CHAPTER X
Desboro's guests were determined to turn the house out of the windows;its stodgy respectability incited them; every smug, smooth portraitgoaded them to unusual effort, and they racked their brains to inventnovelties.
On one day they opened all the windows in the disused west wing, floodedthe ground floor, hung the great stone room with paper lanterns, andheld an ice carnival. As masks and costumes had been made entirely outof paper, there were several startling effects and abrupt retirements torepair damages; but the dancing on skates in the lantern light was verypretty, and even the youth and pride of Westchester found the pace notunsuitably rapid.
On another day, Desboro's feminine guests sent to town for enough greenflannel to construct caricatures of hunting coats for everybody.
The remains of a stagnant pack of harriers vegetated on a neighbouringestate; Desboro managed to mount his guests on his own live-stock,including mules, farm horses, polo ponies, and a yoke of oxen; and thecounty saw a hunting that they were not likely to forget.
Reggie Ledyard was magnificent astride an ox, with a paper megaphone fora hunting horn, rubber boots, and his hastily basted coat split fromskirt to collar. The harriers ran wherever they pleased, and theastonished farm mules wouldn't run at all. There was hystericalexcitement when one cotton-tail rabbit was started behind a barn andinstantly lost under it.
The hunt dinner was a weird and deafening affair, and the Weber-Fieldball costumes unbelievable.
Owing to reaction and exhaustion, repentant girls came to Jacquelinerequesting an interim of intellectual recuperation; so she obliginglyannounced a lecture in the jade room, and talked to them very prettilyabout jades and porcelains, suiting her words to their intellectualcapacity, which could grasp Kang-he porcelains and Celedon andSang-de-boeuf, but balked at the "three religions," and found _blancde Chine_ uninspiring. So she told them about the _famille vert_ and the_famille rose_; about the K'ang Hsi period, which they liked, and howthe imperial kilns at Kiangsi developed the wonderful _clair de lune_"turquoise blue" and "peach bloom," for which some of their friends orrelatives had paid through their various and assorted noses.
All of this her audience found interesting because they recognised inthe exquisite examples from Desboro's collection, with which Jacquelineillustrated her impromptu lecture, objects both fashionable andexpensive; and what is both fashionable and expensive appeals veryforcibly to mediocrity.
"I saw a jar like that one at the Clydesdales'," said Reggie Ledyard, atrifle excited at his own unexpected intelligence. "How much is itworth, Miss Nevers?"
She laughed and looked at the vase between her slender fingers.
"Really," she said, "it isn't worth very much. But wealthy people haveestablished fictitious values for many rather crude and commonplacethings. If people had the courage to buy only what appealed to thempersonally, there would be a mighty crash in tumbling values."
"We'd all wake up and find ourselves stuck," remarked Van Alstyne, whopossessed some pictures which he had come to loathe, but for which hehad paid terrific prices. "Jim, do you want to buy any primitives,guaranteed genuine?"
"There's the thrifty Dutch trader for you," said Reggie. "I'm loadedwith rickety old furniture, too. They got me to furnish my place withantiques! But you don't see me trying to sell 'em to my host at a houseparty!"
"Stop your disputing," said Desboro pleasantly, "and ask Miss Nevers forher professional opinion later. The chances are that you both have beenproperly stuck, and I never had any sympathy for wealthy ignorance,anyway."
But Ledyard and Van Alstyne, being very wealthy, became frightfullydepressed over the unfeeling jibes of Desboro; and Jacqueline seemed tobe by way of acquiring a pair of new clients.
In fact, both young men at various moments approached her on thesubject, but Desboro informed them that they might with equal proprietyask a physician to prescribe for them at a dance, and that Miss Nevers'office was open from nine until five.
"Gad," remarked Ledyard to Van Alstyne, with increasing respect, "she issome girl, believe _me_, Stuyve. Only if she ever married up with a manof our kind--good-night! She'd quit him in a week."
Van Alstyne touched his forehead significantly.
"Sure," he said. "Nothing doing _inside_ our conks. But why the Lordmade her such a peach outside as well as inside is driving me toJersey! Most of 'em are so awful to look at, don't y'know. Come on,anyway. _I_ can't keep away from her."
"She's somewhere with the others playing baseball golf," said Reggie,gloomily, following his friend. "Isn't it terrible to see a girl in theworld like that--apparently created to make some good gink happy--andsuddenly find out that she has even more brains than beauty! My God,Stuyve, it's hard on a man like me."
"Are you really hard hit?"
"_Am_ I? And how about you?"
"It's the real thing here," admitted Van Alstyne. "But what's the use?"
They agreed that there was no use; but during the dance that eveningboth young men managed to make their intentions clear to Jacqueline.
Reggie Ledyard had persuaded her to a few minutes' promenade in thegreenhouse; and there, standing amid thickets of spicy carnations, thegirl listened to her first proposal from a man of that outer world aboutwhich, until a few days ago, she had known nothing.
The boy was not eloquent; he made a clumsy attempt to kiss her and wasdefeated. He seemed to her very big, and blond, and handsome as he stoodthere; and she felt a little pity for him, too, partly because his ideaswere so few and his vocabulary so limited.
Perplexed, silent, sorry for him, yet still conscious of a little thrillof wonder and content that a man of the outer world had found hereligible, she debated within herself how best to spare him. And, asusual, the truth presented itself to her as the only explanation.
"You see," she said, lifting her troubled eyes, "I am in love with someone else."
"Good God!" he muttered. After a silence he said humbly: "Would it beunpardonable if I--_would_ you tell me whether you are engaged?"
She blushed with surprise at the idea.
"Oh, no," she said, startled. "I--don't expect to be."
"What?" he exclaimed incredulously. "Is there a man on earth ass enoughnot to fall in love with you if you ever condescended to smile at himtwice?"
But the ideas which he was evoking seemed to distress her, and sheaverted her face and stood twisting a long-stemmed carnation withnervous fingers.
Not even to herself, either before or since Desboro's letter which hadrevealed him so unmistakably, had the girl ventured in her inmostthoughts to think the things which this big, blond, loutish boy hadbabbled.
What Desboro was, she understood. She had had the choice of dismissinghim from her mind, with scorn and outraged pride as aids to help thesacrifice, or of accepting him as he was--as she knew him to be--for thesake of something about him as yet inexplicable even to herself.
And she had chosen.
But now a man of Desboro's world had asked her to be his wife. More thanthat; he had assumed that she was fitted to be the wife of anybody.
* * * * *
They walked back together. She was adorable with him, kind, timidlysympathetic and smilingly silent by turns, venturing even to rally him alittle, console him a little, moved by an impulse toward friendshipwholly unfeigned.
"All I have to say is," he muttered, "that you're a peach and a corker;and I'm going to invent some way of marrying you, even if it lands me inan East Side night-school."
Even he joined in her gay laughter; and presently Van Alstyne, who hadbeen glowering at them, managed to get her away. But she would havenothing further to do with greenhouses, or dark landings, or libraries;so he asked her bluntly while they were dancing; and she shook her head,and very soon dropped his arm.
There was a bay-window near them; she made a slight gesture ofirritation; and there, in the partly curtained seclusion, he learnedthat she was grateful and happy that he liked her so much; that
sheliked him very much, but that she loved somebody else.
He took it rather badly at first; she began to understand that few girlswould have lightly declined a Van Alstyne; and he was inclined to bepatronising, sulky and dignified--an impossible combination--for itditched him finally, and left him kissing her hands and declaringconstancy eternal.
That night, at parting, Desboro retained her offered hand a triflelonger than convention required, and looked at her more curiously thanusual.
"Are you enjoying the party, Jacqueline?"
