, Count," says I. "Hey, Cabby!" and I whistles up
a second taxi. "What's the number, ma'am?" I asks of Aunty. "Oh,
Perzazzer hotel. Get that, Mr. Shuffer? Here you are, Count, right in
here!"

"But is it that--er--the young ladies, you see," he protests. "I haf
bromise myself the bleasure to----"

"Yes, that'll be all right too," says I. "They'll do the followin',
though, about a block behind. In you go, now!" and I shoves him
alongside of Aunty, shuts the door, and gives the startin' signal.

Maybe it was a nervy thing, shuntin' the Count off like that, and
Marjorie seems sort of disappointed and dazed to find he ain't comin'
with us, but by the twinkle in Miss Vee's eyes I guessed I hadn't
overplayed my part. Anyway, we had a nice chatty ride on the way up,
with Marjorie doin' most of the chattin'. Looked like that was going to
be about as far as I'd figure too, for there wa'n't a chance of my
gettin' a word in edgewise; but when we fetched up in front of the
Ellins' house Miss Vee breaks in with delay orders.

"No, Marjorie," says she; "you first. Run in and see if it's all right;
and if there isn't a dinner party on, or a houseful of guests, I'll
come. No, I shall wait until you do."

Course, she didn't plan it that way; but it gives me about six minutes
that was all to the good.

"You didn't mind my sidetrackin' the Count, eh?" says I.

"It was lovely--and perfectly absurd!" says Vee. "You know he bores
Aunty to death, and Aunty bores him. He had planned on meeting
Marjorie's mother, too."

"Then I mussed things up, didn't I?" says I.

"I believe you did it purposely, you wretch!" says she, shakin' a finger
at me.

"Who wouldn't?" says I. "See what I get by it!"

"Silly!" says she. "I've a mind to rumple those red curls."

"Go on," says I, takin' my hat off. "They'd wiggle for joy."

"Then I'll do nothing of the kind," says she. "You haven't even said you
were glad to see me."

"I'm keepin' it a dead secret," says I. "What happened to Europe; was it
on the fritz?"

"Poky," says she. "And they found out I was no musical genius, after
all. Aunty's disgusted with me."

"She ought to take something for her taste," says I.

"Oh!" says she, tiltin' her head on one side. "Then you still approve of
me?"

"That's the only motto on my wall," says I, "only I put it stronger."

"Silly!" says she once more.

And then--well, I was watchin' the pink spread up her cheeks, and was
sort of gazin' into them