“That was only after he had heard them all! And he has been boasting that he could persuade you to tell them to me. Please! I want to add them to my collection.”
“Well, you understand this isn’t my fault—” he began....
They were still demanding more stories after the dessert plates had been removed. He had so far yielded to their friendliness that he appealed occasionally to Nan, and finally asked her to tell one of Farley’s stories about the river, which he said he had forgotten. They remained at table for their coffee to avoid disturbing the good cheer that now prevailed.
“Mr. Amidon is up to my highest expectations,” Mrs. Torrington remarked when they rose. “I’ll stay another week if you’ll give just this same party again!”
“We’ve missed you at the farm,” said Mrs. Copeland, as Jerry seated himself beside her in the library. “And I was just beginning to feel that we were acquainted! But, of course, you’ve been away. I heard that from Mr. Copeland.”
As she mentioned Copeland, she smiled gravely.
“Well, I have been away, and we’re busier than usual just now,” he replied, realizing that something had happened in her relations with Copeland to make possible this careless reference to him. “I guess Mr. Copeland is working harder than any of us,” he added warmly.
“Oh, we’re all happier when we’re busy,” she said lightly.
“Not smoking, Jerry?” asked Eaton, proffering cigars.
“I’ve quit,” Jerry replied, remembering that he had given up smoking in his general abandonment of the joys of life.