Carmella Commands
Whereupon John almost jumped out of his chair. He became garrulous on the instant.
“What do you mean, Kate?” he demanded. “Helping your dad on his real estate?”
“Oh,” said Carmella demurely, “dad digs foundations for a living. But he plays real estate on the side.”
“But you said you helped him. How do you do it?”
“By talking English. Dad don’t talk a word—or maybe a word and a half—of English. I’m his interpreter.”
Margaret and John both paid their guest new attention. John was especially eager.
“You mean you talk business for your dad?” he asked.
“Sure!” said Carmella calmly. “Don’t you?” she added, realizing suddenly that the boy was admiring her.
“Dad thinks I’m dumb,” he said, keeping his eyes on his plate. “If he’d only let me—gee! I’ll bet I could help him slip that Union Trust crowd a wallop.”
Carmella saw him straighten up and look as she wanted her man to look, when she had one. Now that she had discovered that to be a chauffeur was not the chief aim of human ambition, she felt humble and searching,
“Sure you can help him, John, if he’ll let you,” she said sympathetically. Now for the first time she realized that she admired this boy of the other world.
[84]
