Part 17 (2/2)

”Do you believe that, Philip?”

”I have found it to be quite true. I often dreamed of good company here in my wilderness and a charming woman about my cabin. It has happened.”

”But even that has its very strong drawbacks, hasn't it?”

”What, for example?” He looked at her, earnestly.

”Oh,” she hesitated, laughed, and said, ”the rapidly depleted food supply, your time for thought broken, and all the rest.”

”One sometimes finds a relief from thought very agreeable.”

She wanted to laugh at the force with which his words struck her. ”I'm sure that depends on the thought, as Lawrence would say,” she answered, smiling.

”It does. And there is nothing I would not give to escape from my present thoughts.” His voice was pitched low.

Her heart failed her, but she said bravely, ”Perhaps you need a confessor, Sir Philip.”

”I do, a gracious one, who can listen well.”

”Then a woman would never serve,” Claire laughed. ”She would want to talk, you know.”

Philip stopped, and looked at her. As far as he could see, she was calm, indifferent, the lady making talk.

”Perhaps,” he said, lightly. ”They have that reputation, I know.”

”Now, I”--she laughed--”I, also, need a confessor.”

”You?” His look searched her, incredulously. ”What in the name of all the saints have you to confess?”

”Oh! Many things. Misunderstandings, social follies, mistakes in character reading, mean thoughts, lots of things.”

”Absurd!” His tone was amused. ”Who of us is not a sinner in those things?”

”But suppose,” she ventured, hesitant--”suppose I had misjudged you?

Suppose I had suspected you of things you were not at all guilty of?”

”I should be sorry if you told me of them.”

It was impossible, she thought, to go on. He would indeed be sorry, and how foolish she had been! But what had he meant a moment before?

”Is your confession worse?” she asked.

”I think so. A man is so apt to be a mad fool,” he said, and lapsed into silence.

They walked some distance before either spoke. Then Claire laughed suddenly. ”Philip,” she said, ”we all three need a change of scene.”

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