Part 79 (1/2)
”Hada.s.sah,” Margaret said breathlessly; her heart was beating with her news; she spoke rather loudly, ”I rang you up to tell you that I'm going to be married the day after tomorrow!”
Hada.s.sah heard Margaret sigh even through the telephone. It was a sigh of pent-up emotion, an expression of relief.
Margaret waited. She knew that she had taken Hada.s.sah so completely by surprise that she had no answer ready.
”Margaret!” she said at last, in amazement, ”who to?”
Margaret detected, or fancied she did, a little coldness in her question. There was certainly not the pleased ring of congratulation which she had expected in her words.
”Why, to Michael Amory, of course! Who else could it be?” Margaret's happy laugh crackled in Hada.s.sah's ears.
”Oh, my dear, I'm so glad! What a wonderful surprise! Is he in London? When did he turn up?”
”He has been to the Front--as a Tommy, but he's got his commission in the same regiment. I only met him to-day--he's just got back. I feel too bewildered to think; I scarcely know what I am saying.”
”Is this the first time that you've seen him since you parted in Egypt?” Hada.s.sah's voice expressed both amus.e.m.e.nt and eager curiosity.
”Yes, to speak to. We met in the train. Some months ago I saw him at a railway-station in the North. He was pa.s.sing through, and I was there, but we had no opportunity of speaking to each other.” In the same breathless voice she said, ”Freddy would approve. I know what you are thinking, but it's all right--he's as keen as Freddy about the war, and there never was anything wrong.”
”I'm so awfully glad. You know I never doubted him.”
”He arrived in England the day before war was declared by us. He tried to find me, but he couldn't, and so he just gave himself up to the war.
He lost himself in it--you know his way! He thought that Freddy and I would approve. He was always worthy of me, Hada.s.sah, but now I'm so proud of him. He would have joined up in any case, but he thought that in doing his bit he would atone for his weakness about Millicent. It was only his old method of letting things slide--he couldn't get rid of her, but he was absolutely loyal to me.”
”I understand,” Hada.s.sah said. ”But I admit that it was difficult for Freddy to look at it in that light.”
”It's so hard to explain over the 'phone,” Margaret said. ”And indeed, it isn't what he has told me so much--it's just what he makes me feel.”
”I know, dear. I feel it's all right--I always felt it was.”
”He has been absolutely true, Hada.s.sah. Freddy must know that now.
And you know, I can afford to marry.” Her voice lost its buoyancy.
”Yes, I know, dear. I saw your brother's will.”
”And you approve, Hada.s.sah? It seems a shame not to grasp this little bit of happiness.” She paused, for above her practical words came the a.s.surance of Michael's safety; the words of the message almost came to her lips.
”I quite approve. In these awful days, even a fortnight of happiness is a wonderful thing. Use your own judgment, Margaret--it's been unerring so far. Take this joy right to your heart.”
”Will you and your husband witness our marriage? I want to telegraph to Aunt Anna--may I say that I am being married from your house? We won't bother you--is it awful cheek asking you?”
”Why, my dear, of course you can come here to-morrow, as early as ever you like, and we'll go into all the details, and fix up everything quite nicely. With telephones and money and London at our backs, you will be astonished at what a nice little _dejeuner_ we shall have ready for you.” Hada.s.sah laughed. ”Money has its uses, my dear, in spite of all your Mike's oblivion of the fact.”
”Oh, you are too kind! Won't it be nice--a little _dejeuner a quatre_ in your rooms? Your husband is with you? I forgot to ask.”
”Yes, he's here. He'll stand by your Michael. Now, all you've got to do is to look after your own concerns--get your things together and send them here. I'll have them packed for you and do all the rest.”