"Oh, I can"t do that," I said. "I couldn"t bear to feel that he might prefer to take the train with her."
Lillian came to my side, gripped my shoulder hard, and looked into my eyes grimly.
"See here," she said, "are you going to be a baby or a woman in this thing?"
I swallowed hard. I knew she was right.
"I"ll do whatever you wish," I responded meekly.
So I called d.i.c.ky on the telephone, and after explaining my unexpected presence in town, arranged to meet him at the station and go home with him.
"Sounds as if we were going to dine with Friend Husband," said Lillian, as I hung up the receiver.
"Yes, we are going home by trolley from Jamaica. It ought to be a beautiful trip. d.i.c.ky must have been thinking of such a trip before, for he told me there was a train to Jamaica at five minutes of four which connects with the trolley, and he usually gets mixed on the schedule of the trains from Marvin."
"What"s that?" Lillian stopped short, then turned the subject. "How would you like to go down to the station on top of a bus?" she asked, "or would you prefer a taxi?"
"The bus by all means," I returned.
"I see we are kindred souls," she said. "I dote on a bus ride myself."
We were within a few blocks of the railroad station when she said:
"I hope I am mistaken, but I think Miss Draper will be a member of your trolley trip home, and I want you to be prepared to act as if it were the thing you most desired."
"If you are right, I will not go," I said, a cold fury at my heart. "I will take the next train home."
"You will do no such thing." Lillian"s voice was imperative. "You promised you would let me be your big sister in this thing, and you"ve got to let me run it my way!"
"See here, my dear," her tones were caressing now. "You must use the weapons of a woman of the world in this situation, not those of an unsophisticated girl. The primitive woman from the East Side would waltz in and destroy the beauty of any lady she found philandering, however innocently, with her spouse. The proud, sensitive, inexperienced woman would have done just what you have contemplated, go home alone and ignore the wanderers. But, my dear, you must do neither of those things. You cannot afford to play in Draper"s hand like that."
"Tell me what I must do," I said wearily.
"In a minute. First let me put you right on one question. d.i.c.ky is not in love with this girl yet. If he were, he would not wish any meeting between you and her. He is interested and attracted, of course, as any impressionable man with an eye for beauty would be if thrown in constant companionship with her. And, forgive me, but I am sure you have taken the wrong tack about it.
"You must dissemble, act a part, meet her feminine wiles with sharper weapons. Now you have been cold to her, avoided seeing her when possible, and while not quarreling with d.i.c.ky about her, yet evidencing your disapproval of her in many little ways."
"It is quite true," I answered miserably.
"Then turn over a new leaf right now. You may be sure at this minute that d.i.c.ky is worrying more over your att.i.tude toward this trip than he is over Miss Draper"s dimples. He expects you to have a grouch.
Give him a surprise. Greet the lady smilingly, express your pleasure at having her companionship on your trip, but manage to register delicately your surprise at her being one of the party. No, better leave that part to me. You do the pleasant greeting, I"ll put over the catty stuff. But on your honor, until I see you again, will you put down your feelings and cultivate Grace Draper, letting your att.i.tude change slowly, so d.i.c.ky will suspect nothing?"
"I"ll try," I said faintly.
"You"ll do it," she returned bluntly. "I want her to be almost a member of the family by the time I get there."
The trip by trolley with my husband and Grace Draper through the beautiful country lying between Jamaica and Hempstead will always remain in my memory as a turning point in my ideas of matrimony and its problems.
Lillian Underwood"s talk with me had destroyed all my previous conceptions of dignified wifely behavior in the face of a problem like mine.
So all during the journey home through the fragrant September air, I paid as much attention to my role of calm friendliness as any actress would to a first night appearance. Remembering Lillian"s advice to make the transition gradual from the frigid courtesy of my former meetings with Grace Draper to the friendly warmth we had planned for our campaign, I adopted the manner one would use to a casual but interesting acquaintance.
