Would the elegant Mr. Derwent think she was quite mad if she endeavored
to lead him down one of these, and was there a chance of her
accomplishing the move without the observation of the two tabby-cats?
Yes, as a truthful biographer I must admit that this was the title
bestowed by Rosalie’s champion upon two complacent ladies since the
playing of the Riverside Geyser yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Derwent’s voice interrupted her swift thoughts.
“What have you been finding that is pretty? Is there anything here I
ought to get?”
Betsy repeated her vigorous nodding and addressed the saleswoman.
“Let me see that water-color of the canyon again, please.”
“A water-color, eh?” said Mr. Derwent; then as Betsy looked at him in
surprise, he smiled again.
“These capricious ears of mine like a racket,” he said. “The more the
orchestra and the clatter of voices and feet deafen you, the more they
make me hear. That’s pretty, that’s very pretty.”
The clerk had produced the picture, and Mr. Derwent gazed upon the
waterfall, the spray dashing up its golden cliffs; and Betsy gazed
eagerly at him. He could hear her. That was more exciting than the
prospect of seeing on the morrow this climax of beauty in the great
Park.
“We ought not to have looked at this until after we had visited the
canyon,” suggested Mr. Derwent. “Paint is cheap, and disappointments
are bitter.”
“The picture’s just beautiful, though,” said Betsy.
“And not a bit too bright,” declared the clerk. “There couldn’t any
picture do justice to it.”
“You like it, do you, Miss Foster? Did you buy one?”
“No, sir. I’ve got a postal of it, though, in this set of cards.”
“I will take this,” said Mr. Derwent to the clerk, passing her the
water-color.
While the picture was being put into its envelope, and the clerk was
making the change, Betsy’s wits were working fast. How, _how_ to make
the most of this golden opportunity! She shrank from the appearance of
begging even for the winning girl she had left behind her. It did not
help matters nor lessen her embarrassment to have her companion hand
her the envelope containing the water-color.
“With my compliments, Miss Foster,” he said with a bow.
“For me!” burst forth Betsy, flushing under her mingled emotions.
“A souvenir,” he returned. “It is really pretty.”
“Oh, it’s a gem, and I do thank you!” exclaimed Betsy. “Oh dear, how
can I now!” was her mental moan. “It’s exactly like sayin’ one good
turn deserves another. I hate to be those kind o’ folks that give ’em
an inch and they’ll take an ell.”
While she hesitated, fearing every moment that the prize would turn and
saunter back to his people, Mr. Derwent lingered.
“I have been very glad,” he said, regarding Betsy’s narrow, excited
face, “of your kindness to the little Miss Vincent.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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