Part 23 (1/2)
Having arrived at some conclusion concerning this unprecedented attack upon his privacy, d.i.c.k was disposed to be kind to his unexpected visitor. The fact that Preston Eustace was in town and Betty had not seen him shed an entirely new light on her recklessness. Like every other incident in Betty's history her love-affair had been very conspicuously featured.
”The interesting things about me just at present are--” he was just about to say ”six s.h.i.+rts of imported gingham” but he bethought himself that she would be certain to demand to see them, so he finished lamely with--”my game of golf, and my new dogs.”
”What kind of dogs?”
”Belgian police dogs.”
”Where do you keep them?”
”I haven't taken them over yet.”
”I heard that you had bought a place up in Westchester, but I asked Nancy, and she said she didn't know. I don't think Nancy appreciates you, d.i.c.k.”
”That so often happens.”
”I mean that seriously.”
”It's a serious matter--being appreciated. The only person who I ever thought really appreciated me was Billy's old aunt. Every time she saw me she used to say to me, 'You're such a clean-looking young man I can't take my eyes off you.'”
”You _are_ clean-looking, and awfully good-looking too.”
”Do you mind if I smoke, Betty?” d.i.c.k carefully disengaged his hand from her clinging fingers, and a look of something like intelligence pa.s.sed between them, before Betty turned her ingenuous child's stare on him again.
”Not if you'll give me a cigarette, too.”
d.i.c.k fumbled through his pockets.
”It's awfully stupid, but I haven't any about me,” he said, fingering what he knew that she knew to be the well filled case he always carried in his inner pocket. He did not approve of women smoking.
But ”Poor d.i.c.ky!” was all she said.
”Your fifteen minutes are up, Betty,” he said presently, taking out his watch.
”Well, I suppose I'll have to go then.”
d.i.c.k rose politely.
”You really don't care whether I go or stay, do you?” she sighed.
”I would rather have you go, Betty,” he said gravely.
Betty's eyes filled with sudden tears, that d.i.c.k to his surprise realized were genuine.
”I wanted you to want me to stay,” she said incoherently.
”I suppose you're just a miserable little thing that doesn't want to be alone,” he concluded. ”Come, I'll take you home.”
The telephone bell on the table beside him rang sharply.
”I'm just going out,” he said to Billy, on the wire. ”Betty is here with a fit of the blues. I'm going to take her home. Ride up with us, will you?”