"I'm afraid I must interrupt your reading for a moment," she said
quietly. "There is something I want to say...."
He glanced up for the second time. There was surprise and some vexation
in the eyes behind his circular glasses, but no sign of any interest.
"Well?"
"When my aunt introduced you to me just now she did not--did not
identify me as she should--"
"Really, does it make any difference?"
"Yes, I think it does. You see, I am not only her niece, but her
business woman, her agent, as well. She isn't very good at business, but
still she has a good deal of it to be done. She runs this
boarding-place, and people of various kinds come to her and she takes
them into her house. Many of these people are entirely unknown to her.
In this way trouble sometimes arises. For instance people come now and
then who--how shall I put it?--are very reserved about making their
board-payments. My aunt hardly knows how to deal with them--"
He interrupted her with a gesture and a glance at his watch. "It always
seems to me an unnecessary waste of time not to be direct. You have
called to collect my arrearage for board?"
"Well, yes.
Pages:
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59