Eichelberger's, we had not been able to thank.
Now, of course, we stopped and told her of our gratitude. First my
companion told her of his. Then I told her of mine. Then we both told
her of our combined gratitude. And after each telling she assured us
sweetly that it was nothing--nothing at all.
All this made quite a little conversation. She hoped that we were
comfortable. We assured her that we were. Then, because it seemed so
pleasant to be talking, on a balmy, flower-scented evening, with a
pretty girl wearing a soft black dress and a corsage of narcissus, we
branched out, telling her of our successive disappointments as to meals
in the house up the street.
"Which house?" she asked.
We described it.
"That's where I live," said she.
And to think we had twice been late!
"_You_ live there?"
"Yes. It was my elder sister whom you saw." Then we all smiled, for we
had spoken of the chill which had accompanied the rebuff.
"Do you think your sister will let us come to-morrow for breakfast?"
ventured my companion.
"If you're there by eight."
"Because," he added, "breakfast is our last meal here."
"You're going away?"
"Yes. About noon."
"Oh," she said. And we hoped the way she said it meant that she was just
the least bit sorry we were going.
With that she started to move on again.
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