Part 2 (1/2)
”Not with that owners.h.i.+p grasp! I am afraid of your possessive qualities, Peter.”
”Meaning just what?”
”Oh, that if I do give myself to you, you'll own me so--so emphatically.”
”I sure shall! And then some. Don't imagine, my child, that I'll accept you with any reservations. You'll be 'mine to the core of your heart, my beauty'! Bank on that!”
”I do,--and if I'm yours at all,--it _will_ be that way. But wait till you come back. There's time enough. I suppose there's no chance for letters?”
”No; not after the first few days. We'll be out of reach of mail very soon.”
”And you're returning?”
”I want to be home for Christmas. Kit thinks we'll make it, but Blair is some doubtful. So, look for me when you see me.”
”Alive or dead?”
”Carly! What made you say that?”
”I don't know.” The girl shuddered and her eyes stared into Peter's. ”I seemed to say it without any volition,--the words just came----”
”Well, don't let them come again. I don't like it a little bit. I'm coming home alive, very much alive,--and I'm coming home to claim you,--remember that.”
”Unless either of us falls in love with some one else. Those girls of the far North are beautiful, I hear.”
”An Eskimo with a nose ring? No, thank you! My heart is true to Poll!
But don't you go and set your somewhat fickle heart on another man, 'cause if you do, I shall have to kill him, much as I'd regret such a necessity.”
”My heart isn't fickle! What do you mean?”
”Just what I say. I think it is. I think my little black-eyed, rosy-cheeked Carly is quite capable of being on with a new love whether she's off with the old or not.”
”Oh, Peter,” and the black eyes showed moisture, ”how cruel you are!”
”Isn't it so, Carly? Tell me it isn't,--I'll be so glad!”
But the coquettish glance that answered him was not entirely rea.s.suring.
”Anyway,” Peter pleaded on, ”tell me you like me better than Kit or Gilbert. Tell me that if I'm a prey to green-eyed jealousy up there in the camp, at least, I needn't envy either of those chaps.”
”Of course not!”
”Oh, you torment! Your words are all right,--but your emphasis is a little too strong. Carly, look me straight in the eyes and tell me you don't care for either of them!”
”Either of your eyes?”
”Silly! Well, yes, then, tell me that!”