Part 43 (1/2)
”Yes, they ordered me to move on, as if I were a common loafer,” he said, with a soft chuckle. ”I'm used to it, however. They ran me out of Meshed for taking snapshots; they banished me from Damascus, and they all but kicked me out of Jerusalem--I won't say why. But where have you kept yourself? Why have you avoided me? After getting the Prince to parade me in front of your windows, too. It's dirt mean, Loraine.”
”I have been ill, Truxton--truly, I have,” she said quickly, uneasily.
”See here, what's wrong? You are in trouble. I can tell by your manner.
Tell me--trust me.”
”I am worried so dreadfully about John,” she faltered.
”That isn't all,” he declared. ”There's something else. What promise did you make to Vos Engo last Sat.u.r.day after--well, if you choose to recall it--after I brought you back to him--what did you promise him?”
”Don't be cruel, Truxton,” she pleaded. ”I cannot forget all you have done for me.”
”You told Vos Engo to ride back and pick me up,” he persisted. ”He told me in so many words. Now, I want a plain answer, Loraine. Did you promise to reward him if he--well, if he saved me from the mob?”
She was breathlessly silent for a moment. ”No,” she said, in a low voice.
”What was it, then? I must know, Loraine.” He was bending over her, imperiously.
”I am very--oh, so very unhappy, Truxton,” she murmured. He was on the point of clasping her in his arms and kissing her. But he thought better of it.
”I came near spoiling everything just now,” he whispered hoa.r.s.ely.
”What?”
”I almost kissed you, Loraine,--I swear it was hard to keep from it.
That would have spoiled everything.”
”Yes, it would,” she agreed quickly.
”I'm not going to kiss you until you have told me you love Vos Engo.”
”I--I don't understand,” she cried, drawing back and looking up into his face with bewildered eyes.
”Because then I'll be sure that you love me.”
”Be sensible, Truxton.”
”I'll know that you promised to love him if he'd save me. It's as clear as day to me. You _did_ tell him you'd marry him if he got me to a place of safety.”
”No. I _refused_ to marry him if he did not save you. Oh, Truxton, I am so miserable. What is to become of all of us? What is to become of John, and Bobby--and you?”
”I--I think I'll kiss you now, Loraine,” he whispered almost tremulously. ”G.o.d, how I love you, little darling!”
”Don't!” she whispered, resolutely pus.h.i.+ng him away after a sweet second of indecision. ”I cannot--I cannot, Truxton dear. Don't ask me to--to do that. Not now, please--not now!”
He stiffened; his hands dropped to his sides, but there was joy in his voice.
”I can wait,” he said gently. ”It's only a matter of a few days; and I--I won't make it any harder for you just now. I think I understand.
You've--you've sort of pledged yourself to that--to him, and you don't think it fair to--well, to any of us. I'm including you, you see. I know you don't love him, and I know that you're going to love me, even if you don't at this very instant. I'm not a very stupid person, after all. I can see through things. I saw through it all when he came back for me.