"Every minute of it. I have never been as happy."
"I suppose you realise that everybody is quite mad about you."
"Everybody is nice to me! People are so much kinder than I imagined."
"Are they? How do you get on with the gorgon?"
"Mrs. Hammerton? Do you know she is perfectly sweet? I never dreamed shecould be so gentle and thoughtful and considerate. Why--and it seemsalmost ridiculous to say it--she seems to have the ideas of a motherabout whatever concerns me. She actually fusses over mesometimes--and--it is--agreeable."
An inexplicable shyness suddenly overcame her, and she said good-nighthastily, and mounted the stairs to her room.
Later, when she was prepared for bed, Mrs. Hammerton knocked and camein.
"Jacqueline," she said bluntly, "what was Reggie Ledyard saying to youthis evening? I'll box his ears if he proposed to you. Did he?"
"I--I am afraid he did."
"You didn't take him?"
"No."
"I should think not! I'd as soon expect you to marry a stable groom. Hehas all the beauty and healthy colour of one. Also the distinguishedmental capacity. You don't want that kind."
"I don't want any kind."
"I'm glad of it. Did any other fool hint anything more of that sort?"
"Mr. Van Alstyne."
"Oho! Stuyvesant, too? Well, what did you say to _him_?" asked the oldlady, with animation.
"I said no."
"What?"
"Of course, I said no. I am not in love with Mr. Van Alstyne."
"Child! Do you realise that you had the opportunity of your life!"
Jacqueline's smile was confused and deprecating.
"But when a girl doesn't care for a man----"
"Do you mean to marry for _love_?"
The girl sat silent a moment, then shook her head.
"I shall not marry," she said.
"Nonsense! And if you feel that way, what am I good for? What earthlyuse am I to you? Will you kindly inform me?"
She had seated herself on the bed's edge, leaning over the girl whereshe lay on her pillows.
"Answer me," she insisted. "Of what use am I to you?"
For a full minute the girl lay there looking up at her without stirring.Then a smile glimmered in her eyes; she lifted both arms and laid themon the older woman's shoulders.
"You are useful--this way," she said; and kissed her lightly on theforehead.
The effect on Aunt Hannah was abrupt; she caught the girl to her breastand held her there fiercely and in silence for a moment; then, releasingher, tucked her in with mute violence, turned off the light and marchedout without a word.
* * * * *
Day after day Desboro's guests continued to turn the house inside out,ransacking it from garret to cellar.
"We don't intend to do anything in this house that anybody has ever donehere, or at any house party," explained Reggie Ledyard to Jacqueline."So if any lady cares to walk down stairs on her head the incident willbe quite in order."
"Can she slide down the banisters instead?" asked Helsa Steyr.
"Oh, you'll have to slide up to be original," said Betty Barkley.
"How can anybody slide _up_ the banisters?" demanded Reggie hotly.
"You've the intellect of a terrapin," said Betty scornfully. "It'sbecause nobody has ever done it that it ought to be done here."
Desboro, seated on the pool table, told her she could do whatever shedesired, including arson, as long as she didn't disturb the AqueductPolice.
Katharine Frere said to Jacqueline: "Everything you do is so original.Can't you invent something new for us to do?"
"She might suggest that you all try to think," said Mrs. Hammertontartly. "That would be novelty enough."
Cairns seized the megaphone and shouted: "Help! Help! Aunt Hannah isafter us!"
Captain Herrendene, seated beside Desboro with a half smile on his face,glanced across at Jacqueline who stood in the embrasure of a window, abilliard cue resting across her shoulders.
"Please invent something for us, Miss Nevers," he said.
"Why don't you play hide and seek?" sneered Mrs. Hammerton, busilyknitting a tie. "It's suited to your intellects."
"Let Miss Nevers suggest a new way of playing the oldest game everinvented," added Betty Barkley. "There is no possibility of inventinganything new; everything was first done in the year one. Evenprotoplasmic cells played hide-and-seek together."
"What rot!" said Reggie. "You can't play that in a new way."
"You could play it in a sporting way," said Cairns.
"How's that, old top?"
"Well, for example, you conceal yourself, and whatever girl finds youhas got to marry you. How's that for a reckless suggestion?"
But it had given Reggie something resembling an idea.
"Let us be hot sports," he said, with animation; "draw lots to see whichgirl will hide somewhere in the house; make a time-limit of one hour;and if any man finds her she'll marry him. There isn't a girl here," headded, jeeringly, "who has the sporting nerve to try it!"
A chorus of protests greeted the challenge. Athalie Vannis declared thatshe was crazy to marry somebody; but she insisted that the men wouldonly pretend to search, and were really too cowardly to hunt in earnest.Cairns retorted that the girl in concealment would never permit a reallive man to miss her hiding place while she possessed lungs to revealit.
"There isn't," repeated Reggie, "a girl who has the nerve! Not one!" Heinspected them scornfully through the wrong end of the megaphone. "Phonysports," he added. "No nerves and all fidgets. Look at me; _I_ don'twant to get married; but I'm game for an hour. There isn't a girl hereto call my bluff!" And he ventured to glance at Jacqueline.
"They've had a chance to look at you by daylight, Reggie, and that isfatal," said Cairns. "Now, if they were only sure that I'd discover'em, or the god-like captain yonder, or the beautiful Mr. Desboro----"
"I've half a mind to do it," said Helsa Steyr. "Marie, will you drawlots to see who hides?"
"Why doesn't a man hide?" drawled Miss Ledyard. "I'm very sure I coulddrag him to the altar in ten minutes."
Cairns had found a sheet of paper, torn it into slips, and written downevery woman's name, including Aunt Hannah's.
"She's retired to her room in disgust," said Jacqueline, laughing.
"Is _she_ included?" faltered Reggie.
"You've brought it on yourself," said Cairns. "Are you going to renigjust because Aunt Hannah is a possible prize? Are you really a tinsport?"
"No, by heck! Come on, Katharine!" to Miss Frere. "But Betty Barkleycan't figure in this, or there may be bigamy done."
"That makes it a better sporting proposition," said Betty coolly. "Iinsist on figuring; Bertie can take his chances."
"Then I'm jingled if I don't play, too," said Barkley. "And I'm not sureI'll hunt very hard if it's Betty who hides."
The pretty little woman turned up her nose at her husband and sent adazzling smile at Desboro.
"I'll whistle three times, like the daughter in the poem," she said."Please beat my husband to it."
Cairns waved the pool basket aloft: "Come ladies!" he cried. "Somebodyreach up and draw; and may heaven smile upon your wedding day!"
Betty Barkley, standing on tip-toe, reached up, stirred the foldedballots with tentative fingers, grasped one, drew it forth, andflourished it.
"Goodness! How my heart really beats!" she said. "I do
n't know whether Iwant to open it or not. I hadn't contemplated bigamy."
"If it's my name, I'm done for," said Katharine Frere calmly. "I'mnearly six feet, and I can't conceal them all."
"Open it," said Athalie Vannis, with a shiver. "After all there's thedivorce court!" And she looked defiantly at Cairns.
Betty turned over the ballot between forefinger and thumb and regardedit with dainty aversion.
"Well," she said, "if I'm in for a scandal, I might as well know it.Will you be kind to me, Jim, and not flirt with my maid?"
She opened the ballot, examined the name written there, turned andpassed it to Jacqueline, who flushed brightly as a delighted shoutgreeted her.
"The question is," said Reggie Ledyard excitedly, "are you a sport, MissNevers, or are you not? Kindly answer with appropriate gestures."
The girl stood with her golden head drooping, staring at the bit ofpaper in her hand; then, as Desboro watched her, she glanced up withthat sudden, reckless smile which he had seen once before--the first dayhe met her--and made a gay little gesture of acceptance.
