“Oh, don’t take the trouble to feign innocence! I always thought, Mr. Butterfield—! I never—stop laughing, Millicent, this is not a farce—I didn’t think, Mr. Butterfield, that you would use, at least, anything you heard in so discreditable a manner!”
“Mrs. Loring,” I answered, “I did not listen. I was dreaming—dreaming does me good—and I heard the rooks calling, and several other things, quite against my will. Besides,” I added, “if you will consider a moment, don’t you think I was too deeply concerned in your—friendly aspersions—not to have some kind of right in them? I wish to put the thing euphoniously, you understand, Mrs. Loring, but—haven’t you interested yourself too long in what concerns me first of all, to take up any position of outraged propriety now?”
I awaited her reply, my eyes on her face. I should have been sorry to fall out with Mrs. Loring; I had had too much amusement out of her to take her too seriously, and I recognized that meddling was too harsh a word for her conduct. For a full minute she sat looking straight in front of her, and then smiled. All was well.
“I’m sorry for you, Millicent,” she said. “For the first time I have doubts as to your happiness with this—creature. I may yet have to repent that ever I gathered you both under my wing. Rollo Butterfield, you think I’m laughing, but I’m not. I haven’t forgiven you.”
“You reserve your forgiveness, Mrs. Loring, till no further evasion is possible. You are still, permit me to remind you, premature.”
I looked at Millicent, whose face expressed the greatest relish for the whole scene. Millicent understood, and cared as little for Mrs. Loring’s presence as I did myself. A new recklessness took possession of me; so long as she knew, I didn’t give a schoolgirl’s kiss what happened. Mrs. Loring was making uneasy motions, and had attempted several false starts, with the object of leaving us alone. I took Millicent’s hand, imprisoned it in both my own, and looked squarely at Mrs. Loring. She sat spellbound, fascinated, a wedding guest who could not choose but hear.
“Millicent——” I said, and paused.
“Rollo——” she replied.
Mrs. Loring made another attempt to break away.
“Sit in the middle, Mrs. Loring,” I said, and we made the rearrangement. I turned again to Millicent.