Part 73 (2/2)
Half-past four struck--then the quarter to five. Garstin had been painting for more than two hours. Now he put down his brush and frowned, still looking at Arabian, who was sitting in an easy, almost casual position, with his magnificent brown throat and shoulders exposed.
”Finished!” he said in his loud ba.s.s voice.
Miss Van Tuyn, who was curled up on a divan in a corner of the studio, moved and put down a book which she had been pretending to read. Garstin had forbidden her to come near to him that day while he was painting.
”Finished!” she exclaimed. ”Do you mean--”
”No, d.a.m.n it, I don't!” said Garstin, with exasperation. ”I don't! Do you take me for a magician, or what? I have finished for to-day! Now then!”
He began to move the easel. Miss Van Tuyn got up, and Arabian, without saying a word, stretched himself, looked at her steadily for a moment, then pulled up his silk vest and carefully b.u.t.toned it with his strong-looking fingers. Then he too got up, and went away to the dressing-room to put on his s.h.i.+rt, waistcoat, collar and tie.
”May I see, d.i.c.k?” asked Miss Van Tuyn.
”No, you mayn't.”
”Are you satisfied?”
”He's coming out more as I want him this time.”
”Do you think you have found his secret?”
”Or yours, eh? What is happening in you, my girl?”
Before she could answer a telephone bell rang below.
”d.a.m.n!” said Garstin, going towards the staircase.
Before he went down he turned round and said:
”You're travelling fast.”
And he disappeared. She heard him below tramping to the telephone. Then she went to a small square window in the studio, pushed it open, and looked out. There was a tiny s.p.a.ce of garden below. She saw a plane tree s.h.i.+vering in the wind, yellow leaves on the rain-sodden ground. A sparrow flitted by and perched on the grimy coping of a low wall. And she s.h.i.+vered like the plane tree.
”Beryl!”
She started, turned, and went to the head of the stairs.
”What is it?”
”The telephone's for you. Come along down!”
”Coming!” she answered.
”Who is it?” she said, as she saw him standing by the telephone with the receiver in his hand.
”Some old woman, by the voice. She says she must speak to you.
Here--take it, my girl!”
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