Part 34 (2/2)

”Yes,” answered Monte, ”that's true. I say, old man--it's getting a bit cool here. Perhaps we'd better go in.”

Monte had planned for them a drive to Cannes the day Beatrice sent word to Marjory that she would be unable to go.

”But you two will go, won't you?” she concluded her note. ”Peter will be terribly disappointed if you don't.”

So they went, leaving at ten o'clock. At ten-fifteen Beatrice came downstairs, and ran into Monte just as he was about to start his walk.

”You're feeling better?” he asked politely.

She shook her head.

”I--I'm afraid I told a fib.”

”You mean you stayed because you did n't want to go.”

”Yes. But I did n't say I had a headache.”

”I know how you feel about that,” he returned. ”Leaving people to guess wrong lets you out in one way, and in another it does n't.”

She appeared surprised at his directness. She had expected him to pa.s.s the incident over lightly.

”It was for Peter's sake, anyhow,” she tried to justify her position.

”But don't let me delay you, please. I know you 're off for your morning walk.”

That was true. But he was interested in that statement she had just made that it was for Peter's sake she had remained behind. It revealed an amazingly dense ignorance of both her brother's position and Marjory's. On no other theory could he make it seem consistent for her to encourage a tete-a-tete between a married woman and a man as deeply in love with some one else as Peter was.

”Won't you come along a little way?” he asked. ”We can turn back at any time.”

She hesitated a moment--but only a moment.

”Thanks.”

She fell into step at his side as he sought the quay.

”You've been very good to Peter,” she said. ”I've wanted a chance to tell you so.”

”You did n't remain behind for that, I hope,” he smiled.

”No,” she admitted; ”but I do appreciate your kindness. Peter has had such a terrible time of it.”

”And yet,” mused Monte aloud, ”he does n't seem to feel that way himself.”

”He has confided in you?”

”A little. He told me he regretted nothing.”

”He has such fine courage!” she exclaimed.

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