Part 9 (1/2)
Yet there was nothing she could say or do to prevent his immediate retreat.
Young Robinson, made aware that Garrison would soon be departing, appeared to be slightly excited.
”I'll go down and 'phone for my suit-case,” he said, and he left the room at once.
Aunt Jill and old Robinson sat down. It was quite impossible for Garrison to ask them again to retire. Dorothy crossed the room and seated herself before the piano. Garrison followed, and stood there at her side.
She had no spirit for music, and no inclination to play, nevertheless she permitted her hands to wander up and down the keys, calling forth a sweetly sad bit of Hungarian song that took a potent hold on Garrison's emotions.
”Is there anything I can do but go?” he murmured, his voice well masked by the melody. ”Do you think you may need me very soon?”
”I do not know. I hope not,” she answered, for him alone to hear.
”I'm sorry it's been so disagreeable. Do you really have to go away from town?”
”Yes.”
”To-day you said you had no employment.”
”It was true. Employment came within ten minutes of your leaving. I took it. For you know you hardly expected to require my services so soon.”
She played a trifle louder, and asked him:
”Where are you going?”
”To Branchville and Hickwood.”
The playing suddenly ceased. She looked up at him swiftly. In nervous haste she resumed her music.
”Not on detective work? You mentioned insurance.”
”It concerns insurance.”
She was silent for a moment.
”When do you return?”
”I hardly know,” he answered. ”And I suppose I've got to start at once in order to maintain our little fiction.”
”Don't forget to write,” she said, blus.h.i.+ng, as she had before; and she added: ”for appearances.” She rose from her seat.
Garrison pulled out his watch and remarked, for the Robinsons to hear: ”Well, I've got to be off.”
”Wait a minute, please,” said Dorothy, as if possessed by a sudden impulse, and she ran from the room like a child.
With nothing particularly pleasant to say to the Robinsons, Garrison approached a center-table and turned the pages of a book.
Dorothy was back in a moment.