Part 47 (1/2)
His abruptness and hoa.r.s.eness were expressive, but she felt that there was something lacking and she answered with a flippancy she seldom indulged in.
”You thought it needful to bring your privy counselor with you?”
”No; he came without even asking my permission.”
”Well,” she said, sitting down with forced calmness, ”it doesn't matter; but are you quite sure now that you really want me?”
There was no doubt that he was desperately anxious for her formal word; there was a feverish eagerness in his eyes. It puzzled her, but it left her unmoved and cold.
”Want you!” he cried. ”Can you ask? Haven't I constantly shown my devotion?”
”For the last few months--I mean after Lisle went back to Canada,” she replied with gathering color. ”Before then, for a time, I think one could reasonably have doubted it.”
He looked confused; that Bella had attracted him had been obvious, and there was no way of getting over the fact gracefully.
”I'm afraid I have my weaknesses--want of balance, impulsiveness, and a capacity for being easily piqued,” he confessed. ”Well, though perhaps I deserved it, you were cold and aloof enough to madden a more patient man, and I suppose I slackly yielded to wounded vanity. All the time, you were the one I had chosen, the only woman who had ever really stirred or could influence me. Nearly as long as I can remember I have loved and respected you. Occasionally you unbent enough to show me that you recognized it.”
There was some truth in this, and seeing the change in her expression, he went on:
”You can't cast me off and fling me back upon myself--I couldn't face that. During those last few months in England, you helped me forward far more than you suspected--showed me my duties, enabled me to carry them out. I can't go on alone; I'm your responsibility; having taken it up, you can't deny it now.”
Millicent smiled faintly.
”No,” she admitted; ”I suppose that would be hardly fair.”
He would have thrown his arm about her, but she laid a hand on his shoulder and with gentle firmness held him back.
”No,” she said, with a deep color in her face; ”not yet. We have been a.s.sociated as cousins; I must get used to the new position.”
He had wit enough to yield, but he kissed her hands exultantly.
”It's a pledge! I may tell the others?”
”Yes,” she consented quietly, ”I think you may.”
For a while he sat at her feet, with her hand on his shoulder, talking about the future, and she was sensible of a certain calm satisfaction which had in it more than a trace of resignation. She had not s.h.i.+rked her duty, she was safe from temptation, and she had after all a sincere, half-pitying tenderness for the man. Her liking for him would, she thought, grow stronger, and the pa.s.sion which Lisle had once or twice half awakened in her was a thing to be subdued and dreaded. Though Gladwyne saw that she was but lightly moved, he was content, and some time had pa.s.sed when they went slowly back together to the camp.
Miss Hume was the first to notice them and when Millicent smiled she went hastily forward and kissed her. Then Bella joined them and Batley offered his good wishes in fitting terms. When Lisle and Nasmyth came up, a word from Bella was sufficient for them. For a moment the girl was startled by what she read in the Canadian's face. It was, however, invisible to Millicent. Turning suddenly round without speaking he strode away, followed by Nasmyth. Stopping when he was hidden from the camp among the rocks Lisle turned savagely to his companion.
”You heard what Bella said!”
”I did!” replied Nasmyth. ”The hound! It must be stopped!”
”Yes,” a.s.serted Lisle, more coolly, ”that's a sure thing. Still, there are difficulties--she may not believe my story now. I almost think I'll wait until we reach the two caches; then with something to back my statements, I might force the truth from him.”
”In that case, you had better watch him,” warned Nasmyth, looking deeply disturbed. ”He may try to reach them first.”
The next moment Crestwick joined them.