"All my life I've wanted to feel myself wheeling him, Phonzie. I used to dream myself doing it in the old place down on Twenty-third Street, when I used to sit at the sewing-table from eight until eight. Gee! I--honest, I just can't wait to see if the sun is shining to-morrow."
He kissed her again on the back of each finger, and she let her hand, pale and rather inert, rest on his hair.
"Gee! yes! The noon appointments came so thick I had to send Eddie out to bring me a bite."
"Everything smooth but the designing-room. Gert done her best, but they don't take hold without you, hon. They can't even get in their heads that gold charmeuse idea Gert and I swiped at the Ritz last night."
"Did you tell them I'll be back on the job next week, Phonzie?"
"Nothing doing. You're going to stay right here, snug in your rug, another two weeks."
"Rave on, hon, but I got the nurse engaged for Monday. How's the Van Norder wedding-dress coming?"
"Great! That box train you drew up will float down the aisle after her like a white cobweb. It's a knock-out."
"Say, won't I be glad to get back in harness!"
"And ain't you glad it's all over, Phonzie?"
"Four weeks old to-morrow, and Ida May was over to-day and says she never seen a kid so big for his age."
"He takes after my grandfather--he was six feet two without shoes."
"You ought to seen him to-day laying next to me, Phonzie. He looked up and squinted, dear, for all the world like you."
A bell tinkled. In the frame of a double doorway a seventeen-year-old maid drew back the portières on brass rings that grated. In the room adjoining and beneath a lighted dome of colored glass a table lay spread, uncovered dishes exuding fragrant spirals of steam.
"Supper! Say, ain't it great to have you back at the table again, Mil?"
"Oh, I don't know, the way--the way you went hiking off last night to--to a ball."
"Aw, now, hon, 'ain't you got that out of your system yet? For a girlie with all your good sense, if you ain't the greatest little one to get a silly gix and work it to death."
"What was the use wasting that ten-dollar pair of tickets the guy from Carson City gave her, when we could use them and get some tips on some of the imports the women wore?"
"You know it don't hurt to get around and see what's being worn, hon. That's our business."