“I’d do anything I could for Jack——”
“You risked your life for her, they told me.” One tailor-fitted arm went around Gloria’s shoulder, “and we’re not forgetting it. Is that hackman out there yet?”
Every one turned and looked out.
“Oh, yes. Dave will wait,” promised Gloria, feeling for the moment a sense of helplessness. She had made no progress in diverting Mrs. Corday. She was determined to go to the Hall. And she was as sure as ever “to scrap” with those who might interfere. That would mean failure, for Gloria to really help Jack or Miss Alton. Her resourcefulness was fading. Her head was almost achy, and her temper not slumbering. She wanted to be off with Jane. Why not let Miss Alton use her own talent in smoothing over the emergency? In fact, Gloria began to reason, why shouldn’t this woman have a talk with her stepdaughter? She was, by no means, the disturber she had been blamed for being, if appearances could be trusted.
Then came the memory of Jack’s plea. There must be a good reason and this need not be apparent to strangers. Mrs. Corday was showing her own impatience.
“Don’t mind if I run along, dear,” she said. “I must get back to the city by noon. I have very large interests to manage, very large.” She swept humble Jane with a look of business magnitude.
Gloria’s hopes were oozing out at her finger tips. She must make one final effort.
“I wondered if you wouldn’t just visit with me, this time,” she suggested sweetly. “Then if Jack can see you——”
“If she can see me! Of course she can see me! Nothing serious has happened!” A new alarm spring went off with a snap. Gloria laid a trembling hand upon the pearl kid glove.
“But you really wouldn’t go against the doctor’s orders? You know what a simple headache can do if one gets excited; and Jack would have so many things to tell you.” Gloria’s wistfulness was very becoming. Mrs. Corday turned back from the door. Jane took a hand in the plot, innocently.