V. V.'s Eyes eBook

Henry Sydnor Harrison
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 390 pages of information about V. V.'s Eyes.

V. V.'s Eyes eBook

Henry Sydnor Harrison
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 390 pages of information about V. V.'s Eyes.

He said, guardedly perhaps:  “To-night?—­let’s see....  Well, not that I think of just now.”

But Cally merely wanted to propose a table of bridge in the library, he and she against a third and fourth.  And papa’s changed expression said at once that that was a horse of another color.

“Well, that’d suit me....  Suit me first-rate.”

Their evening was so arranged.  She warned him gaily to be on his mettle; she would pick up two of the keenest players to be found.  Papa, with gathering zest, admitted that practice was what he needed, most particularly as to the bids.  Had a rubber at the club Saturday night, and Carmichael and those fellows took nine dollars from her old daddy....

“Let’s make it a standing engagement, papa—­one evening a week, the same table!...  Oh, I’d love to!...”

This, too, seemed remarkably suited to her father’s whim.  A decidedly amiable-looking gentleman he was, with his fresh coloring, spotless waistcoat and fine blond mustaches; a home-loving man, not much used to having parties given for him.

And Cally regarded him with eyes which held new depths of affection.  The last moment of the interview yesterday had brought an undreamed development, strangely endearing:  her father, in the nicest way, had invited Dr. Vivian to call on him at the Works this afternoon and see the plant for himself.  Part of this perfect consummation had been due, without doubt, to Vivian himself, a little, perhaps, to the direction she had artfully given the conversation; but she well knew that most of it had sprung spontaneously from the father-love which had never failed her yet....

“And, Cally, hunt up that book I saw kicking around here last year,” said Mr. Heth, when he rose.  “If we’re going to do it at all, we might as well take the thing seriously, and get the bids straight.”

“I’ll find it, papa.  We might read up a little before dinner.  I’m awfully rusty.”

And then her father stood by her chair, pinching her smooth cheek, looking down at her with an odd expression, half quizzical, half grave and speculative.  So she had found him looking at her last night, as she sought to explain to him how different Dr. Vivian was from the articles he wrote, and hated....

“So I’m to be on my company manners with this young man, eh?  Ask him won’t he please be kind enough to teach an old man how to run his business, that it?”

“I didn’t say that, papa dear....  I feel I haven’t thanked you half enough for being so sweet to me ... about it all.”

“Rather surprised at my sweetness myself....  Well,” said Mr. Heth, musing down at the apple of his eye.  “There must be something a good deal out of the common about a boy who could get you so worked up about a factory, I’ll say that....  And he certainly looks a whole lot better’n he writes.”

He quoted something about an old dog’s new tricks, kissed her with tenderness, said, “Well, if we come to blows, I’ll ’phone you for help,” and went off humming an air.

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Project Gutenberg
V. V.'s Eyes from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.