Part 61 (2/2)
”Does it amuse you?” He was flushed now, even the marble mantel-piece ruddied by the flame. ”I wish it amused me.”
Now it was Eileen's turn to gasp. ”Then why do you listen?”
”I don't listen--I bury myself as far away as I can.”
”So I have understood. Then what are you thanking me for?”
”For what you are doing for--.” his hesitation was barely perceptible--”my mother.”
”Oh!” Eileen looked blank. ”I thought you meant for my music.”
His face showed vast relief. ”Oh, you were talking of your music! Of course, of course, how stupid of me! That is what has drawn me from my hole, like a rat to the Pied Piper, and I do thank you most sincerely.
But being drawn, what I most wished to thank the Piper for was--”
”Your mother pays the Piper for that,” she broke in.
He smiled but tossed his head. ”Money! what is that?”
”It is more than I deserve for mere companions.h.i.+p--pleasant drives and theatres.”
He did not accept her delicate reticence.
”But you have altered her wonderfully!” he cried.
”Oh, I have not,” she cried, doubly startled. ”It's just nothing that I have done--nothing.” Then she felt her modesty had put her foot in a bog-hole. Unseeingly he helped her out.
”It is most kind of you to put it like that. But I see it in every movement, every word. She imitates you unconsciously--I became curious to see so excellent a model, though I had resolved not to meet you. No, no, please, don't misunderstand.”
”I don't,” she said mischievously. ”You have now given me three reasons for seeing me. You need give me none for not seeing me.”
”But you must understand,” he said, colouring again, ”how painful all this has been for me--”
”Not seeing me?” she interpolated innocently.
”The--the whole thing,” he stammered.
”Yes, parents are tiresome,” she said sympathetically.
He came nearer the music-stool.
”Are they not? They came down every year for the Eights.”
”Is that at Oxford?”
”Yes.”
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