“You bet I will,” Dick cried heartily. He would have taken her in his arms again, but she evaded the caress. “What's the matter?” he demanded, plainly at a loss to understand this repulse.
“Nothing!” was the ambiguous answer.
“Just one!” Dick pleaded.
“No,” the bride replied, and there was determination in the monosyllable.
It was evident that Dick perceived the futility of argument.
“For a married woman you certainly are shy,” he replied, with a sly glance toward Aggie, who beamed back sympathy. “You'll excuse me, won't you, Miss Lynch,... Good-by, Mrs. Gilder.” He made a formal bow to his wife. As he hurried to the door, he expressed again his admiration for the name. “Mrs. Gilder! Doesn't that sound immense?” And with that he was gone.
There was silence in the drawing-room until the two women heard the closing of the outer door of the apartment. Then, at last, Aggie relieved her pent-up emotions in a huge sigh that was near a groan.
“Oh Gawd!” she gasped. “The poor simp!”