I kept the conversational ball rolling on almost every topic under the sun. But I found that the burden of the talk fell on my shoulders. The girl was plainly uneasy and puzzled at my manner. d.i.c.ky"s thoughts I could not fathom, I caught his eyes fixed on me once or twice with admiration and a touch of bewilderment in them, but he said very little.
It was a wonderful night; warm, with the languor of September, fragrant with the heavy odors of ripening fruit and the late autumn blossoms. There was no moon, but the long summer twilight had not yielded entirely to the darkness and the stars were especially bright.
A night for lovers, for vows given and returned, it was this, if ever a night was. What a wonderful journey this would have been for me if only this other woman was not on the other side of my husband! Then with savage resentment I realized that she might also be thinking what possibilities the evening would have held for her if I had not been a third on the little journey.
Whatever d.i.c.ky was thinking I dared not guess. Whatever it was, I was sure that his thoughts were not dangerously charged with emotion as were mine and Grace Draper"s. I was fiercely glad of his irresponsibility for the first time.
"Come on, girls. Here"s Crest Haven. I"ve got a brilliant idea. We"ll get one of these open flivvers they have at the station and motor to Marvin luxuriously. Beats waiting for the train all hollow."
I opened my lips to protest against the extravagance, then closed them without speaking, flushing hotly at the danger I had escaped. Nothing would have so embarra.s.sed d.i.c.ky and delighted Miss Draper as any display of financial prudence on my part.
"Oh, Mr. Graham, how wonderful!" Miss Draper gave the impression of finding her voice mislaid somewhere about her, and deciding suddenly to use it. "This is just the night for a motor ride."
Her voice matched the night, cooing, languorous, seductive. I knew if she had voiced her real thoughts she would have willed that I be dropped anywhere by the roadside, so that she might have the enchanting solitude of the ride with d.i.c.ky.
A daring thought flashed into my brain as we stepped into the taxi.
Why not pretend to play into her hand? It would prove to both d.i.c.ky and her that I was indifferent to their close friendship. And I was secretly anxious to see what way d.i.c.ky would reply to my proposition.
"Dear," I said with emotion, I fancy just the right note of conjugal tenderness in my voice. "Won"t you drop me at the house first before you take Miss Draper home? I"m afraid I am getting a headache. I"ve had a rather strenuous day with Lillian, you know, and I really am very tired. You will excuse me, I am sure, Miss Draper. I"ll try never to quit like this again. But my headaches are not to be trifled with."
"I am so sorry." Her voice was conventional, but I caught the under note of joy. "Of course I will excuse you."
"Are you sure the ride over there wouldn"t do your head good, Madge?"
"Oh, no, d.i.c.ky, I feel that I must get home quickly. But that does not need to affect your plans. Katie is at home. I do not need you in the least. Go right along and enjoy your ride. I only wish I felt like doing it, too."
I fairly held my breath the rest of the ride. d.i.c.ky had not replied to my suggestion. What would he do when we reached the house?
The taxi sped along over the smooth roads, turned up the driveway at the side of the house and halted before the steps of the veranda.
d.i.c.ky sprang out, gave his hand to me, and then turned to the driver.
"Take this lady to Marvin," he said. "She will tell you the street.
How much do I owe you?"
"One dollar and a half."
I knew the charge was excessive, but I also knew enough to hold my tongue about it. d.i.c.ky paid the man and spoke to the girl inside.
"Good night, Miss Draper. You see you will have to enjoy the ride for both of us."
"Oh, d.i.c.ky!" I protested, but with a fierce little thrill of triumph at my heart. "This is a shame. Honestly, I do not need you. Go on over with Miss Draper."
"Of course he will do no such thing." The girl spoke with finality. I could imagine the storm of jealous rage that was swaying her. "There is nothing else for Mr. Graham to do but to stay with you." Her tone added, "You have compelled him to do so against his will."