Page:The woman, the man, and the monster (IA womanmanmonster00dawe).pdf/189

 in the busy street, and summer was in their hearts.

At luncheon that day George brought Ver- mont a telegram, which upon reading he hand- ed across to Andromeda without a word. Her brows slightly contracted as she read, but she was smiling as she looked across at him.

“No answer,” he said to the attendant Gany- medes, who immediately slouched off.

“So he’s coming down to-day?”

“So it appears.”

“What a pity!”

The message was from Smales, informing them that he would arrive that evening.

“T never knew a manufacturer so prompt,” protested Perseus.

“Or a man so punctilious. I have a ghastly idea that his coming will spoil everything.”

“But, my dear girl, how can it?”

“T don’t know; but I feel I hate him already.”

He laughed. “Poor Ixion! I assure you he is quite harmless. But if you like I'll wire him and tell him not to come.”

“Tt might be too latenow. Besides, mightn’t that make you look a little ridiculous?”