Marguerite cast a swift appraising glance around the room, at the two huddled figures in the chairs by the window, two oldish backs upon whom her glance scarcely rested and a pair of gentlemanly legs surmounted by a newspaper. Strangers in a land that was strange to her, what could they mean to her but hindrances to her completed race? It was hours later than she had meant to be, and she ought to get out of New York, and away to seek her beloved.
She knew that her mother would presently stir up something. She was not a woman to lie idly by and see her only daughter lost in the world, with an undesirable marriage in the offing. She would presently set something going somehow to hinder. Her mother was never balked when the welfare of one beloved was concerned. She simply must get a train right away as soon as she had seen this man. Of course he would not be the right one. Of course that lying Mrs. Dunlap had merely given the name of some one she knew as a bluff to gain her point. And as soon as she laid eyes on the man and saw he was not anyone she had ever seen before, she would apologize pleasantly, say she must have the wrong address, and depart.
While she was dressing she had remembered a way to find Rufus. She would get that minister friend of his that was to have married them, on the long distance telephone, and find out how best to reach him. The rest would be easy of course. Then she would get away from New York as fast as possible, somewhere, anywhere, it didn't matter much, just a little way, so she could not be traced, and then get off and telephone Rufus. She would plan to meet him wherever he said and be married at once. Perhaps she might even suggest this to the minister friend of his when she found the address, just say they were going to be married at once, that all difficulties had been cleared away or something like that.
How fortunate it was that she remembered the name and address of that minister so well. She had watched Rufus writing out the telegram as he argued, and he had written Rev. Lee Spencer, D.D. so beautifully. He had a wonderful, bold way of writing that thrilled her to watch, it seemed so masterful!
All these thoughts went racing through Marguerite's mind as she dropped into a chair near the desk facing the entrance, her eyes glued to the door that she might get the first glimpse of the man as he entered.
Mrs. Dunlap half leaned over toward Mrs. Sheldon to whisper, and then thought better of it. They exchanged lifted eyebrows, and a question stood in their eyes for an instant. Then suddenly a quick eager young step came rushing down the corridor. The door opened with a rush and closed with a bang as a slim pretty girl entered panting as if she had run up several flights of stairs.
"Oh, Miss Flinch," she gasped, "has Daddy come yet? I've simply ruined myself running up all the stairs. I couldn't wait for the elevator. I was afraid Dad and Mother wouldn't wait for me. Oh hasn't he come yet? Oh, I'm glad! But Muth is here isn't she? I thought she would be. I telephoned her I had a flat tire, and I had to leave the tiresome old car in a garage away uptown, and walk three blocks to get a bus, and then it didn't come forever and an age. The bus service in this town is the limit isn't it? Did you say Muth was here?"
"Yes, Miss Gloria, she came half an hour ago. She's in your father's office writing a letter."
"Oh, I know. She said it simply had to go or she couldn't go with us. You know, Miss Flinch, it's her birthday, and Daddy came home especially for it. We're going off on a spree. Daddy won't tell us where, but we're going in the new car, and it's to be a surprise party for us all. Muth doesn't even know which way we are taking.
"But I can't think what's keeping Daddy and Katharine. You know, Miss Flinch," Gloria lowered her voice with a glance toward the ground glass partition, "they've gone to get her present. She doesn't know a thing about it of course. Katharine picked it out weeks ago and she and I had it put away till Daddy would get back. We knew he'd love it for her, and I know it's just what she wants. It's a platinum wristwatch and bracelet with diamonds and sapphires all set around the edge. Oh, it's perfectly darling. She'll show it to you of course. But I'm just dying to see what she says when he gives it to her. Oh, dear! Why don't they come? I do hope there isn't some stupid old mistake. Perhaps some dumbbell of a salesman has sold it to someone else. Wouldn't that simply be unbearable? Perhaps they've had to hunt around for another. But I never saw any as precious as this one."