第44章

And,Maggie darlin',it was a wonderful volcano,that ones that last one,for it worked both ways.It paid up for what I haven't done this past year and what I'll never do again in the years to come.It made up to me for all I've missed and all I'm going to miss.It was a reward of demerit for not being respectable,and a preventive of further sins.Oh,it was such a volcano as never was.It was a drink and a blue ribbon in one.It was a bang-up end and a bully beginning.It was--It was Tausig coming in as I was going out.Suddenly I realized that,but I was in such a mad whirl of excitement that I almost ran over the little fellow before I could stop myself.

"Phew!What a whirlwind you are!"he cried."Where are you going?""Oh,good morning,Mr.Tausig,"I said sweetly."I never dreamed you'd be down so early in the morning.""What're you doing with the paper?"he demanded suspiciously.

My eye followed his.I could have beaten Nancy Olden in that minute for not having sense enough to hide that precious agreement,instead of carrying it rolled up in her hand.

"Just taking it home to go over it,"I said carelessly,trying to pass him.

But he barred my way.

"Where's Mason?"he asked.

"Poor Mason!"I said."He's--he's asleep."

"Drunk again?"

I nodded.How to get away!

"That settles his hash.Out he goes to-day .It seems to me you're in a deuce of a hurry,"he added,as I tried to get out again."Come in;I want to talk something over with you.""Not this morning,"I said saucily.I wanted to cry."I've got an engagement to lunch,and I want to go over this stuff for Mason before one.""Hm!An engagement.Who with,now?"

My chin shot up in the air.He laughed,that cold,noiseless little laugh of his.

"But suppose I want you to come to lunch with me?""Oh,thank you,Mr.Tausig.But how could I break my engagement with--""With Braun?"

"How did you guess it?"I laughed."There's no keeping anything from you."He was immensely satisfied with his little self."I know him--that old rascal,"he said slowly."I say,Olden,just do break that engagement with Braun.""I oughtn't--really."

"But do--eh?Finish your work here and we'll go off together,us two,at twelve-thirty,and leave him cooling his heels here when he comes."He rubbed his hands gleefully.

"But I'm not dressed."

"You'll do for me."

"But not for me.Listen:let me hurry home now and I'll throw Braun over and be back here to meet you at twelve-thirty."He pursed up his thin little lips and shook his head.But Islipped past him in that minute and got out into the street.

"At twelve-thirty,"I called back as I hurried off.

I got around the corner in a jiffy.Oh,I could hardly walk,Mag!

I wanted to fly and dance and skip.I wanted to kick up my heels as the children were doing in the Square,while the organ ground out,Ain't It a Shame?I actually did a step or two with them,to their delight,and the first thing I knew I felt a bit of a hand in mine like a cool pink snowflake and--Oh,a baby,Mag!A girl-baby more than a year old and less than two years young;too little to talk;too big not to walk;facing the world with a winning smile and jabbering things in her soft little lingo,knowing that every woman she meets will understand.

I did,all right.She was saying to me as she kicked out her soft,heelless little boot:

"Nancy Olden,I choose you.Nancy Olden,I love you.Nancy Olden,I dare you not to love me.Nancy Olden,I defy you not to laugh back at me!"Where in the world she dropped from,heaven knows.The organ-grinder picked up the shafts of his wagon and trundled it away.The piccaninnies melted like magic.But that gay little flirt,about a year and a half old,just held on to my finger and gabbled--poetry.

I didn't realize just then that she was a lost,strayed or stolen.I expected every moment some nurse or conceited mamma to appear and drag her away from me.And I looked down at her--oh,she was just a little bunch of soft stuff;her face was a giggling dimple,framed in a big round hat-halo,that had fallen from her chicken-blond head;and her white dress,with the blue ribbons at the shoulders,was just a little bit dirty.I like 'em a little bit dirty.Why?Perhaps because I can imagine having a little coquette of my own a bit dirty like that,and can't just see Nance Olden with a spick-and-span clean baby,all feathers and lace,like a bored little grown-up.

"You're a mouse,"I gurgled down at her."You're a sweetheart.

You're a--"