Part 39 (1/2)
Lawrence looked at her deprecatingly ”I don't like you to be prejudiced, dear, even on ht injure Walters now and can't treat hi soon and, if it's any corounds for the next day or two Anyhow I've rather overdone things lately”
”Thank you for the prolad when her mother joined them, for she felt baffled and wanted to think
She hated Walters with a half-instinctive hatred that reflection showed her was justified; but beyond the concession he had made Lawrence would not be ical and she was not She was sure Walters had plotted to leave hih she admitted that he had meant to save his life when he turned dizzy upon the trunk It was possible that he had yielded to sudden generous emotion, but she did not accept the explanation The felloas cold-blooded and calculating; she thought he had deliberately let his opportunity pass, because, after this, nobody would believe hiuilty if he found another But he must not find an opportunity, and it was a keen relief to know that Foster would soon arrive She had not told Lawrence yet; it ht be better to let Foster et dark, she stood near the glass front of the veranda and glanced at her watch She could see for some distance down the valley and knew that the smoke of a locomotive would spread in a dark cloud across the tops of the pines The train was late, but there was no s climb from sea-level at Vancouver Inlet and in winter the line was soround for alarm, but somehow she orse afraid of Walters than before
The radually faded to a forray slopes of snow There was no sound from the valley by the roar of the river, and by and by a servant turned on the la outside and shi+vered as she looked at her watch
She hoped no accident had delayed the tra near her mother, had picked up a book, but put it dohen Walters calanced at hiht of a noxious insect Yet there was nothing about Walters to excite aversion He was rather a handsoroup
”The trouble about a pleasant time is that it comes to an end, and I'll have to pull out to-raphs you proet them now and you can choose which you like They're in my room”
”I want one with Miss Stephen in it as well as yourself,” Walters replied ”It will be so to remind me of our climbs”
”Send the boy for the packet,” Lucy interposed
”I think the drawer's locked; anyhow I don't want the boy to upset o with you,” said Walters ”It will save you taking the packet back and you can get ready for dinner while you are upstairs”
Lawrence got up ”Very well; we'll go now”
”Take the elevator, even if you have to wait,” Lucy said as they went to the door
Lawrence had chosen a rooood and it got the sun early in the , but now and then walked up the stairs to see how fast he was recovering his strength
After a minute or two, Lucy heard the elevator start and its harsh rumble jarred her nerves The electric lifts they use in Canada seldo well Lucy was annoyed that the sound disturbed her, and i their walk She was nervous and adht when Walters ith him She tried to persuade herself that this was foolish, but could not banish her uneasiness Then Mrs Stephen looked up
”There's the train; I didn't hear it stop”
Lucy listened She had forgotten the train for the last fewof theof wheels see climb had not been interrupted The Montreal express did not stop at the flag station unless the conductor arned She felt daunted as she realized that Foster ht not have coraphed for him
A few minutes later she heard steps outside; then the door opened, and she felt a thrill of satisfaction as Foster carave and rather hot, as if he had been walking fast, but it was strangely co companion, aited with Scottish calm
Foster bowed to Mrs Stephen and then turned to Lucy
”Is Lawrence all right?”
”Yes He overtired hi, but is better now”
Foster looked relieved ”Is Walters here?”