Part 96 (2/2)
”Well, for example, you will be alone here all winter.”
”Do you mean loneliness?” she asked, smiling. ”I don't expect to suffer from that. Molly will be here all winter and--you will write to me--”
she turned to him--”won't you, Rix?”
”Certainly. Besides I'm coming up to see you every week.”
”Every week!” she repeated, taken a little aback but smiling her sweet, confused smile. ”Do you realise what you are so gaily engaging to do?”
”Perfectly. I'm going to build up here.”
”What!”
”Of course.”
”A--a house?”
He looked at her, hesitated, then looking away:
”Either a house or--an addition.”
”An _addition_?”
”If you'll let me, Strelsa--some day.”
She understood him then. The painful colour stole into her cheeks, faintly burning, and she closed her eyes for a moment to endure it, sitting silent, motionless, her little sun-tanned hands tightly clasped on her knees.
Then, unclosing her eyes she looked at him, delicate lips tightening.
”I thought our relations were to remain on a higher plane,” she said steadily.
”Our relations are to remain what you desire them to be, dear.”
”I desire them to be what they are--_always_.”
”Then that is my wish also,” he said with a smile so genuine and gay that, a little confused by his acquiescence, her own response was slow.
But presently her smile dawned, a little tremulous and uncertain, and her gray eyes remained wistful though the lips curled deliciously.
”I would do anything in the world for you, Rix, except--that,” she said in a low voice.
”I know you would, you dear girl.”
”Don't you really believe it?”
”Of course I do!”
”But--I _can't_ do that--_ever_. It would--would spoil you for me....
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