Part 4 (1/2)
”Well, then--then--” but his throat closed tight with the effort.
”Alixe is here,” she said gently; ”did you know it?”
He nodded.
”You know, of course, that she's married Jack Ruthven?”
He nodded again.
”Are you on leave, Phil, or have you really resigned?”
”Resigned.”
”I knew it,” she sighed.
He said: ”As I did not defend the suit I couldn't remain in the service.
There's too much said about us, anyway--about us who are appointed from civil life. And then--to have _that_ happen!”
”Phil?”
”What?”
”Will you answer me one thing?”
”Yes, I guess so.”
”Do you still care for--her?”
”I am sorry for her.”
After a painful silence his sister said: ”Could you tell me how it began, Phil?”
”How it began? I don't know that, either. When Bannard's command took the field I went with the scouts. Alixe remained in Manila. Ruthven was there for Fane, Harmon & Co. That's how it began, I suppose; and it's a rotten climate for morals; and that's how it began.”
”Only that?”
”We had had differences. It's been one misunderstanding after another.
If you mean was I mixed up with another woman--no! She knew that.”
”She was very young, Phil.”
He nodded: ”I don't blame her.”
”Couldn't anything have been done?”
”If it could, neither she nor I did it--or knew how to do it, I suppose.
It went wrong from the beginning; it was founded on froth--she had been engaged to Harmon, and she threw him over for 'Boots' Lansing. Then I came along--Boots behaved like a thoroughbred--that is all there is to it--inexperience, romance, trouble--a quick beginning, a quick parting, and two more fools to give the lie to civilization, and justify the West Pointers in their opinions of civil appointees.”
”Try not to be so bitter, Phil; did you know she was going before she left Manila?”