Part 45 (1/2)
”Please don't let us say a single word more about it. If you have any feeling, any consideration for me, you'll let me go at once.”
The moment was a bad one for her too. She had spent an evening alone with bitter thoughts; she had strolled out in a miserable restlessness.
Seeing the carriage pa.s.s, feeling sure that Harry was in it, she had first thought that she would hide herself till he had gone, then decided to try to reach the house before he had parted from Vivien. Her wavering landed her there at the one wrong minute.
Harry glanced up at the house; every window was dark. Vivien's room looked over the lake, the servants' quarters to the back. There was danger, of course; somebody might come; but n.o.body was there to see now.
The danger was enough to incite, not enough to deter. And what he had to say was very short.
”I only want to tell you how deeply sorry I am, and to ask you to forgive me.”
”That's soon said--and soon answered. I forgive you, if I have anything to forgive.”
Her voice was very low, it broke and trembled on the last words of the sentence.
”I had lost the right to love you, and I hadn't the courage to regain my freedom, with all that meant to--to poor Vivien and--others. But at least I was sincere. I didn't pretend--”
”Please, please!” Her tones sank to a whisper; he strained forward to catch it. ”Have some mercy on me, Harry!”
The old exultation and the old recklessness seized on him. He suffered a very intoxication of the senses. Her strength made weakness, her stateliness turned to trembling for his sake--the spectacle swept away his good resolves as the wind blows the loose petals from a fading rose.
Springing forward, he tried to grasp her hands. She put them behind her back, and stood thus, her face upturned to his, her eyes set on him intently. He spoke in a low hoa.r.s.e voice.
”I can't stand any more of it. I've tried and tried. I love Vivien in a way, and I hate to hurt her. And I hate all the fuss too. But I can't do it any more. You're the girl for me, Isobel! It comes home to me--right home--every time I see you. Let's face it--it'll soon be over! A minute with you is worth an hour with her. I tell you I love you, Isobel.” He stooped suddenly and kissed the upturned lips.
”You think that to-night. You won't to-morrow. The--the other side of it will come back.”
”Face the other side with me, and I can stand it. You love me--you know you do!”
The trees swayed, murmured, and creaked under the wind; the water lapped on the edge of the lake. The footsteps of a man walking up the drive pa.s.sed unheard by the engrossed lovers. The man came to where he could see their figures. A sudden stop; then he glided into the cover of the bushes which fringed the lake, and began to crawl cautiously and noiselessly towards the house. To save Wellgood from kicking his heels for an idle hour after dinner in the hotel, and again for an idle half-hour at the station where he had to change, Lord Meriton had performed, at the cost of a _detour_ of seven or eight miles, the friendly office of bringing his colleague home in his motor-car. It is to little accidents like this that impetuous lovers are exposed. So natural when they have happened--this thing had even happened once before--so unlikely to be thought of beforehand, they are indeed florins marked by the cunning hand of chance.
Isobel made no effort to deny Harry's challenge.
”Yes, I love you, and you know it. If I didn't, I should be the most treacherous creature on earth, and the worst! Even as it is, I've nothing to boast about. But I love you, and if there were no to-morrow I'd do anything you wish or ask.”
”There is no to-morrow now; it will always be like to-night.” He bent again and softly kissed her.
”I daren't think so, Harry! I daren't believe it.” Unconsciously she raised her voice in a little wail. The words reached Wellgood, where he was now crouching behind a bush. He dared come no nearer, lest they should hear his movements.
Harry had lost all hold on himself now. The pale image of Vivien was obliterated from his mind. He had no doubt about to-morrow--how had he ever doubted?--and he pleaded his cause with a pa.s.sion eloquent and infectious. It was hard to meet pa.s.sion like that with denial and doubt; sorely hard when belief would bring such joy and triumph!
”If you do think so to-morrow--” She slowly put her hands out to him, a happy tremulous smile on her face.
But before he could take her to his arms, a rapid change came into her eyes. She held up a hand in warning. The handle of the door had turned.
Both faced round, the door opened, and Vivien looked out.
”Oh, there you are, Isobel!” she exclaimed in a tone of relief. ”I couldn't think what had become of you. I went into your room to tell you about the dinner.”
”I saw the carriage pa.s.s as I was strolling in the drive, but when I got to the door you'd gone in.” Her voice shook a little, but her face was now composed.
”It's my fault. I kept Miss Vintry talking on the doorstep.”