Part 5 (2/2)
”I think you will still manage to be a good deal away----”
He had been right after all. Athena was only thinking of Jane Oglander's marriage as it affected herself.
”Of course I shall stay away as much as I can!” she cried. ”You and Richard much prefer my absence to my presence----” her look challenged a contradiction Wantele did not--could not utter.
”And then--and then that isn't all, d.i.c.k! I didn't mind being here when Jane was here too to make things go well----”
”Perhaps Jane will sometimes leave her hero during the very few weeks of the year that you are, as it were, in residence, Athena. He's going, it seems, to be given a home appointment. I suppose they will be married very soon?”
Wantele did not look at her as he spoke. He was tracing an imaginary pattern on the tablecloth. The numbness induced by the horrible blow she had dealt him was beginning to give way to stinging stabs of pain. He longed to know more--to know everything--to turn as it were a jagged knife in his heart-wound.
Mrs. Maule dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief, then she laughed.
”No, no, d.i.c.k,” she cried, ”there's no such luck in store for you--I mean for us! We're going to lose Jane--once for all. Jane has taken it rather badly. I never thought that dear saint would fall in love!” She suddenly became aware that his eyes were fixed on the letter she had thrust into the bodice of her gown when walking down the long gallery upstairs. She took it out of her warm and scented bodice, and held it out to him.
”I think you'd better read what she says.”
Wantele looked at the pretty hand holding Jane Oglander's letter, but he made no attempt to take the folded paper. ”I should _like_ to read it--”
he said lightly, ”but I think I'd better not.”
”Yes, do read it, d.i.c.k. Why shouldn't you?” She added slowly, ”There's something about you in it too----”
Wantele hesitated, and then he fell. He leant over and took Jane Oglander's letter from her hand. His own was shaking, and that angered him. He turned his chair right round, and holding the two sheets of grey paper up close to his eyes deliberately read them slowly through.
As at last he handed them back to her, he said quietly, ”You told me a lie just now, Athena. I am not mentioned in Jane's letter.”
”Indeed you are!” She pointed to a thin line of writing across the top of the second sheet.
”'I hope d.i.c.k won't mind much'--” she read aloud.
”There's something else!” he cried quickly, and getting up strode round and took the letter again from her with a masterful hand. ”'I hope d.i.c.k won't mind much'--” he read aloud, ”'or dear Richard either.'”
Then he let the letter drop on the cloth beside her. The numbness had all gone, the pain he felt had become almost intolerable.
Mrs. Maule again tucked Jane Oglander's letter inside her bodice, then she got up. As he held the door open for her, Wantele put his hand, his cool, long-fingered, impersonal hand, on her arm.
”Athena,” he said softly. ”I wonder how it is that you have always had the gift of making me do things of which I knew I should live to feel ashamed. A unique gift, dear cousin----”
She turned and laughed mischievously up into his pale suffering face.
”The woman tempted me, and so of course I ate!” she exclaimed. ”You're not much of a man, d.i.c.k, but you have always been a thorough man in the matter of making excuses for yourself!”
CHAPTER IV
”He smarteth most who hides his smart And sues for no compa.s.sion.”
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