Part 37 (1/2)

”'I mean,' she said, slowly, 'that your black p.a.w.n would never have the chance--never! I should take it immediately.'

”'I believe you would,' said I, smiling; 'so we'll call the game yours, and--the p.a.w.n captured.'

”'I don't want it,' she exclaimed. 'A p.a.w.n is worthless.'

”'Except when it's in the king row.'

”'Chess is most interesting,' she observed, sedately. She had completely recovered her self-possession. Still I saw that she now had a certain respect for my defensive powers. It was very soothing to me.

”'You know,' said I, gravely, 'that I am fonder of Jack than of anybody. That's the reason we never write each other, except to borrow things. I am afraid that when I was a young cub in France I was not an attractive personality.'

”'On the contrary,' said Daisy, smiling, 'I thought you were very big and very perfect. I had illusions. I wept often when I went home and remembered that you never took the trouble to speak to me but once.'

”'I was a cub,' I said--'not selfish and brutal, but I didn't understand school-girls. I never had any sisters, and I didn't know what to say to very young girls. If I had imagined that you felt hurt--'

”'Oh, I did--five years ago. Afterwards I laughed at the whole thing.'

”'Laughed?' I repeated, vaguely disappointed.

”'Why, of course. I was very easily hurt when I was a child. I think I have outgrown it.'

”The soft curve of her sensitive mouth contradicted her.

”'Will you forgive me now?' I asked.

”'Yes. I had forgotten the whole thing until I met you an hour or so ago.'

”There was something that had a ring not entirely genuine in this speech. I noticed it, but forgot it the next moment.

”Presently she rose, touched her hair with the tip of one finger, and walked to the door.

”'Good-night,' she said.

”'Good-night,' said I, opening the door for her to pa.s.s.

XIX

”The sea was a sheet of silver tinged with pink. The tremendous arch of the sky was all s.h.i.+mmering and glimmering with the promise of the sun. Already the mist above, flecked with cl.u.s.tered clouds, flushed with rose color and dull gold. I heard the low splash of the waves breaking and curling across the beach. A wandering breeze, fresh and fragrant, blew the curtains of my window. There was the scent of sweet bay in the room, and everywhere the subtle, nameless perfume of the sea.

”When at last I stood upon the sh.o.r.e, the air and sea were all a-glimmer in a rosy light, deepening to crimson in the zenith. Along the beach I saw a little cove, shelving and all a-s.h.i.+ne, where shallow waves washed with a mellow sound. Fine as dusted gold the s.h.i.+ngle glowed, and the thin film of water rose, receded, crept up again a little higher, and again flowed back, with the low hiss of snowy foam and gilded bubbles breaking.

”I stood a little while quiet, my eyes upon the water, the invitation of the ocean in my ears, vague and sweet as the murmur of a sh.e.l.l.

Then I looked at my bathing-suit and towels.

”'In we go!' said I, aloud. A second later the prophecy was fulfilled.

”I swam far out to sea, and as I swam the waters all around me turned to gold. The sun had risen.

”There is a fragrance in the sea at dawn that none can name.