Part 40 (2/2)
He wavered before the finality of her tone.
”But you love me,” he urged.
She was silent, and stood with her eyes fixed on the floor at his feet.
Then, of a sudden, she raised her eyes to his, and Thayer was dazzled by the light that was s.h.i.+ning in them.
”Yes,” she answered, with a quiet dignity which he could not gainsay.
”And that is the very reason that I will not marry you. I love you too well--so well that I can never allow you to become the father of Sidney Lorimer's child.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
”I believe my world is overcrowded,” Sally said, one January afternoon, two years later.
”Arlt, why don't you take the hint?” Bobby asked languidly. ”I am too comfortable to stir, and she evidently wishes to get rid of somebody.”
”Possibly she means me; but I was the last to come, so I shall outstay you both,” Miss Gannion said, laughing. ”At least, Sally, your hospitality does you credit.”
With leisurely fingers, Sally was opening her teaball; but Bobby interposed.
”I wouldn't make any tea for us, Sally. I know you are afraid it may not hold out for your crowded universe, and we three have been here often enough to have dispelled any illusions about the quality of your cups.
Two are cracked, and one has a nick exactly in the spot where we drink.
I suspect Arlt of having cut his wisdom teeth on it.”
”Only women cut their wisdom teeth on a teacup,” Miss Gannion observed.
”But really, Sally, I would save my tea until the crowd shows itself.”
Sally shook her head.
”You interrupted me in the midst of my thesis.”
Bobby interrupted again.
”It is our only chance to get in a word. We have to insert its thin edge at a comma, or else keep still. You never have any conversational semicolons, to say nothing of periods.”
”As I was saying,” Sally repeated pertinaciously; ”my world is overcrowded. I have so many acquaintances that I never get time to enjoy my friends.”
”What about now?” Bobby queried. ”Here are we, and here is time. Which is lacking: enjoyment, or friends.h.i.+p?”
”Oh, this is an interlude, and doesn't count. We shall just get into the midst of a little rational conversation, though, and two or three stupid people will come in and reduce us to talking about the weather.”
”You might send out cards,” Arlt suggested, with the hesitating accent which was so characteristic of him. ”Why not announce that on Tuesdays you are at home to clever people and friends only?”
”Yes; but it is no subject for joking,” Sally persisted. ”Last Tuesday in all that storm, for the first time this winter, Mr. Thayer came to see me. I know how busy he is, and I was just preparing to make the most of his call, when Mrs. Stanley came swis.h.i.+ng and creaking into the room, and she babbled about her servants and her lumbago until Mr. Thayer took his departure. I wanted to administer poison.”
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