“We expect to return to New Haven to-morrow,” said Frank.
The stranger was silent now, having stepped back a little. He stood looking at Frank in a rather peculiar and penetrating manner.
“To-morrow?” repeated Inza, her embarrassment seeming to increase, as she looked from Frank and Dick to the strange man.
The latter shook his head slightly. With his eyes wide open for every move, Merry saw this, and knew it was a signal to Inza.
“Yes,” nodded Merry. “I called at your hotel in Brooklyn to see you, but found you were gone.”
“Yes, we—we left there after we supposed you had returned to New Haven. We’re stopping in New York for a few days.”
“Near here?” inquired Merry, with deferential politeness.
Again Inza looked toward the man in the background, and again Merry saw the stranger shake his head a trifle.
“We’re going to leave the city very soon,” Inza hurried on, as if anxious to say something, but finding herself quite at a loss for words. “I’m truly glad to see you both. Oh, Dick! what a horrid scowl you have on your face!”
“Why, you big boy! don’t you see it does not disturb Frank at all? I’m sorry I—I can’t invite you to call; but you—you are go—going away so soon—you know—of course——”
Usually Inza was quite self-possessed, but now she floundered badly.
“We might be able to stay longer, Miss Burrage, if——”
“Miss Burrage, indeed!” cried Inza resentfully. “Why do you call me that, Dick? Why are you so formal? You’re not a bit like yourself.”
“And I fancy you are not just like your usual self,” Dick returned.
“Why, of course—of course, I—I was flustered by that horrid affair. A street-fight! But it could not be helped, and the men had insulted me.”
“The scoundrels!” exclaimed Frank, rousing again at the thought of it. “They got off altogether too easily!”
The stranger had turned and walked away a short distance. Seeing this, Inza, who appeared more perplexed and distressed than ever, said:
“I must go! I’ll see you both at New Haven during the Easter holidays, for I expect to be there then.”
Starbright was glaring after the stranger, and did not seem to hear her words. Merry, however, was giving her the closest attention, and he quickly said:
“That’s right, Inza—do come. Everybody will be delighted to see ‘the Mascot of the Crew.’”