Part 35 (1/2)
”Do as you think best--but now I must go. Good-night!”
He took her hand and kissed it--his lips were burning. Then he watched her as she went up the stairs, never looking back. And a sudden anguish came over him. How hopeless the whole thing was! He had better not have relied upon his self-command, and have stayed away.
He did not go to church on the Sunday. Katherine rather wondered at this, as she walked back alone across the park. In the country, Lady Garribardine expected the inmates of her house to be very orthodox.
The fine spring wind had blown two faint pink roses into her cheeks, by the time she reached the schoolroom, and there found Mr. Strobridge seated in her favourite armchair reading a book!
He rose eagerly as she entered, but he did not shake hands.
”I thought possession would be nine points of the law, so I ensconced myself here, and awaited you, and I am going to stay until you turn me out.”
”Very well--that will be at ten minutes to one--at five minutes to, Thomas comes to lay the table for my lunch.”
”That gives us just under half an hour--Katherine, you beautiful thing, let me look at you!”
And now he took both her hands and pulled her to the light.
”You have grown much prettier, you know--and are more attractive than ever, alas!”
”If you are going to talk like that, although you may stay, I shall leave you alone.”
”No, I am going to be reasonable. Tell me everything, what you have been doing, and reading, and thinking, since I went away?”
”I have been doing my work--and reading all the books you gave me--and many others--and thinking about life.”
”Never once of me, I suppose?”
”Yes--you are part of my life--my one friend.”
He started forward.
”Darl----” but he checked himself before the word came quite out, and said instead:
”Ah! that is joy to hear! And now I want to know what you thought of Symonds and Pater and the rest?--You will have quant.i.ties of things to discuss with me, I am sure.”
Katherine began taking off her hat and coat, and then put them neatly on the long, hard sofa; she never glanced in the gla.s.s or patted her hair--She was boyish in her unconsciousness.
Gerard Strobridge watched her, and then suddenly looked away; the insane desire was rising in him again to take her in his arms. So he exerted extra control over himself, and spent the rest of the time in truly friendly converse, in which he a.s.sumed the character of stern tutor, examining a promising pupil upon a holiday task performed in his absence.
Katherine was enchanted, and when ten minutes to one came, she wished he had not to go.
”It has given me so much pleasure to talk to you--I am so glad you have come back.” But she held her hands behind her when he would have taken them again, in gladness at her words.
”So much touching is undesirable if we are going to remain friends,” she told him.
”When may I come again?”
”You must arrange that.”