Philip caught her in his arms and stooped for his mother's kiss.
"Be good to Elnora!" he whispered.
"Umhu!" assented Polly. And aloud--"Look at that ripping green and gold
symphony! I never saw such a beauty! Thomas Asquith Levering, you come
straight here and take my hand!"
Edith's move to compel Philip to approach Elnora beside her had been
easy to see; also its failure. Henderson stepped into Philip's place as
he turned to his sister. Instead of taking Polly's hand Levering ran to
open the gate. Edith passed through first, but Polly darted in front of
her on the run, with Phil holding her arm, and swept up to Elnora. Polly
looked for the ring and saw it. That settled matters with her.
"You lovely, lovely, darling girl!" she cried, throwing her arms
around Elnora and kissing her. With her lips close Elnora's ear, Polly
whispered, "Sister! Dear, dear sister!"
Elnora drew back, staring at Polly in confused amazement. She was a
beautiful girl, her eyes were sparkling and dancing, and as she turned
to make way for the others, she kept one of Elnora's hands in hers.
Polly would have dropped dead in that instant if Edith Carr could have
killed with a look, for not until then did she realize that Polly would
even many a slight, and that it had been a great mistake to bring her.
Edith bowed low, muttered something and touched Elnora's fingers. Tom
took his cue from Polly.
"I always follow a good example," he said, and before any one could
divine his intention he kissed Elnora as he gripped her hand and cried:
"Mighty glad to meet you! Like to meet you a dozen times a day, you
know!"
Elnora laughed and her heart pumped smoothly.
Pages:
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387