There was a dentist’s sign, among others, which adorned the entrance, and after staring a moment at the pair of artificial jaws which slowly opened and shut to draw attention to a fine set of teeth, the young gentleman put on his coat, took his hat, and went down to post himself in the opposite doorway, saying with a smile and a shiver, “It’s like her to come alone, but if she has a bad time she’ll need someone to help her home.”
In ten minutes Jo came running downstairs with a very red face and the general appearance of a person who had just passed through a trying ordeal of some sort. When she saw the young gentleman she looked anything but pleased, and passed him with a nod. But he followed, asking with an air of sympathy, “Did you have a bad time?”
“Not very.”
“You got through quickly.”
“Yes, thank goodness!”
“Why did you go alone?”
“Didn’t want anyone to know.”
“You’re the oddest fellow I ever saw. How many did you have out?”
Jo looked at her friend as if she did not understand him, then began to laugh as if mightily amused at something.
“There are two which I want to have come out, but I must wait a week.”
“What are you laughing at? You are up to some mischief, Jo,” said Laurie, looking mystified.
“So are you. What were you doing, sir, up in that billiard saloon?”
“Begging your pardon, ma’am, it wasn’t a billiard saloon, but a gymnasium, and I was taking a lesson in fencing.”
“I’m glad of that.”
“why?”
“You can teach me, and then when we play HAMLET, you can be Laertes, and we’ll make a fine thing of the fencing scene.”
“Laurie burst out with a hearty boy’s laugh, which made several passers-by smile in spite of themselves.
“I’ll teach you whether we play HAMLET or not. It’s grand fun and will straighten you up capitally. But I don’t believe that was your only reason for saying `I’m glad’ in that decided way, was it now?”
“No, I was glad that you were not in the saloon, because I hope you never go to such places. Do you?”
“Not often.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.”
“It’s no harm, Jo. I have billiards at home, but it’s no fun unless you have good players, so, as I’m fond of it, I come sometimes and have a game with Ned Moffat or some of the other fellows.”
“Oh, dear, I’m so sorry, for you’ll get to liking it better and better, and will waste time and money, and grow like those dreadful boys. I did hope you’d stay respectable and be a satisfaction to your friends,” said Jo, shaking her head.
“Can’t a fellow take a little innocent amusement now and then without losing his respectability?” asked Laurie, looking nettled.
“That depends upon how and where he takes it. I don’t like Ned and his set, and wish you’d keep out of it. Mother won’t let us have him at our house, though he wants to come. And if you grow like him she won’t be willing to have us frolic together as we do now.”
“Won’t she?” asked Laurie anxiously.
“No, she can’t bear fashionable young men, and she’d shut us all up in bandboxes rather than have us associate with them.”
“Well, she needn’t get out her bandboxes yet. I’m not a fashionable party and don’t mean to be, but I do like harmless larks now and then, don’t you?”
“Yes, nobody minds them, so lark away, but don’t get wild, will you? Or there will be an end of all our good times.”
“I’ll be a double distilled saint.”
“I can’t bear saints. Just be a simple, honest, respectable boy, and we’ll never desert you. I don’t know what I should do if you acted like Mr. King’s son. He had plenty of money, but didn’t know how to spend it, and got tipsy and gambled, and ran away, and forged his father’s name, I believe, and was altogether horrid.”
“You think I’m likely to do the same? Much obliged.”
“No, I don’t — mdash; oh, dear, no! — mdash; but I hear people talking about money being such a temptation, and I sometimes wish you were poor. I shouldn’t worry then.”