Part 119 (1/2)
She shuddered, and he drew the rug in closer about her.
”It's such a tiny house, Lucy; it would all go into this room.”
”This room,” said Lucy, ”is much too large.”
”There's only room for you and me in it.”
”All the better, so long as there's room for me.”
”And the walls are all lath and plaster. When Maddox is in another room I can hear him breathing.”
”And when I'm in another room I shall hear you breathing; and then I shall know you're alive when I'm afraid you're not. I'm glad the walls are all lath and plaster.”
”But it isn't a pretty house, Lucy.”
”It will be a pretty house when I'm in it,” said she, and was admitted to have had the best of the argument.
”Then, if you really don't mind, we shan't have to wait. Not a week, if you're ready to come to me.”
But Lucia's face was sad. ”Keith--darling--don't make plans till we know what Sir Wilfrid Spence says.”
”I shall, whatever he says. But I suppose I must consult him before I take you to Ala.s.sio.”
For still at his heart, under all its happiness, there lay that annihilating doubt; the doubt and the fear that had been sown there by Horace Jewdwine. He could see for himself that one of his terrors was baseless; but there remained that other more terrible possibility.
None of them had dared to put it into words; but it was implied, reiterated, in the name of Sir Wilfrid Spence. He had moreover a feeling that this happiness of his was too perfect, that it must be taken away from him.
He confided his trouble to Kitty that night, sitting up over the drawing-room fire. Lucia's doctor had come and gone.
”What did he say, Kitty?”
”He says there's no need for Sir Wilfrid Spence to see her at all. He is going to wire to him not to come.”
He gave a sigh of relief. Then his eyes clouded.
”No. He must come. I'd rather he came.”
”But why? He isn't a nerve specialist.”
He shuddered. ”I know. That's why I must have him. I can't trust these local men.”
”It will be horribly expensive, Keith. And it's throwing money away.
Dr. Robson said so.”
”That's my affair.”
”Oh well, as for that, it was all arranged for.”
”n.o.body has any right to arrange for it but me.”