The horror of it--the pitiful vulgarity! My father, the University folks-- all the world would know that I had been made notorious by a--that I--oh, the tingling joy, the rapture--that I was the loveliest of women!
"Cadge! Oh, Cadge!"
I threw myself into her arms.
"Why, Helen, what's this? Can't stand for the headlines? Built in the office and I know they're rather--"
"They're quite" interrupted Kitty. "Of course the Princess wouldn't expect a first page scare. But cheer up, child; there's worse to come."
The girls were soothing me and fussing over me when Aunt Frank opened the door. At her surprised look I brushed away my tears of joy. I understood everything now--her uneasiness, the long telephonic conferences, my confinement to the house.
"Aunt," I managed to say, "here is Kitty come to condole with me and congratulate me; and this is my friend, Miss Bryant of the Star. You remember? She was here at the tea."
"A reporter!"
"Oh, I had to know! Don't worry. Cadge, dear, did nobody but you see me?"
"The fossils never have anything they can't clip," said Cadge in the tone of absorption that her work always commands. "I'm surprised myself at the Echo, though it did notice that a 'Miss Winslow' fainted in the Van Dam box. But haven't you had reporters here--regiments? Expected to find you ordering Gatlings for the siege."
"We're bombarded!" said Aunt. "With--er--"
"Rapid fire questions," suggested Ethel.
"--but the servants have their orders. Of course," Aunt added uneasily, "we're glad to see any friend of Nelly's."
"Oh, by the way, I'm interviewing you," Cadge announced; Star wants to follow up its beat. You haven't talked?"
"Why, no; but--do I have to be interviewed?"
Just at first the idea was a shock, I must confess.
"Do you have to be interviewed? Wish all interviewees were as meek. Why, of course, Helen, you'll want to make a statement. I 'phoned the Star photographer to meet me here, but he's failed to connect. However, Kitty can sketch--"
"Oh, Miss Bryant!" wailed Aunt. "An interview! How frightful! Can't you let her off?"
"Why, I don't exactly see how--though I might--" Cadge deliberated, studying Aunt's face rather than mine, "--might wait and see the red extras. I know how she feels, Mrs. Baker--they're always that way, at first--and I'm anxious to spare her, but--I can't let the Star be beaten. If I were you--"
She turned to me, hesitated a moment, then burst out impulsively:-"If I were you, I wouldn't say a word! Not--one--blessed--word! I'd pique curiosity. There! That is treason! Why, I'd give my eye teeth, 'most, for a nice signed statement. But I'll wait--that is, if you really, honest-Injun, prefer."