Part 84 (1/2)
”Nothing since she went to town that time. Every letter flies the red cross. Does she still suffer?”
”I don't think so. She seems so wonderfully happy--so vigorous, in such superb physical condition. For a month I have not seen that pitiful, haunted expression come into her eyes. And it is not mere restlessness that drives her into perpetual motion now; it's a new delight in living hard and with all her might every moment of the day!... She overdoes it; you will turn her energy into other channels. She's ready for you, I think.”
They drove on in silence for a few minutes, then swung into a broader avenue of pines. Straight ahead glimmered the lights of Roya-Neh.
Duane said navely: ”I don't suppose I could get up to Lynx Peak camp to-night, could I?”
Kathleen threw back her head, making no effort to control her laughter.
”It isn't necessary,” she managed to explain; ”I sent a messenger up the mountain with a note to her saying that matters of importance required her immediate return. She'll come down to-night by sleigh from The Green Pa.s.s and Westgate Centre.”
”Won't she be furious?” he inquired, with a hypocritical side glance at Kathleen, who laughed derisively and drew in the horses under the porte-cochere. A groom took their heads; Duane swung Kathleen clear to the steps just as Scott Seagrave, hearing sleigh-bells, came out, bareheaded, his dinner-jacket wide open, as though he luxuriated in the bitter air.
”Good work!” he said. ”How are you, Duane? Geraldine arrived from The Green Pa.s.s about five minutes ago. She thinks you're sleighing, Kathleen, and she's tremendously curious to know why you want her.”
”She probably suspects,” said Kathleen, disappointed.
”No, she doesn't. I began to talk business immediately, and I know she thinks that some of Mr. Tappan's lawyers are coming. So they are--next month,” he added with a grin, and, turning on Duane:
”I think I'll begin festivities by was.h.i.+ng your face in the snow.”
”You're not man enough,” remarked the other; and the next moment they had clinched and were swaying and struggling all over the terrace, to the scandal of the servants peering from the door.
”He's tired and half frozen!” exclaimed Kathleen; ”what a brute you are to bully him, Scott!”
”I'll include you in a moment,” he panted, loosing Duane and s.n.a.t.c.hing a handful of snow. Whereupon she caught up sufficient snow to fill the hollow of her driving glove, powdered his face thoroughly with the feathery flakes, picked up her skirt and ran for it, knowing full well she could expect no mercy.
Duane watched their reckless flight through the hall and upstairs, then walked in, dropped his coat, and advanced across the heavy rugs toward the fireplace.
On the landing above he heard Geraldine's laughter, then silence, then her clear, careless singing as she descended the stairs:
”Lisetto quittee la plaine, Moi perdi bonheur a moi-- Yeux a moi semblent fontaine Depuis moi pas mire toi!”
At the doorway she halted, seeing a man's figure silhouetted against the firelight. Then she moved forward inquiringly, the ruddy glow full in her brown eyes; and a little shock pa.s.sed straight through her.
”Duane!” she whispered.
He caught her in his arms, kissed her, locked her closer; her arms sought his head, clung, quivered, fell away; and with a nervous movement she twisted clear of him and stood breathing fast, the clamour of her heart almost suffocating her. And when again he would have drawn her to him she eluded him, wide-eyed, flushed, lips parted in the struggle for speech which came at last, brokenly:
”Dear, you must not take me--that way--yet. I am not ready, Duane. You must give me time!”
”Time! Is anything--has anything gone wrong?”
”No--oh, no, no, no! Don't you understand I must take my own time? I've won the right to it; I'm winning out, Duane--winning back myself. I must have my little year of self-respect. Oh, _can't_ you understand that you mustn't sweep me off my feet this way?--that I'm too proud to go to you--have you take me while there remains the faintest shadow of risk?”
”But I don't care! I want you!” he cried.
”I love you for it; I want you, Duane. But be fair to me; don't take me until I am as clean and straight and untainted as the girl I was--as I am becoming--as I will be--surely, surely--my darling!”
She caught his hands in hers and, close to him, looked into his eyes smilingly, tearfully, and a little proudly. The sensitive under-lip quivered; but she held her head high.