“As soon as we get back in the fall, Mrs. Brandreth is going to call on them. Now that Mr. Chapley and Mr. Hughes are out of the way, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t show them some attention. Miss Hughes, at least, is a perfect lady. I’m going to see that she doesn’t overwork; the success of A Modern Romeo has killed us nearly all; I’m going to give her a three weeks’ vacation toward the end of August.”
Ray called upon Peace one evening in the beginning of her vacation, and found her with the manuscript of a book before her; Mrs. Denton was sitting with the Simpsons on their front steps, and sent him on up to Peace when he declined to join her there.
He said, “I supposed I should find you reading up the Adirondack guide-books, or trying to decide between Newport and Saratoga. I don’t see how your outing differs very much from your inning.”
“This was only a book I brought home because I had got interested in it,” the girl explained in self-defence. “We’re not going away anywhere.”
“I think I would stay myself,” said Ray, “if it were not for wanting to see my family. My vacation begins to-morrow.”
“Does it?”
“Yes; and I should be very willing to spend my fortnight excursioning around New York. But I’m off at once to-night; I came in to say good-by. I hope you’ll miss me.”
“We shall miss you very much,” she said; and she added, “I suppose most of our fashionable friends have gone out of town.”
“Have they?”
“I should think you would know. We had them at second-hand from you.”