“I can find time to do them, dear; don’t worry. And it would be better for you.”
“And indeed it would be the worst thing in all this world, dear,” protested Polly, shaking her brown head. “I should be so dismal, Jasper, you can’t think, without our lovely time working together after dinner. When the bag is done, then we’ll play and read, and do all sorts of things. But that first hour is the best of the whole evening, Jasper; it truly is.”
“I’m sure I love it,” cried Jasper, with kindling eyes; “I never could do it so well without you, nor in half the time, Polly.”
“Well, then you must just promise you’ll never leave the bag back in the office,” said Polly, laughing. “Promise now, Jasper.”
“I suppose I must,” said Jasper, laughing too. “Here come Alexia and Pickering,” looking down the carriage-drive.
“We’ve come out to dinner, Polly, if you want us,” said Alexia, hurrying in, Pickering’s tall figure following. “Goodness me! how you can live so far out of town, I don’t see!”
“So you say every time I chance to meet you, Alexia” said Jasper.
“Yes, and that’s the reason she’s decided to try it herself,” said Pickering with a drawl.
“O Alexia!” Polly gave her a small hug, as she helped her off with her things, “are you really coming to Badgertown? Oh, how nice!”
“Pickering is always springing things on me, and telling everything I say,” said Alexia, trying to send a cross grimace over at her husband, but ending with a short laugh instead, “and just because I said I wanted to have a house near you, Polly, he’s got it into his head I’m coming out here to live.”