"You're not really going to do it, are you?" said Betty, incredulously."You don't have to; they're every one of them short sports themselves!"
"_I_ am not," said Jacqueline, smiling.
"But," argued Katharine Frere, "suppose Reggie should find you. You'dnever marry _him_, would you?"
"Great Heavens!" shouted Ledyard. "She might have a worse fate. There'sDesboro!"
"You don't really mean it, do you, Miss Nevers?" asked CaptainHerrendene.
"Yes, I do," said Jacqueline. "I always was a gambler by nature."
The tint of excitement was bright on her cheeks; she shot a daringglance at Ledyard, looked at Van Alstyne and laughed, but her backremained turned toward Desboro.
He said: "If the papers ever get wind of this they'll print it as aserious item."
"I _am_ perfectly serious," she said, looking coolly at him over hershoulder. "If there is a man here clever enough to find me, I'll marryhim in a minute. But"--and she laughed in Desboro's face--"there isn't.So nobody need really lose one moment in anxiety. And if a girl finds meit's all off, of course. May I have twenty minutes? And will you timeme, Mr. Ledyard? And will you all remain in this room with the doorclosed?"
"If nobody finds you," cried Cairns, as she crossed the threshold, "weeach forfeit whatever you ask of us?"
She paused at the door, looking back: "Is that understood?"
Everybody cried: "Yes! Certainly!"
She nodded and disappeared.
For twenty minutes they waited; then, as Reggie closed his watch, ageneral stampede ensued. Amazed servants shrank aside as Cairns, blowingfearful blasts on the megaphone, cheered on the excited human pack;everywhere Desboro's cats and dogs fled before the invasion; room afterroom was ransacked, maids routed, butler and valet defied. Even AuntHannah's sanctuary was menaced until that lady sat up on her bed andswore steadily at Ledyard, who had scaled the transom.
Desboro, hunting by himself, entered the armoury, looked suspiciously atthe armoured figures, shook a few, opened the vizors of others, andpeered at the painted faces inside the helmets.
Others joined him, prying curiously, gathering in groups amid themotionless army of mailed men. Then, as more than half of the allottedhour had already expired, Ledyard suggested an attic party, where trunksfull of early XIXth century clothing might be rifled with pleasingresults.
"We may find her up there in a chest, like the celebrated bride,"remarked Aunt Hannah, who had reappeared from her retreat. "It's thelesser of several tragedies that might happen," she added insolently, toDesboro.
"To the attic!" thundered Cairns through his megaphone; and theystarted.
But Desboro still lingered at the armoury door, looking back. The noiseof the chase died away in the interior of the main house; the armourybecame very still under the flood of pale winter sunshine.
He glanced along the steel ranks of men-at-arms; he looked up at thestately mounted figures; dazzling sunlight glittered over helmet andcuirass and across the armoured flanks of horses.
Could it be possible that she was seated up there, hidden inside somesuit of blazing mail, astride a battle-horse?
Cautiously he came back, skirting the magnificent and motionless ranks,hesitated and halted.
Of course the whole thing had been proposed and accepted in jest; hetold himself that. And yet--if some other man did discover her--thefoundation of the jest might serve for a more permanent understanding.He didn't want her to have any intimate understanding with anybody untilhe and she understood each other, and he understood himself.
He didn't want another man to find and claim the forfeit, even in jest,because he didn't know what might happen. No man was ever qualified toforetell what another man might do; and men already were behaving towardher with a persistency and seriousness unmistakable--men likeHerrendene, who meant what he looked and said; and young Hammerton,Daisy's brother, eager, inexperienced and susceptible; and BertieBarkley, a little, hard-faced snob, with an unerring instinct foranybody who promised to be popular among desirable people, was beginningto test her metal with the acid of his experience.
Desboro stood quite still, looking almost warily about him and thinkingfaster and faster, trying to recollect who it was who had dragged in thesilly subject of marriage. That blond and hulking ass Ledyard, wasn'tit?
He began to walk, slowly passing the horsemen in review.
Suppose a blond animal like Reggie Ledyard offered himself in earnest.Was she the kind of girl who would nail the worldly opportunity? AndHerrendene--that quiet, self-contained, keen-eyed man of forty-five. Youcould never tell what Herrendene was thinking about anything, or what hewas capable of doing. And his admiration for Jacqueline wasundisguised, and his attentions frankly persistent. Last night, too,when they were coasting under the new moon, there was half an hour'sdisappearance for which neither Herrendene nor Jacqueline had evenpretended to account, though bantered and challenged--to Desboro's vaguediscomfort. And the incident had left Desboro a trifle cool toward herthat morning; and she had pretended not to be aware of the slightconstraint between them, which made him sulky.
* * * * *
He had reached the end of the double lane of horsemen. Now he pivotedand retraced his steps, hands clasped behind his back, absently scanningthe men-at-arms, preoccupied with his own reflections.
How seriously had she taken the role she was playing somewhere at thatmoment? Only fools accepted actual hazards when dared. He himself wasapt to be that kind of a fool. Was _she_? Would she really have abidedby the terms if discovered by Herrendene, for example, or DickyHammerton--if they were mad enough to take it seriously?
He thought of that sudden and delicious flash of recklessness in hereyes. He had seen it twice now.
"By God!" he thought. "I believe she would! She is the sort that sees athing through to the bitter end."
He glanced up, startled, as though something, somewhere in the vast,silent place, had moved. But he heard nothing, and there was no movementanywhere among the armoured effigies.
Suppose she were here hidden somewhere within a hollow suit of steel.She must be! Else why was he lingering? Why was he not hunting her withthe pack? And still, if she actually were here, why was he notsearching for her under every suit of sunlit mail? Could it be becausehe did not really _want_ to find her--with this silly jest of marriagedragged in--a thing not to be mentioned between her and him even injest?
Was it that he had become convinced in his heart that she must be here,and was he merely standing guard like a jealous, sullen dog, watchinglest some other fool come blundering back from a false trail to discoverthe right one--and perhaps her?
Suddenly, without reason, he became certain that she and he were therein the armoury alone together. He knew it somehow, felt it, divined itin every quickening pulse beat.
He heard the preliminary click of the armoury clock, indicating fiveminutes' grace
before the hour struck. He looked up at the old dial,where it was set against the wall--an ancient piece in azure and goldunder a foliated crest borne by some long dead dignitary.
Four more minutes now. And suppose she should stir in her place, settingher harness clashing? Had the thought of marrying him ever entered herhead? Was it in such a girl to challenge the possibility, make it asnear a serious question as it ever could be? It had never existed forthem, even as a question. It was not a dead issue, because it had neverlived. If she made one movement now, if she so much as lifted herfinger, this occult thing would be alive. He knew it--knew that it laywith her; and stood silent, unstirring, listening for the slightestsound. There was no sound.
It lacked now only a minute to the hour. He looked at the face of thelofty clock; and, looking, all in a moment it flashed upon him where shewas concealed.
Wheeling in his tracks, on the impulse of the moment he walked straightback to the great painted wooden charger, sheathed in steel and cloth ofgold, bearing on high a slender, mounted figure in full armour--thedainty Milanese mail Of the Countess of Oroposa.
The superb young figure sat its saddle, hollow backed, graceful, bothdelicate gauntlets resting easily over the war-bridle on the gem-setpommel. Sunbeams turned the long spurs to two golden flames, andsplintered into fire across the helmet's splendid crest. He could notpierce the dusk behind the closed vizor; but in every heart-beat, everynerve, he felt her living presence within that hollow shell of inlaidsteel and gold.
