Part 4 (2/2)

In the cloak-room people looked at her oddly, but beyond ordinary greetings no one spoke to her. She did not know that it was solely her utter wretchedness that kept them at a distance.

She entered the ballroom behind Mrs. Ingleton, and at once Preston descended upon her again. He had scrawled his name against half a dozen dances on her card before she realized what he was doing.

She began to protest, but again that deadly feeling of apathy overcame her. She was worn out--worn out. What did it matter whether she danced with the man or not?

Young Vernon Eversley, a friendly boy whom she had always liked, pursed his lips when he saw her programme.

”It's true then, is it?” he said.

”What is true?” She looked at him questioningly, not feeling greatly interested in his answer.

He met her look with straight, honest eyes. ”I saw the announcement of your engagement in the paper this morning; but somehow I didn't believe it. He's a dashed lucky man.”

That startled her out of her lethargy. She began a quick disclaimer, but they were interrupted. One of the stewards came up and swept young Eversley away.

The next moment Preston came and took possession of her. He was laughing still as he whirled her in among the dancers, refusing to give her any breathing-s.p.a.ce.

”I want to see a little colour in those cheeks of yours, Cherry-ripe,” he said. ”What's the Ingleton dragon been doin' to you, my pretty?”

She danced with him with a feeling that the net was drawn close about her, and she was powerless to struggle any longer. When he suffered her to stand at last, her head was whirling so that she had to cling to him for support.

He led her to a secluded corner and put her into a chair. Then he bent over her and spoke into her ear. ”Look here! I'm not such a bad sort. They've coupled our names together in the local rag.

Why not let 'em?”

She looked up at him, summoning her strength with a great effort.

”So it was your doing!” she said.

”No, it wasn't!” he declared. ”I swear it wasn't! I'm not such a fool as that. But see here, Sylvia! Where's the use of holdin'

out any longer? You know I want you, and there's no sense in goin'

on pinin' for a fellow in South Africa who's probably married a dozen blacks already. It isn't like you to cry for the moon. Put up with me instead! You might do worse, and anyone can see you're havin' a dog's time at the Manor now. You'll be your own boss anyway if you come to me.”

She heard him with her eyes fixed before her. Her brief energy had gone. Her life seemed to stretch before her in a long, dreary waste. His arguments were unanswerable. Physical weariness, combined with the despair which till then she had refused to acknowledge, overwhelmed her. She was down.

He put his hand upon her. ”Come, I say! Is it a bargain? I swear I won't bully you. I'm awfully fond of you, Cherry-ripe.”

She raised herself slowly. It was her last effort. ”One thing first,” she said, and put his hand away from her. ”I must--cable to Guy, and get an answer.”

”Oh, rot!” he said. ”What for?”

”Because I haven't heard from him lately, and I must know--I must know”--she spoke with rising agitation--”the reason why. He might be--I don't say it is likely, but he might be--on his way home to me. I can't--I can't give him up without knowing.”

Preston grimaced wryly, but he was shrewd enough to grasp and hold such advantage as was his. ”Well, failing him, you'll have me, what? That's a promise, is it?”

She looked at him again. ”If you want me under those conditions.”

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