VII
THE VOICE THAT BREATHED O’ER EDEN
The invitations were out for Miss Geraldine Towers’ wedding, and the first acceptance Aunt Jerry received was that of Cosimo Pratt. For Amory had kept her promise and had brought them together. It had been at the studio in Cheyne Walk, which Aunt Jerry and Mr. Massey had come to see the very night before Amory had left Glenerne; and really there had seemed something to be said for Mrs. ’Ill’s cautious practice of coughing as she ascended the stairs and tapping and waiting before she entered the room. Amory had held a candle at the head of the stairs when they had left, but had not descended with them, and she had re-entered her room to find Cosimo at his funniest and most solemn.
“I trust, Amory,” he had said, looking gravely at her, “that my ears deceived me?...”
“Cosimo,” Amory had replied, looking as gravely at him, “I greatly fear....”
“It sounded like one, Amory....”
“It was one, Cosimo....”
“You are sure?...”
“If an aquarium, why not a greengrocer’s entry?... At their age!” Amory had burst out laughing. “Well, one thing’s pretty certain now—you’ll be invited to the wedding!”