“Nevertheless you are not averse to a change.”
“Oh, as my time is short in the United States and as human nature is the most interesting study in the world, I want to meet as many of your interesting types as possible.”
“Your stay may be longer than you think. Soulé says that the Duke must not think of leaving the Adirondacks for two years.”
He had me at last. “Two years!” I gasped. “Must we stay up here for two years?” The place has lost some of its charm since these people came.
“Not here, for you would be snowed in in winter and uncomfortable in every way. I have suggested to the Duke that he endeavour at once to lease a house at Lake Placid. There you would be close to an express train to New York—which you could visit frequently—and undoubtedly could find a house with golf links, tennis court, etc., to say nothing of good trails where you could have daily rides. I know you are longing to be on a horse again.”
“Oh, I am! How did you guess it? That does not sound so hopeless. I suppose our friends would visit us occasionally.”
“I can assert positively that some of them would come as often as they were asked.”
“It would be charity, of course. How kind you and Mr. Rogers have been to think of everything for us.”
Again I had managed to bring the colour into his face. “Rogers is a kind fatherly soul,” he said, tartly. “I don’t pretend to be philanthropic.”
Here I was afraid he would propose to me so I said hurriedly: