Love in a Cloud: A Comedy in Filigree

THE MISCHIEF OF A FIANCÉ

The lady proved to be Alice Endicott. She came in without shyness or embarrassment, with her usual air of quiet refinement, and although she must have seen the surprise in Dick's face, she took no notice of it. Alice was one of those women so free from self-consciousness, so entirely without affectations, yet so rare in her simple dignity, that it was hard to conceive her as ever seeming to be out of place. She was so superior to surroundings that her environment did not matter.

"Good-morning, Mr. Fairfield," she said. "I should apologize for intruding. I hope I am not disturbing your work."

"Good-morning," he responded. "I am not at work just now. Sit down, please."

She took the chair he offered, and came at once to her errand.

"I came from Miss Calthorpe," she said.

"Miss Calthorpe?" he repeated.

"Yes. She thought she ought not to write to you again; and she asked me to come for her letters; those she wrote before she knew who you were."

"But why shouldn't she write to me for them?"

"You forget that she is engaged, Mr. Fairfield."

"I – Of course, I did forget for the minute; but even if she is, I don't see why so simple a thing as a note asking for her letters – "

Alice rose.

"I don't think that there is any need of my explaining," she said. "If I tell you that she didn't find it easy to write, will that be sufficient? Of course you will give me the letters."

"I must give them if she wishes it; but may I ask one question first? Doesn't she send for them because she's engaged?"

"Isn't that reason enough?"

"It is reason enough," Dick answered, smiling; "but it isn't a reason here. She isn't engaged any more. That is, she won't be by night."

Alice stared at him in astonishment.

"What do you mean?" she demanded.

"I mean that Jack never meant to marry her, and that he is going to release her from her engagement."

"How do you know that?"

"He told me himself."

They stood in silence a brief interval looking each other in the face. Fairfield was radiant, but Miss Endicott was very pale.

"I beg your pardon," she said presently. "Is Mr. Neligage in the house?"

"Yes; he's in his room."

"Will you call him, please?"

Fairfield hesitated a little, but went to call his chum.

"Miss Endicott wants to speak to you," he said abruptly.

"What does she want?"

"I haven't any idea."

"What have you been telling her?"

The necessity of answering this question Dick escaped by returning to the other room; and his friend followed.

"Jack," Alice cried, as soon as he appeared, "tell me this moment if it's true that you're not to marry May!"

He faced her stiff and formal in his politeness.

"Pardon me if I do not see that you have any right to ask me such a question."

"Why, I came to ask Mr. Fairfield for May's letters because she is engaged to you, and he told me – "

She broke off, her habitual self-control being evidently tried almost beyond its limit.

"I took the liberty, Jack," spoke up Fairfield, "of saying – "

"Don't apologize," Neligage said. "It is true, Miss Endicott, that circumstances have arisen which make it best for May to break the engagement. I shall be obliged to you, however, if you don't mention the matter to her until she brings it up."

Alice looked at him appealingly.

"But I thought – "

"We are none of us accountable for our thoughts, Miss Endicott, nor perhaps for a want of faith in our friends."

She moved toward him with a look of so much appeal that Dick discreetly turned his back under pretense of looking for something on his writing-table.

"At least," she said, her voice lower than usual, "you will let me apologize for the way in which I spoke to you the other morning."

"Oh, don't mention it," he returned carelessly. "You were quite justified."

He turned away with easy nonchalance, as if the matter were one in which he had no possible interest.

"At least," she begged, "you'll pardon me, and shake hands."

"Oh, certainly, if you like," answered he; "but it doesn't seem necessary."

Her manner changed in the twinkling of an eye. Indignation shone in her face and her head was carried more proudly.

"Then it isn't," she said. "Good-morning, Mr. Fairfield."

She went from the room as quickly as a shadow flits before sunlight. The two young men were so taken by surprise that by the time Dick reached the door to open it for his departing caller, it had already closed behind her. The friends stared a moment. Then Jack made a swift stride to the door; but when he flung it open the hall without was empty.