V
AT THE MEETING-POINT
Brockway made his way unrecognized through the train, and found theFalstaffian cook awaiting him in the kitchen of the Naught-fifty. Fiveminutes later, he was hard at work on the disabled stove, quite recklessof soot and grime, and intent only upon making a workmanlike job of therepairs. The narrow compartment was none too well ventilated, and he wassoon working in an atmosphere rivalling that of the hot-room in aTurkish bath. Wherefore he wrought arduously, and in due time the leakyjoint was made whole.
After turning the water on and satisfying himself of the fact, Brockwaycrawled out from behind the range and got upon his feet with a sigh ofrelief. Just then the portway into the waiter's pantry filled with faceslike the arch of a proscenium-box in a theatre. Brockway wheeled quicklyat the sound of voices and saw the President, one young woman witheye-glasses and another without, a clean-faced young man with uncuthair, and--Miss Vennor.
"Ha!" said the President, with the King George Fourth smile and hiscoldest stare; "we caught you fairly in the midst of it, didn't we, Mr.Brockway? Do you still assert that we shall dine at our own table thisevening?"
The effect of Mr. Vennor's dramatic little surprise was varied and notaltogether as he had prefigured. As for the person most deeplyconcerned, no one was ever less ashamed of a craftsman's insignia thanwas Brockway; but when he saw that the President had permitted him to doa service for the sole purpose of making him appear ridiculous, hisheart was hot in just proportion to the magnitude of the affront.
As for Gertrude, she could have wept with pity and indignation. This wasthe "young mechanic" her father had found and used, only to make him alaughing-stock! The light of a sudden purpose flashed in the steady grayeyes, and she spoke quickly, before Brockway could reply to her father'sgibe.
"Why, Mr. Brockway! where did you come from? It really seems that youare fated to be our good angel. Have you actually got it repaired?" Thewinsome face disappeared from the portway, and before Brockway couldopen his lips she was standing beside him. "Show me what was the matterwith it," she said.
He obeyed, with proper verbal circumstance, gaining a littleself-possession with every added phrase. Gertrude led him on, laughingand chatting and dragging the others into the rescue until Brockwayquite forgot that he was supposed to be a laughing-stock for gods andmen.
"I'm very glad to meet you, I'm sure," he said, bowing gravely to theMisses Beaswicke, when Gertrude had actually gone the length ofintroducing him; "Mr. Fleetwell, I've heard of you--and that's probablymore than you can say of me. Mr. Vennor, I think you may safely countupon having your dinner in the Naught-fifty."
"Yes, thanks to you," said Gertrude, quickly. "Have you--will your otherengagements let you join us?"
Brockway was of four different minds in as many seconds. Here was achance to defeat Mr. Vennor at his own game; and love added its word.But he could not consent to break unwelcome bread, and was about toexcuse himself when the President, in answer to an imperative signalflying in Gertrude's eyes, seconded the invitation.
"Yes, come in and join us, Mr. Brockway; we shall be glad to have you,I'm sure." The stony stare which accompanied the words was anything buthospitable, but the President felt that he had done his whole duty andsomething over and above.
Brockway hesitated a moment, glanced at Gertrude, and accepted. Then hebegan to gather up the tools. Gertrude caught up her skirts and steppedinto the vestibule to give him room.
"You'll not disappoint us, will you?" she said, by way of leave-taking."You may come as early as you please. I want you to meet CousinJeannette."
The portway proscenium-box was empty by this time, and Brockway droppedhis tools and spoke his mind.
"Miss Vennor, I know, and you know, that I ought not to come at all. Itwas awfully good of you to ask me, but----"
"But what?" she said, encouragingly.
"I think you must understand what I want to say and can't," he went on."You saw that I was like to be overtaken by a fit of very foolishself-consciousness, and you were kind enough to come to my rescue. Iappreciate it, but I don't want to take undue advantage of it."
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," she laughed. "We shall look foryou between six and seven. And you'll come, because I'm going to runaway now, before you have a chance to retract. Good-by--till thisevening."