Leighton always hated himself for laughing at Balcomb, whose loquacity was so cheap that it was pathetic. Everything Balcomb knew he used constantly. At the college to which he referred in terms of raillery or contempt he had picked the nearest and gaudiest flowers; but he wore them all in an amazing bouquet that did not fail to impress many of his acquaintances as the real bloom of learning. Leighton was not at all glad to see Balcomb to-night. His friend’s eternal freshness palled upon him. But it did not occur to Balcomb that Leighton might not be delighted to have him for a traveling companion. He thought his conversation was shortening the distance for Leighton. Balcomb had been making social history fast. He had, in his own phrase, “butted in”; and since the performance of Deceivers Ever, he had been included in most of the gatherings of the Dramatic Club circle.
“I say, old man,” he began abruptly, as the car skimmed through a strip of woodland, “just between old college friends, what’s your game, anyhow? Which is it?”
“Which is what?” demanded Leighton, who had been enjoying a moment with his own thoughts, while Balcomb stared out upon the darkling landscape.
“Which girl, I mean? There are two out here.”
Leighton took off his hat and laughed.
“I haven’t decided yet,” he said presently, with an irony that was quite lost on Balcomb. “I’m a good fellow, though, and I’ll take the one you leave.”
“Miss Dameron’s certainly a peach dumpling, all right. But say, the little cousin’s a gem of purest ray serene. She ain’t so stand-offish, some way, as her cousin; she jollies easier.”
“I think I’ve noticed that;”—and the irony this time was meant for himself.
“They say olives are a cultivated taste,” persisted Balcomb; “but lawsy, I knew right away that girl was a good thing. And, my God! to think that she has to teach a lot of grimy little muckers how to cook. There’s something wrong in the divine economy, as Prexy used to say, when such a thing is possible.”
“It is too bad, isn’t it? But I don’t think you need be sorry for her.”