Page:The little blue devil (IA littlebluedevil00mackiala).pdf/211

game; he was not used to talking one thing and thinking another, his life had not required the talking as a rule; but he almost liked playing it and being extra polite.

Alison poured out the whole story to Winthrop at the earliest opportunity.

“Did you ever know such a muddle, Winthrop, and all so stupid and provoking? Just when I was so pleased at discovering that I was right after all—I always said Tony was Somebody—and I was hunting up convincing arguments to make him go back and take his own—and now, just see! he’s more determined against it than ever. And she’s just as determined, Winthrop, apparently, and indeed one can quite see her point of view. No girl with an ounce of pride could have gone on living there. But of course that poor dear boy will go half out of his mind if she doesn’t go back.”

“A couple of lunatics,” the Professor commented. “Not many of us would bother about being so Quixotic where a substantial income and Lord knows how many properties are concerned.”

“Now, Winthrop, it’s no use your pretending to be worldly-wise, for you know you aren’t in the least. But, darling, don’t you see what’s annoying me so intensely? Of course it struck me the moment Tony told me that Miss Learmonth was his cousin. (I’m not sure that I hadn’t thought of it before, for she’s really a sweet girl.) But anyway, Winthrop, what could be more suitable?—think of it! The right ages and everything—and there would be the title and the money and everything firmly fixed between them.”

“Kitten, you’re incorrigible.”

“Nonsense, Winthrop! You know you’d thought of it yourself. Anybody would. Anything more obvious and eminently suitable I never—And it’s not the faintest use my saying a word, for at the first hint from me Tony