Part 17 (2/2)
”I wonder,” he said slowly.
”What are you wondering, Mr. Lothian?”
--”If you realise how easy it is to be by the sea. I know it's cheek to ask you--or at least I suppose it is, but let's go!”
”How do you mean, Mr. Lothian?”
”Let's motor down to Brighton now, at once. Let's dine at the Metropole, and go and sit on the pier afterwards, and then rush home under the stars whenever we feel inclined. Will you!”
”How splendid!” she cried, ”now! at once? get out of everything?”
”Yes, now. I am to be the fairy G.o.dmother. You have only to say the magic word, and I will wave my wand. The blue heat mists of evening will be over the ripe Suss.e.x cornfields, and we shall see the poppies drinking in the blood of the sinking sun with their burnt red mouths.
And then, when we have dined, the moon will wash the sea with silver, the stars will come out like golden rain and the Queen Moon will be upon her throne! We shall see the long, lit front of Brighton like a horned crescent of topaz against the black velvet of the downs. And while we watch it under the moon, the breeze shall bring us faint echoes of the fairy flutes from Prospero's enchanted Island--'But doth suffer a sea-change into something rich and strange--' And then the sea will take up the burthen 'Ding-dong, ding-dong bell.' Now say the magic word!”
”There is magic in the Magician's voice already, and I needs must answer. Yes! and oh, yes, YES a thousand times!”
”The commandments of convention mean nothing to you?”
”They are the Upper Ten Commandments, not mine.”
”Then I will go and command my dragon. I know where you live. Be ready in an hour!”
”How perfectly, _perfectly_ sweet! And may we, oh, may we have a lobster mayonnaise for dinner?”
CHAPTER V
”FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A GIRL FRIEND”
”Across the hills, and far away Beyond their utmost purple rim, And deep into the dying day The happy princess followed him.”
--_Tennyson._
Lothian went back to his club in a taxi-cab, telling the man to drive at top speed. On the way he ordered a motor-car to go to Brighton and to call for him within twenty minutes.
He was in a state of great exhilaration. He had not had such an adventure as this for years--if ever before. A girl so lovely, so clever, so young--and particularly of his own social rank--he had never met, save for a short s.p.a.ce of time and under the usual social conditions which forbade any real intimacy.
Even in the days before his marriage, flirtations, or indeed any companions.h.i.+p, with girls who were not of his cla.s.s had not attracted him. He had never, unlike other men no less brilliant and gifted than himself, much cared for even the innocent side of Bohemian camaraderie with girls.
And to have a girl friend--and such a girl as Rita Wallace--was a delightful prospect. He saw himself responding to all sorts of simple feminine confidences, exploring reverently the unknown country of the Maiden mind, helping, protecting; unfolding new beauties for the young girl's delight. Yes! he would have a girl friend!
The thing should be ideal, pure and without a thought of harm. She understood him, she trusted herself to him at once and she should be repaid richly from the stores of his mind. None knew better than he what jewels he had to give to one who could recognise jewels when she saw them.
He changed his hat for a cap and had a coat brought down from his bedroom. Should he write a note to Mary at home? He had not sent her more than two telegrams of the ”All going splendidly, too busy to write,” kind, during the five days he had been in London. He decided that he would write a long letter to-morrow morning. Not to-night.
To-night was to be one of pure, fresh pleasure. Every prospect pleased.
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