Part 34 (1/2)
”May we go into the garden, dear Mother?” Evelyn said, interrupting.
Her interruption was a welcome one; the Prioress in her anxiety to change the subject had forgotten Mr. Innes's death and Evelyn's return to Rome. She gave the required permission, and the four women went out together.
”Do you think we shall be able to talk alone?”
”Yes, presently,” Evelyn whispered. Soon after, in St. Peter's Walk, an opportunity occurred. The nuns had dropped behind, and Evelyn led her friend through the hazels, round by the fish-pond, where they would be able to talk undisturbed. Evelyn took her friend's arm.
”Dear Louise, how kind of you to come to see me. I thought I was forgotten. But how did you find me out?”
”Sir Owen Asher, whom I met in London, told me I would probably get news of you here.”
Evelyn did not answer.
”Aren't you glad to see me?”
”Of course I am. Haven't I said so? Don't you see I am? And you have brought beautiful weather with you, Louise. Was there ever a more beautiful day? White clouds rising up in the blue sky like great s.h.i.+ps, sail over sail.”
”My dear Evelyn, I have not come to talk to you about clouds, nor green trees, though the birds are singing beautifully here, and it would be pleasant to talk about them if we were going to be alone the whole afternoon. But as the nuns may come round the corner at any minute I had better ask you at once if you are going to stop here?”
”Is that what you have come to ask me?”
Evelyn got up, though they had only just sat down.
”Evelyn, dear, sit down. You are not angry with me for asking you these questions? What do you think I came here for?”
”You came here, then, as Reverend Mother suspected, to try to persuade me away? You would like to have me back on the stage?”
”Of course we should like to have you back among us again. Owen Asher--”
”Louise, you mustn't speak to me of my past life.”
”Ulick--”
”Still less of him. You have come here, sent by Owen Asher or by Ulick Dean--which is it?”
”My dear Evelyn, I came here because we have always been friends and for old friends.h.i.+p's sake--by n.o.body.”
These words seemed to rea.s.sure her, and she sat down by her friend, saying that if Louise only knew the trouble she had been through.
”But all that is forgotten... if it can be forgotten. Do you know if our sins are ever forgotten, Louise?”
”Sins, Evelyn? What sins? The sin of liking one man a little better than another?”
”That is exactly it, Louise. The sin and the shame are in just what you have said--liking one man better than another. But I wish, Louise, you wouldn't speak to me of these things, for I'll have to get up and go back to the convent.”
”Well, Evelyn, let us talk about the white clouds going by, and how beautiful the wood is when the sun is s.h.i.+ning, flecking the ground with spots of light; birds are singing in the branches, and that thrus.h.!.+ I have never heard a better one.” Louise walked a little way.
Returning to Evelyn quickly, she said, ”There are all kinds of birds here--linnets, robins, yes, and a blackbird. A fine contralto!”
”But why, Louise, do you begin to talk about clouds and birds?”
”Well, dear, because you won't talk about our friends.”