Part 23 (2/2)

”He took over an hour dressing himself when he knew you were coming,”

chimed in the younger, Sophia; ”and he made Charlotte go and tell him if his hair was parted straight.”

”He's always talking about how well you play chess, and how clever you are.”

”And he never puts those orders on unless somebody awfully particular is coming!” They rattled on in this way at considerable length; and during dinner watched the General's conduct to me very closely, nodding and smiling significantly at me, and winking at each other.

I had remained a week in the house after my coming to an understanding with him, and before I went to Madame d'Artelle's and during that time we had had more than one confidential talk.

When an old man yields to the influence of a very young woman, it is often a considerable surrender. It had been so in his Excellency's case; and I was quite conscious that I could do a great deal with him.

Vivien could with Merlin; and a Minister of ripe and long experience can make a very interesting Merlin.

In those talks of ours he had sometimes forgotten the difference of forty years in our ages, and more than once had paid me compliments which might have been almost embarra.s.sing had I been minded to take them at all literally.

The girls' chatter had therefore prepared me in a measure for what might be to follow when they had been sent away and we two were once again face to face over the chess board.

”I have missed my chess very much, Miss Gilmore. I can't tell you how much.”

”You should teach Charlotte to play.”

”She would never learn. She is just a child, no more.”

”You are not playing well yourself, to-night.”

He laughed. ”That's what I like about you. You blurt the truth out with delightful frankness. I don't want to play to-night.”

”Is that why you say you've missed your chess so much?”

”I've missed your white hands moving among the men, more than the game itself.” He spoke very quickly, and fumbling nervously among the men upset two of them.

I made a move then that was not chess. I'm not sure that it was quite fair to him indeed. Pretending haste in picking the pieces up, I touched his hand and glanced at him. Our eyes met; and withdrawing my hand quickly, I upset some more men, with a suggestion of agitation.

”I beg your pardon,” I stammered. ”I'm afraid I don't remember how they stood. I--I think I'm a little confused.”

”Why should you be?” he asked, with a glance.

”I don't know. It's very silly. I don't understand myself. I--I believe I'm nervous.”

”I can't imagine you nervous--er--Christabel.” It was very daring of him; but he tried to say it as if it was his rule to use my name.

I cast my eyes down and sighed. ”I think I'll go now,” I said after a pause; ”if you don't mind.”

”But I _do_ mind, very much. Don't bother about the game. I don't care where the men were.”

I smiled. ”Possibly; but I think I was going to win. I began to see mate ahead.”

”I wish _I_ could,” he declared.

<script>