For a moment he stood staring up at her, then glanced mechanicallytoward the high clock. Thirty seconds! Time to speak if he would; timefor her to move, if in her heart there ever had been the thought whichhe had never uttered, never meant to voice. Twenty seconds! Through thatslitted vizor, also, the clock was in full view. She could read theflight of time as well as he. Now she must move--if ever she meant tochallenge in him that to which he never would respond.
He waited now, looking at the clock, now at the still figure above him.Ten seconds! Five!
"Jacqueline!" he cried impulsively.
There was no movement, no answer from the slitted helmet.
"Jacqueline! Are you there?"
No sound.
Then the lofty gold and azure clock struck. And when the last of thetwelve resounding strokes rang echoing through the sunlit armoury, themailed figure stirred in its saddle, stretched both stirrups, raised itsarms and flexed them.
"You nearly caught me," she said calmly. "I was afraid you'd see my eyesthrough the helmet slits. Was it your lack of enterprise that savedme--or your prudence?"
"I spoke to you before the hour was up. It seems to me that I _have_won."
"Not at all. You might just as well have stood in the cellar and howledmy name. That isn't discovering me, you know."
"I felt in my heart that you were there," he said, in a low voice.
She laughed. "What a man feels in his heart doesn't count. Do yourealise that I'm nearly dead sitting for an hour here? This helmet isabominably hot! How in the world could that poor countess have stoodit?"
"Shall I climb up beside you and unlace your helmet?" he asked.
"No, thank you. Mrs. Quant will get me out of it." She rose in thestirrups, swung one steel-shod leg over, and leaped to the floor besidehim, clashing from crest to spur.
"What a silly game it was, anyway!" she commented, lifting her vizor andlowering the beaver. Her face was deliciously flushed, and the gold hairstraggled across her cheeks.
"It's quite wonderful how the armour of the countess fits me," she said."I wonder what she looked like. I'll wager, anyway, that she neverplayed as risky a game in her armour as I have played this morning."
"You didn't really mean to abide by the decision, did you?" he asked.
"Do you think I did?"
"No, of course not."
She smiled. "Perhaps you are correct. But I've always been afraid I'd dosomething radical and irrevocable, and live out life in misery to payfor it. Probably I wouldn't. I _must_ take off these gauntlets, anyway.Thank you"--as he relieved her of them and tossed them under the feet ofthe wooden horse.
"Last Thursday," he said, "you fascinated everybody with your lute andyour Chinese robes. Heaven help the men when they see you in armour!I'll perform my act of fealty now." And he lifted her hands and kissedthem lightly where the gauntlets had left pink imprints on the smoothwhite skin.
As always when he touched her, she became silent; and, as always, heseemed to divine the instant change in her to unresponsiveness underphysical contact. It was not resistance, it was a sort of inertia--anendurance which seemed to stir in him a subtle brutality, awaking depthswhich must not be troubled--unless he meant to cut his cables once forall and drift headlong toward the rocks of chance.
"You and Herrendene behaved shockingly last night," he said lightly."Where on earth did you go?"
"Is it to you that I must whisper 'je m'accuse'?" she asked smilingly.
"To whom if not to me, Jacqueline?"
"Please--and what exactly then may be your status? Don't answer," sheadded, flushing scarlet. "I didn't mean to say that. Because I know whatis your status with me."
"How do you know?"
"You once made it clear to me, and I decided that your friendship wasworth everything to me--whatever you yourself might be."
"Whatever _I_ might be?" he repeated, reddening.
"Yes. You are what you are--what you wrote me you were. I understoodyou. But--do you notice that it has made any difference in myfriendship? Because it has not."
The dull colour deepened over his face. They were standing near theclosed door now; she laid one hand on the knob, then ventured to raiseher eyes.
"It has made no difference," she repeated. "Please don't think it has."
His arms had imprisoned her waist; she dropped her head and her handslipped from the knob of the great oak door as he drew her toward him.
"In armour!" she protested, trying to speak lightly, but avoiding hiseyes.
"Is that anything new?" he said. "You are always instantly in armourwhen my lightest touch falls on you. Why?"
He lifted her drooping head until it rested against his arm.
"Isn't it anything at all to you when I kiss you?" he asked unsteadily.
She did not answer.
"Isn't it, Jacqueline?"
But she only closed her eyes, and her lips remained coldly unresponsiveto his.
After a moment he said: "Can't you care for me at all--in this way?Answer me!"
"I--care for you."
"_This_ way?"
Over her closed lids a tremor passed, scarcely perceptible.
"Don't you know how--how deeply I--care for you?" he managed to say,feeling prudence and discretion violently tugging at their cables."Don't you _know_ it, Jacqueline?"
"Yes. I know you--care for me."
"Good God!" he said, trying to choke back the very words he uttered."Can't you respond--when you know I find you so adorable! When--when youmust know that I love you! Isn't there anything in you to respond?"
"I--care for you. If I did not, could I endure--what you do?"
A sort of blind passion seized and possessed him; he kissed again andagain the fragrant, unresponsive lips. Presently she lifted her head,loosened his clasp at her waist, stepped clear of the circle of hisarms.
"You see," she managed to say calmly, "that I do care for you. So--may Igo now?"
He opened the door for her and they moved slowly out into the hall.
"You do not show that you care very much, Jacqueline."
"How can a girl show it more honestly? Could you tell me?"
"I have never stirred you to any tenderness--never!"
She moved beside him with head lowered, hands resting on her platedhips, the bright hair in disorder across her cheeks. Presently she saidin a low voice:
"I wish you could see into my heart."
"I wish I could! And I wish you could see into mine. That would settleit one way or
another!"
"No," she said, "because I _can_ see into your heart. And it settlesnothing for me--except that I would like to--remain."
"Remain? Where?"
"There--in your heart."
He strove to speak coolly: "Then you _can_ see into it?"
"Yes."
"And you know that you are there alone?"
"Yes--I think so."
"And now that you have looked into it and know what is there, do youcare to remain in the heart of--of such a man as I am?"
"Yes. What you are I--forgive."
An outburst of merriment came from the library, and several figures cladin the finery of the early nineteenth century came bustling out into thehall.
"Cheer after cheer rang through the hallway"]
Evidently his guests had rifled the chests and trunks in the attic andhad attired themselves to their heart's content. At sight of Desboroapproaching accompanied by a slim figure in complete armour, they set upa shout of apprehension and then cheer after cheer rang through thehallway.
"Do you know," cried Betty Barkley, "you are the most darling thing inarmour that ever happened! I want to get into some steel trousers likeyours immediately! Are there any in the armoury that will fit me, Jim?"
"Did _you_ discover her?" demanded Reggie Ledyard, aghast.
"Not within the time limit, old chap," said Desboro, pretending deepchagrin.
"Then you don't have to marry him, do you, Miss Nevers?" exclaimedCairns, gleefully.
"I don't have to marry anybody, Mr. Cairns. And _isn't_ it humiliating?"she returned, laughingly, edging her way toward the stairs amid thenoisy and admiring group surrounding her.
"No! No!" cried Katharine Frere. "You can't escape! You are too lovelythat way, and you certainly must come to lunch in your armour!"
"I'd perish!" protested Jacqueline. "No Christian martyr was ever moreabsolutely cooked than am I in this suit of mail."
Helsa Steyr started for her, but Jacqueline sprang to the stairs and ranup, pursued by Helsa and Betty.
"_Isn't_ she the cunningest, sweetest thing!" sighed Athalie Vannis,looking after her. "I'm simply and sentimentally mad over her. Why_didn't_ you have brains enough to discover her, Jim, and make her marryyou?"
"I'd have knocked 'em out if he had had enough brains for that,"muttered Ledyard. "But the horrible thing is that I haven't any brains,either, and Miss Nevers has nothing but!"
