A Likely Story Part 6

Miss Greenway: "What nonsense! Of course I can--if you're not too long about it."

Welling: "Well, then, the letter in that envelope was one I wrote to Mrs. Campbell--or the copy of one."

Miss Greenway: "The copy?"

Welling: "But let me explain. You see, when I got your note asking me to be sure and come to Mrs. Curwen's--"

Miss Greenway: "Yes?"

Welling: "--I had just received an invitation from Mrs. Campbell for her garden-party, and I sat down and wrote to you, and concluded I'd step over and tell her why I couldn't come, and with that in mind I addressed your letter--the one I'd written you--to her."

Miss Greenway: "With my name inside?"

Welling: "No; I merely called you 'darling'; and when Mrs. Campbell opened it she saw it couldn't be for her, and she took it into her head it must be for Miss Rice."

Miss Greenway: "For Margaret? What an idea! But why did she put your envelope on it?"

Welling: "She made a copy, for the joke of it; and then, in her hurry, she enclosed that in my envelope, and kept the original and the envelope she'd addressed to Miss Rice, and--and that's all."

Miss Greenway: "What a perfectly delightful muddle! And how shall we get out of it with Margaret?"

Welling: "With Margaret? I don't care for her. It's you that I want to get out of it with. And you do believe me--you do forgive me, Nelly?"

Miss Greenway: "For what?"

Welling: "For--for--I don't know what for. But I thought you'd be so vexed."

Miss Greenway: "I shouldn't have liked you to send a letter addressed darling to Mrs. Curwen; but Mrs. Campbell is different."

Welling: "Oh, how archangelically sensible! How divine of you to take it in just the right way!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: MR. WELLING EXPLAINS.]

Miss Greenway: "Why, of course! How stupid I should be to take such a thing in the wrong way!"

Welling: "And I'm so glad now I didn't try to lie to you about it."

Miss Greenway: "It wouldn't have been of any use. You couldn't have carried off anything of that sort. The truth is bad enough for _you_ to carry off. Promise me that you will always leave the other thing to _me_."

Welling: "I will, darling; I will, indeed."

Miss Greenway: "And now we must tell Margaret, of course."

X

_MISS RICE; then MR. and MRS. CAMPBELL, and the OTHERS_

Miss Rice, rus.h.i.+ng in upon them, and clasping Miss Greenway in a fond embrace: "You needn't. Mrs. Campbell has told me; and oh, Nelly, I'm so happy for you! And isn't it all the greatest mix?"

Campbell, rus.h.i.+ng in, and wringing Welling's hand: "You needn't tell me, either; I've been listening, and I've heard every word. I congratulate you, my dear boy! I'd no idea she'd let you up so easily.

You'll allow yourself it isn't a very likely story."

Welling: "I know it. But--"

Miss Rice: "That's the very reason no one could have made it up."

Miss Greenway: "_He_ couldn't have made up even a likely story."

Campbell: "Congratulate you again, Welling. Do you suppose she can keep so always?"

Mrs. Campbell, rus.h.i.+ng in with extended hands: "Don't answer the wretch, Mr. Welling. Of course she can with _you_. Dansons!" She gives a hand to Miss Greenway and Welling each; the others join them, and as they circle round the table she sings,

_"Sur le pont d'Avignon,_ _Tout le monde y danse en rond."_

THE END