Part 47 (1/2)
At the end of the second verse, her fingers slipped from the keys and fell to her sides while she bowed her head and sat for a moment immovable. And then her shoulders moved slightly and a tiny smothered sound came from her throat. Suddenly her head bent and she fell forward on her arms upon the muted keys.
Noiselessly he pa.s.sed over the low windowsill and before she even knew that he was there, fell to his knees beside her.
”Beth,” he whispered. ”Don't--child--don't!”
She straightened, startled and incredulous at the sight of him, and tried to move away, but he caught one of her hands and with bent head gently laid his lips upon it.
”Don't, Beth--please. I can't bear to see you cry----”
”I--I'm _not_ crying,” she stammered helplessly, while she winked back her tears, ”I--I've just--just got the--the--stomachache.”
She tried to laugh--failing dismally in a sob.
”Oh, Beth--don't----” he whispered.
”I--I can't help it--if I--I've got a--a pain,” she evaded him.
”But I can,” he murmured. ”It's in your heart, Beth. I'm sorry for everything. Forgive me.”
”There's nothing to forgive.”
”Please!”
”There's nothing to forgive,” she repeated dully. But she had controlled her voice now and her fingers in his were struggling for release.
”I was a brute, Beth. I'd give everything to have those moments back. I wouldn't hurt you for the world. See--how changed I am----”
She released her fingers and turned slightly away.
”I--I'm changed too, Mr. Nichols,” she murmured.
”No. You mustn't be, Beth. And I've got to have you back. You've got to come back to me, Beth.”
”Things can't be the same now.”
”Yes--just the same----”
”No. Something's gone.”
”But if something else has taken its place----”
”Nothing can----”
”Something greater----”
”I don't care for the sample you showed me,” she returned quietly.
”I was crazy, Beth. I lost my head. It won't happen again.”