Englishman just for the pleasure of bringing him up in the way he should go. Suppose you leave him in my charge. I will take good care of him, and see that he does nothing but loaf.” She turned to Clive, who was staring at her, his hands in his pockets, his lips together.
“Come over and stay at Casa Norte. You know all the men, and they will love to have you.”
“Oh, do, Owin,” said Mary. “They are always so jolly there, and I shall feel much easier about you.”
“Very well,” said Clive, “I will go. Thank you.”
“I’ll send over for you in time for dinner. Will that be right? Oh, my train! my train! What will Mr. Van Rhuys think of me? Good-bye, Miss Gordon. Hasta luego, Mr. Clive.”
She ran down the hill as a man came forward to meet her. He was a big well-made man with the walk and carriage, the perfect adjustment of clothes which distinguish the fashionable New Yorker. His Dutch ancestry showed vaguely in his face, which was fair and large, and roughly modelled; but the clever pleasant eyes were American; the deep lines about them betrayed an experience of life which reclaimed the face from any tendency to the commonplace. He looked the rather blasé man of forty, yet full of vitality and good-nature, and possessed of all the brains he would ever need.
His eyes deepened as he took Helena’s hand.
“How jolly well you look,” he said with the slight affectation of accent peculiar to the smart New Yorker. “I’m awfully glad to see you again, awfully.”
As the char-à-banc drove off the girls leaned out and waved their hands to Miss Gordon and Clive, and Van Rhuys was told of the engagement.