“Peter, Peter, I don’t know where you come from, I don’t know why you’re here, unless it is to help us all to be better folks. I know why you want to take Elia off my hands. I know, and the matter has troubled me some. Elia doesn’t like Will. I know that. But Elia is my care, he’s more––he’s my life. He will be with me as long as we both live, even––yes, even if I had to give Will up. I can’t tell you, Peter, what my poor weakly brother is to me. If anything happened to him I think it would break my heart. And it seems so strange to me that everybody, that is everybody but Jim Thorpe and you, dislikes him. Even Will does a little, I––I’m afraid.”
“Yes. You can’t say how it is,” Peter nodded. “But folks can’t be blamed for their likes and dislikes. Maybe Will will get over it. Y’see he’s just a wild sort of Irish boy. He’s just quicksilver. Yes, yes, he’ll maybe grow to be as fond of the lad as you, Eve. But any time you 111 find you’d like me to have him for a bit––I mean––sort of––two’s company, you know––you’ll just be making me a happy man––eh?”
It was a cheery voice behind him that caused his exclamation. Annie Gay stepped briskly up the path.
“Why, it’s Peter!” she declared. “Now if it had been Will,” she added slyly. “But there, young engaged girls think they’re safe from scandalous tongues like mine. Going, Peter? I’ve just been down to the meat store and stolen an elegant bit of tripe. Now, if Eve’s only sensible and got some onions, why there’s a lunch fit for the President.”
“Oh yes, I’ve got onions,” Eve reassured her. Then she turned to the man. “Good-bye, Peter,” she said, as he edged away, “and thank you–––”
But Peter would have no thanks.
“No thanks, Eve, I’d take it a favor.”
And he vanished in the darkness leaving Annie looking at Eve, who instantly began to explain as they went indoors.
“He thinks Elia will be in the way when Will and I are married,” she said. “He wants to look after him. Isn’t he kind?”
“Well?” Annie’s merry eyes were deadly serious.