He is very much absorbed in an article on "Fishing for Tuna"
when Peter comes in.
"Well, Oliver, everything ready for you. Awfully sorry you have to rush in
this way--"
"Yes, nuisance all right, but it's my one best editor and that may mean
something real--terribly cheeky thing for me to do, Pete--bumming your car
like this--"
"Oh rats, you know you're welcome--and anyhow I'm lending it to you because
you'll have to bring it back, and that means you'll come back yourself--"
"Well look, Pete, _please_ make all the excuses you can for me to your
mother. And I'll run back here and change and then go over to the
Rackstraws', as soon as I can--Elinor told you about Ted?"
"Yes. Sounds sort of simple to me asking him back tonight for that beach
picnic tomorrow when he absolutely had to leave this morning--but I never
could keep all Elinor's social arrangements straight. Certainly hope he can
get off."
"So do I," says Oliver non-committally and then the door of Mr. Piper's
office opens and Mr. Piper comes out looking as well-brushed and courteous
as usual but with a face that seems as if it had been touched all over
lightly with a grey painful stain.
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