Part 5 (1/2)

”You will be wanting food and clothes no doubt, and you will expect me to provide them.”

”Oh, never! You don't think I would take such an advantage of you, Jarvis, as to marry you when you were in a work fit and then expect you to support me?”

The Professor shook his head in despair, and arose.

”It's beyond me, all this modern madness. I wash my hands of the whole affair.”

”That's right, Professor Parkhurst. I married him, you know; you didn't.”

”Well, keep him out of my study,” he warned.

Then he gathered up his scattered belongings, and turned his absent gaze on Bambi.

”What is it I want? Oh, yes. Call Ardelia.”

Bambi rang, and Ardelia answered the summons.

”Ardelia, did I ask you to remind me of anything this morning?”

She scratched her head in deep thought.

”No, sah, not's as I recolleck. It was yistiddy you tol' me to remin'

you, and I done forgot what it was.”

”Ardelia, you are not entirely reliable,” he remarked, as he pa.s.sed her.

”No, sah. I ain't jes' what you call----” she muttered, following him out.

Bambi brought up the rear, chuckling over this daily controversy, which never failed to amuse her.

When the front door slammed, she came back to where Jarvis sat, his untouched luncheon before him. He watched her closely as she flashed into the room, like some swift, vivid bird perching opposite him.

”I spoiled your luncheon,” she laughed.

”Bambi, why did you do this thing?”

”Good heavens, I don't know. I did it because I'm I, I suppose.”

”You wanted to marry me?” he persisted.

”I thought I ought to. Somebody had to look after you, and I am used to looking after father. I like helpless men.”

”So you were sorry for me? It was pity----”

”Rubbish. I believe in you. If you have a chance to work out your salvation you will be a big man. If you are hectored to death, you will kill yourself, or compromise, and that will be the end of you.”

”You see that--you understand----”

He pushed back his chair and came to her.