“Try to cheer up,” she said, resting her hand on his shoulder for a moment. “Don’t talk to anybody about business of any kind. I’m going down to uncle’s; and you needn’t be afraid of him, or of anybody.”
She went to the telephone and called her uncle’s number.
“Tell Mr. Merriam that Miss Dameron is coming to his house at once,” she said to the Japanese boy who answered.
CHAPTER XXXIV
A NEW UNDERSTANDING
Rodney Merriam opened the door and greeted Zelda cheerily.
“Am I not the early bird?” she demanded, walking into the library and flinging at its owner her usual comment on its eternal odor of tobacco.
“I’ve been here early in the morning and late at night, mon oncle, and it’s always the same. I’m glad to see a cigar this morning. It’s the pipe that I protest against. You’re sure to have a tobacco heart if you keep it up.”
“You’re a trifle censorious, as usual,” said Merriam, looking at her keenly. “How can I earn your praise? Do you confer a medal for good conduct,—I’d like one with a red ribbon.”
“I shan’t buy the ribbon till you show signs of improvement. I had hoped that you would congratulate me in genial and cheering words. It’s my birthday, I would have you know.”
“At my age,—”