"It was his writing; and I showed it to Gustavo, and what do you think he
said?"
Constance shook her head.
"He said that Jerry had forgotten to register, that that was written by a
Hungarian nobleman who was here last week--imagine a Hungarian nobleman
named Abraham Lincoln!"
Constance dropped into one of the little iron chairs and bowed her head
on the back and laughed.
"Perhaps you can explain?" There was a touch of sharpness in Nannie's
tone.
"Don't ever ask me to explain anything Gustavo says; the man is not to be
believed under oath."
"But what's become of Jerry?"
"Oh, he'll turn up." Constance's tone was comforting. "Aunt Hazel," she
called. Miss Hazel and Mrs. Eustace, their heads together over the tea
table, were busily making up three months' dropped news. "Do you remember
the young man I told you about who popped into our garden last week?
That was Jerry Junior!"
"Then you've seen him?" said Nannie.
Constance related the episode of the broken wall--the sequel she omitted.
"I hadn't seen him for six years," she added apologetically, "and I
didn't recognize him. Of course if I'd dreamed--"
Nannie groaned.
"And I thought I'd planned it so beautifully!"
"Planned what?"
"I suppose I might as well tell you since it's come to nothing. We
hoped--that is, you see--I've been so worried for fear Jerry--" She took
a breath and began again. "You know, Constance, when it comes to getting
married, a man has no more sense than a two-year child. So I determined
to pick out a wife for Jerry, myself, one I would like to have for a
sister. I've done it three times and he simply wouldn't look at them; you
can't imagine how stubborn he is. But when I found we were coming to
Valedolmo, I said to myself, now this is my opportunity; I will have him
marry Connie Wilder."
"You might have asked my permission."
"Oh, well, Jerry's a dear; next to Harry you couldn't find anyone nicer.
But I knew the only way was not to let him suspect. I thought you see
that you were still staying at the hotel; I didn't know you'd taken a
villa, so I planned for him to come to meet us three days before we
really expected to get here. I thought in the meantime, being stranded
together in a little hotel you'd surely get acquainted--Jerry's very
resourceful that way--and with all this beautiful Italian scenery about,
and nothing to do--"
"I see!" Constance's tone was somewhat dry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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