Part 62 (1/2)
There was a pause.
”He took Millicent to Michael?”
”He took her into the desert; they met.”
”And because we have had no word from Michael, no explanation, you are ready to condemn him?” Meg's words were loyal, while her heart was torn with jealousy.
”Meg,” said Freddy gently, ”will you go home to England?”
”No.” The word came sharply, abruptly.
”You promised, old girl.”
”I never promised to accept the words of a dragoman against my own knowledge of Michael, against my conscience. I have another promise to keep, my promise of absolute trust.”
”The dragoman can have no object in lying, and added to his report, there is the fact that if Michael had not dallied for some reason or another, he would have reached the hills long before this. He has allowed the Government to antic.i.p.ate him.”
”Freddy, I believe in G.o.d, and He has told me that Michael is as true to me as I am to him.”
”Poor old girl!” Freddy said tenderly. ”You're such a loyal old thing.”
But Meg rounded on him; she was a truer Lampton than she ever suspected. ”Oh, don't 'poor' me, Freddy! I can't bear it. It sounds as if I were half an imbecile, or as if Michael was a villain! I've got my wits all right--and Egypt has given me super-wits. It has shown me things beyond. If there is such a thing as conscience, then I should be sinning against mine if I doubted my lover for one instant.”
”But didn't you say that the Lampton pride would not be wanting when you really discovered that Mike had taken Millicent with him?”
”And it won't be wanting, if either Mike or Millicent tell me with their own lips that they have been together on this journey. I'll start off home by the next boat.”
”Oh, do be reasonable, Meg! You won't see either of them. If this thing has happened, they'll keep out of the way. That's why they are keeping silence.”
”You are asking me to accept circ.u.mstantial evidence of what I call the lowest order--dragomans' gossip. Well, I simply say I won't do it.”
”What about the time he has taken to reach the hills?”
”I don't pretend to understand. Mike will explain when he gets a chance. I only know that he wouldn't believe a word of the story if he heard that I had been away with six good-looking men who admired me.”
Freddy gave a mirthless laugh. ”There is safety in numbers, Meg. If he had the evidence you have, I wonder what he'd feel?”
”Just what I feel. I have seen Hada.s.sah Ireton. Her husband will help me. He knew Mike; they planned this journey together.”
”I wish you'd leave things alone. I asked you to.”
”I can't. Michael may be ill.”
”It doesn't sound like it. Bad news travels quickly.”
”Look here, Freddy,” Margaret said, ”you haven't the slightest idea of what it feels like to be in love. When you do, you will understand.
What a lot you have still to learn! You won't believe any old lie that comes along about the girl you have vowed to trust and whom you believe in as you believe in your G.o.d. As lovers we Lamptons don't deal in half measures.”
”Then are you going to remain in Cairo indefinitely, waiting and waiting for Michael to come back to you, when he is away fooling with another woman?”
”Don't kill me, Freddy! I can't stand much more.” A sob burst from Meg's lips. ”All that's best in me trusts in Michael and all that is bad doubts and distrusts. It's the bad that is killing me. Do you understand? For pity's sake, if you care for me, don't add to the evil, don't give it the upper hand. Freddy, I need you, I need some trust to add to mine!”