Part 8 (1/2)
Margaret was looking her best White was extre next in order Her dress was of white, with facings of delicate pale pink, and the white plumes in her hat were based in pale pink, which also lined the inside of the brim She watched him, and, now that it was once ainst hers, she, in spite of herself, began to yield to hient personBut as she atching, her expression was that of si, without comment or intention to reply--an expression of which she was perfect mistress Her hazel eyes, set in dark lashes, her sensuous mouth, her pallid skin, smooth and healthy, seemed the cliure pointed To another wo herself by trying to draw him under the spell of physical attraction; a ht her aboredo now this charm and now that to his attention were simply movements of restlessness, indications of an impatience difficult to control He broke off abruptly ”What are you thinking?” he de accohts to leave his pet subject, hi,” said she reflectively, ”what a brave whistler you are”
”Whistler?”
”Whistling to keep up your courage No, rather, whistling FOR courage
You are on your knees before wealth and social position, and you wish to convince yourself--and the world--that you despise the exclaimed, or rather, blustered
And, red and confused, he was at a loss for words
”Yes--you,” asserted she, in her quiet, tranquil way ”Don't bluster at hed softly, eyeing hi”
Their eyes met--a resolute encounter He frowned fiercely, and as his eyes were keen and blue-green, and, backed by a tremendous will, the odds seemed in his favor But soon his frown relaxed; a sment of defeat, a humorous confession that she was indeed ”on to” hiraciously
”I don't know that I can say the sa smile in her eyes or upon her lips, but a seriousness far ht!” exclaimed he ”Frankness--absolute frankness You are the only intelligent woman I have met here who seems to have any sweetness left in her”
”Sweetness? This is a strange place to look for sweetness One ht as well expect to find it in a crowd of boys scrapping for pennies, or in a pack of hounds chasing a fox”
”But that isn't all of life,” protested Craig
”It's all of life a our sort of people--the ambitious socially and otherwise”
Josh bealy ”You'll do,” approved he ”We shall be friends We ARE friends”
The gently satiric s became personal to him ”You are confident,” said she
He nodded eet what I want”
”I'm sorry to say I don't But I can say that at least I never take what I don't want”
”That means,” said he, ”you may not want my friendshi+p”
”Obviously,” replied she And she rose and put out her hand
”Don't go yet,” cried he ”We are just beginning to get acquainted The other day I nificant, not worth while”
She slid her hand into her erave him an icy look, not contemptuous but oblivious, and turned away He stared after her ”By Jove!” thought he, ”THERE'S the real thing There's a true aristocrat”
And he frankly paid aristocracy in thought the tribute he would with any a have denied it in word ”Aristocracy does ,” reflected he ”There must be substance to what can ht he said patronizingly: ”I like that little friend of yours--that Miss What's-her-naetfulness was an affectation ”You know very hat her name is,” said he irritably