Eveley found her really very agreeable, quite pleasant to entertain. And after all Nolan had only done as she requested, and there was nothing personal in it. It was lots of fun, but it must stop before Miss Weldon had time to grow really fond of Nolan, for of course she could not have him under any circumstances. Eveley absolutely disbelieved in any form of duty, still she would not feel justified in carrying her animosity to the point of wilfully breaking innocent hearts.
At twelve-thirty the next day, Eveley and Miss Weldon entered the small waiting-room of Rudder's café. Nolan was already there. They waited fifteen minutes for Timothy, and then a messenger came down to them with a note. Mr. Baldwin was so sorry, but business was urgent, and they must go right ahead and have luncheon without him. He would telephone them later in the evening if he could come up.
Sally Weldon pursed her lips a little, but she smiled at Nolan. "Can you beau us both, Mr. Inglish? We think we are mighty lucky to have half a beau a piece on working days. Are you the only man in this whole town who does not work like a slave?"
So they found a pleasant table in the café, and dawdled long over their luncheon, laughing and chatting. Then they took Nolan back to his office, and Eveley and Sally went for a drive on the beach to La Jolla.
"But don't you have to work?" asked Sally, observing that it was long after two when they finally turned back toward the office.
"Oh, nobody works much but Mr. Baldwin," she said. "He does the grinding for the whole force."
Miss Weldon frowned a little, but said nothing.
That evening she had the dinner nicely started when Eveley reached home, and Eveley was loud in praise of her guest's skill and cleverness.
"It is just lovely, but you must not work. You are company."
"I rather like to cook. I took a long course in it four years ago when Timmy and I were first engaged, and I have done all the housekeeping at home since then. Daddy pays me double the salary we used to pay the cook, and I provide better meals and more cheaply than she did. Daddy says so himself."
"Why, Sally," cried Eveley warmly, "I think that is wonderful. I am surprised. I thought--I supposed--"
"Oh, I know what you thought," laughed Sally brightly. "Everybody thinks so, and it is true. I am very gay and frivolous. I love to dance and sing and play. And I abhor solemn ugly grimy things, and I think the only Christian duty in the world is being happy."