Part 57 (2/2)
He saw that he was disturbing her, and he did not want to do that.
”Perhaps in time we'll see,” he said. ”I have a notion that some day you and I will get straightened out.”
”It does n't make so much difference about me; but you--you must get back to your schedule again as soon as ever you can.”
”Perhaps to a new one; but that must include you.”
She could not help the color in her cheeks. It was beyond her control.
”I must make my own little schedule,” she insisted.
”You are going back to the farm?”
She nodded.
”To-morrow we shall be in Italy. Then a train to Genoa and the next boat,” she said.
”After that?”
”In a week or so I shall be back where I started.”
”Then?”
She laughed nervously.
”I can't think much ahead of that. Perhaps I shall raise chickens.”
”Year after year?”
”Maybe.”
”If you lived to be seventy you'd have a lot of chickens by then, would n't you?”
”I--I don't know.”
It did sound ridiculous, the way he put it.
”Then--would you will them to some one?” he asked.
He was laughing at her. She was glad to have him do that rather than remain serious.
”Please don't make me look ahead to seventy,” she shuddered.
Monsieur Soucin was hovering about nervously. He wished to have everything cleared away before the officers arrived, and they would be here now in half an hour. He was solicitous about madame.
”It is a great pity that madame should sleep out of doors,” he said.
”It makes my heart ache. But, with monsieur to guard her, at least madame will be safe.”
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