Part 26 (1/2)

And the way some girls roll their eyes is positively sickening. Let's go out and get a breath of air.”

XII

Two nights later Tiny had a large dinner. A place had been kept for Trennahan. He had expected to be sent in with Magdalena,--somewhat illogically, as no one suspected his engagement. He was sent in with Helena.

The long low dining-room of the old house on Rincon Hill had never been double-dated with gas fixtures. There was a large candelabra against the dark wainscot at each end of the room, and little cl.u.s.ters of flame on the table. The girls never looked so pretty, so guileless, never planted their arrows so surely, as in this room, in the soft radiance of its wax candles.

On Helena's other side sat Rollins, whom she honoured by regarding as a brother. On Trennahan's left Ila was intent upon the subjugation of a younger brother of Mr. Was.h.i.+ngton, who had recently returned to San Francisco after six years in Europe, and had knelt at her shrine at once. He was wealthy, and she had made up her mind to marry him.

Trennahan she had given up during the summer. Had she not, she would have known better than to pit her charms against Helena's. Magdalena was on the same side of the table.

Helena wore white, in which she looked her best; the silk softened with much lace on the bust. She raised her eyes defiantly to Trennahan's.

Their coquetry had been ordered to the rear.

”We've got to talk, or look like idiots,” she said. ”I had made up my mind never to speak to you again. I think you were quite too horrid the other night.”

”I certainly was.”

”Was it your fault or mine?”

”Wholly mine--despite your fascinations.”

”I wouldn't have been fascinating if I had known. I am glad you admit that it was all your fault. It makes me believe that it was. What made you keep it up for three hours?”

”The weakness of man.”

”Is that what you told 'Lena?”

”No; it is not.”

”What did you tell her--Oh, how horrid of me to ask! Let's talk about something else. Do you like California better than New York?”

”It will take exactly eight minutes to exhaust that subject; I am an old hand at it. So while I a.s.sure you that I do, and am giving my reasons, please cast about for a subject to follow.”

”My thinker is not good to-night. I expect you to take care of me.”

”What greater delight! You are paler than you were. Are you not well?”

Trennahan's voice became tender from long habit. The softness and fire sprang to Helena's eyes. The pink tide poured into her cheeks. A sudden intense light sprang into Trennahan's eyes. It held hers for the fraction of a moment, then both looked away; and ate their oysters.

It was Helena who spoke first. ”Another moment, and we should have been launched into the second chapter. But we are not to flirt; we understand that thoroughly. I don't think, on second thoughts, that I should like you at all. You have yourself too well in hand; you look as if you had been through it all too many times; there isn't a bit of freshness about you--Oh, bother, I hate lying! I'll tell you plainly and have done with it,--I should be in love with you by this time if it were not for 'Lena.

That's not the way of older climes, but it's mine: I've got to talk out or die. I've always said everything that occurred to me. Let's talk this out, and then we'll never talk for two minutes alone again. If you had not been in love with 'Lena, should you be in love with me by this time?”

He put his fork down abruptly and turned to her. She shrank a little. ”I think we had better let that subject alone. As a product of older climes, I am competent to judge.”

”I must know. I will know. Tell me.”