“Ah!” called a voice from behind the thin silk curtain of a small alcove at one end of the hall, and Hippy emerged, the picture of offended dignity. “Missed at last,” was his sweeping rebuke. “I had begun to think I was doomed to languish behind that green silk curtain for life. It’s all Nora’s fault. If I had been immured there forever and always, it would be her fault just the same. She proposed that I should hide. ‘Make them think I came alone. They will be so disappointed,’ was her deceitful counsel. And I believed her and wrapped myself in the curtain to wait for you to be disappointed. I see it all now. It was merely a scheme to attract attention to herself. She is jealous of my popularity.”
“Oh, hush, you wicked thing,” giggled Nora. “You didn’t give any one time even to ask for you.”
“That sounds well,” was Hippy’s lofty retort, “but remember, all that prattles is not truth.”
“Squabbling as usual,” groaned David, shaking Hippy’s hand with an energy that belied the groan.
“Just as usual,” smirked Hippy. “Neither of us will ever outgrow it. You see we once lived in a town called Oakdale and associated daily with a number of very quarrelsome people. I wouldn’t like to mention their names, but if some day you should happen to go to Oakdale just ask any one if David Nesbit and Reddy Brooks ever reformed. They’ll understand what you mean.”
“Your Oakdale friends will have cause to inquire what awful fate has overtaken you if you don’t reform speedily,” warned David. “I’m obliged to stand your insults because you are company. Just wait until the newness of seeing you again wears off, and then see what happens.”
“You don’t have to show me,” flung back Hippy hastily. “I’ll take your word for it. I believe in words, not deeds. You know I used to be so fond of quoting that immortal stanza about doing noble deeds instead of dreaming them all day long. Well, I’ve altered that to fit any little occasion that might arise. I find it much more comforting to say it this way:
“Be wise, dear Hippy, from all violence sever,
Say noble words, then do folks all day long.
Avoid rash deeds, by sweet words e’er endeavor
To prove your friends are wrong.”
A ripple of laughter followed Hippy’s sadly altered quotation of the famous lines.
“That’s a most ignoble sentiment, Hippy,” criticized Miriam. “I can’t believe that you would practice it.”