“But she fished for it. She always does. She flatters Uncle Fred and he falls for it.”
Baldy brought Evans and Mrs. Follette in his little Ford. They found Mrs. Laramore and Frederick already in the drawing-room. Edith had not come down.
“She is always late,” Frederick complained, “and she never apologizes.”
Baldy, silken and slim, in his page’s scarlet, stood in the hall and watched Edith descend the stairs. She seemed to emerge from the shadows of the upper balcony like a shaft of light. She was all in silvery green, her close-clinging robe girdled with pearls, her hair banded with mistletoe.
He met her half-way. “You shouldn’t have worn it,” he said at once.
“The mistletoe? Why not?”
“You will tempt all men to kiss you.”
“Men must resist temptation.”
“Well, queens command,” he smiled at her, “and queens ask——”
She was doubtful of his meaning. “Do you think that I would ever ask for kisses?”