Miss Berry regarded her companion severely. "Then it’s blasphemous. That’s all I’ve got to say."
"Do you s’pose the Lord would have put New York a thousand miles away from Chicago if he’d expected ’em to talk to each other?"
Page laughed. "I never thought of that before as a reason for the antagonism between the two cities. Nonsense, Aunt Love; the world moves, and you must move with it. You shall speak to New York and be proud of yourself ever afterward. You know it is to be expected that science will do everything possible toward annihilating space."
Page ascended the steps toward a silk-curtained cabinet; a uniformed boy opened its glass door.
After remaining in the closet a minute and speaking a few sentences into the telephone, he beckoned to Miss Berry who had remained standing at the foot of the steps looking very apprehensive.
"Now, Aunt Love," he said encouragingly, as she slowly approached, a do-or-die expression on her face. Had Miss Berry been of the Romish church instead of being a "Con’regationalist in good and regular standing," she would assuredly have crossed herself before entering that tasteful little apartment.
Page smiled into his mustache as he placed the receiver in her hand, fervently wishing that he might hear both sides of the impending dialogue.
"Mr. Gorham," said Miss Berry, addressing him over her shoulder impressively, "think of the miles, the hours, I traveled; the rivers and lakes I crossed; the mountains I tunneled"—
"Yes, yes, Aunt Love; but don’t keep our New York friend waiting."
"I feel prickly, Gorham. I think I’m goin’ to faint."
"Oh no, you’re not. Just say Hello," returned Page cheerily, his eyes twinkling.
"Hello," quavered Miss Lovina, and promptly the answer came:—
_New York_. A gentleman just told me to expect you. I am happy to meet you, or to hear you, all the way from New York.
_New York_. Aren’t you a little unreasonable, madam? I’m a good way off already.
_Miss Berry_. How am I to be sure you ain’t in the next room, sir?
_New York_. Do you hear me so distinctly?
_Miss Berry_. It is the most wonderful thing in the world if you are real.
_New York_. Oh, I am real, I assure you, madam. I see you have been making trips to the Midway, and your confidence in human nature is shaken.