"Is Mr. Wayward so keen on reform? I should think he had had nearly enough of it. They've practically put him out of business, these reformers."
"He's rather keen on me, you know," said Alicia. "And he likes Mollie June and Miss Norman and George Norman and----"
"Father Murray, I suppose," interrupted the Mayor, "and anybody else you can think of. You mean you can get it out of him." But his appreciative smile made a compliment of the accusation.
Alicia only raised her eyebrows again.
Aunt Mary rose and took the reins of business into her own hands once more.
"I should be willing to subscribe something, too, out of my own income," she said. "And the League can raise plenty of money. You won't lack for funds. Here's my proposition, Mr. Black. You lie low and keep still till noon to-morrow. Don't go to the Council meeting at all. Keep the Ordinance in your own possession. Refuse to see any one. See what the papers say in the morning. And wait for a message from George Norman. If by noon to-morrow he telephones you that he will go with you, will you go over to the League, sign the Ordinance, break with Crockett and the rest of them, and appeal to the people on your own?"
The Mayor looked from Aunt Mary to Alicia's appealing and admiring eyes and back at Aunt Mary. He avoided Rockwell and Merriam and Mollie June.
"That's fair enough," he said. "I'll do that." Then: "You know where Norman is, do you?"
"Yes," said Aunt Mary. It was plain, however, that she did not intend to communicate the information.
"And what becomes of this young gentleman?" The Mayor looked at Merriam.