“Paul! Are you crazy, Mr. Dalken?” asked Eleanor, fearfully.
“No, but you must be to throw over such a sweetheart. You’ll wait a long time before you get another like him, even though I do like Jack immensely, and will further his case when he meets the right girl. I’m sure you are not the right one, and you ought to know it, from what you told me yourself, yesterday. Can’t you see that Jack thinks he loves Polly, just because she won’t have him?”
“Of course I understand!” retorted Eleanor, but annoyed that her plot to bring Polly and Tom together again was exposed.
“Then why in the name of heavens did you send Paul away believing it was you that Jack wanted?”
Before an answer could be given, the elevator reached the ground floor and the man quickly opened the doors. Out in the vestibule the telephone-operator was button-holing a young man and using every persuasion to detain him.
Jack Baxter had never seen Paul so he did not recognize him now. But Eleanor did, and she stood stock-still in such surprise that Mr. Dalken ran ahead without her.
“Paul, Paul! I knew you had made a mistake. Eleanor is here to explain everything,” said he, taking the place of the amazed servant.
“What can she explain that will change my opinion of her?” scorned Paul, sending a cold look at poor Eleanor.
“Nolla, come here, Paul wants you to explain,” begged Mr. Dalken, beside himself.
Her first surprise at finding Paul Stewart in New York and in the house, passed over and Eleanor forgot Jack and everything else, as she rushed forward to welcome her old sweetheart.