Part 26 (1/2)
”And every day violets from you,” she said; ”it was certainly nice of you. And--do you know that somehow--just because you have never yet failed me--I thought perhaps--when I asked your confidence a moment ago--”
He looked up quickly.
”_What_ is the matter with Gerald?” she asked. ”Could you tell me?”
”Nothing serious is the matter, Eileen.”
”Is he not ill?”
”Not very.”
She lay still a moment, then with the slightest gesture: ”Come here.”
He seated himself near her; she laid her hand fearlessly on his arm.
”Tell me,” she demanded. And, as he remained silent: ”Once,” she said, ”I came suddenly into the library. Austin and Gerald were there; Austin seemed to be very angry with my brother. I heard him say something that worried me; and I slipped out before they saw me.”
Selwyn remained silent.
”Was _that_ it?”
”I--don't know what you heard.”
”_Don't_ you understand me?”
”Not exactly.”
”Well, then”--she crimsoned--”has Gerald m-misbehaved again?”
”What did you hear Austin say?” he demanded.
”I heard--something about dissipation. He was very angry with Gerald. It is not the best way, I think, to become angry with either of us--either me or Gerald--because then we are usually inclined to do it again--whatever it is... . I do not mean for one moment to be disloyal to Austin; you know that... . But I am so thankful that Gerald is fond of you... . You like him, too, don't you?”
”I am very fond of him.”
”Well, then,” she said, ”you will talk to him pleasantly--won't you? He is _such_ a boy; and he adores you. It is easy to influence a boy like that, you know--easy to shame him out of the silly things he does... .
That is all the confidence I wanted, Captain Selwyn. And you haven't told me a word, you see--and I have not fainted--have I?”
They laughed a little; her fingers, which had tightened on his arm, relaxed; her hand fell away, and she straightened up, sitting Turk fas.h.i.+on, and smoothing her hair which contact with the pillows had disarranged so that it threatened to come tumbling over eyes and cheeks.
”Oh, hair, hair!” she murmured, ”you're Nina's despair and my endless punishment. I'd twist and pin you tight if I dared--some day I will, too... . What are you looking at so curiously, Captain Selwyn? My mop?”
”It's about the most stunningly beautiful thing I ever saw,” he said, still curious.
She nodded gaily, both hands still busy with the l.u.s.trous strands. ”It _is_ nice; but I never supposed you noticed it. It falls to my waist; I'll show it to you some time... . But I had no idea _you_ noticed such things,” she repeated, as though to herself.
”Oh, I'm apt to notice all sorts of things,” he said, looking so provokingly wise that she dropped her hair and clapped both hands over her eyes.
”Now,” she said, ”if you are so observing, you'll know the colour of my eyes. What are they?”
”Blue--with a sort of violet tint,” he said promptly.