Want any shoes cleaned?"
"No, thanks, Bobby dear. I have everything ready."
"From what the other fellows say about their sisters, I'm inclined to
believe that you're an ornament to your sex," remarked Bob. "When you
say five minutes, it really does mean not more than five and a half, as
a rule; other girls seem to mean three-quarters of an hour."
"I get all my things ready the night before when I'm going to meet you,"
said Cecilia. "Catch me losing any time on my one day out. You can come
back again--my coat's on the hanger there, Bobby." He put her into it
deftly, and she leaned back against him. "If you knew how good it is
to see you again--and you smell of clean fresh air and good tobacco and
Russia leather, and all sorts of nice things."
"Good gracious, I'll excite attention in the street!" grinned Bob. "I
didn't imagine I was a walking scent-factory!"
"Neither you are--but everything in this house smells of coal-smoke and
cabbage-water and general fustiness, and you're a nice change, that's
all," said Cecilia. They ran downstairs together light-heartedly, and
let themselves out into the street.
"Do we catch a train or a 'bus?"
"Oh, can't we walk?" Cecilia said. "I think if I walked hard I might
forget Mrs. Rainham."
"I'd hate you to remember her," Bob said. "Tell me what she has been
doing, anyhow, and then we won't think of her any more.
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