She had never
found him at a loss, and she desired, most unfairly, to see what he
would do with this impertinence.
"Why don't you, John?" inquired Philip inevitably.
Joy had been so sure John would get out of it with his usual
immovable poise that her own remarks hadn't occurred to her in the
light of provocation. But Dr. Hewitt evidently looked at it that
way, because what he said was quite terrifyingly simple:
"If you'll move a little, Philip."
Philip courteously shoved himself back on the floor from between
them, and for the second time in her life Joy found herself being
kissed by a man.
"I didn't mean that you really _had_ to start things right
away," she heard Philip, dimly, explaining in a tone of courteous
apology, "only when you wanted to, you know."
"It's all right, old fellow," John assured him kindly. "I didn't mind."
It was, indeed, quite a brotherly kiss, but even at that--and in the
resigned way John had explained it there was little room for a
girl's being excited--Joy felt a little dazed. But she didn't intend
to let John see it. She had rented him for the month, so to speak,
and, though it hadn't specially occurred to her, probably this sort
of thing was all in the month's work... It was as near as the
wishing ring could bring her to a real lover...
She raised her surprising eyes to him demurely.
"Thank you," she said with all apparent gratitude. "It was sweet of
you to do that for Philip.
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