ly that
Jack was right about Pat.

"We mustn't do anything serious to begin with," I said. "Let's see if we
can't think of something _silly_, like the mouse gnawing the net that
had caught the lion. Another lion trying to do that would only have
tangled up his teeth. Can you condescend to think of a thoroughly silly
and frivolous trick?"

"I've thought of one," said Peter, "without condescending at all. As you
say, we won't begin by tearing the net; we'll unravel it. What do you
think would have happened to you, Mrs. Winston, before you were married,
if you'd had to travel day after day in a motor car with a man you
already disliked?"

"I _know_ what would have happened. It did happen!" Jack and I tossed
each other a smile across the memory of Jimmy Payne. "I got to _loathe_
him. I see what's in your head--don't I?"

"You do. But one of us conspirators would have to be in the car to see
how things worked, and when they'd gone far enough."

"Of course!" I caught him up. "And that one would have to be you. I
must stick to my poor wounded man on our next trip, as on the last."

"Very well, let it be me," said Peter.

I don't think he wanted his eyes to meet mine at that moment, for he
hadn't time to push his soul back behind the glass doors and lock it in.
Somehow he couldn't help it, though; and I knew that he knew that _I_
knew what was in his heart for Patricia Moore. Whatever the wild streak
in his nature was, which had made him vow not to marry and settle down,
the flame of love had burst out with such terrific force the streak was
simply _melted_.

Truly, I hadn't begun this scene with the deliberate intention of being
a matchmaker. But I saw that if the man hadn't loved to _desperation_,
he would never have given in at all. Perhaps if this unpleasant tangle
hadn't arrived he might have taken himself out of Patsey Moore's life
without quite knowing what his had missed--until it was too late.

We went on developing our plan, with occasional suggestions from Jack;
and we thought we might as well try to kill another bird with the same
stone, by throwing it in the direction of Larry and Mrs. S.

Think what it will be for Larry to be engaged to Mrs. Shuster day after
day in a motor car, especially if there's a better looking and younger
woman on board!

You see how things are shaping themselves. I _hope_ it makes you look
forward a little, little bit, to my next letter, dear girl!

Your affectionate, anxiou