“I can’t imagine a certain person’s arriving anywhere that early in the morning,” said Lucia, “so it’s tonight.”
“In that case, Lucia, I may not stay to dinner. I’d be a fifth wheel, but oh, I’m so glad.”
It was no time before the girls were at the Murchison door. Betty made herself at home in Lucia’s room while Lucia went to see her mother, the “X” of the telegram, who was to be surprised. Doubtless that was only intended as a public caution, designed to prevent the telegram’s being relayed home.
Lucia came back in high spirits. “You ought to see my mother,” said she. “She’s up and in the most adorable negligee you can imagine. She may dress for dinner. Uncle is to be late. It couldn’t happen better. Now if the ‘long-absent’ Count Coletti is only on time! Mother was so mad at that in the paper once.”
Lucia’s dark eyes sparkled and her cheeks were hot. Betty said a little prayer in her heart that her friend might not be disappointed with the result. “Mother’s been desperately lonely and restless lately and has been on the go nearly all the time,” continued Lucia. “Come on; we’ll go downstairs and wait. You must be right there and don’t stop keeping an ear open for the door, if I’m called to Mother or for anything else. Sometimes the housekeeper wants to see me if she can’t disturb Mother.”
This was all very thrilling. Lucia could not keep still or very far away from the front window. At the sound of an automobile on the drive, both girls went to the window. It might be Mr. Murchison, of course, or almost anybody. But no. “It’s a taxi,” Lucia tensely whispered.
On it came, stopping before the entrance. The driver descended from his seat and opened the door. There was a little delay as the passenger was paying before leaving the taxi. The driver was receiving a bill, which must have included a good tip, from the impressive manner and extreme courtesy which followed on the part of the driver. He took out two grips and stood aside to let a slight, distinguished-looking man pass him and go up the steps. He followed, but Betty saw that the butler had opened the door to go out.
Lucia had waited only to see who stepped from the taxi. She was out into the hall, down the steps and in the arms of a surprised father before one would have thought she could reach him. The butler, too, was smiling and welcoming the count. “Why, he was probably here when they were married,” thought Betty. “Of course, but Lucia had never thought of it!”
Invited to have a share in this arrival, Betty felt quite justified as she happily watched from the window seat, having a good view from the windows that projected in a sort of rectangular recess at the part of the room nearest the hall.
The door into the hall stood open, but Betty did not come into sight as they entered from without. She wondered if there would be any delay. Would the count go straight to his wife’s room? What would happen? She could hear the rapid Italian in which Lucia and her father were speaking. The butler spoke in his accustomed low tones, but with some excitement, too. It was being explained to him. Then up the stairs Lucia and her father went, the butler following with the grips. It was probably the intention to take the count to the proper guest room first, but a door opened and the Countess Coletti asked, “Lucia, who came?” as Lucia was in the lead of the silently coming party.