I wondered if I were going to have heart-failure, and I
knew grandmother would say, "Digitalis!" When I thought of that I
laughed, and Lorraine called out, "Who's there?" She came to the long
window. "Why, Peggy, child," said she, "come in." She had me by the
hand and led me forward. They got up as I stepped in, Charles Edward
and Stillman Dane. Then I knew why I was glad. If Stillman Dane had
been here all these dreadful things would not have happened, because he
is a psychologist, and he would have understood everybody at once and
influenced them before they had time to do wrong.
"Jove!" said Charles Edward. "Don't you look handsome, Peg!"
"Goose!" said Lorraine, as if she wanted him to be still. "A good neat
girl is always handsome. There's an epigram for you. And Peggy's hair
is loose in three places. Let me fix it for you, child."
So we all laughed, and Lorraine pinned me up in a queer, tender way, as
if she were mother dress-me for something important, and we sat down,
and began to talk about college. I am afraid Stillman Dane and I did
most of the talking, for Lorraine and Charles Edward looked at each
other and smiled a little, in a fashion they have, as if they
understood each other, and Lorraine got up to show him the bag she had
bought that day for the steamer; and while she was holding it out to
him and asking him if it cost too much, she stopped short and called
out, sharply, "Who's there?" I laughed.
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