people at other tables looked their way, and Philipa enjoyed their admiring glances.
They ate leisurely while Adam tried to work up the courage to tell Philipa about moving west. He listened to her talk about thewedding. Philipa said she hoped Adam’s sisters—whom she had never met—would be able to come; Adam assured her they would be there.
Conversation dwindled for a moment. Just as Adam opened his mouth to speak, Philipa said, “Darling, I can’t hold it in any longer.”
“Hold what in?”
There was a twinkle in her eyes. “I overheard my parents talking last night in the library when they thought I was up in my room. And guess what?”
“I … have no idea.”
“Mother and Daddy are planning to give us a new house for a wedding present!”
“You mean, build us one?”
“No, it’s already built. You remember the big white mansion on the corner, down from our house? With the three bird baths in the front yard?”
“Umm. Yes.”
“The people who own it are going to put it up for sale in about a month. Somehow Daddy found this out. He told Mother that he talked to Mr. Jensen—that’s the man who owns it—and Mr. Jensen is quite willing to negotiate. So Daddy’s going to go back and talk to him tomorrow. He’s certain he can strike a deal. The mansion is as good as ours. The Jensens are moving somewhere down south where hired help comes much cheaper than here. So when Daddy buys the house for us, it’ll come with a built-in maid, cook, butler, and caretaker. What do you think of that?”
Adam smiled weakly. “Well, I … I’m surprised. I really don’t expect your parents to give us a house. I would think that we should buy our own house.”
Philipa reached across the table and took his hand. “Darling, it would hurt Mother and Daddy’s feelings if we turned down their gift. This is their only opportunity to do something like this.”
“I don’t want to hurt their feelings, but …”
“But what?”
“But … well, there are a lot of things to consider when you getmarried and start a new home. You have to go a bit slow in making plans. I don’t think we should rush into anything.”
Suddenly Philipa’s attention was drawn to the front of the restaurant. “Oh, darling, it’s the Krantzes!” She waved to draw their attention.
Adam turned in his chair and saw a middle-aged couple smiling at Philipa. The man spoke to the host, and the couple began threading their way among the maze of tables.
Adam leaned toward Philipa. “Who are the Krantzes?”
“You’ve heard of the Atlantic Coast Construction Company, haven’t you? Well, Edgar and Doris are part of the Krantz family who owns the company. They live just two blocks east of us on Frankford Avenue.”
Adam nodded. “I’ve heard the Krantz name ever since I came to Philadelphia, but I didn’t realize they were connected with the big construction company.”
Edgar and Doris drew up to the table, and Adam stood to his feet. Philipa introduced him, and as Edgar shook Adam’s hand, he said, “I’ve been reading about you in the
Philadelphia Enquirer
, Adam. I commend you for a brilliant job of defense.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You know, I felt all along that Seth Coleman was innocent.”
“So did most people, sir,” Adam said with a smile.
Doris glanced at the host, who was waiting a bit impatiently, and said, “Edgar, Royce needs to get us seated.”
The Krantzes politely excused themselves, telling Philipa to give their regards to her parents.
Philipa watched them for a few seconds, then said to Adam, “Edgar and Doris do a lot of philanthropic work. They give to many hospitals and sanitariums, but their favorite charity is the Philadelphia Orphanage.”
“That’s commendable,” Adam said. “My heart always goes out to children who have to be brought up in an orphanage.”
He noticed Philipa looking toward the area where the Krantzes were being led by the host.
“The Krantzes are being
They ate leisurely while Adam tried to work up the courage to tell Philipa about moving west. He listened to her talk about thewedding. Philipa said she hoped Adam’s sisters—whom she had never met—would be able to come; Adam assured her they would be there.
Conversation dwindled for a moment. Just as Adam opened his mouth to speak, Philipa said, “Darling, I can’t hold it in any longer.”
“Hold what in?”
There was a twinkle in her eyes. “I overheard my parents talking last night in the library when they thought I was up in my room. And guess what?”
“I … have no idea.”
“Mother and Daddy are planning to give us a new house for a wedding present!”
“You mean, build us one?”
“No, it’s already built. You remember the big white mansion on the corner, down from our house? With the three bird baths in the front yard?”
“Umm. Yes.”
“The people who own it are going to put it up for sale in about a month. Somehow Daddy found this out. He told Mother that he talked to Mr. Jensen—that’s the man who owns it—and Mr. Jensen is quite willing to negotiate. So Daddy’s going to go back and talk to him tomorrow. He’s certain he can strike a deal. The mansion is as good as ours. The Jensens are moving somewhere down south where hired help comes much cheaper than here. So when Daddy buys the house for us, it’ll come with a built-in maid, cook, butler, and caretaker. What do you think of that?”
Adam smiled weakly. “Well, I … I’m surprised. I really don’t expect your parents to give us a house. I would think that we should buy our own house.”
Philipa reached across the table and took his hand. “Darling, it would hurt Mother and Daddy’s feelings if we turned down their gift. This is their only opportunity to do something like this.”
“I don’t want to hurt their feelings, but …”
“But what?”
“But … well, there are a lot of things to consider when you getmarried and start a new home. You have to go a bit slow in making plans. I don’t think we should rush into anything.”
Suddenly Philipa’s attention was drawn to the front of the restaurant. “Oh, darling, it’s the Krantzes!” She waved to draw their attention.
Adam turned in his chair and saw a middle-aged couple smiling at Philipa. The man spoke to the host, and the couple began threading their way among the maze of tables.
Adam leaned toward Philipa. “Who are the Krantzes?”
“You’ve heard of the Atlantic Coast Construction Company, haven’t you? Well, Edgar and Doris are part of the Krantz family who owns the company. They live just two blocks east of us on Frankford Avenue.”
Adam nodded. “I’ve heard the Krantz name ever since I came to Philadelphia, but I didn’t realize they were connected with the big construction company.”
Edgar and Doris drew up to the table, and Adam stood to his feet. Philipa introduced him, and as Edgar shook Adam’s hand, he said, “I’ve been reading about you in the
Philadelphia Enquirer
, Adam. I commend you for a brilliant job of defense.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You know, I felt all along that Seth Coleman was innocent.”
“So did most people, sir,” Adam said with a smile.
Doris glanced at the host, who was waiting a bit impatiently, and said, “Edgar, Royce needs to get us seated.”
The Krantzes politely excused themselves, telling Philipa to give their regards to her parents.
Philipa watched them for a few seconds, then said to Adam, “Edgar and Doris do a lot of philanthropic work. They give to many hospitals and sanitariums, but their favorite charity is the Philadelphia Orphanage.”
“That’s commendable,” Adam said. “My heart always goes out to children who have to be brought up in an orphanage.”
He noticed Philipa looking toward the area where the Krantzes were being led by the host.
“The Krantzes are being
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