"I've always heard that Californian men are chivalrous and kind."
"And these plans you draw for me are--are the sort of thing to make a woman feel glad there are men in the world willing to take so much trouble----"
"They're the sort of thing to make a man glad there are women--or better still, a woman--to work for," he amended, so good to look at in his enthusiasm, that Angela's eyes would not be banished to the _suède_ bag or to the flowers on the table--Nick's flowers.
"Don't say that word to-day," Nick begged. "Whatever you decide afterward, let me take you up to Rubidoux and on to Redlands? Make up your mind about the rest when you've seen Mr. Morehouse's letter."
"Very well," she said. "Just for to-day, the 'make-believe' shall come true."
Nick turned away his face lest it should betray him.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "Well, then, I reckon it's time I went to round up Billy. And we'll hit the breeze for Rubidoux and Redlands."
They saw the park and the millionaires' houses and the orange-packing, passing on the way picturesque little towns, with Indian and Mexican names, which charmed the eyes and ears of Angela. And always the air was sweet with scent of orange-blossoms, roses, and alfalfa, the life of the country. Once, at Redlands, Nick excused himself and jumped out of the car at a shop. He was gone three or four minutes; but when he came back he said nothing of any purchase.
It was only when he was bidding Mrs. May good night at her hotel door that, with a schoolboy air, he pulled a small package out of his pocket.
"Talking of typical Californian things," he said, trying to seem careless, "here's one. I thought, as it's only a little bouquet in a bottle--a few flowers distilled--you might accept it. But if you want to give it back, I'll take it like a lamb. It's--because you love California--I want you to have it. Don't open the paper till you get indoors. And you'll send me word whether you can go along farther in the country of make-believe?"
"Early enough for us to start, if--if the answer's yes?"
"That will do. And let it depend on your dreams. I'll trust my luck to them. Because dreams are in the country of make-believe; sometimes they are good--so good they make you want to go on and on. Besides, there'll be the Morehouse letter. I bank on that. But more on the dreams."