He was sitting at his office desk when Molly the Merry once more came into his mind. An ejaculation escaped his lips, and he made a wry face. Then, in comparison, Jinnie, with all her sparkling youth, rose triumphant before him. He loved the child, for a child she still seemed to him. To tell her now of his affection might harm her work. He would wait! She was so young, so very young.
For a long time he sat thinking and dreaming of the future, and into the quiet of his office he brought, in brilliant vision, a radiant, raven-haired woman--his ideal--his Jinnie. Suddenly again he remembered his promise to Molly and slowly took down the telephone. Then deliberately he replaced it. It would be easier to explain the circumstances face to face with her, and no doubt entered his mind but that the woman would be satisfied and very glad that Jinnie was coming with her violin to play for them. Molly wouldn't mind postponing her trip for a few days.
Molly was reclining as usual in the hammock with a book in her hand when he ran up the steps.
"Molly," he began, going to her quickly, "I want to confess."
"Confess?" she repeated, sitting up.
"Yes, it's this way: When I went out this morning I felt sure I could arrange about to-morrow.... But what do you think?"
Miss Merriweather put down the book, stood up, her hand over her heart.
"I can't guess," she breathed.
"Well, I went to Grandoken's----"
"You could have sent a note," Molly cut in.
Theodore looked at her curiously.
"I could, but I didn't. I wanted Jinnie to understand----"
His voice vibrated deeply when he spoke that name, and the listener's love-laden ears caught the change immediately.
"Well?" she murmured in question.
"When I got there and saw her, I forgot about Saturday. Before I had a chance, she told me she wasn't going to the master's to-day. Then without another thought----"
"Well?" interviewed Molly with widening eyes.
"Pardon me, Molly," Theodore said tactlessly, "for forgetting you--you will, won't you? I asked her to play here to-morrow night."
Molly felt the structure of her whole world tumbling down about her ears. He had forgotten her for that girl, that jade in Paradise Road, the girl who stood between her and all her hopes. She took one step forward and forgot, her dignity, forgot everything but his stinging insult.
"How dared you?" she uttered hoarsely. Her voice grew thin as it raised to the point of a question.
"Dare!" echoed Theodore, his expression changing.
Molly went nearer him with angry, sparkling eyes.