Part 19 (2/2)

”Know that--well, that you like him?”

Norma raised serious eyes, looked unsmilingly into Rose's smiling face.

”n.o.body knows. It--it isn't going right, Rose. I can't tell you about all of it----” She paused.

”Well, I wouldn't know the people if you did,” Rose said, sensibly. And suddenly she added, timidly, ”Norma, there isn't another girl?”

”Well, yes, there is, in a way,” Norma conceded, after thought.

”That he likes better?” Rose asked, quickly.

”No, I don't think he likes her better!” Norma answered.

”Well, then----?” Rose summarized, triumphantly.

But there was no answering flash from Norma, who was looking down again, and who still wore a troubled expression, although, as Rose rejoiced to see, it was less bitter than it had been.

”Rose,” she said, gravely, ”if he was already bound in honour; if he was--promised, to her?”

Rose's eyes expressed quick sympathy.

”Norma! You mean engaged? But then how did he ever come to care for you?” she followed it up anxiously.

”I don't know!” Norma said, with a shrug.

”But, Nono, why do you think he _does_ like you? Has he said so?”

Norma had freed her hand, and pulled on her rough little cream-coloured gloves. Now she spread her five fingers, and looked at them with slightly raised brows and slightly compressed lips.

”No,” she said, briefly and quietly.

Rose's face was full of distress. Again she reached for Norma's fingers.

”Dearest--I'm so sorry! But--but it doesn't make you feel very badly, does it, Norma?”

Norma did not answer.

”Ah, it does!” Rose said, pitifully. ”Are you so sure you care?”

At this Norma laughed, glanced for a moment into far s.p.a.ce, shook her head. And for a few minutes there was utter silence in the plain little bedroom. Then the baby began to fuss and grope, and to make little sneezing faces in his coc.o.o.n of blankets.

”Just one more word, dear,” Rose said, later, when Aunt Kate had come flying in, and carried off the new treasure, and when Norma was standing before the mirror adjusting her wide-brimmed summer hat. ”If he cares for you, it's much, much better to make the change now, Norma, than to wait until it's too late! No matter how hard, or how unpleasant it is----”

”I know,” Norma agreed, quickly, painfully, stooping to kiss her. ”We'll be down next month, Rose, and then I'll see you oftener!”

”When do you go?” Rose said, clinging to her hand.

”Go back to Newport? To-morrow. Or at least we get to Great Barrington to-morrow, and we may stay there with the Richies a few days. Aunt Marianna hates to make the trip in one day, so we stayed there last night. But she had to come down to sign some papers. Chris has been down all the week and he wired for her, so she and I drove down together.”

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