“Then come to the telephone with me, and let us decide whom to ask. There’s nothing going on, and everybody will come.”
Mrs. Colonibel felt better. With considerable energy, after a sufficient number of guests had been invited, she, seconded by Valentine, who began to show some interest in the matter, made arrangements for the evening and then went to the dining room.
An unusual air of animation pervaded the table when Armour came in and found Valentine carving in his stead. He glanced about inquiringly while his brother was surrendering his seat.
“We‘re going to have a small skating party, Stanton,” said Judy. “There’s no harm in that, if it is Lent, and everybody is tired of the rink. Will you come?”
“I am sorry to say that I have to return to the office.”
Vivienne’s face clouded slightly, and his glance rested on her in almost idolatrous affection. “You wish to go, do you not?” he said.
“What a question!” snapped Judy. “You know she’s an enthusiastic skater, and you sha‘n’t deprive her of it, Stanton. Besides, I’m going to venture on the ice this evening. You know I don’t skate in the rink.”
“Very well,” he said; “Vivienne shall do as she chooses. Perhaps I may get out before your party breaks up. What have you been doing this afternoon, Judy?”
Between the intervals of satisfying the demands of a wonderfully good appetite, Judy gave him a humorous description of some hours spent at the Pavilion, and set everybody laughing at her account of the mingled ingenuousness and shrewdness with which Stargarde dealt with some of her troublesome protégés.
Apparently they were a very happy family. Vivienne and Judy were as lighthearted as two children; Armour’s coldness and sternness were almost lost in the grave happiness that had seemed to envelope him since his engagement to Vivienne; Mrs. Colonibel’s private worries had for some time kept her from afflicting the household with outbursts of impatience; and Valentine for once lost his sullen and reserved demeanor, and the two angry red spots that had so frequently showed themselves in his cheeks died away.