A second-man in full house livery tended the door,—the butler being busy with last touches on the table. Nathan tried to nudge Milly to go ahead. But Milly was too terror-stricken and shrank in his rear. The husband instinctively felt foolish stumbling ahead with Milly tagging after like a poor relation he could not shake off. But she clung to his arm as though she might lose him.
The house-man conducted Nathan to the smoking room, raising his Celtic eyebrows when Milly followed, as in a daze. The smoking room had been set aside for the gentlemen’s street clothes.
“This way, madam, please,” he corrected, with a cough to hide his smile. And with an expression of despair, Milly was borne away to where a maid took her in charge at the end of the hall in a dressing-room set apart for the ladies.
Mrs. Mosely had her drawing-room lighted with shaded lamps and adorned with flowers. The curtains had been drawn and the piano opened. Milly furtively watched for Nathan to appear and then almost ran across the broad hall to join him. She clutched her husband again and “tagged after him” despite the man’s quick whisper to go ahead. “I’m afraid,” she choked. “You go ahead!” So Nathan and his wife moved into the big drawing-room and Milly’s daze continued,—as though she were following her husband into the glories of heaven.
Mosely senior, being bedridden, was not in evidence. Young Mosely was assisting his mother in receiving. He caught sight of Nathan and moved slightly forward with an outstretched hand. Milly dodged him and crept behind her husband.
“Glad to see you, Forge,” was the young man’s easy greeting.
“Meet my wife,” suggested Nat, wondering if it was the right thing to say, or rather, the right way to say it.
“I’m delighted to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Forge.”
“Pleezeter meecher,” lisped Milly from a safe position halfway around her husband’s back.
“I want to present you to my mother,” went on Fred Mosely. “Mother, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Forge. Mr. Forge is the one I spoke of—possibly taking my place at the office.”