"A girl like that marries diplomats and dukes, and discoverers andartists and things," commented Betty. "You're just a good-looking simp,Reggie. So is Jim."
Ledyard retorted wrathfully; Desboro, who had been summoned to thetelephone, glanced at Aunt Hannah as he walked away, and was ratherdisturbed at the malice in the old lady's menacing smile.
But what Daisy Hammerton said to him over the telephone disturbed himstill more.
"Jim! Elena and Cary Clydesdale are stopping with us. May I bring themto dinner this evening?"
For a moment he was at a loss, then he said, with forced cordiality:
"Why, of course, Daisy. But have you spoken to them about it? I've anidea that they might find my party a bore."
"Oh, no! Elena wished me to ask you to invite them. And Cary waslistening."
"Did _he_ care to come?"
"I suppose so."
"What did he say?"
"He grinned. He always does what Elena asks him to do."
"Oh! Then bring them by all means."
"Thank you, Jim."
And that was all; and Desboro, astonished and troubled for a fewmoments, began to see in the incident not only the dawn of anunderstanding between Clydesdale and his wife, but something resemblinga vindication for himself in this offer to renew a friendship soabruptly terminated. More than that, he saw in it a return of Elena toher senses, and it pleased him so much that when he passed Aunt Hannahin the hall he was almost smiling.
"What pleases you so thoroughly, James--yourself?" she asked grimly.
But he only smiled at her and sauntered on, exchanging friendlybody-blows with Reggie Ledyard as he passed.
"Reggie," said Mrs. Hammerton, with misleading mildness, "come andexercise me for a few moments--there's a dear." And she linked arms withhim and began to march up and down the hall vigorously.
"She's very charming, isn't she?" observed Aunt Hannah blandly.
"Who?"
"Miss Nevers."
"She's a dream," said Reggie, with emphasis.
"Such a thoroughbred air," commented the old lady.
"Rather!"
"And yet--she's only a shop-keeper."
"Eh?"
"Didn't you know that Miss Nevers keeps an antique shop?"
"What of it?" he said, turning red. "I peddle stocks. My grandfathermade snuff. What do I care what Miss Nevers does?"
"Of course. Only--would _you_ marry her?"
"Huh! Like a shot! But I see her letting me! Once I was even ass enoughto think I could kiss her, but it seems she won't even stand for that!And Herrendene makes me sick--the old owl--sneaking off with herwhenever he can get the chance! They all make me sick!" he added,lighting a cigarette. "I wish to goodness I had a teaspoonful ofintellect, and I'd give 'em a run for her. Because I have the looks, ifI do say it," he added, modestly.
"Looks never counted seriously with a woman yet," said Mrs. Hammertonmaliciously. "Also, I've seen better looking coachmen than you."
"Thanks. What are you going to do with her anyway?"
"I don't have to do anything. She'll do whatever is necessary."
"That's right, too. Lord, but she'll cut a swathe! Even that dissipatedcreature Cairns sits up and takes notice. I should think Desboro would,too--more than he does."
"I understand there's a girl in blue, somewhere," observed Mrs.Hammerton.
"That's a different kind of girl," said the young man, with contempt,and quite oblivious to his own naive self-revelation. Mrs. Hammertonshrugged her trim shoulders.
"Also," he said, "there is Elena Clydesdale--speaking of scandal andJames Desboro in the same breath."
"Do you believe that story?"
"Yes. But that sort of affair never counts seriously with a man whowants to marry."
"Really? How charming! But perhaps it might count against him with thegirl he wants to marry. Young girls are sometimes fastidious, you know."
"They never hear about such things until somebody tells 'em, afterthey're married. Then it's rather too late to throw any pre-nuptialfits," he added, with a grin.
"Reginald," said Mrs. Hammerton, "day by day I am humbly learning how toappreciate the innate delicacy, chivalry, and honourable sentiments ofyour sex. You yourself are a wonderful example. For instance, whenrumour couples Elena Clydesdale's name with James Desboro's, does itoccur to you to question the scandal? No; you take it for granted, andvery kindly explain to me how easily Mrs. Clydesdale can be thrown overif her alleged lover decides he'd like to marry somebody."
"That's what's done," he said sulkily. "When a man----"
"You don't have to tell _me_!" she fairly hissed, turning on him sosuddenly that he almost fell backward. "Don't you think I know what isthe code among your sort--among the species of men you find sympathetic?You and Jack Cairns and James Desboro--and Cary Clydesdale, too? Let himreproach himself if his wife misbehaves! And I don't blame her if shedoes, and I don't believe she does! Do you hear me, you yellow-haired,blue-eyed little beast?"
Ledyard stood open-mouthed, red to the roots of his blond hair, and thetiny, baleful black eyes of Mrs. Hammerton seemed to hypnotise him.
"You're all alike," she said with withering contempt. "Real men are outin the world, doing things, not crawling around over the carpet underfoot, or sitting in clubs, or dancing with a pack of women, or idlingfrom polo field to tennis court, from stable to steam-yacht. You've noreal blood in you; it's only Scotch and soda gone flat. You've thepassions of overfed lap dogs with atrophied appetites. There's not areal man here--except Captain Herrendene--and he's going back to hisp
ost in a week. You others have no posts. And do you think that men ofyour sort are fitted to talk about marrying such a girl as Miss Nevers?Let me catch one of you trying it! She's in my charge. But that doesn'tcount. She'll recognise a real man when she sees one, and glitteringcounterfeits won't attract her."
"Great heavens!" faltered Reggie. "What a horrible lambasting! I--I'veheard you could do it; but this is going some--really, you know, it'sgoing some! And I'm not all those things that you say, either!" headded, in naive resentment. "I may be no good, but I'm not as rotten asall that."
He stood with lips pursed up into a half-angry, half-injured pout, likea big, blond, blue-eyed yokel facing school-room punishment.
Mrs. Hammerton's harsh face relaxed; and finally a smile wrinkled hereyes.
"I suppose men can't help being what they are--a mixture of precociouschild and trained beast. The best of 'em have both of these in 'em. Andyou are far from the best. Reggie, come here to me!"
He came, after a moment's hesitation, doubtfully.
"Lord!" she said. "How we cherish the worst of you! I sometimes think wedon't know enough to appreciate the best. Otherwise, perhaps they'd giveus more of their society. But, generally, all we draw is your sort; andwe cast our nets in vain into the real world--where Captain Herrendeneis going on Monday. Reggie, dear?"
"What?" he said suspiciously.
"Was I severe with you and your friends?"
"Great heavens! There isn't another woman I'd take such a drubbingfrom!"
"But you _do_ take it," she said, with one of her rare and generoussmiles which few people ever saw, and of which few could believe herfacially capable.
And she slipped her arm through his and led him slowly toward thelibrary where already Farris was announcing luncheon.
"By heck!" he repeated later, in the billiard room, to a group ofinterested listeners. "Aunt Hannah is all that they say she is. Shesuddenly let out into me, and I give y'm'word she had me over the ropesin one punch--tellin' me what beasts men are--and how we're not fit toassociate with nice girls--no b'jinks--nor fit to marry 'em, either."
Cairns laughed unfeelingly.
"Oh, you can laugh!" muttered Ledyard. "But to be lit into that wayhurts a man's self-respect. You'd better be careful or you'll be in fora dose of Aunt Hannah, too. She evidently has no use for any ofus--barrin' the Captain, perhaps."
That gentleman smiled and picked up his hockey stick.
"There's enough ice left--if you don't mind a wetting," he said. "Shallwe start?"
