“WELL, did you get the rooms?” asked my wife as soon as she saw me.
She did not quite call it across the street to me as I came up from where
she sat on the piazza.
“No, I didn’t,” I said boldly, if somewhat breathlessly.
“Why didn’t you? You ought to have gone to the States if they were full
at the Grand Union.”
“They were not full, unless Kendricks got their last room.”
“Do you mean that _he_ was there? Mr. Kendricks? If you are hoaxing me,
Basil!”
“I am not, my dear; indeed I’m not,” said I, beginning to laugh, and this
made her doubt me the more.
“Because if you are I shall simply never forgive you. And I’m in earnest
this time,” she replied.
“Why should I want to hoax you about such a vital thing as that.
Couldn’t Kendricks come to Saratoga as well as we? He’s here looking up
the ground of a story I should think from what he said.”
“No matter what he’s here for; he’s here, and that’s enough. I never
knew of anything so perfectly providential. Did you _tell_ him, Basil?
Did you dare?”
“Tell him what?”
“You know; about Miss Gage.”
“Well, I came very near it. I dangled the fact before his eyes once, but
I caught it away again in time. He never saw it. I thought I’d better
let you tell him.”
“Is he coming here to see us?”
“He asked if he might.”
“He’s always nice. I don’t know that I shall ask him to do anything for
them, after all; I’m not sure that she’s worth it. I wish some commoner
person had happened along. Kendricks is too precious. I shall have to
think about it; and don’t you tease me, Basil, will you?”
“I don’t know. If I’m not allowed to have any voice in the matter, I’m
afraid I shall take it out in teasing. I don’t see why Miss Gage isn’t
quite as good as Kendricks. I believe she’s taller, and though he’s
pretty good-looking, I prefer her style of beauty. I dare say his family
is better, but I fancy she’s richer; and his family isn’t good beyond New
York city, and her money will go anywhere. It’s a pretty even thing.”
“Good gracious, Basil! you talk as if it were a question of marriage.”
“And you _think_ it is.”
“Now I see that you’re bent upon teasing, and we won’t talk any more,
please. What time did he say he would call?”
“If I mayn’t talk, I can’t tell.”
“You may talk that much.”
“Well, then, he didn’t say.”
“Basil,” said my wife, after a moment, “if you could be serious, I should
like very much to talk with you. I know that you’re excited by meeting
Mr. Kendricks, and I know what you thought the instant you saw him. But,
indeed, it won’t do, my dear. It’s more than we’ve any right to ask, and
I shall not ask it, and I shall not let you. She is a stiff, awkward
village person, and I don’t believe she’s amiable or intelligent; and to
let a graceful, refined, superior man like Mr. Kendricks throw away his
time upon her would be wicked, simply wicked. Let those people manage
for themselves from this out. Of course you mustn’t get them rooms at
the Grand Union now, for he’d be seeing us there with them, and feel
bound to pay her attention. You must try for them at the States, since
the matter’s been spoken of, or at Congress Hall. But there’s no hurry.
We must have time to think whether we shall use Mr. Kendricks with them.
I suppose it will do no harm to introduce him. If he stays we can’t very
well avoid it; and I confess I should like to see how she impresses him!
Of course we shall introduce him! But I insist I shall just do it merely
as one human being to another; and don’t you come in with any of your
romantic nonsense, Basil, about her social disappointment. Just how much
did you give the situation away?”
I told as well as I could remember. “Well, that’s nothing. He’ll never
think of it, and you mustn’t hint anything of the kind again.”