“Wheeler must slack up for a day or two, and I’m going to Fairmead for a week-end. Carrie hopes you’ll come along.”
Kit hesitated. He had made two or three happy visits to Fairmead, and he thought he ought not to bother Mrs. Austin. When he indicated something like that, Austin smiled.
“You’re modest, Kit! Carrie ordered me to bring you.”
Wheeler was willing for them to go, and at the week-end they went down the line. They got to Fairmead in the evening, and at supper Kit thought Mrs. Austin preoccupied. When they got up she said to Austin:
“Ought you not to see Phelps, Bob?”
“Why, yes,” said Austin. “I expect he’s shut down at the office. By and by I’ll go along to his hotel.”
“Since he gets supper at the hotel you had better go now. If you wait, I expect he’ll be at the pool room and you can’t talk.”
“It is possible,” Austin agreed and turned to Kit. “Will you take a walk up town?”
Kit thought Mrs. Austin did not want him to go and he waited.
“I’d sooner Kit stayed,” she said. “Alison and Florence are coming over. Don’t be long, Bob!”