第3章

"Well," hazarded Aunt Wess', "you girls can do just as you please.Only I wouldn't be bold.""Well, would it be bold if Page, or if--if I were to speak to him? We're going to meet him anyways in just a few minutes.""Better wait, hadn't you, Laura," said Aunt Wess', "and see.Maybe he'll come up and speak to us.""Oh, as if!" contradicted Laura."He don't know us,--just as Page says.And if he did, he wouldn't.He wouldn't think it polite.""Then I guess, girlie, it wouldn't be polite for you.""I think it would," she answered."I think it would be a woman's place.If he's a gentleman, he would feel that he just _couldn't_ speak first.I'm going to do it," she announced suddenly.

"Just as you think best, Laura," said her aunt.

But nevertheless Laura did not move, and another five minutes went by.

Page took advantage of the interval to tell Laura about Jadwin.He was very rich, but a bachelor, and had made his money in Chicago real estate.Some of his holdings in the business quarter of the city were enormous;Landry Court had told her about him.Jadwin, unlike Mr.Cressler, was not opposed to speculation.Though not a member of the Board of Trade, he nevertheless at very long intervals took part in a "deal" in wheat, or corn, or provisions.He believed that all corners were doomed to failure, however, and had predicted Helmick's collapse six months ago.He had influence, was well known to all Chicago people, what he said carried weight, financiers consulted him, promoters sought his friendship, his name on the board of directors of a company was an all-sufficing endorsement; in a word, a "strong" man.

"I can't understand," exclaimed Laura distrait, referring to the delay on the part of the Cresslers.

"This was the night, and this was the place, and it is long past the time.We could telephone to the house, you know," she said, struck with an idea, "and see if they've started, or what has happened.""I don't know--I don't know," murmured Mrs.Wessels vaguely.No one seemed ready to act upon Laura's suggestion, and again the minutes passed.

"I'm going," declared Laura again, looking at the other two, as if to demand what they had to say against the idea.

"I just couldn't," declared Page flatly.

"Well," continued Laura, "I'll wait just three minutes more, and then if the Cresslers are not here I will speak to him.It seems to me to be perfectly natural, and not at all bold."She waited three minutes, and the Cresslers still failing to appear, temporised yet further, for the twentieth time repeating:

"I don't see--I can't understand."

Then, abruptly drawing her cape about her, she crossed the vestibule and came up to Jadwin.

As she approached she saw him catch her eye.Then, as he appeared to understand that this young woman was about to speak to him, she noticed an expression of suspicion, almost of distrust, come into his face.No doubt he knew nothing of this other party who were to join the Cresslers in the vestibule.Why should this girl speak to him? Something had gone wrong, and the instinct of the man, no longer very young, to keep out of strange young women's troubles betrayed itself in the uneasy glance that he shot at her from under his heavy eyebrows.But the look faded as quickly as it had come.Laura guessed that he had decided that in such a place as this he need have no suspicions.He took the cigar from his mouth, and she, immensely relieved, realised that she had to do with a man who was a gentleman.Full of trepidation as she had been in crossing the vestibule, she was quite mistress of herself when the instant came for her to speak, and it was in a steady voice and without embarrassment that she said:

"I beg your pardon, but I believe this is Mr.Jadwin."He took off his hat, evidently a little nonplussed that she should know his name, and by now she was ready even to browbeat him a little should it be necessary.

"Yes, yes," he answered, now much more confused than she, "my name is Jadwin.""I believe," continued Laura steadily, "we were all to be in the same party to-night with the Cresslers.But they don't seem to come, and we--my sister and my aunt and I--don't know what to do."She saw that he was embarrassed, convinced, and the knowledge that she controlled the little situation, that she could command him, restored her all her equanimity.

"My name is Miss Dearborn," she continued."I believe you know my sister Page."By some trick of manner she managed to convey to him the impression that if he did not know her sister Page, that if for one instant he should deem her to be bold, he would offer a mortal affront.She had not yet forgiven him that stare of suspicion when first their eyes had met; he should pay her for that yet.

"Miss Page,--your sister,--Miss Page Dearborn?

Certainly I know her," he answered."And you have been waiting, too? What a pity!" And he permitted himself the awkwardness of adding: "I did not know that you were to be of our party.""No," returned Laura upon the instant, "I did not know you were to be one of us to-night--until Page told me."She accented the pronouns a little, but it was enough for him to know that he had been rebuked.How, he could not just say; and for what it was impossible for him at the moment to determine; and she could see that he began to experience a certain distress, was beating a retreat, was ceding place to her.Who was she, then, this tall and pretty young woman, with the serious, unsmiling face, who was so perfectly at ease, and who hustled him about and made him feel as though he were to blame for the Cresslers' non-appearance; as though it was his fault that she must wait in the draughty vestibule.She had a great air with her; how had he offended her? If he had introduced himself to her, had forced himself upon her, she could not be more lofty, more reserved.

"I thought perhaps you might telephone," she observed.

"They haven't a telephone, unfortunately," he answered.

"Oh!"

This was quite the last slight, the Cresslers had not a telephone! He was to blame for that, too, it seemed.