“I never received any message from you.”
“What! Why, I told your brother to ask you to telephone when I could call and see you?”
“He never told me—only mentioned you were to dine with us tonight——”
“That’s the limit!” Tom banged his sword-hilt with his fist. “Not getting any reply from you I jumped to the conclusion you were tired of seeing me.”
“For a soldier you’re mighty easily discouraged,” taunted Janet, her spirits rising as the misgivings and doubts of the past few days gave way before Tom’s explanations.
“Never again,” vowed Tom. “Next time I’ll storm the citadel. But joking aside,” dropping his bantering tone. “I did try to see you; called several times, telephoned—but you were always out. I finally decided it was intentional; thought you wanted to drop me.”
“How could you be so unjust!” Janet’s reproachful look caused Tom’s heart to beat more rapidly under his blue uniform. “I am always loyal to my friends. You won’t back out of dining with us tomorrow night?”
“What a way to put it?” Tom made a slight grimace. “Of course, I’m coming, and I’ll count the hours until then.”
“The day after Christmas I waited in for you the whole afternoon and evening, and you never came,” continued Janet plaintively.
“I couldn’t get away from Myer that afternoon, and had to wait until Friday before going to Hyattsville to redeem your bracelet. By the way that bracelet is very beautiful,” lowering his voice. “The emeralds and diamonds are exceptionally fine, and the workmanship exquisite.”