Part 68 (1/2)

CHAPTER VIII

THE HEART OF A SAVAGE

It had certainly been a successful afternoon. Mrs. Errol smiled to herself as she drove back to Baronmead. Everything had gone well. Dear Anne had looked lovely, and she for one was thankful that she had discarded her widow's weeds. Had not her husband been virtually dead to her for nearly a year? Besides--here Mrs. Errol's thoughts merged into a smile again--dear Anne was young, not much more than a girl in years.

Doubtless she would marry again ere long.

At this point Mrs. Errol floated happily away upon a voyage of day-dreams that lasted till the car stopped. So engrossed was she that she did not move for a moment even then. Not until the door was opened from outside did she bestir herself. Then, still smiling, she prepared to descend.

But the next instant she checked herself with a violent start that nearly threw her backwards. The man at the step who stood waiting to a.s.sist her was no servant.

”My!” she gasped. ”Is it you, Nap, or your ghost?”

”It's me,” said Nap.

Very coolly he reached out a hand and helped her to descend. ”We have arrived at the same moment,” he said. ”I've just walked across the park.

How are you, alma mater?”

She did not answer him or make response of any sort to his greeting. She walked up the steps and into the house with leaden feet. The smile had died utterly from her face. She looked suddenly old.

He followed her with the utmost composure, and when she stopped proceeded to divest her of her furs with the deftness of movement habitual to him.

Abruptly she spoke, in her voice a ring of something that was almost ferocity. ”What have you come back for anyway?”

He raised his eyebrows slightly without replying.

But Mrs. Errol was not to be so silenced. Her hands fastened with determination upon the front of his coat. ”You face me, Napoleon Errol,”

she said. ”And answer me honestly. What have you come back for? Weren't there enough women on the other side to keep you amused?”

He shrugged his shoulders. ”Women in plenty--amus.e.m.e.nt none. Moreover, I didn't go to be amused. Where is Lucas?”

”Don't you go to Lucas till I've done with you,” said Mrs. Errol. ”You come right along to my room first.”

”What for?” He stood motionless, suffering her restraining hands, the beginning of a smile about his lips.

”There's something I've got to tell you,” she said.

”Lead the way then, alma mater!” he said. ”I am very much at your service.”

Mrs. Errol turned without further words, and he, with her sables flung across his shoulder, prepared to follow. She moved up the stairs as if she were very weary. The man behind her walked with the elasticity of a cat.

But there was no lack of resolution about her when in her own room she turned and faced him. There was rather something suggestive of a mother animal at bay.

”Nap,” she said, and her deep voice quivered, ”if there's any right feeling in you, if you are capable of a single spark of affection, of grat.i.tude, you'll turn around right now and go back to the place you came from.”

Nap deposited his burden on the back of a chair. His dark face was devoid of the faintest shadow of expression. ”That so?” he drawled. ”I thought you seemed mighty pleased to see me.”

”Lock that door!” said Mrs. Errol. ”Now come and sit here where you can see my face and know whether I am telling the truth.”

He smiled at that. ”I don't require ocular evidence, alma mater. I have always been able to read you with my eyes shut.”