“Do you ever use a taxi, Mr. Moore?” Irene asked.
“Not on the price of one Airedale!”
When he suggested seriously that the whole matter would be greatly simplified by taking a taxi Irene would not hear of it. She hadn’t meant to hint; she was just joking. They continued their teasing until they reached a corner where Grace settled the matter.
“Irene wins!” she cried and before they knew what she was about she boarded her car and was waving to them derisively from the platform.
III
During the preparation of breakfast the next morning Ethel apologized for her conduct at the supper table.
“I didn’t mean to speak of that matter at all, Grace. It’s none of my business how you met Mr. Trenton. I don’t want there to be any hard feeling between us. I realize that we look at things differently and I want you to know that before Osgood left last night I made it all right with him. I told him it was just a joke between you and me about Miss Conwell. I wouldn’t want him to think we spend our time quarreling.”
“I hope he thought it was funny,” Grace returned. “I don’t mind telling you that there’s no such person as Miss Conwell. John backed me up just because he resented the way you were ragging me. He knew perfectly well there’s no Mabel Conwell at the University.”
Mrs. Durland entered the kitchen in time to catch this last remark.
“I hope you know, Grace, that neither Ethel nor I have any wish to question you about your friends. I scolded Ethel for asking you about Miss Conwell before company. I’m sure she’s sorry.”