Part 20 (2/2)
”That seems to be the ambition of all the young men, at any rate.”
Jealousy? But the smile baffled her. ”Will you be here long?”
”It depends.”
”Upon Nora?” persistently.
”The weather.”
”You are hopeless.”
”No; on the contrary, I am the most optimistic man in the world.”
She looked into this reply very carefully. If he had hopes of winning Nora Harrigan, optimistic he certainly must be. Perhaps it was not optimism.
Rather might it not be a purpose made of steel, bendable but not breakable, reinforced by a knowledge of conditions which she would have given worlds to learn?
”Is she not beautiful?”
”I am not a poet.”
”Wait a moment,” her eyes widening. ”I believe you know who did commit that outrage.”
For the first time he frowned.
”Very well; I promise not to ask any more questions.”
”That would be very agreeable to me.” Then, as if he realized the rudeness of his reply, he added: ”Before I leave I will tell you all you wish to know, upon one condition.”
”Tell it!”
”You will say nothing to any one, you will question neither Miss Harrigan nor myself, nor permit yourself to be questioned.”
”I agree.”
”And now, will you not take me over to your friends?”
”Over there?” aghast.
”Why, yes. We can sit upon the gra.s.s. They seem to be having a good time.”
What a man! Take him over, into the enemy's camp? Nothing would be more agreeable to her. Who would be the stronger, Nora or this provoking man?
So they crossed over and joined the group. The padre smiled. It was a situation such as he loved to study: a strong man and a strong woman, at war. But nothing happened; not a ripple anywhere to disclose the agitation beneath. The man laughed and the woman laughed, but they spoke not to each other, nor looked once into each other's eyes.
The sun was dropping toward the western tops. The guests were leaving by twos and threes. The colonel had prevailed upon his dinner-guests not to bother about going back to the village to dress, but to dine in the clothes they wore. Finally, none remained but Harrigan, Abbott, the Barone, the padre and Courtlandt. And they talked noisily and agreeably concerning man-affairs until Rao gravely announced that dinner was served.
It was only then, during the lull which followed, that light was shed upon the puzzle which had been subconsciously stirring Harrigan's mind: Nora had not once spoken to the son of his old friend.
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