“That might depend upon how well you rest to-night. I think I had better——”
“Oh, I haven’t really told you what I especially wanted you for.” Jack sat up straight and assumed the most confidential air. “I want you to phone Steppy. Tell her you are my chum, and that you have just been talking to me, and I’m perfectly all right. Oh, you know the bunk,” (Jack was so like a boy at times,) “simply fix it so she won’t cut down here and—and shock the gentle Jean.”
“Pity about Jean. If I might advise, Jack, I’d just let Jean and her crowd—whistle!”
“If she only could! But can you see what a noise her lips would make? Whistle! It would be a sizzle. Jean’s mouth is too sour to emit anything really jolly. But anyhow, Glo, I do hope you can forestall Steppy. Really, I couldn’t hardly cope with her myself—just now.”
“All right. I’ll do my best,” said Gloria taking the proffered phone number.
“I knew I could depend upon you, and you won’t mind if I ask you to keep it all to yourself?”
“I wouldn’t think of mentioning it.” Then Gloria remembered Trixy’s frank recital of the morning’s encounter. How could she keep secret from her its sequel? As if Jack divined the thought she said quickly:
“Of course, you may tell Trix. She’s a dear. And there’s Mary, but I wouldn’t care to have her know. Gloria, have you ever seen a girl with such a complete double personality as Mary?”
“I hadn’t noticed. How do you mean?”
“Well, she acts as demure as a kitten, and she’s—oh, I don’t know how to express it, but she seemed like something done up in a case. Her real character doesn’t show until some emergency pops up.”