Part 37 (2/2)
”Go to it,” Lawrence said with a smile. ”I didn't mean to corrupt you.”
”You didn't. You simply make me angry. I'm sorry, but you do.”
”Yes? So am I. However, it won't last much longer, Philip.”
Both men smiled at the thoughts that came with those words.
”I think I shall go in,” Lawrence went on. ”I shall want sleep for the big start to-morrow.”
Philip looked hopefully at Claire. She rose with a sigh of weariness, pretending not to see him.
”So shall I,” she said. ”Good night, both of you.”
She was gone into the cabin, and Philip looked disappointed. He turned down the lake sh.o.r.e, dreaming of the end of his journey, rebelling at the necessity for Claire to listen to Lawrence's talk, and rejoicing at how different his life with her would be.
Inside the cabin, Lawrence closed the door and stepped into the room.
Claire stood waiting silently before him, and when he came to her, she threw her arms happily around his neck. He laughed and caught her up.
”So you lie in wait for me, do you?” he teased.
”Why not? I want to capture my man,” she said softly.
”You have him, dearest. And, by the way”--he sat down and drew her on to the arm of his chair--”permit me to extend you my sympathy for the suffering you must have experienced at the thought of living with Philip.”
She shuddered a little, and laughed.
”Such frankness as his home would permit!” she said. ”I'm afraid our hearth would not radiate warmth.”
”Nothing could warm such a home into anything like the real thing,”
Lawrence mused. ”It was my privilege when in college to stay for a time in a home where the people had really attained the ideal. It was the only home that ever made me envious.”
”I shall make you such a home, dear,” she whispered.
”No, we will have a mere cave, a lair,” he laughed.
She shook her long hair down over his face playfully.
”Will you be a savage old cave man?” she asked.
”I shall. As savage as they ever made them in the golden age,” he answered, and drew her down against him.
”I shall like that,” she said, her eyes full of a warm, dreamy light.
”You will be terribly abused by your beast husband,” Lawrence said gaily.
”I think sometimes, Lawrence, that I could enjoy being hurt by your hands--having them really cause me pain.”
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