Part 21 (1/2)
”It was now or never,” she said, by way of explanation; ”the house has been full of people during the last three days, and this afternoon some others are coming. So I had to pretend!”
”Pretend?” he questioned.
”I'm afraid they're getting suspicious,” she replied.
”Suspicious of what?”
”That I'm not so great a student, or so devoted to my books, as I seem to be. So I had to pretend I was going to write to the Captain!”
”What Captain?”
She laughed. ”Oh! there's only one Captain, as far as the Tregonys are concerned, and that, of course, is Gervase. Do you know him?”
”I've seen him, of course; but I have never spoken to him.”
”He's very handsome, isn't he?”
”I really don't know,” he answered, bluntly; ”it had never occurred to me.”
”I suppose men don't notice such things where men are concerned,” she said, reflectively; ”but in his uniform he is just superb.”
”Then you think fine feathers make fine birds?”
”Well, in some respects, yes,” she answered, slowly, ”though Gervase looks handsome in ordinary evening dress.”
Then silence fell for several seconds. The subject was one in which Rufus was not greatly interested, and as yet not a suspicion of the truth had dawned upon him. ”Do you like Gervase?” she said at length, speaking abruptly.
The question took him by surprise, and almost threw him off his guard.
As a matter of fact, he did not like him, and was on the point of saying so, but checked himself in time. ”Why do you ask that question?” he stammered, evasively.
”Well, you see,” she answered, quite frankly, ”they want me to marry him.”
”To marry him?” he questioned, raising his eyebrows in astonishment.
”You won't think it strange my talking to you about the matter, will you?” she said, with perfect simplicity. ”You see, apart from the Tregonys, I haven't a friend in all England except--except you.”
”It is kind of you to look upon me as your friend,” he said, with heightened colour.
”No, no; it is the other way about,” she answered; ”all the kindness is on your part.”
Then there was another moment of silence. He felt stunned, bewildered, and was almost afraid to speak lest he should betray his feelings.
”I ought to have written days and days ago,” she went on, at length.
”You see, he expects to be home by the New Year at latest. Sir Charles hopes that he will be able to eat his Christmas dinner with us.
And--and--Sir Charles, and Gervase also, would like to have the matter settled before he comes home.”
”Yes?”
”Oh, well! I hardly know why I have hesitated. I expect it is that I am naturally obstinate. When n.o.body said a word about the matter, and I thought n.o.body cared very much--why--why, I looked upon the matter as good as settled,” and she blushed quite frankly and smiled as she did so.