Desboro rose, saying carelessly: "The Hammertons and Clydesdales arecoming over. I'll have to wait for them."
Bertie Barkley turned his hard little smooth-shaven face toward him.
"Where are the Clydesdales?"
"I believe they're stopping with the Hammertons for a week or two--Ireally don't know. You can ask them, as they'll be here to dinner."
Cairns laid aside a cue with which he had been punching pool-balls; VanAlstyne unhooked his skate-bag, and the others followed his example insilence. Nobody said anything further about the Clydesdales to Desboro.
Out in the hall a gay group of young girls in their skating skirts weregathering, among them Jacqueline, now under the spell of happiness intheir companionship.
Truly, even in these few days, the "warm sunlight of approval" had donewonders for her. She had blossomed out deliriously and exquisitely inher half-shy friendships with these young girls, responding diffidentlyat first to their overtures, then frankly and with a charmingself-possession based on the confidence that she was really quite allright if everybody only thought so.
Everybody seemed to think so; Athalie Vannis's friendship for her vergedon the sentimental, for the young girl was enraptured at the idea thatJacqueline actually earned her own living. Marie Ledyard lazily admiredand envied her slight but exceedingly fashionable figure; Helsa Steyrpassionately adored her; Katharine Frere was profoundly impressed by herintellectual attainments; Betty Barkley saw in her a social success,with Aunt Hannah to pilot her--that is, every opportunity for wealth orposition, or even both, through the marriage to which, Betty cheerfullyconceded, her beauty entitled her.
So everybody of her own sex was exceedingly nice to her; and the menalready were only too anxious to be. And what more could a young girlwant?
As the jolly party started out across the snow, in random and chatteringgroups made up by hazard, Jacqueline turned from Captain Herrendene,with whom she found herself walking, and looked back at Desboro, who hadremained standing bareheaded on the steps.
"Aren't you coming?" she called out to him, in her clear young voice.
He shook his head, smiling.
"Please excuse me a moment," she murmured to Herrendene, and ran backalong the middle drive. Desboro started forward to meet her at the samemoment, and they met under the dripping spruces.
"Why aren't you coming with us?" she asked.
"I can't very well. I have to wait here for some people who might arriveearly."
"You are going to remain here all alone?"
"Yes, until they come. You see they are dining here, and I can't letthem arrive and find the house empty."
"Do you want me to stay with you? Mrs. Hammerton is in her room, and itwould be perfectly proper."
He said, reddening with surprise and pleasure: "It's very sweet of you.I--had no idea you'd offer to do such a thing----"
"Why shouldn't I? Besides, I'd rather be where you are than anywhereelse."
"With _me_, Jacqueline?"
"Are you really surprised to hear me admit it?"
"A little."
"Why, if you please?"
"Because you never before have been demonstrative, even in speech."
She blushed: "Not as demonstrative as you are. But you know that I mightlearn to be."
He looked at her curiously, but with more or less self-control.
"Do you really care for me that way, Jacqueline?"
"I know of no way in which I don't care for you," she said quickly.
"Does your caring for me amount to--love?" he asked deliberately.
"I--think so--yes."
The emotion in his face was now palely reflected in hers; their voiceswere no longer quite steady under the sudden strain of self-repression.
"Say it, Jacqueline, if it is true," he whispered. His face was tenseand white, but not as pale as hers. "Say it!" he whispered again.
"I can't--in words. But it is true--what you asked me."
"That you love me?"
"Yes. I thought you knew it long ago."
They stood very still, facing each other, breathing more rapidly. Herfate was upon her, and she knew it.
Captain Herrendene, who had waited, watched them for a moment more,then, lighting a cigarette, sauntered on carelessly, swinging hishockey-stick in circles.
Desboro said in a low, distinct voice, and without a tremor: "I am morein love with you than ever, Jacqueline. But that is as much as I shallever say to you--nothing more than that."
"I know it."
"Yes, I know you do. Shall I leave you in peace? It can still be done.Or--shall I tell you again that I love you?"
"Yes--if you wish, tell me--that."
"Is love _enough_ for you, Jacqueline?"
"Ask yourself, Jim. With what you give I must be content--or starve."
"Do you realise--what it means for us?" He could scarcely speak now.
"Yes--I know." She turned and looked back. Herrendene was now a long wayoff, walking slowly and alone. Then she turned once more to Desboro,absently, as though absorbed in her own reflections. Herrendene hadasked her to marry him that morning. She was thinking of it now.
Then, in her remote gaze the brief dream faded, her eyes cleared, andshe looked up at the silent man beside her.
"Shall I remain here with you?" she asked.
He made an effort to speak, but his voice was no longer under command.She waited, watching him; then they both turned and slowly entered thehouse toget
her. Her hand had fallen into his, and when they reached thelibrary he lifted it to his lips and noticed that her fingers weretrembling. He laid his other hand over them, as though to quiet thetremor; and looked into her face and saw how colourless it had become.
"My darling!" But the time had not yet come when he could tolerate hisown words; contempt for them choked him for a moment, and he only tookher into his arms in silence.
She strove to think, to speak, to master her emotion; but for a momenthis mounting passion subdued her and she remained silent, quivering inhis embrace.
Then, with an effort, she found her voice and loosened his arms.
"Listen," she whispered. "You must listen. I know what you are--how youlove me. But you are wrong! If I could only make you see it! If youwould not think me selfish, self-seeking--believe unworthy motives ofme----"
"What do you mean?" he asked, suddenly chilled.
"I mean that I am worth more to you than--than to be--what you wish meto be to you. You won't misunderstand, will you? I am not bargaining,not begging, not trading. I love you! I couldn't bargain; I could onlytake your terms--or leave them. And I have not decided. But--may I saysomething--for your sake more than for my own?"
"Yes," he said, coolly.
"Then--for your sake--far more than for mine--if you do really loveme--make more of me than you have thought of doing! I know I shall beworth it to you. Could you consider it?"
After a terrible silence, he said: "I can--get out of your life--dogthat I am! I can leave you in peace. And that is all."
"If that is all you can do--don't leave me--in peace. I--I will take thechances of remaining--honest----"
The hint of fear in her eyes and in her voice startled him.
"There is a martyrdom," she said, "which I might not be able to endureforever. I don't know. I shall never love another man. And all my life Ihave wanted love. It is here; and I may not be brave enough to deny itand live my life out in ignorance of it. But, Jim, if you only couldunderstand--if you only knew what I can be to you--to the world for yoursake--what I can become merely because I love you--what I am capable offor the sake of your pride in--in me--and----" She turned very white."Because it is better for your sake, Jim. I am not thinking of myself,and how wonderful it would be for me--truly I am not. Don't you believeme? Only--there is so much to me--I am really so much of a woman--thatit would begin to trouble you if ever I became anything--anything lessthan your--wife. And you would feel sorry for me--and I couldn'ttruthfully console you because all the while I'd know in my heart whatyou had thrown away that might have belonged to us both."
"Your life?" he said, with dry lips.
"Oh, Jim! I mean more than your life and mine! For our lives--yours andmine--would not be all you would throw away and deny. Before we die wewould want children. Ought I not to say it?" She turned away, blind withtears, and dropped onto the sofa. "I'm wondering if I'm in my rightmind," she sobbed, "for yesterday I did not even dare think of thesethings I am saying to you now! But--somehow--even while CaptainHerrendene was speaking--it all flashed into my mind. I don't know how Iknew it, but I suddenly understood that you belonged to me--just as youare, Jim--all the good, all the evil in you--everything--even yourintentions toward me--how you may deal with me--all, all belonged to me!And so I went back to you, to help you. And now I have said thisthing--for your sake alone, not for my own--only so that in years tocome you may not have me on your conscience. For if you do not marryme--and I let myself really love you--you will wish that the beginningwas to be begun again, and that we had loved each other--otherwise."
