Part 65 (1/2)
”Give me a chance to tell a part of the story, Mr. Sherwood. Dexie has made me a happy man at last. You will not care to hear all the particulars just now, but she has promised to be my wife.”
”Is this really true, Dexie?” looking with loving eyes at his daughter.
Dexie raised her hand, saying softly:
”See, papa,” and the flas.h.i.+ng ring answered the question.
”Well, well; I can hardly believe it yet. Go and kiss him, Dexie, right before me, if it is really true; seeing is believing, you know.”
Guy looked at her smilingly, saying, as he held out his hands, ”Come, Dexie.”
Dexie put one hand in his, and laying the other across his shoulder bent over and kissed him; and she made no resistance when he put one arm around her and drew her down on his knee.
”Well, this is a pleasant surprise, I'm sure. You have made good use of the time, Traverse,” and Mr. Sherwood laughed softly. ”You have been rather a perverse young lady, Dexie, but you have fallen into good hands at last.
You must not leave me yet, dear child, for what should I do without my little nurse? But, bless my heart! there's three o'clock. You will not get into your hotel at this hour, Traverse, but I expect you would not sleep much if you did, so go back into the sitting-room, the both of you, and finish the night!”
”Thank you, Mr. Sherwood; your liberty adds much to the pleasure. I hope we have not tired you,” he added, as he rose from his seat.
”Not at all! Another drink, Dexie, and be off with you!”
”Don't tell on us, papa,” she whispered, as she prepared his drink. ”Jarvis is sure to sleep till I awaken her, and this is not likely to happen again,” laughing.
”Well, better make the most of it, then; so be off with your lover,” and he waved her away from his side.
”It was not so dreadful, after all, to come to my arms before your father, was it?” Guy asked, a few minutes later. ”I am sure it pleased him to see it, and it was good of him to allow me a little longer bliss.”
But time pa.s.sed swiftly, as it always does with happy lovers, and the grey dawn of early morning warned them that they must separate. As they stood by the window, watching the first rays of light in the east, Dexie said:
”I will have to send you away soon, Guy, or you will be discovered; but I am going to invite you to an early breakfast here with me before you go.”
”Never mind breakfast, dearest; I would rather have you here by my side until the last minute. I expect some machinery by the early train, so I think I will go down and see if it has arrived; that will give us forty minutes more together,” taking out his watch.
”Then a part of the time will be well spent in preparing you a slight refreshment--nothing elaborate, you know, or Eliza would pounce down on me at the first sound,” and she left him at the window, and hurried to the kitchen.
A few minutes later she appeared again, looking as fresh as the morning, with a white ruffled ap.r.o.n clasped round her waist and a dainty muslin cap perched on her head, from beneath which stray curls peeped bewitchingly out, and pa.s.sing her hand through Guy's arm, said laughingly:
”Will you mind coming to the kitchen, Guy? I am afraid someone will hear us if I take you anywhere else, and I don't want the rattle of dishes to betray us.”
”Well, this is enough to make any fellow selfish,” as he followed Dexie out to the kitchen, and closed the door softly behind him. ”You must be a fairy, to conjure such a dainty breakfast in this short time. No one will hear us here.”
The appetizing odor of coffee filled the air, and the most fastidious person could have found no fault with the dainty little table and its appointments, with plates laid for two.
”Now, you really must be quiet, Guy,” trying to escape from his arms. ”Just see how you have mussed my hair!”
”And you haven't mussed mine at all, I suppose! I say, Dexie, what if Gussie should catch us here?” ”Which, fortunately, is not likely; but what _would_ she say? The impropriety of our conduct would be shocking,” and a musical laugh sounded through the room.
”I should plead extenuating circ.u.mstances, dearest. One does not have the delightful experience of last night but once in a lifetime, and why should we not make the most of our pleasures? However, I can thank your father for this extended bliss.”
”The extended bliss of eating in the kitchen!” and she smiled mischievously, as she handed him a cup of coffee. ”Is this your first peep into my domain?”