Isham Frederic Stewart - Nothing But the Truth стр 12.

And speaking about roof gardens, went on Mrs. Dan, looking any way save at Bob, I believe you were telling me, only this afternoon, how you and dear Dan were finally driven to them as a last resort. Poor Dan! So glad to hear he could get a breath of fresh air in that stuffy old town! Just hated to think of him confined to some stuffy old office. Men work too hard in our strenuous, bustling country, dont you think so? And then they break down prematurely. Ive always told Dan, she rattled on, to enjoy himself innocently, of course. She paused to take breath. Dont you think men work too hard in America, Mr. Bennett? she repeated.

Sometimes, said Bob.

She gave him a quick look. Perhaps she was proceeding rather fast, though Bob didnt look on his guard. As I told you, I adore roof gardens. But you were telling me you men were not alone. What harm! she gurgled. Some people, talking fast, are so prudish. Im sure were not put in the world to be that. Dont you agree?

Of course, said Bob absently. He didnt like the way that fellow down on the other side of the table was gazing into Miss Gwendolines eyes. I beg your pardon. I I dont think I caught that.

We were saying there were some wom ladies with you, said Mrs. Dan quickly. Too quickly! She strove to curb her precipitancy. You remember? You told me? Her voice trailed off, as if it were a matter of little interest.

Did I? Bob caught himself up with a jerk. He felt now as if he were a big fish being angled for, and gazed at her with sudden apprehension. The ladys, mien however, was reassuring.

Of course, she laughed. Dont you remember?

I believe I did say something of the kind. Slowly. He had had to.

Surely you dont deny now? she continued playfully.

No. He had not spared himself. He couldnt spare Dan. The ladys manner seemed to say: I dont care a little bit. Anyhow, the evening in question had passed innocently, if frivolously, enough. No harm would come to Dan in consequence. And again Bobs interest floated elsewhere.

He noticed Miss Gwendoline did not seem exactly averse to letting that fellow by her side gaze into her eyes. Confound the fellow! He had one of those open honest faces. A likable chap, too! One of the Olympian-game brand! A weight-putter, or hammer-thrower, or something of the kind. Bob could have heaved considerable of a sledge himself at that moment.

Of course, boys will be boys, prattled Mrs. Dan at his side, just in the least stridently. I suppose you sat down and they just happened along and sat down, too! You couldnt very well refuse to let them, could you? That wouldnt have been very polite? She hardly knew what she was saying herself now. Though a conversational general, on most occasions, her inward emotion was now running apace. It was almost beating her judgment in the race. She tried to pull herself together. Why, in Paris, doing the sights at the Jardin or the Moulin Rouge, or the Casino de Paris, every one takes it or them these chance acquaintances as a matter of course. Pour passer le temps! And why not? With a shrug and in her sprightliest manner. So the ladies in this instance, as you were saying, came right up, too, and ?

She paused. That was crude clumsy even though she rattled it off as if without thinking. She was losing all her finesse. But again, to her surprise, the fish took the bait. She did not know Bobs predicament that he couldnt finesse.

Yes, they came up, said Bob reluctantly, though pleased that Mrs. Dan appeared such a good kind of fellow.

Show-girls? asked the lady quickly.

Well ah!  two of them were.

Two? And what were the others?

Bob again regarded the lady apprehensively, but her expression was eminently reassuring. It went with the music, the bright flowers and the rest of the gay scene. Mrs. Dans smile was one of unadulterated enjoyment; she didnt seem displeased at all. Must be she wasnt displeased! Perhaps she was like some of those model French wives who arent averse at all to having other ladies attentive to their husbands? Mrs. Dan had lived in Paris and might have acquired with a real accent an accompanying broad-mindedness of character. That might be what made the dear old commodore act so happy most of the time, and so juvenile, too! Mrs. Dan looked broad-minded. She had a broad face and her figure was broad very! At the moment she seemed fairly to radiate broad-mindedness and again Bob felt glad on the commodores account. He had nothing to feel glad about, himself, with that confounded hammer-thrower

Who were the others, did you say? repeated Mrs. Dan, in her most broad-minded tone.

She seemed only talking to make conversation and looked away unconcernedly as she spoke. Lucky for Dan she was broad-minded that they had once been expatriates together! Even if she hadnt been, however, Bob would have had to tell the truth.

Who were the others? he repeated absently, one eye on Miss Gerald. Oh, they were ponies.

Ponies, said the lady giving a slight start and then recovering. I beg your pardon, but ah do you happen to be referring to the horse-show?

Not at all, answered Bob. The ponies I refer to, wearily, are not equine. These technical explanations were tiresome. At that moment he was more concerned with the hammer-thrower, who had evidently just hurled a witticism at Miss Gerald, for both were laughing. Would that Bob could have caught the silvery sound of her voice! Would he had been near enough! Across the table, the little dark thing threw him a few consolatory glances. He had almost forgotten about her. Miss Dollys temperamental eyes seemed to say Drink to me only with thine eyes, and Bob responded recklessly to the invitation. The little dark thing seemed the only one on earth who was good to him. He drank to her with his eyes without becoming intoxicated. Then she held a glass to her lips and gazed at him over it. He held one to his and did likewise. He should have become doubly intoxicated, but he didnt. He set down his glass mournfully. Miss Gerald noticed this sentimental little byplay, but what Bob did was, of course, of no moment to her.

Ponies, Mr. Bennett? And not equine? Mrs. Dan with difficulty succeeded in again riveting Bobs wandering attention. Ah, of course! Her accents rising frivolously. How stupid of me! Gaily. You mean the kind that do the dancing in the musical shows. And Mrs. Dan glanced a little furtively at her right.

But on that side the good bishop was still expounding earnestly to the lady he had brought in. He was not in the least interested in what Mrs. Dan and Bob were saying. He was too much concerned in what he was saying himself. At Bobs left sat the young lady who had been his partner at tennis in the afternoon but she, obviously, took absolutely no interest in Bob now. He had a vague recollection of having been forced to say something in her hearing, earlier in the day, that had sounded almost as bad as his tennis-playing had been. Truth, according to the philosophers, is beautiful. Only it doesnt seem to be! This young lady had turned as much of the back of a bare cold shoulder on Bob at the table as she could. In fact, she made it quite clear Mrs. Dan could have the young man entirely to herself. So Mrs. Dan and Bob were really as alone, for confidential conversational purposes, as if they had been secluded in some retired cozy-corner.

Two show-girls and two ponies! Mrs. Dan went on blithely. That made one apiece. With a laugh. Who got the ponies?