Part 43 (1/2)
”Not I!” and he smiled--”I'm very wide awake: I like your story, and I like _you_! Perhaps you'll come in again sometimes and have a chat with us?”
Reay glanced enquiringly at Mary, who had also risen from her chair, and was now lighting the lamp on the table.
”May I?” he asked hesitatingly.
”Why, of course!” And her eyes met his with hospitable frankness--”Come whenever you feel lonely!”
”I often do that!” he said.
”All the better!--then we shall often see you!”--she answered--”And you'll always be welcome!”
”Thank-you! I believe you mean it!”
Mary smiled.
”Why of course I do! I'm not a newspaper syndicate!”
”Nor a Mrs. Mushroom Ketchup!” put in Helmsley.
Angus threw back his head and gave one of his big joyous laughs.
”No! You're a long way off that!” he said--”Good-evening, David!”
And going up to the armchair where Helmsley sat he shook hands with him.
”Good-evening, Mr. Reay!” rejoined Helmsley, cheerily; ”I'm very glad we met this afternoon!”
”So am I!” declared Angus, with energy--”I don't feel quite so much of a solitary bear as I did. I'm in a better temper altogether with the world in general!”
”That's right!” said Mary--”Whatever happens to you it's never the fault of the world, remember!--it's only the trying little ways of the people in it!”
She held out her hand in farewell, and he pressed it gently. Then he threw on his cap, and she opened her cottage door for him to pa.s.s out. A soft shower of rain blew full in their faces as they stood on the threshold.
”You'll get wet, I'm afraid!” said Mary.
”Oh, that's nothing!” And he b.u.t.toned his coat across his chest--”What's that lovely scent in the garden here, just close to the door?”
”It's the old sweetbriar bush,”--she replied--”It lasts in leaf till nearly Christmas and always smells so delicious. Shall I give you a bit of it?”
”It's too dark to find it now, surely!” said Angus.
”Oh, no! I can feel it!”
And stretching out her white hand into the raining darkness, she brought it back holding a delicate spray of odorous leaves.
”Isn't it sweet?” she said, as she gave it to him.
”It is indeed!” he placed the little sprig in his b.u.t.tonhole.
”Thank-you! Good-night!”
”Good-night!”