CHAPTER XXII
THE GIRL AND THE MAN
It was a clear winter afternoon and the sunshine that entered a windowof the big hall at Hazlehurst fell upon Millicent as she sat in one ofthe recesses reading a book. Blake thought she looked very beautiful.As she raised her eyes and caught sight of him she started, and,dropping the book, she rose with a tingle of heightened color, whileBlake felt his heart beat fast. Thrown off her guard as she had been,he caught the gladness in her eyes before she could hide it.
"You are surprised at my turning up?" he asked, holding her hand anunnecessarily long time and smiling into her eyes.
The color was still in Millicent's cheeks and she was conscious of anunusual shyness; but she tried to answer naturally.
"I knew that Colonel Challoner had given orders for you to be traced,if possible, and I knew that you had been found; but that was all Mrs.Keith told me. I suppose she didn't know--didn't think, I mean--that Iwas interested."
"I shall believe that was very foolish of her," Blake said softly, witha question in his voice.
Millicent smiled.
"It really was foolish. But you must have some tea and wait until shecomes. I don't think she will be long. She has gone out with Mrs.Foster."
The tea was brought in and Millicent studied Blake unobtrusively as hesat opposite her at the small table. He had grown thin, his bronzedface was worn, and he looked graver. She could not imagine his everbecoming very solemn, but it was obvious that something had happened inCanada which had had its effects on him.
Looking up suddenly, Blake surprised her attentive glance.
"You have changed," she said.
"That's not astonishing," Blake laughed. "We didn't get much to eat inthe wilds, and I was thinking how pleasant it is to be back again." Heexamined his prettily decorated cup. "It's remarkable how many thingsone can do without. In the bush, we drank our tea, when we had any,out of a blackened can, and the rest of our table equipment wassimilar. But we'll take it that the change in me is an improvement?"
It was an excuse for looking at her, as if demanding a reply, but sheanswered readily.
"In a sense, it is."
"Then I feel encouraged to continue starving myself."
"There's a limit; extremes are to be avoided. But did you starveyourselves in Canada?"
"I must confess that the thing wasn't altogether voluntary. I'm afraidwe were rather gluttonous when we got the chance."
He smiled, but Millicent's eyes were full of compassion.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked softly.
"No; I think it was a serious disappointment for Harding, and I wasvery sorry for him at first."
"So am I," Millicent responded. "It must have been very hard, afterleaving his wife alone and badly provided for and risking everything onhis success. But why did you say you _were_ sorry for him? Aren't yousorry now?"
"Though we didn't find what we were looking for, we found somethingelse which Harding seems firmly convinced is quite as valuable. Ofcourse, he's a bit of an optimist, but it looks as if he were rightthis time. Anyway, I'm plunging on his scheme."
"You mean you will stake all you have on it?"
"Yes," Blake answered with a humorous twinkle. "It's true that what Ihave doesn't amount to much, but I'm throwing in what I should like toget--and that's a great deal."
Millicent noticed his expression suddenly grow serious.
"Tell me about your adventures up in that wilderness," she begged.
"Oh," he protested, "they're really not interesting."
"Let me judge. Is it nothing to have gone where other men seldomventure?"
He began rather awkwardly, but she prompted him with tactful questions,and he saw that she wished to hear his story. By degrees he losthimself in his subject, and, being gifted with keen imagination, shefollowed his journey into the wilds. It was not his wish to representhimself as a hero, and now and then he spoke with deprecatory humor,but he betrayed something of his character in doing justice to histheme. Millicent's eyes sparkled as she listened, for she found thestory moving; he was the man she had thought him, capable of grimendurance, determined action, and steadfast loyalty.
"So you carried your crippled comrade when you were exhausted andstarving," she exclaimed, when he came to their search for the factory."One likes to hear of such things as that! But what would you havedone if you hadn't found the post?"
"I can't answer," he said soberly. "We didn't dare think, of it: astarving man's will gets weak." Then his expression grew whimsical."Besides, if one must be accurate, we dragged him."
"Still," said Millicent softly, "I can't think you would have left him."
Something in her voice made Blake catch his breath. She looked veryalluring as she sat there with the last of the sunshine sprinkling goldover her hair and her face and her light gown. He leaned forwardquickly; and then he remembered his disgrace.
"I'm flattered, Miss Graham," he said; "but you really haven't verystrong grounds for your confidence in me."
