“How cleverly she manages to keep me at arm’s length. Oh, little Nancy, where did you learn such tactics?” and he did not know that “such tactics” were sure forerunners of surrender.
As for Nancy, she stood a little later by her bedroom window. The trim, smart riding-habit was laid aside and a little light muslin of almost childlike simplicity had taken its place. She stood looking out at nothing through brimming tears, with flushed cheeks and quivering lips.
“I do blush so horridly when I am with him, and I’m afraid I say things I shouldn’t. Oh, what makes me, when I do like him so much!”
XIV
“ALL RIGHT, SON”
After dinner Steve walked over to the store with Mr. Follet, talked with him a little, and then strolling up the street afterwards, he was joined with great cordiality by Raymond Colton.
The talk was breezy as was inevitable with Raymond. He had graduated at a great northern university in June, had any amount of sang froid and had as yet caught no glimpse of life save as a field for pleasure.
“What do you think of Miss Nancy?” he inquired enthusiastically. “Isn’t she the prettiest thing going? I have seen them north, south, east, and west, but I honestly believe I never saw a sweeter flower growing than Nancy Follet!” he went on without waiting for Steve to answer his question, so a smile was all the response which seemed necessary.