“It’s a fact, Fred,” said Melba, smiling at his vehemence; “and he appeared to be very much in earnest, too.”
“But I thought you told me the other day that he hated you?” Carroll reminded her.
“He has always given me that impression. He and I never got along well together, even as children. He has never taken any pains to conceal his dislike for me. Since his return from New York, his attitude toward me has been particularly mean—until last night.”
Carroll scowled. “Well, if that’s the case, what on earth made him propose to you?”
“That’s what I’m anxious to know,” Melba answered. “The more I think of the incident, Fred, the more it puzzles me. I was in hopes you might be able to suggest a reason for his sudden change. Ah! Here’s some one who may be able to help us.”
She pointed, as she spoke, toward Hawley, who came in at that moment to tell Carroll of his experience at the city hall.
“We want your advice, Mr. Hawley,” the girl said, as the Camera Chap stepped up. “My cousin has asked me to marry him. Can you imagine a reason?”
“I can imagine a hundred reasons,” the Camera Chap replied gallantly. “If you’ll glance in a mirror, Miss Gale, you’ll discover a lot of them for yourself. With all his faults, your cousin is human, you know—and he isn’t blind.”
“Thank you!” said Melba, laughing and blushing. “But I am really serious, Mr. Hawley. I am quite sure that my cousin isn’t in love with me—in fact, as I was just saying to Fred, he cordially dislikes me. Besides, I happen to know that he’s in love with another girl—an actress in New York. He’s got her picture tacked on the wall in his room, and he writes to her every day. Now, what can be his object in proposing to me?”
“Oh, I guess that’s easily explained,” Hawley answered. “No doubt spite is his motive. He wants to win you away from Fred.”