He came over and stood looking down at her for a moment. His lips weretwitching.
"Would you marry me now," he managed to say, "_now_, after you know whata contemptible cad I am?"
"You are only a man. I love you, Jim. I will marry you--if you'll letme----"
Suddenly she covered her eyes with her hands. He seated himself besideher, sick with self-contempt, dumb, not daring to touch her where shecrouched, trembling in every limb.
For a long while they remained so, in utter silence; then the doorbellstartled them. Jacqueline fled to her room; Desboro composed himselfwith a desperate effort and went out into the hall.
He welcomed his guests on the steps when Farris opened the door,outwardly master of himself once more.
"We came over early, Jim," explained Daisy, "because Uncle John isgiving a dinner and father and mother need the car. Do you mind?"
He laughed and shook hands with her and Elena, who looked intently andunsmilingly into his face, and then let her expressionless glance lingerfor a moment on her husband, who was holding out a huge hand to Desboro.
"I'm glad to see you, Clydesdale," said Desboro pleasantly, and tookthat bulky gentleman's outstretched hand, who mumbled somethingincoherent; but the fixed grin remained. And that was thediscomforting--yes, the dismaying--characteristic of the man--his grinnever seemed to be affected by his emotions.
Mrs. Quant bobbed away upstairs, piloting Daisy and Elena. Clydesdalefollowed Desboro to the library--the same room where he had discoveredhis wife that evening, and had learned in what esteem she held the lawthat bound her to him. Both men thought of it now--could not avoidremembering it. Also, by accident, they were seated very nearly as theyhad been seated that night, Clydesdale filling the armchair with hismassive figure, Desboro sitting on the edge of the table, one footresting on the floor.
Farris brought whiskey; both men shook their heads.
"Will you have a cigar, Clydesdale?" asked the younger man.
"Thanks."
They smoked in silence for a few moments, then:
"I'm glad you came," said Desboro simply.
"Yes. Men don't usually raise that sort of hell with each other unless awoman starts it."
"Don't talk that way about your wife," said Desboro sharply.
"See here, young man, I have no illusions concerning my wife. Whathappened here was her doing, not yours. I knew it at the time--if Ididn't admit it. You behaved well--and you've behaved well eversince--only it hurt me too much to tell you so before to-day."
"That's all right, Clydesdale----"
"Yes, it is going to be all right now, I guess." A curious expressionflitted across his red features, softening the grin for a moment. "Ialways liked you, Desboro; and Elena and I were staying with theHammertons, so she told that Daisy girl to ask you to invite us. That'sall there is to it."
"Good business!" said Desboro, smiling. "I'm glad it's all clear betweenus."
"Yes, it's clear sailing now, I guess." Again the curiously softeningexpression made his heavy red features almost attractive, and heremained silent for a while, occupied with thoughts that seemed to bepleasant ones.
Then, abruptly emerging from his revery, he grinned at Desboro:
"So Mrs. Hammerton has our pretty friend Miss Nevers in tow," he said."Fine girl, Desboro. She's been at my collection, you know, fixing it upfor the hammer."
"So you are really going to sell?" inquired Desboro.
"I don't know. I _was_ going to. But I'm taking a new interest in myhobby since----" he reddened, then added very simply, "since Elena and Ihave been getting on better together."
"Sure," nodded Desboro, gravely understanding him.
"Yes--it's about like that, Desboro. Things were rotten bad up to thatnight. And afterward, too, for a while. They're clearing up a littlebetter, I think. We're going to get on together, I believe. I don't knowmuch about women; never liked 'em much--except Elena. It's funny aboutMiss Nevers, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Mrs. Hammerton's being so crazy about her. She's a good girl, and apretty one. Elena is wild to meet her."
"Didn't your wife ever meet her at your house?" asked Desboro dryly.
"When she was there appraising my jim-cracks? No. Elena has no use formy gallery or anybody who goes into it. Besides, until this morning shedidn't even know that Miss Nevers was the same expert you employed. Nowshe wants to meet her."
Desboro slowly raised his eyes and looked at Clydesdale. The unvariedgrin baffled him, and presently he glanced elsewhere.
Clydesdale, smoking, slowly crossed one ponderous leg over the other.Desboro continued to gaze out of the window. Neither spoke again untilDaisy Hammerton came in with Elena. If the young wife remembered thesomewhat lurid circumstances of her last appearance in that room, heranimated and smiling face betrayed no indication of embarrassment.
"When is that gay company of yours going to return, Jim?" she demanded."I am devoured by curiosity to meet this beautiful Miss Nevers. Fancyher coming to my house half a dozen times this winter and I neversuspecting that my husband's porcelain gallery concealed such acombination of genius and beauty! I could have bitten somebody's headoff in vexation," she rattled on, "when I found out who she was. So Imade Daisy ask you to invite us to meet her. _Is_ she so unusuallywonderful, Jim?"
"I believe so," he said drily.
"They say every man who meets her falls in love with herimmediately--and that most of the women do, too," appealing to Daisy,who nodded smiling corroboration.
"She is very lovely and very clever, Elena. I think I never saw anythingmore charming than that rainbow dance she did for us last night inChinese costume," turning to Desboro, "'The Rainbow Skirt,' I think itis called?"
"A dance some centuries old," said Desboro, and let his careless glancerest on Elena for a moment.
"She looked," said Daisy, "like some exquisite Chinese figure made ofrose-quartz, crystal and green jade."
"Jade?" said Clydesdale, immediately interested. "That girl knows jades,I can tell you. By gad! The first thing she did when she walked into mygallery was to saw into a few glass ones with a file; and good-night toabout a thousand dollars in Japanese phony!"
"That was pleasant," said Desboro, laughing.
"Wasn't it! And my rose-quartz Feng-huang! The Chia-Ching period of theMing dynasty! Do you get me, Desboro? It was Jap!"
"Really?"
Clydesdale brought down his huge fist with a thump on the table:
"I wouldn't believe it! I told Miss Nevers she didn't know her business!I asked her to consider the fact that the crystallisation wasrhombohedral, the prisms six-sided, hardness 7, specific gravity 2.6, notrace of cleavage, immune to the three acids or the blow-pipe alone, andreacted with soda in the flame. I thought I knew it all, you see. Firstshe called my attention to the colour. 'Sure,' I said, 'it's a littlefaded; but rose-quartz fades when exposed to light!' 'Yes,' said she,'but moisture restores it.' So we tried it. Nix doing! Only a faintrusty stain becoming visible and infecting that delicious rose colour.'Help!' said I. 'What the devil is it?' 'Jap funny business,' said she.'Your rose-quartz phoenix of the Ming dynasty is common yellow crystalcarved in Japan and dyed that beautiful rose tint with something, thecomposition of which my chemist is investigating!' Wasn't it horrible,Desboro?"
Daisy's brown eyes were very wide open, and she exclaimed softly:
"What a beautiful knowledge she has of a beautiful profession!" And toDesboro: "Can you imagine anything in the world more fascinating than touse such knowledge? And how in the world did she acquire it? She is sovery young to know so much!"
"Her father began her training as a child," said Desboro. There was aslight burning sensation in his face, and a hotter pride within him.After a second or two he felt Elena's gaze; but did not choose toencounter it at the moment, and was turning to speak to Daisy Hammertonwhen Jacqueline entered the library.
Clydesdale lumbered to his feet and tramped over to shake hands withher; Daisy greeted her cordially; she and Elena were presented, andstood smiling at each other for a second's silence. Then Mrs. Clydesdalemoved a single step forward, and Jacqueline crossed to her and offeredher hand, looking straight into her eyes so frankly and intently thatElena's colour rose and for once in her life her tongue remained silent.
