“So we suppose, or I made sure we should have seen you,” said Gussy, with undisguised pleasure in her face.
“That seems like making a claim of right upon Charley’s time,” said Mrs. Harwood; “we must not do that, for it is the last thing that young men like.”
“I think Gussy understands me best,” he said, “so far as that goes. Of course I should have come in any case the first evening I had.”
Janet said to herself that they must at least have begun the third act, as they called each other by their Christian names.
“You say in any case?” said Gussy, with an inquiring look.
“Yes; fancy what was the first thing I heard to-day. I went into Mimpriss’s on my way to the Temple to get some pencils, and there was some one inquiring for books for Mrs. Harwood: so I knew that you also had reached home.”
“Oh, yes, we have been at home a long time!” said Gussy. “Mamma never likes to be long away: and Ju—you know Ju—was going down hill like an express train, getting more and more unmanageable and refractory every day.”
“But I am happy to tell you, Charley, that Miss Summerhayes seems likely to work marvels.”
This was the only thing that approached an introduction, and Janet did not know whether to take any notice. Mr. Meredith, however, jumped to his feet, and made her a bow.
“It was Miss Summerhayes I saw changing the books,” he said.