s and daffodils began to sprout from
the carpet and birds sang in the window frames. It was instantaneous and
it was terrific.

CHAPTER XXXIX

LOVE PLUS HIPPO

JUST as there are professional conversationalists and professional
sponges, Miss Potterman was a professional beauty. There was nothing
accidental or temporary about her. She was complete, perfect, and she
knew her loveliness. After five years' triumphant progress in society
she was accustomed to the petrifying effect of her sudden presence on a
beauty-worshipping sex. She did not walk as other mortals walk, but
floated in fragrantly and Skippy stood staring rock-still, as though
Hippo had flashed the head of Medusa. None of which by the way was lost
on the keenly observant Hippo.

"I beg pardon, I'm Skippy," he said shaking himself.

"Mr. Bedelle, isn't it?" said Miss Potterman in the tones that angels
are supposed to employ.

Skippy saw no one else. In another moment he was seated on the
window-seat entranced, dazed and blissfully content with his fate,
docile as the rabbit in the presence of the boa constrictor.

"I'm so glad Corny is in your house," said Miss Potterman with a smile
in the irresistible eyes. "You will watch over him, won't you, Mr.
Bedelle?"

"Will I? You bet I will!"

"You see he's my only brother and we didn't want him to go to boarding
school--not just yet. That is, mother and I. Dad insisted on it. I don't
think he's always, well--quite appreciated Cornelius."

"I understand," said Skippy, averting his look. Even in the intoxication
of her presence he could appreciate Dad.

"You see, Corny's different from other boys, Mr. Bedelle. He's more like
a grown-up person. He has a wonderful mind and such an unusual
personality. I don't want him to lose it all and be just like every
other boy. And some boys, I'm afraid, won't understand him just at
first. You will look after him, protect him, won't you?"

"I'd promise _you_ anything," said Skippy recklessly, which is the
privilege of sixteen in the presence of twenty-five.

Miss Potterman smiled without surprise and laid her hand gently a moment
on his arm in the deadliest of feminine gestures.

"Corny's told me how kind you have been already."

Skippy looked incredulous.

"Indeed he has. Really he's quite fond of you already."

"I say, Sis," said Nuisance at this moment, "hasn't Skippy got a
whang-dinger of a room?"

And he approached with the layer cake and the ecl