"Please go on with your story," Millicent begged, disregarding hisremark. "How long did you stay at the factory?"
Blake told of their journey back, of the days when starvation facedthem, and of the blizzard, though he made no reference to Clarke'streachery; and Millicent listened with close attention. It grew darkbut they forgot to ring for lights; neither of them heard the door openwhen he was near the conclusion, nor saw Mrs. Keith, entering quietlywith Mrs. Foster, stop a moment in surprise. The room was shadowy, butMrs. Keith could see the man leaning forward with an arm on the tableand the girl listening with intent face. There was something thatpleased her in the scene.
As Mrs. Keith moved forward, Millicent looked up quickly and Blake rose.
"So you have come back!" Mrs. Keith said. "How was it you didn't gostraight to Sandymere, where your uncle is eagerly awaiting you?"
"I sent him a cablegram just before I sailed, but on landing I foundthere was an earlier train. As he won't expect me for another twohours, I thought I'd like to pay my respects to you."
Mrs. Keith smiled as she glanced at Millicent.
"Well, I'm flattered," she responded; "and, as it happens, I havesomething to say to you."
Mrs. Foster joined them, and it was some time before Mrs. Keith had achance to take Blake into the empty drawing-room.
"I'm glad you have come home," she said abruptly. "I think you areneeded."
"That," replied Blake, "is how it seemed to me."
His quietness was reassuring. Mrs. Keith knew that he was to betrusted, but she felt some misgivings about supporting him in a line ofaction that would cost him much. Still, she could not be deterred bycompassionate scruples when there was an opportunity for saving her oldfriend from suffering. Troubled by a certain sense of guilt, butdetermined, she tried to test his feelings.
"You didn't find waiting for us tedious," she said lightly. "I supposeyou and Millicent were deep in your adventures when we came in--playingOthello and Desdemona."
Blake laughed.
"As you compare me to the Moor, you must admit that I have neverpretended to be less black than I'm painted."
"Ah!" Mrs. Keith exclaimed with marked gentleness. "You needn'tpretend to me, Dick. I have my own opinion about you. I knew youwould come home as soon as you could be found."
"Then you must know what has been going on in my absence."
"I have a strong suspicion. Your uncle has been hard pressed byunscrupulous people with an end to gain. How much impression they havemade on him I cannot tell; but he's fond of you, Dick, and in trouble.It's a cruel position for an honorable man with traditions like thoseof the Challoners' behind him."
"That's true; I hate to think of it. You know what I owe to him andBertram."
"He's old," continued Mrs. Keith. "It would be a great thing if hecould be allowed to spend his last years in quietness. I fear that'simpossible, although perhaps to some exten
t it lies in your hands."She looked steadily at Blake. "Now that you have come back, what doyou mean to do?"
"Whatever is needful; I'm for the defense. The Colonel's positioncan't be stormed while I'm on guard; and this time there'll be noretreat."
"Don't add that, Dick; it hurts me. I'm not so hard as I sometimespretend. I never doubted your staunchness; but I wonder whether youquite realize what the defense may cost you. Have you thought aboutyour future?"
"You ought to know that the Blakes never think of the future. We're ahappy-go-lucky, irresponsible lot."
"But suppose you wished to marry?"
"It's a difficulty that has already been pointed out. If I ever marry,the girl I choose will believe in me in spite of appearances. In fact,she'll have to: I have no medals and decorations to bring her."
"You have much that's worth more!" Mrs. Keith declared warmly, movedby his steadfastness. "Still, it's a severe test for any girl." Shelaid her hand gently on his arm. "In the end, you won't regret thecourse you mean to take. I have lived a long while and have lost manypleasant illusions, but I believe that loyalty like yours has itsreward. I loved you for your mother's sake when you were a boy;afterward when things looked blackest I kept my faith in you, and nowI'm proud that I did so."
Blake looked confused.
"Confidence like yours is an embarrassing gift. It makes one feel thatone must live up to it; and that isn't easy."
Mrs. Keith regarded him affectionately.
"It's yours, Dick; given without reserve. But I think there's nothingmore to be said; and the Colonel will be expecting you."
They moved toward the hall as she spoke; and when Blake had gone Mrs.Keith looked searchingly at Millicent. The girl's face shone with ahappiness which she could not conceal: she knew that Blake loved her;and she knew, too, that she loved Blake; but she was not ready to admitthis to Mrs. Keith.