“Then let’s compromise on lobster croquettes,” said Veronica. “I never eat them ordinarily, but I feel as though I could eat a dozen to celebrate this occasion.”
“Be careful what you eat, now,” warned her aunt. “It would be rather awkward if you were to be taken with an attack of acute indigestion just when you are due to appear on the platform.”
“Never fear!” laughed Veronica. “I am so transported over meeting Katherine that nothing could give me indigestion now. What an inspiration I shall have to play to-night!”
Then, taking Katherine’s hand, she said coaxingly, “You will come and hear me play, won’t you?”
“I’m afraid I can’t,” replied Katherine regretfully. “I’m due to go back on the five-fifteen train.”
“O, but you must come!” cried Veronica pleadingly. “I’ll be so miserable if you don’t that I sha’n’t be able to play at all. You wouldn’t want me to spoil the concert on your account, would you, Katherine dear? There is a later train you can go home on just as well, isn’t there?”
“There is one at ten-forty-five,” replied Katherine, consulting the time-table which she carried in her hand bag.
“You can hear me play, and make that train, too,” said Veronica eagerly. “My numbers come in the early part of the program, all but one. If you went out after I had played my first group you could make your train beautifully. Do telephone Nyoda that you are going to stay over, and have her send somebody down to meet you at the later train. That Justice person——” she said mischievously, finishing with an expressive movement of her eyebrows.
Katherine finally yielded to her pleading, and telephoned Nyoda that she was going to stay in town until the ten-forty-five, which so delighted Veronica that she ordered another croquette all the way around to celebrate the happy circumstance.
“Do be careful, dear,” warned her aunt a second time. “Those croquettes are distressingly rich. What would happen if you were to be taken ill to-night?”