Gerrod watched Davis walking hastily down to the little summerhouse, and laughed.
"Evelyn," he said, still chuckling, "you have truly the wisdom of the serpent and the gentleness of the dove. Davis falls in love with Nita. Nita's father forbids Davis the house, and then you resurrect a college friendship and invite Nita down here so their little romance can be completed. Why are women so willing to go to so much trouble for mere men?"
Evelyn slipped her arm in her husband's, and smiled up at him.
"Well-l-l," she said in mock hesitation, "perhaps this time it was because Davis is so handsome I wanted to keep out of the temptation of falling in love with him myself."
Gerrod looked after Davis. He had vanished inside the little vine-covered summerhouse, where Nita was waiting. Evelyn lifted her lips invitingly, and Gerrod responded to the invitation instantly. Both of them laughed together.
"As a husband of some six months' standing," said Gerrod with severity, "I protest against this undignified conduct you encourage me to continue."
Evelyn rubbed her cheek against his.
"We really ought to be getting back to work on those silly animals," she said reluctantly. "It's beginning to look rather serious. It may be just panic, though."
"Don't believe it." Gerrod was in earnest. "They've covered all the beaches with their sticky slime, and they're creeping inland. The rivers are choked with them, and floods are already threatening to become destructive."
"But it's so silly!" protested Evelyn. "Just because some little animalcule decides to multiply and keep on multiplying——"