"Your husband and I are already business acquaintances," saidJacqueline. "I know your very beautiful gallery, too, and have had theprivilege of identifying and classifying many of the jades andporcelains."
Elena's eyes were level and cool as she said: "If I had known who youwere I would have received you myself. You must not think me rude. Mr.Desboro's unnecessary reticence concerning you is to blame; not I."
Jacqueline's smile became mechanical: "Mr. Desboro's reticenceconcerning a business acquaintance was very natural. A busy womanneither expects nor even thinks about social amenities under businesscircumstances."
"'Business is kinder to men than women sometimesbelieve'"]
Elena's flush deepened: "Business is kinder to men than women sometimesbelieve--if it permits acquaintance with such delightful people asyourself."
Jacqueline said calmly: "All business has its compensations,"--shesmiled and made a friendly little salute with her head to Clydesdale andDesboro,--"as you will witness for me. And I am employed by otherclients who also are considerate and kind. So you see the woman whoworks has scarcely any time to suffer from social isolation."
Daisy said lightly: "Nobody who is happily employed worries over socialmatters. Intelligence and sweet temper bring more friends than a busygirl knows what to do with. Isn't that so, Miss Nevers?"
Jacqueline turned to Elena with a little laugh: "It's an axiom thatnobody can have too many friends. I want all I can have, Mrs.Clydesdale, and am most grateful when people like me."
"And when they don't," asked Elena, smiling, "what do you do then, MissNevers?"
"What is there to do, Mrs. Clydesdale?" she said gaily. "What would youdo about it?"
But Elena seemed not to have heard her, for she was already turning toDesboro, flushed, almost feverish in her animation:
"So many things have happened since I saw you, Jim----" she hesitated,then added daringly, "at the opera. Do you remember _Ariane_?"
"I think you were in the Barkley's box," he said coolly.
"Your memory is marvellous! In point of fact, I was there. And sincethen so many, many things have happened that I'd like to compare noteswith you--sometime."
"I'm quite ready now," he said.
"Do you think your daily record fit for public scrutiny, Jim?" shelaughed.
"I don't mind sharing it with anybody here," he retorted gaily, "if youhave no objection."
His voice and hers, and their laughter seemed so perfectly frank thatthrust and parry passed as without significance. She and Desboro werestill lightly rallying each other; Clydesdale was explaining to Daisythat lapis lazuli was the sapphire of the ancients, while Jacqueline wasshowing her a bit under a magnifying glass, when the noise of sleighsand motors outside signalled the return of the skating party.
As Desboro passed her, Elena said under her breath: "I want a momentalone with you this evening."
"It's impossible," he motioned with his lips; and passed on with a smileof welcome for his returning guests.
Later, in the billiard room, where they all had gathered before theimpromptu dance which usually terminated the evening, Elena foundanother chance for a word aside: "Jim, I must speak to you alone,please."
"It can't be done. You see that for yourself, don't you?"
"It can be done. Go to your room and I'll come----"
"Are you mad?"
"Almost. I tell you you'd better find some way----"
"What has happened?"
"I mean to have _you_ tell _me_, Jim."
A dull flush came into his face: "Oh! Well, I'll tell you now, if youlike."
Her heart seemed to stop for a second, then almost suffocated her, andshe instinctively put her hand to her throat.
He was leaning over the pool table, idly spinning the ivory balls; she,seated on the edge, one pretty, bare arm propping her body, appeared tobe watching him as idly. All around them rang the laughter and animatedchatter of his guests, sipping their after-dinner coffee and cordialaround the huge fireplace.
"Don't say--that you are going to--Jim----" she breathed. "It isn'ttrue--it mustn't be----"
&nbs
p; He interrupted deliberately: "What are you trying to do to me? Make aservant out of me? Chain me up while you pass your life deciding atleisure whether to live with your husband or involve yourself and me inscandal?"
"Are you in love with that girl--after what you have promised me?"
"Are you sane or crazy?"
"You once told me you would never marry. I have rested secure in theknowledge that when the inevitable crash came you would be free to standby me!"
"You have a perfectly good husband. You and he are on better terms--youare getting on all right together. Do you expect to keep me tied to thetable-leg in case of eventualities?" he said, in a savage whisper. "Howmany men do you wish to control?"
"One! I thought a Desboro never lied."
"Have I lied to you?"
"If you marry Miss Nevers you will have lied to me, Jim."
"Very well. Then you'll release me from that fool of a promise. Iremember I did say that I would never marry. I've changed my mind,that's all. I've changed otherwise, too--please God! The cad you knew asJames Desboro is not exactly what you're looking at now. It's in me tobe something remotely resembling a man. I learned how to try from her,if you want to know. What I was can't be helped. What I'm to make ofthe debris of what I am concerns myself. If you ever had a shred of realliking for me you'll show it now."
"Jim! Is this how you betray me--after persuading me to continue ashameful and ghastly farce with Cary Clydesdale! You _have_ betrayedme--for your own ends! You have made my life a living lie again--so thatyou could evade responsibility----"
"Was I ever responsible for you?"
"You asked me to marry you----"
"Before you married Cary. Good God! Does that entail hard labour forlife?"
"You promised not to marry----"
"What is it to you what I do--if you treat your husband decently?"
"I have tried----" She crimsoned. "I--I endured degradation to which Iwill never again submit--whatever the law may be--whatever marriage issupposed to include! Do you think you can force me to--to that--for yourown selfish ends--with your silly and unsolicited advice on domesticityand--and children--when my heart is elsewhere--when you have it, and youknow you possess it--and all that I am--every bit of me. Jim! Don't becruel to me who have been trying to live as you wished, merely tosatisfy a moral notion of your own! Don't betray me now--at such atime--when it's a matter of days, hours, before I tell Cary that thefarce is ended. Are you going to leave me to face things alone? Youcan't! I won't let you! I am----"
"'Be careful,' he said.... 'People are watching us'"]
"Be careful," he said, spinning the 13 ball into a pocket. "People arewatching us. Toss that cue-ball back to me, please. Laugh a little whenyou do it."
For a second she balanced the white ivory ball in a hand which matchedit; then the mad impulse to dash it into his smiling face passed with ashudder, and she laughed and sent it caroming swiftly from cushion tocushion, until it darted into his hand.
"Jim," she said, "you are not really serious. I know it, too; andbecause I do know it, I have been able to endure the things you havedone--your idle fancies for a pretty face and figure--yourindiscretions, ephemeral courtships, passing inclinations. But this isdifferent----"
"Yes, it is different," he said. "And so am I, Elena. Let us be aboutthe honest business of life, in God's name, and clear our hearts andsouls of the morbid and unwholesome mess that lately entangled us."
"Is _that_ how you speak of what we have been to each other?" she asked,very pale.
He was silent.
"Jim, dear," she said timidly, "won't you give me ten minutes alone withyou?"
He scarcely heard her. He spun the last parti-coloured ball into acorner pocket, straightened his shoulders, and looked at Jacquelinewhere she sat in the corner of the fireplace. Herrendene, cross-leggedon the rug at her feet, was doing Malay card tricks to amuse her; butfrom moment to moment her blue eyes stole across the room toward Desboroand Mrs. Clydesdale where they leaned together over the distant pooltable. Suddenly she caught his eye and smiled a pale response to themessage in his gaze.
After a moment he said quietly to Elena: "I am deeply and reverently inlove--for the first and only time in my life. It is proper that youshould know it. And now you do know it. There is absolutely nothingfurther to be said between us."
"There is--more than you think," she whispered, white to the lips.