Part 44 (1/2)
Elizabeth nodded, and crumbled a little piece of roll between her fingers. Then she leaned over the table towards Tavernake.
”She seemed terrified, didn't she? She hurried you away--she seemed afraid.”
”It was very noticeable,” he admitted. ”She was terrified. She dragged me out of the place. A few minutes later she fainted in the cab.”
Elizabeth smiled.
”Beatrice was always over-sensitive,” she remarked. ”Any sudden shock unnerved her altogether. Are you terrified of me, too, Mr. Tavernake?”
”I don't know,” he answered, frankly. ”Sometimes I think that I am.”
She laughed softly.
”Why?” she whispered.
He looked into her eyes and he felt abject. How was it possible to sit within a few feet of her and remain sane!
”You are so wonderful,” he said, in a low tone, ”so different from any one else in the world!”
”You are glad that you met me, then--that you are here?” she asked.
He raised his eyes once more.
”I don't know,” he answered simply. ”If I really believed--if you were always kind like this--but, you see, you make two men of me. When I am with you I am a fool, your fool, to do as you will with. When I am away, some glimmerings of common sense come back, and I know.”
”You know what?” she murmured.
”That you are not honest,” he added.
”Mr. Tavernake!” she exclaimed, lifting her head a little.
”Oh, I don t mean dishonest in the ordinary way!” he protested, eagerly.
”What I mean is that you look things which you don't feel, that you are willing for any one who can't help admiring you very much to believe for a moment that you, too, feel more kindly than you really do. This is so clumsy,” he broke off, despairingly, ”but you understand what I mean!”
”You have an adorable way of making yourself understood,” she laughed.
”Come, do let us talk sense for a minute or two. You say that when you are with me you are my slave. Then why is it that you do not bring Beatrice here when I beg you to?”
”I am your slave,” he answered, ”in everything that has to do with myself and my own actions. In that other matter it is for your sister to decide.”
She shrugged her shoulders.
”Well,” she said, ”I suppose I shall be able to endure life without her. At any rate, we will talk of something else. Tell me, are you not curious to know why I insisted upon bringing you here?”
”Yes,” he admitted, ”I am.”
”Spoken with your usual candor, my dear Briton!” she exclaimed. ”Well, I will gratify your curiosity. This, as you see, is not a popular supping place. A few people come in--mostly those who for some reason or other don't feel smart enough for the big restaurants. The people from the theatres come in here who have not time to change their clothes. As you perceive; the place has a distinctly Bohemian flavor.”
Tavernake looked around.