“Yes, I was with her,” interrupted Gloria, “but she just had a little spell; the doctor said she must have over exerted herself. You know how fond of athletics Jack is.”
“Do I not?” A full breath volleyed forth each word, but the strident voice, the girls had complained of, was not noticeable. “Since she was a tiny tot no one could hold Jack down. You see, I have been with the Corday family for years,” the statement was prideful, “and I knew the little girl’s mother very well. I travelled with them always. Whenever there was some new feature to be tried out I was one of those selected to express an opinion upon it.” Gloria wondered, but continued to listen. “Yes,” sighed the very modern, very middle aged and very stylish woman. “Yes, there were few on the road who could surpass Philip Corday in special attractions. But go ahead, dear, what about our little girl?”
Jane was interested to the point of abstraction. She didn’t even re-tie her bonnet strings, and she sat back, listening comfortably.
“A plunge and it’s over with,” thought Gloria. Further delay might only irritate.
“You see, Mrs. Corday,” she began bravely, “Jack asked me to phone you last night, as she hated the idea of having you come up when she would not be allowed to talk freely to you——”
“She would. The dear. She and I understand each other perfectly.” This was addressed to Jane. “But I had to come. Her father left her in my keeping, and a lot of silly young lawyers have been trying to get her away from me—Go ahead dear. I ramble like the butcher in the old song. Or was it the butcher who cut him down?” A quizzical smile spread over the water colored features.
“Personally I believe Miss Alton is the best intentioned woman possible,” Gloria said next, without having the slightest idea why she said it. “But the doctor’s orders have to be followed, and you know how responsible boarding school directors feel themselves to be,” she urged.
“I do, indeed. That’s why I have a scrap every earthly time I go there. They boss me around as if I hadn’t been a boss myself, all my life.” Her look of seething indignation included a “go ahead” for Gloria.
“Then, Jack thought if I could meet you and explain all this——”
“And mighty kind it was of you, you having company yourself——” Mrs. Corday arose, premonitorily.