Mr. Douane’s laugh was so pleasant that Gretel suddenly found herself laughing, too, though perhaps more from nervousness than enjoyment.
“I’m only a little girl,” she explained, “and people never come to see me.”
“Well, I have come to see you, at any rate, and to tell the truth, I am very glad Mrs. Marsh and the fascinating Ada are out. Would you like to come with me for a motor-ride?”
“A motor-ride?” repeated Gretel, looking puzzled. “Oh, you don’t mean to go to ride in an automobile! I should love it better than anything else in the world, but—but do you really think I could?”
“I don’t see anything to prevent. Do you like motoring?”
“I have only been in an automobile once,” Gretel explained. “Father was going to play at a gentleman’s house in New Rochelle, and the gentleman sent his car for him, and Father said I might go, too, and sit outside while he played. So I did, and we had a lovely ride, but it was rather cold waiting so long for Father. The car went so fast I was a little frightened at first, but I got used to it after a while, and then it was splendid. But I’m afraid Mrs. Marsh wouldn’t let me go. You see, the maid is out, too, and she doesn’t like to have the apartment left with nobody in it.”
Some of the amusement faded from the visitor’s face; he even looked a little annoyed.
“So they leave you alone to look after the house,” he said dryly. “Well, you are not to stay at home this time, whether Mrs. Marsh objects or not. I have hired a car for the afternoon, and I want to take you out with me; it’s a glorious day. I am your guardian, so it is your duty to do as I say, and it’s quite time we began to get acquainted with each other. So run and get on your warmest things, and I will write a note explaining matters to Mrs. Marsh. The apartment will be safe enough; we’ll get the janitor to look after it.”
Although not feeling at all certain as to how Mrs. Marsh would regard such an unheard-of proceeding, Gretel stood far too much in awe of this big, decided young man to dare argue the point with him, so without another word, she turned to do his bidding. She was just leaving the room when her brother called her back.
“We may stop somewhere for dinner, and not get back until the evening,” he remarked cheerfully, “so you may as well put on something pretty.” He glanced rather disapprovingly as he spoke at Gretel’s shiny black frock, with the big darn in the middle of the skirt.