Part 20 (1/2)
”No.” A little, quizzical smile hovered about her lips. ”I think you were quite sufficiently punished for that.”
Ignoring the dull red which swept up into his face, she led the way to the drawing-room and dropped into a chair, motioning him to one on the opposite side of the glowing hearth.
”I thought you would be at the opera to-night; I looked for you there, but Mrs. Halstead said you did not feel quite up to it, so I came on the chance that you would say 'How do you do?' to me. We have all missed you in Limasito.”
”You have become quite a native, then?” She raised her eyebrows. ”You find the life there more congenial, perhaps, than at first.”
”Not since you left, my dear Billie. Or is that name forbidden?”
”It is forgotten. Only my friends may recall it, and you were never of their number, Mr. Wiley.”
”I beg your pardon. I, too, had forgotten for the moment that it must bring you tragic memories.” His voice was lowered to the tones of conventional condolence. ”Believe me, I would not have grieved you, Miss Murdaugh. I meant it for a jest, but it was lucklessly ill-timed.”
”I would rather not speak of what is past, Mr. Wiley. It is still too fresh in my memory.” Willa's eyes, fixed on the flames, were dry and very bright.
”But now that you are here, perhaps you will tell me something of my friends.”
”Gladly, but there is little news,” he responded hastily. ”I have been very busy and, as you know, nothing interests me below the border now but my work. Your friend, Jim Baggott, is flouris.h.i.+ng, the crowd that bought out the Blue Chip are bringing new life to Limasito--but I have hurt you again. I am sorry.”
Willa had winced uncontrollably, but she recovered herself and smiled.
”And Mr. Thode?” She voiced her query blandly, and Wiley flushed.
”I have seen nothing of him,” he responded. ”To tell you the truth, I've forgotten the very existence of the fellow. He took care to keep out of my way after your departure until I myself went West.”
”You have not come, then, directly from Mexico?”
”No. A little matter of business took me to Arizona. I may tell you of it sometime, I am sure it would be of peculiar interest to you.” He smiled, with an odd light in his eyes. ”As for Kearn Thode, if you'll permit a little friendly advice, Miss Murdaugh, I wouldn't waste any thoughts on him. I don't believe in discussing a chap's affairs behind his back, but I can a.s.sure you his own memory is very short.”
”Still, I do not forget my friends, Mr. Wiley, nor my enemies.”
”There is much else that I would like to ask you to forget,” he said slowly. ”I was a cad, I know, but I fancied that you were too broad and generous to hold the madness of a moment against me. I hoped you would be more kind to me when we met here in the environment in which we both belong. I even dreamed that we might be friends.”
”Are we enemies, Mr. Wiley?” She raised her eyes to his. ”I a.s.sure you I have not given that little scene on the camino a second thought.”
”Then shall we start all over?” he asked eagerly. ”Since you deny me a former one, won't you let our friends.h.i.+p date from this hour? I cannot tell you how delighted I was when I learned that your relatives had found you and that you had taken your rightful place. I knew from the first that you were different to the rest; you were the only one I cared to know, and you would not----”
”Play about with you?” She smiled dryly. ”I don't think I have ever learned how to play, and now I am more serious than ever. There are responsibilities, I find, attached to my present situation of which that other girl in Limasito never dreamed.”
”Naturally,” he conceded, adding quickly: ”But you are fortunately not troubled with the details of your estate, while you have two such efficient guardians as Mr. North and your cousin.”
The rising inflection in his tone seemed to demand a reply, but Willa vouchsafed none and after a moment he went on:
”You must find the social life very engrossing. I know that I am always glad to get back to civilization after a few months in the wilds. I would have returned earlier in the season, but my work was not completed.”
”And is it now?” she asked with studied carelessness.
”Almost. I came to consult my partner, Harrington Chase--I believe you know him, by the way.”
”He dined here, but he said nothing about your return. My cousin was quite agreeably surprised. She is going on to the Judsons' after the opera, did she tell you?”