“Lucky it’s only Lawson….”
In the garden Miss Lawson walked with Mrs. Tanios and asked her questions about the children. Bella Tanios’ rather drab face lighted up. She forgot to watch Theresa. She talked eagerly and animatedly. Mary had said such a quaint thing on the boat….
She found Minnie Lawson a most sympathetic listener.
Presently a fair-haired young man with a solemn face and pince-nez was shown into the garden from the house. He looked rather embarrassed. Miss Arundell greeted him politely.
Theresa said:
; “Hullo, Rex!”
She slipped an arm through his. They wandered away.
Charles made a face. He slipped away to have a word with the gardener, an ally of his from old days.
When Miss Arundell reentered the house Charles was playing with Bob. The dog stood at the top of the stairs, his ball in his mouth, his tail gently wagging.
“Come on, old man,” said Charles.
Bob sank down on his haunches, nosed his ball slowly and slowly nearer the edge. As he finally bunted it over he sprang to his feet in great excitement. The ball bumped slowly down the stairs. Charles caught it and tossed it up to him. Bob caught it neatly in his mouth. The performance was repeated.
“Regular game of his,” said Charles.
Emily Arundell smiled.
“He’ll go on for hours,” she said.
She turned into the drawing room and Charles followed her. Bob gave a disappointed bark.
Glancing through the window Charles said:
“Look at Theresa and her young man. They are an odd couple!”
“You think Theresa is really serious over this?”
“Oh, she’s crazy about him!” said Charles with confidence. “Odd taste, but there it is. I think it must be the way he looks at her as though she were a scientific specimen and not a live woman. That’s rather a novelty for Theresa. Pity the fellow’s so poor. Theresa’s got expensive tastes.”
Miss Arundell said drily:
“I’ve no doubt she can change her way of living—if she wants to! And after all she has her own income.”
“Eh? Oh yes, yes, of course.” Charles shot an almost guilty look at her.
That evening, as the others were assembled in the drawing room waiting to go in to dinner, there was a scurry and a burst of profanity on the stairs. Charles entered with his face rather red.
“Sorry, Aunt Emily, am I late? That dog of yours nearly made me take the most frightful toss. He’d left that ball of his on the top of the stairs.”
“Careless little doggie,” cried Miss Lawson, bending down to Bob.
Bob looked at her contemptuously and turned his head away.
“I know,” said Miss Arundell. “It’s most dangerous. Minnie, fetch the ball and put it away.”
Miss Lawson hurried out.
Dr. Tanios monopolized the conversation at the dinner table most of the time. He told amusing stories of his life in Smyrna.