Part 11 (2/2)

”We have enjoyed everything very much!” she said with enthusiasm. ”If we may come another day for a glimpse of the old cemetery, we should now prefer to listen to the music.” She smiled, one hand extended. As the brother hesitated she drew a goldpiece from her glove. When Philip too responded with natural impulse, the brown monk moved away. He turned once to look back, then went on. They caught the gleam in his eyes.

After all, they had paid in full, were not intruders in the mission always open to a curious public.

CHAPTER XXIII

Philip and Isabel were in full time for luncheon. The wife noticed that her husband ate his toast and squab with appet.i.te. His cheeks were flushed from the canter back to the hotel, while during the half hour at table he appeared both happy and talkative.

”Shall you mind if I go off this afternoon for golf?” he asked, as they went from the dining-room.

Isabel's face expressed satisfaction. Her husband had hardly left her side since their arrival. She believed in casual separation. She knew instinctively that Philip must feel renewed interest in his own s.e.x, to be quite the man he had been before his trouble of months back.

”Go, by all means,” she encouraged, as they went from the elevator to their rooms. ”Golf must be your game; it will do you a world of good to follow the links.”

”And you won't miss me?”

”Not a bit,” she answered. ”Besides, I want to expect you back. I wish to feel the pang of parting, so that I may know how very, very lonely I used to be.” She spoke lightly, but he knew that in reality she did not jest. ”And the man--your opponent in golf?” she asked.

Philip stooped and kissed her. ”How do you know that I am not going to tread the turf with a fair lady?” he teased.

”I should be awfully jealous,” she confessed. He knew that she spoke the truth. It came over him at the time that men were few who might claim such love as Isabel's. In her starry eyes he read salvation, felt the depth of her womanly will. Inadequate power to repay his debt made him humble. He kissed her again, holding her close with adoring tenderness.

Then he told her that he was about to play golf with the great publisher whom he had recently met. The triumph on her lips amused him.

”Build no air-castles!” he begged. But she freed herself from his arms and danced like a child.

”What a chance!” she cried. ”You must make him your friend. I saw last evening that he was immensely interested in you, and now he may ask you to write for his magazine.” Isabel's estimate of her husband's genius, of his ability to rush into print in one of the foremost monthly publications in the country, was fresh proof of her blind pa.s.sion.

”Don't think such foolish things, dear little girl,” Philip commanded.

”The road to solicited ma.n.u.scripts is a long way off--as yet. I shall have to get my stuff back many, many times before I can count on an indulgent editor.” He spoke humbly, yet withal the eternal spark of hope had kindled for his literary career.

”Shall you tell him of your book--about 'The Spirit of the Cathedral'?”

Philip shook his head. ”That might frighten him. He would think that I had an ax to grind.”

”But you have sent your ma.n.u.script to another publis.h.i.+ng house,” she persisted.

”That is true,” he a.s.sented, ”but until I hear definitely, I do not care to talk of my forthcoming book. Besides, the man is here for rest and change. If I am able to make him my friend he may possibly tell me things. Above all, I must not bore him with my own uncertain achievements.” He laughed, tugging at his golf shoe. ”But you shall try your art on the man this evening; I have promised to present him.”

”I will do my best,” Isabel answered. ”And by reason of the dance to-night the bride may wear white satin. She is irresistible in la robe empire.”

Philip faced her. ”I see all my ma.n.u.scripts accepted at once,” he said jestingly.

”Of course. Now run along; do not keep our great man waiting. I shall rest for an hour, then write to madame and Reginald.”

”And you are really able for a ball, after the high steps of the mission tower?”

It was the first time that he had spoken of their morning's experience.

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