After all he and Nancy have not seen
each other wakingly for three months--and there is still her "grand news"
to tell, the grandness of which has seemed to grow more and more dubious
the longer she looked at Oliver. Now is the time for Mr. and Mrs. Ellicott
to disappear as casually and completely as clouds over the edge of the sky
and first of all, not to mention the fact that they are going. But Mrs.
Ellicott has far too much tact ever to be understanding.
She puts Mr. Ellicott's hat on for him and takes his arm as firmly as if
she were police, and he accepts the grasp with the meekness of an old
offender who is not quite sure what particular crime he is being arrested
for this time but has an uncomfortable knowledge that it may be any one of
a dozen.
"Now we old people are going to leave you, children alone for a little
while" she announces, fair to the last, her voice sweeter than ever.
"We know you have such a great many important _affairs_ to talk
over--particularly the _splendid_ offer that has just come to Nancy--my
little girl hasn't told you about it yet, has she, Oliver?'
"No, Mrs.
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