Page:The Mystery of Central Park.djvu/62

56 said loftily, as a woman always does when she feels she is being worsted. "You can't make me think anything will excuse a man for being brutal and unkind."

Richard had his own opinion on the subject, but he was wise enough to refrain from trying to make Penelope have a similar one.

"I am going away," she said, presently, finding that Dick was not averse to dropping the discussion. "Auntie has accepted an invitation to go to Washington for a few days to visit Mrs. Senator, and I am to go along. I rather dread it, but auntie says they won't know as much about the Park mystery there, and I won't be worried with reporters."

"I hope not," replied Dick, beginning already to feel the ghastly emptiness which pervaded the city for him when Penelope was not in it. As long as he knew Penelope was in the city, even if he did not see her, he had a certain happiness of nearness, but when she was away