“We weren’t, really,” defended Paul. “We just came along. Our car went dry and we were walking back.”
“Then, we’ll forgive you,” Nancy managed to say. She was losing the natural self-consciousness which had at first been difficult to overcome. Coming from the home of her devoted mother and darling Ted into the confused surroundings of Rosa, this was easy to understand.
As she spoke Paul stepped up to her, and they started off in the direction of home. Rosa was ahead with Gar and she, it appeared, was not in agreement with him. He argued and she protested.
Instantly his remark about Nancy coming just in time to save Rosa from some mysterious danger, flitted back into Nancy’s mind. It had been said at their very first meeting, but as time wore on, many other things appeared to make it seem important, and, of course, it was connected with Orilla. Now, Nancy could scarcely keep track of what Paul was saying, because of the distraction ahead with Rosa and Gar.
“I tell you flatly I won’t!” Gar broke out once just as Rosa, smiling, grabbed his arm and turned the remark into a joke. But as he turned around facing Nancy and Paul, his expression flatly belied Rosa’s attempt.
“Did you hear about the fun we are going to have at Sunset?” Rosa asked Paul.
“Hear about the _fun_ you are _going_ to have?” he teased. “How could we?”
“Oh, you know what I mean,” pouted Rosa. “We are going to the dances.”
“So are we,” said Paul gallantly, “so I suppose that’s hearing about the fun we are _all_ going to have.”
“They have swell music,” put in Gar. “The best banjoist in Boston is with that outfit.”
“But really it isn’t Sunset that’s so attractive, but getting out,” explained Rosa. “You see, I’ve been rather tied to the apron string of Margot--”
“Lovely long string,” said Paul gaily, “judging from Gar’s accounts.”
“Has he been giving away my secrets?” asked Rosa, winking at Nancy and attempting to strike Gar.
“Better be careful,” cautioned Nancy, “or you’ll give them away yourself, Rosa. That’s the worst of having secrets; they’re so tricky.”
“Now we’re getting interesting,” remarked Paul. “Go ahead, Nancy. Give us your idea of--secrets.”
“Oh, she hasn’t any,” put in Rosa, rather flustered. “That is, she hasn’t any of my kind; she doesn’t have to.”