Part 38 (2/2)

”And you won't take the car with you?”

”No, I shan't play again for a time. I always had a theory that a man should know a business he conducts, not take some one else's word for it.

I'm going to put on my corduroys and live with that mine until it grows up. I don't even know how long that will be. In a way to-night is good-bye.”

The girl said nothing this time.

”I meant what I said, though, in regard to the car,” returned Roberts. ”I shall be disappointed if you don't use it a lot. I've always felt as though it sort of belonged to us together, we've had such a lot of pleasure out of it in common. They tell me at the garage that while I was away last time it wasn't out at all. Didn't Steve deliver my message?”

”Yes.”

”Won't you promise to do differently the rest of the season?”

Again the girl paused before she answered.

”No,” she said then. ”You understand why?”

”Not if I request otherwise?”

”Don't request it, please,” swiftly, ”as a favor. I repeat, you understand.”

”Understand, certainly, what you mean to imply.” The big hands on the man's knees drooped a little wearily. ”You don't trust me wholly, even yet, do you, Elice?” he added abruptly.

”Trust you! That's a bit cruel.”

The man s.h.i.+fted in his seat unconsciously.

”If it was I beg your pardon,” he said gently. ”I didn't intend it so. I suppose I'm wrong; but what others, mere observers, say seems to me so trivial. The gossip of people who'd knife you without compunction the instant your back was turned for their own gratification or gain--to let them judge and sentence--pardon me once more. I shan't mention the matter again.”

The girl looked steadily out into the night, almost as though its peace were hers. ”Yes,” she returned, ”you are wrong--but in a different way than you intimated. It isn't what others would say at all that prevents my accepting, but my own judgment of myself. You've done so many things for me; and I in return--I'm never able to do anything whatever. It's a matter of self-respect wholly. One can't accept, and accept, and accept always--in the certainty of remaining permanently in debt.”

The man looked at her oddly. Then he glanced away.

”No; I suppose not,” he acquiesced.

”If there were anything I could do for you in turn to make up even partially; but you're so big and independent and self-sufficient--”

”Self-sufficient!” Roberts caught the dominant word and dwelt on it meditatively. ”I suppose I am that way. It never occurred to me before.”

The big hands tightened suddenly, their weariness gone. ”But let's forget it,” he digressed energetically. ”This is the last time I'll see you for a long time, months at least; and a lot can happen in months sometimes.

The future is the Lord's, but the present is ours. Let's enjoy it while we may. What, by the way, are you going to do the remainder of the Summer?”

”Do?” The girl laughed shortly. ”What I'm doing now, I fancy, mostly.

Father will be away the first week in September. I promised Margery I'd stay with her during that time; otherwise--” A gesture completed the sentence.

<script>