Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-03
CHAPTER Y
Nina Plays Chaperone

|
road outside, and raced downstairs as
was never kept locked) and walked into
the house.
81 thought you weren't coming"
said. "I've been ready ever SO long"
He shut the door behind him. He
looked a little worried, / thought.
my cousin is coming with u.s." he
said. 81 hope you don't mind; she
said she would like to come"
He waited, and / reused myself with
an effort to say:
"How jolly! OF course, don't mind.
Where is she? Won't she come in?"
''She said she would wait outside in
the trap. Shall we go, If you are
ready?"
Yes. I'll just get the sandwiches. "
! went into the kitchen.
"Mr. Anderson has brought his
cousin" l told Mrs Alberry. 80 I've
got a chaperon all right today"
thought he had gone out to the trap
again. or ] should never have said it,
and | flushed scarlet when | found
that he had followed me and was stand
ing in the kitchen doorway.
He flushed, too, as our eyes met,
and he bit his lip as If he were angry.
/ rushed past him and to the door,
but he caught me before | could open
It.
"What made you say that?" he de-
manded. Has Mrs. Alberry been tell
ing, you that you ought not to go out
with me?"'
she said that years ago young
ladies always had chaperon,' | an.
swercd. Not that / care what she
says" I added defiantly.
'DO Won ever care what onv ppn
thinks!" he asked eXaspcratedly.
mot often" | admitted.
| twisted free of the hand he had
laid on my arm and went out into the
road.
Nina Riley was pcrched up in the
front seat, which had hitheto always
been my place, and | was nasty
enough to be secretly pleased because
she looked cold and the tip of her nose
was red.
We shook hands, and ! said what a
lovely morning it was.
"It's, very cold," she said, and
shiverCd.
I scrambled up into the back seat
of the trap, and Mr.. Anderson brought
a rug and wrapped it round me.
His face looked grim, and he made
comical little grimace of chagrin when
our eyes met.
'We're not going to enjoy ourselves
a bit" l thought, as we started away
and | was right.
! think three is always an impos-
sibe number, because no matter how
hard the other two may try to prevent
it, one is always bound to feel out of
things, and today, to my modification.
| was once again the one unwantcd.
Nina could not skate at all we'll
not nearly so well as | Could-in spite
Of the fact that she had been learning
for years and l had only tried for the
first time a week ago
She was very nervous. too, and would
not let Mr.. Anderson leave her for
moment.
I don't know if he really enjoyed
helping her. He didn't look particu-
larly happy anyway, and I got so tired |
OF waiting for them, and so cold stand
ing about that at last l went off on my |
own account.
"Don't so far" Mr.. Anderson called |
after me. "And keep away from the
left bank-it's more sheltered there,
and is thawng n little"
IF | fall in, / shall expect YOU to
pull me out" I answered tartly.
Nina had spoiled cvcrything Yester-
day Mr.. Anderson and | had such
lovely time together; it was wonder
full how much more easily I could get
along when he held my hands, and
he had promised that today he would
show me how to cut n figure.
here were not many people on the
ice besides ourselves, only a few boys
from the village, and before had
gone far | found myself almost alone.
! stopped, balancing myself unSteadily
on my skates, and looked back. Mr..
Anderson and Nina were a long way
off. and a sudden depressed sense Gf
stole over me.
He need not have stayed with his
cousin unless he had wished to, |
thought, and Mrs. Albcrry'S words came
back to me fraught with new sig
nifrancc.
Were they really going to be mar
nrcttior than | could ever hope to be,
md feeling of jealousy touched me
Is | went slowly on again.
Was ! H"vrr TO have II friend all to
myself? ! had grown to look upon Mr..
anderson as my own special property
Turing the last week.
lie had hardly ever spoken of his
cousin, and | had told him II great deal
about my home and my people, and he
lad seemed very much Interested. |
wished now | had been less commune
Ntivr. | mad" up my mind that to-
morrow | would refuse to go out with
lim at all, and that if he called at the
arm ! would not SEQ him.
felt tircd The sun was shining MS
rightly and warmly as it had done yes
ordaY, but everything seemed TO have
hanged in some unNcCountabIe man
cr, and | made up my mind that /
would take off my skates and walk
ome across the fields without going
ack to the others at ALL 49,
ForgetfuI of Mr.. AndcrSons warning .
had turned toward the left bank !
'hcn | heard some one shouting.
| looked round over my shoulder and
aw Mr.. Anderson flying along toward
lC-HlOnc now
Hot Indignation rose in my heart.
lr could have come before il he had
cnlly wished to be with me, told my
"II. | was not going to wait for him,
nd | struck out more rapidly for the
ank.
lie shouted again, and suddenly I re.
rendered his warning.