Part 18 (2/2)
”Oh, Billy.” She spoke quickly. ”There was one place out there at Wood Mills. You wouldn't have liked it. But it was too wonderful!”
He drew a deep breath of relief at the sudden change in her voice.
”What was it, Gina? Why wouldn't I have liked it?”
She fidgeted a bit.
”Why? Oh--because.”
”Because what, Gina?”
”It was just one big estate, Billy. A girl owns it. She's an orphan.
She's very beautiful. She lives there all by herself except for a couple of old servants. Claire Trent and I saw her once or twice when we rode through the place. Claire says she's sort of queer. She doesn't bother about people. She doesn't like them, Claire says. She spends all her time around the place.”
”That sounds very strenuous, Gina.”
”Oh, it isn't, Billy. It's lovely. The estate is.”
”I've heard the places there are pretty.”
”Pretty! But this one, Billy;” in her enthusiasm she leaned eagerly forward. ”You couldn't imagine it! There are miles and miles. And the whole thing; Claire says the whole year round; it's just one big ma.s.s of flowers.”
In spite of himself he pulled his arm away from the girl's waist.
”Oh, is it?”
”Billy, I know you don't like flowers. But this! You've never seen anything like this!”
”There're probably lots and lots of places like it, little sister.”
”Oh, no!” Her tone was vehement. ”There couldn't be. Not such a garden!
All rhododendrons and lilies of the valley--; is anything wrong, Billy?”
”Nothing. Those flowers grow in all gardens at this time of the year.”
She stared into his blanched face and her brows drew together in a puzzled frown.
”Not like this, Billy. Really. I've never seen such rhododendrons or such lilies. And the violets and roses!”
He got to his feet suddenly.
”What?” He asked hoa.r.s.ely. ”What flowers did you say?”
”Why, rhododendrons--and lilies,--and--lilies. What is it, Billy?”
”Go on, Gina. Go on!”
<script>