Part 14 (1/2)
It was not until I had asked her again what was the matter that she spoke.
”It's--it's dreadful!” she moaned. ”I--I can see you haven't heard----”
”What is? Come, come!” I said, with some concern but more impatience.
”No, I've not heard anything to take on like this about--unless you mean something about Archie's father?...”
”No, it's nothing to do with Archie's father. Oh, I can't possibly tell you, Jeff----”
It was on the tip of my tongue to say that in that case it was of little use my remaining; but she went on.
”Just a minute,” she said. ”You haven't heard ... about Louie Causton?”
I was certainly surprised. You will remember that I had not set eyes on Miss Causton since the evening of the breaking-up party, when she had danced twice round the room with me, sought me out again subsequently, and told me what the result had since falsified--that she was returning to the college in the new term.
”No,” I said abruptly. ”What about her? Nothing wrong, I hope?”
But she only sobbed, ”Oh, Jeff!” and with her eyes still closed put out a helpless hand.
I had to approach and take the hand before I learned what the mystery was. I don't know whether you have already guessed it. I hadn't, but for all that my surprise, great as it was, pa.s.sed even in the moment of Kitty's broken whispering in my ear. I had known Louie Causton for a deep, still pool; I don't think any revelation whatever could have added to my respect for her powers of irony and nonchalance; and yet when I say that my surprise pa.s.sed it pa.s.sed only to return. Good gracious!...
I seemed to hear her carefully lackadaisical voice again as she had munched nougat: ”So long since I've seen a man, my dear” ... and other circ.u.mstances, unmarked at the time, flashed on me now.
A child!
”Good gracious!” I breathed again in consternation.
My next thought was of Evie.
I was kneeling by Kitty's chair, holding her hand. I asked quickly:
”Does Evie know of this?”
”Yes.”
”And does she know you're telling me?”
”Yes.”
”And of course Miss Soames does not know?”
”No.”
”She thinks as I thought, that it's about Archie's father Evie's so upset?”
”Yes; but perhaps she is about that too a little. I'm horribly upset, Jeff.”
This last I took as a hint that the effect of this very startling intelligence on Evie was not the first thing to be considered.
”Yes, yes.... I see....” I murmured.
We were silent, and I felt Kitty's fingers move within my grasp. They pressed mine more closely.