"Hello!" said Peter, sitting on a corner of the desk. "I've been terribly busy with the Gerald theatricals, and that's why you haven't seen me. I promised Mary Gerald two months ago that I'd be in 'em, but by George! she's leaving the whole darn thing to me! How are you?"
So gay, so big, so infinitely dear! Susan's doubts melted like mist. She only wanted not to make him angry.
"I've been wondering where you were," she said mildly.
"And a little bit mad in spots?" queried Peter.
"Well---" Susan took firm grip of her courage. "After our little talk on Saturday," she reminded him, smilingly.
"Sure," said Peter. And after a moment, thoughtfully staring down at the desk, he added again rather heavily, "Sure."
"I told my aunt--I had to," said Susan then.
"Well, that's all right," Peter responded, after a perceptible pause. "Nobody else knows?"
"Oh, nobody!" Susan answered, her heart fluttering nervously at his tone, and her courage suddenly failing.
"And Auntie will keep mum, of course," he said thoughtfully. "It would be so deuced awkward, Susan," he began.
"Oh, I know it!" she said eagerly. It seemed so much, after the unhappy apprehensions of the few days past, to have him acknowledge the engagement, to have him only concerned that it should not be prematurely made known!
"Can't we have dinner together this evening, Sue? And go see that man at the Orpheum,--they say he's a wonder!"
"Why, yes, we could. Peter,---" Susan made a brave resolution. "Peter, couldn't you dine with us, at Auntie's, I mean?"
"Why, yes, I could," he said hesitatingly. But the moment had given Susan time to reconsider the impulsively given invitation. For a dozen reasons she did not want to take Peter home with her to-night. The single one that the girls and Auntie would be quite unable to conceal the fact that they knew of her engagement was enough. So when Peter said regretfully, "But I thought we'd have more fun alone! Telephone your aunt and ask her if we can't have a pious little dinner at the Palace, or at the Occidental--we'll not see anybody there!" Susan was only too glad to agree.
Auntie of course consented, a little lenience was permissible now.
"... But not supper afterwards, dear," said Auntie. "If Peter teases, tell him that he will have you to himself soon enough! And Sue," she added, with a hint of reproach in her voice, "remember that we expect to see Peter out here very soon. Of course it's not as if your mother was alive, dear, I know that! Still, even an old auntie has some claim!"