Part 24 (1/2)

”Thou art a lovely girl and so very nice I dream till death upon your face.”

To the wretch's ear it was a rhyme! I destroyed the noisome thing and cast it into the waste-paper basket.

”Prison,” said I, ”would be a luxurious reward for him. In a properly civilised country he would be bastinadoed and hanged.”

”Yes, he is dam bad,” said Carlotta, serenely.

”Good heavens!” I cried, ”the ruffian has even taught you to swear. If you dare to say that wicked word again, I'll punish you severely. What is his horrid name?”

”Pasquale,” said Carlotta.

”Pasquale?”

”Yes, he likes to hear me say 'dam.' Oh, the other? Oh, no, he is too stupid. He does not say anything. His name is Timkins. I only play with him. He is so funny. He can go and kill himself; I won't care.”

”Never mind about Timkins,” said I, ”I want to hear about Pasquale. When did he teach you that wicked, wicked word?”

I think Carlotta flushed as she regarded the point of her red slipper.

”I went for a walk and he met me at the corner and walked here by my side. Was that wicked?”

”What would the excellent Hamdi Effendi have said to it?”

Woman-like she evaded my question.

”I hope Hamdi is dead. Do you think so?”

”I hope not. For if you behave in this naughty manner, I shall have to send you back to him.”

She had imperceptibly moved nearer my chair until she stood quite close to my side, so that as I spoke the last words I looked up into her face.

She put her arm about my shoulders. It is one of her pretty, caressing ways.

”I will be good--very good,” she said.

”You will have to,” said I, leaning back my head.

She must have caught a relenting note in my voice; for what happened I feel even now a curious shame in noting down. Her other arm flew under my chin to join its fellow, and holding me a prisoner in my chair, she bent down and kissed me. She also laid her cheek against mine.

I am still aware of the indescribable, soft, warm pressure, although she has gone to bed hours ago.

I vow that a man must be less a man than a petrified egg to have repulsed her. The touch of her lips was like the falling of dewy rose-petals. Her breath was as fragrant as new-mown hay. Her hair brus.h.i.+ng my forehead had the odour of violets.

I sent her back to Miss Griggs. She ran out of the room laughing merrily. She has received plenary absolution for her shameless coquetry and her profane language. Worse than that she has discovered how to obtain it in future. The witch has found her witchcraft, and having once triumphantly exerted her powers, will take the earliest opportunity of doing so again. I am fallen, both in my own eyes and hers, from my high estate. Henceforward she will regard me only with good-humoured tolerance; I shall be to her but a non-felonious Timkins.

I was an idiot to have kissed her in return.

I have not seen her since. I lunched at the club, and paid a formal call on Mrs. Ralph Ordeyne and my cousin Rosalie, in their sunless house in Kensington.

I met a singular lack of welcome. Rosalie gave me a limper hand than usual, and took an early opportunity of leaving me tete-a-tete with her mother, who conversed frigidly about the warm weather. The very tea, if possible, was colder.