"You will stay, won't you?" Adnah anxiously asked him.
"I think I shall take you with me, instead," he replied, smiling down at her in an attempt to conquer his embarrassment.
Adnah rapturously sighed. The spectators suddenly arose, retiring to the far corner of the room, where they held an excited, whispered consultation. Presently they came back and sat down in the same solemn half-circle. Aunt Sarah ceremoniously cleared her throat.
"You will please to unclasp your hands and sit farther apart," she directed. This obeyed, she proceeded: "Now, Mr. Nelson—"
"Melton, if you please," corrected the young man, producing a business card that he had rescued.
"Oh!" exclaimed the aunts, exchanging wondering glances.
"We understood that it was Nelson," murmured Aunt Matilda. It seemed that the hands had not been so tightly clasped over the ears as he had thought.
Aunt Sarah gravely adjusted her glasses.
"'John Melton, Jr.,'" she read. "'Representing Melton and Melton, Administrators and Real Estate Dealers. General John A. Melton. John Melton, Jr.'"
There was a suppressed flutter of excitement and again the three aunts exchanged surprised glances.