Part 22 (2/2)
”Oh, yes,” she said, with her giggle, ”I know that”
(”Well you just don't!” he answered her in his heart ”You think you're going to lunch with John Pilgriht!”)
”Besides,” he continued aloud, ”how can you say you're ruined when I' that I paid 100 for?”
”But where am I to find the other half of theabsolutely on you for it If I don't get it, the option will be lost, and the option's very valuable”
”All the easier to find the money then!”
”What? In less than twenty-four hours? It can't be done I couldn't get it in all London”
”Mr Marrier will get it for youone of his certainties!” Edward Henry sht_, you knaoo!” said Marrier, brightening to full hope in the fraction of a second
But Rose Euclid only shook her head
”Mr Seven Sachs, then?” Edward Henry suggested
”I should have been delighted,” said Mr Sachs, with the racious tranquillity ”But I cannot find another 2250 to-morrow”
”I shall just speak to that Mr Bryany!” said Rose Euclid, in the accents of hoht to,” Edward Henry concurred ”But that won't help things I feel a little responsible, especially to a lady You have a quarter of the whole option left in your hands, Miss Euclid I'll pay you at the saave 100 for half Your quarter is therefore worth 50 Well, I'll pay you 50”
”And then what?”
”Then let the whole affair slide”
”But that won't helpShe was now decidedly less unhappy than her face pretended, because Edward Henry had rerim, and she had dreams of world-triulad to be rid of all the worry of the horrid little prospective theatre
”I have bank-notes,” cooed Edward Henry, softly
Her head sank
Edward Henry rose in the incoown and walked to and fro a little, and then from his secret store he produced a bundle of notes, and counted out five tens and, co behind Rose, stretched out his arm, and laid the treasure on the table in front of her under the brilliant chandelier
”I don't want you to feel you have anything against ned Edward Henry resuazed at Rose Euclid She was quite a dozen years older than his wife, and she looked more than a dozen years older She had no fixed hoular situation She accepted the ho men, ere cleverer than herself save in one important respect She was always in and out of restaurants and hotels and express trains She was always coienic indiscretions She could not refrain froard to her years, her waist and her complexion, was ridiculous His ould have been afraid of her and would have despised her, siaze of the gaping public No tomen could possibly be more utterly dissimilar than Rose Euclid and the cloistered Nellie And yet, as Rose Euclid's hesitant fingers closed on the bank-notes with a gesture of relief, Edward Henry had an agreeable and kindly sensation that all women were alike, after all, in the need of a shi+eld, a protection, a strong and generous male hand He was touched by the spectacle of Rose Euclid, as nave as any young lass when confronted by actual bank-notes; and he was touched also by the thought of Nellie and the children afar off, existing in comfort and peace, but utterly, wistfully, dependent on hirowled Carlo Trent
”You!”