[119]

“I know,” Glen sighed appreciatively, “but we can’t spend any more money just now, Janice.”

“Who’s talking about your money? I want a finger in this pie! Yes, you can, too, let me do it,” she battered down remonstrance. “Gee, I guess this is the nearest I’ll ever get to fussing with a home. Grammer wouldn’t live in a house on a bet. Sweet, Daddy, but I get fed up on hotels!” She came back in an hour with the clock and the bisque figures and exulted over the air they gave the room, waving away their thanks. “It gives me a tenth interest in the joint, see? You’ve always got to let me come here, now!” She sat down suddenly and rather limply in Miss Ada’s prim rocker; her hands with their very pointed nails, glistening with liquid polish, hung slackly down beside her. “I’ll want to head in, sometimes, when I’m sick of everything....”

[120]“I’m sure you will always be more than welcome, my dear Miss Jennings.” Miss Tenafee was touched. “Glen and I will always be glad——”

[120]

But Janice was on her feet again, winking away the moisture which had dimmed her hard young gaze. “It has me buffaloed—that chair—the whole dump! I’ll bet I couldn’t smoke in here to save my neck!” She left on the following day, and Glen walked as far as the entrance to the Bella Vista’s grounds with her, after her farewell call. “I’ll write to you sometimes, Glen,” she said, with careful casualness. “Will you answer?”

“Of course, Janice. But—living here, as I do—I won’t have anything to tell you!”

“Any old time you won’t! Tell me when you get any new old junk for the house! Tell me about yourself! Tell me about the sheik!” She watched her narrowly. “Say, remember what I said, will you?”

“What was it?”

“You know, all right enough! I said—‘Ramble around a little and look ’em over, first!’ Listen, Glen, he’s easy to look at and all that but—well, give the rest of the world the once over!”

“It wouldn’t make any difference.” Glen lifted her chin.

“All right; then you’ll be all the surer. It was no compliment for Crusoe to pick Man Friday, get me?[121] Gee, I’d like to doll you up and take you ’round a little! I can think of a dozen good eggs I’d like to have you meet! I’d like— Oh, hot puppy!” Her bizarrely-colored little face broke into lines of pixie glee. “I’d like to have you meet Peter Piper 

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