Part 63 (1/2)
”Yes. It only made the child angry, Phil; so don't worry.”
”No; I won't worry. No, I--I won't. You are quite right, Nina. But the pity of it; that tight, hard-sh.e.l.led woman of the world--to do such a thing--to a young girl.”
”Rosamund is Rosamund,” said Nina with a shrug; ”the antidote to her species is obvious.”
”Right, thank G.o.d!” said Selwyn between his teeth; ”_Mens sana in corpore sano_! bless her little heart! I'm glad you told me this, Nina.”
He rose and laughed a little--a curious sort of laugh; and Nina watched him, perplexed.
”Where are you going, Phil?” she asked.
”I don't know. I--where is Eileen?”
”She's lying down--a headache; probably too much sun and salt water.
Shall I send for her?”
”No; I'll go up and inquire how she is. Susanne is there, isn't she?”
And he entered the house and ascended the stairs.
The little Alsatian maid was seated in a corner of the upper hall, sewing; and she informed Selwyn that mademoiselle ”had bad in ze h'ead.”
But at the sound of conversation in the corridor Eileen's gay voice came to them from her room, asking who it was; and she evidently knew, for there was a hint of laughter in her tone.
”It is I. Are you better?” said Selwyn.
”Yes. D-did you wish to see me?”
”I always do.”
”Thank you... . I mean, do you wish to see me now? Because I'm very much occupied in trying to go to sleep.”
”Yes, I wish to see you at once.”
”Particularly?”
”Very particularly.”
”Oh, if it's as serious as that, you alarm me. I'm afraid to come.”
”I'm afraid to have you. But please come.”
He heard her laugh to herself; then her clear, amused voice: ”What are you going to say to me if I come out?”
”Something dreadful! Hurry!”
”Oh, if that's the case I'll hurry,” she returned, and a moment later the door opened and she emerged in a breezy flutter of silvery ribbons and loosened ruddy hair.
She was dressed in some sort of delicate misty stuff that alternately clung and floated, outlining or clouding her glorious young figure as she moved with leisurely free-limbed grace across the hall to meet him.
The pretty greeting she always reserved for him, even if their separation had been for a few minutes only, she now offered, hand extended; a cool, fragrant hand which lay for a second in his, closed, and withdrew, leaving her eyes very friendly.