Part 36 (2/2)
”Now may I tell you about my affairs?”
”Yes, do.”
”I'm following O'Hara's lead and leaving England,” and he looked hard into her face.
”Leaving England!” she repeated, with frank dismay--indeed, far too frank for Ted, who was sufficiently wise in these matters to know that such a complete absence of self-consciousness left but little room for him to hope in.
”Yes,” dropping his eyes gloomily to the carpet. ”At once.”
”I _am_ sorry,” she said expressively. ”Why do you go? What is happening to England that you and Jack and Lawrence Blake and everyone must all go abroad?”
”Lawrence Blake?” he asked, in some surprise.
Paddy coloured painfully.
”Yes, didn't you know? He went to India a month after the dance.”
Ted watched her inquiringly, uncertain whether or not to ask a particular question.
Paddy settled the matter for him.
”It was rather a good thing,” she said, trying to speak naturally. ”He and Eileen were hovering on the brink of an engagement, and it would not have been a suitable match. He would never have made a girl like Eileen happy.”
Ted drew his own conclusions, but all he said, was:
”O'Hara will get his chance now--lucky beggar,” and then suddenly relapsed into thought, as it dawned upon him it might in the end mean his own chance, too.
”You have not told me why you are going abroad?” she said, after a pause.
”I am going to South Africa for the firm I am with.”
”For good?”
”For several years, I expect.”
”Why do you go?”
”Well, you see,” he began slowly, ”it's a very good opening for a man who wants to get on, and I want that even more now than I ever wanted it before.” She waited, and he continued: ”Engineering is rather overdone in England, and it's very hard work to get any kind of a real footing at all. The firm is opening a big, new branch in Africa, and they have offered me the managers.h.i.+p. It is a very good thing, and I have accepted it.”
”But still,” reasoned Paddy, ”you were all right as you were before.”
He smiled a little.
”No, that's just it. I wasn't all right. You see, Miss Adair, there comes a time in a man's life when he suddenly wakes up to the fact that he'd desperately like a home of his own, and that makes him think more seriously of the pounds, s.h.i.+llings, and pence. I want my home to be right in the country, too,” he added whimsically, half to himself, ”if possible, where there are mountains and a loch and plenty of fis.h.i.+ng and shooting.”
Paddy said nothing, but she felt a queer little thrill all down her back. She turned her head away and stared hard into the glowing coals.
She knew his eyes were fixed searchingly on her face, but she would not look round, nor give him the chance to see the consciousness in her own.
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