“Do you know how to play this?” asked Lawrence Waite.
“No, I don’t,” replied Betty, as Marcella left them.
“Then come on,” said Lawrence. “I know a secluded and not too secluded spot. Let’s talk. They’ll let me do it because I’m not in school with the rest of you, and already I know Lucia very well.”
Lawrence Waite, known as Larry, explained to Betty, as he escorted her to just such a spot as she had read about in the grown-up books. Well, what of it? Wasn’t she past sixteen? Why should she not have a handsome young man seating her in the conservatory by a fountain? It turned out to be some sort of a treasure hunt; but when Ted rushed by and called, “Come on, Larry, get into the game after treasure,” Larry waved a careless hand and said, “I’ve found her.”
Ted laughed, appreciating the point and Betty naturally dimpled with amusement, but Larry turned to her again, smiling, but not altogether in fun. “Really, Miss Lee, I have wanted to meet you since that Hallowe’en at our house.”
“It has been sometime, Mr. Waite,” suggested Betty demurely.
“Yes, but I’ve been away at college except at the Christmas vacation. I’m home on a rush trip now. Father wanted me to come, a business matter in which I could help him. I wanted to ask you if you minded that little affair. I was around looking for things for Marcella, and I took a chance of frightening you, I know, when I lit that candle; but I had recognized you, that is, as Titania, and I had to make a train and wanted to see what you really looked like. You were very good to take off your mask.”
“It was just great fun, Mr. Waite. I should think I didn’t mind! It would have been very stupid just to have your candle go out and not to have a single thing happen, not even to look into the mirror.”
Larry had half a mind to mention one more thing that he had been tempted to have happen when he saw Betty’s face under that shining hair, but he decided that it was not best. She might think it just his line, and she was too sweet anyhow and too young for any suggestion of a stolen kiss. Pray heaven she went through high school and college as above anything doubtful as she was now! Larry had asked his sister what sort of a girl Betty Lee was, for Larry Waite was really interested.
“It was fun for both of us, then. I told at college that I had looked over a girl’s shoulder in a mirror at Hallowe’en and the fellows said, ‘Beware, Larry.’”