Jupiter Lights Part 28

"And since he saw you--since he married you?"

Cicely laughed happily.

"I will bring you something," said Paul. He went off to his tent.

Eve came rapidly to Cicely. "Don't believe a word he tells you!"

"If it is anything against Ferdie, of course I shall not," answered Cicely, composedly.

The judge had followed Paul to his tent. He waited anxiously outside, and then followed him back.

"I don't believe, after all, Cicely, that you are going to do what I don't want you to do," said Paul, in a cheerful tone, as he came up. He seemed to have abandoned whatever purpose he had had, for he brought nothing with him--his hands were empty.

Cicely did not reply, she played with a curl of Jack's hair.

"Ferdie himself doesn't want you to go; you showed me his letter saying so."

"Yes."

"Isn't that enough, then? Come, don't be so cold with me," Paul went on, his voice taking caressing tones.

Cicely felt their influence. "I want to go, Paul, because that very letter of Ferdie's makes me afraid," she said, wistfully; "I feel that there is something behind, something I do not know."

"If there is, it is something which he does not wish you to know."

"That could never be; it is only because I am not with him; when I am with him, he tells me everything, he likes to tell me."

"Will you take my word for it if I a.s.sure you that it is much better for both of you, not only for yourself, but for Ferdie, that you stay here awhile longer?"

"No," replied Cicely, hardening. Her "no" was quiet, but it expressed an obstinacy that was immovable.

Paul looked at her. "Will you wait a week?"

"No."

"Will you wait three days?"

"I shall start to-morrow," replied Cicely.

"Read this, then." He took a letter from his pocket and held it towards her, his name, "Paul Tennant, Esq.," clearly visible on the envelope in the light of the flame.

But at the same instant Eve bent forward; she grasped his arm, drawing his hand back.

"Don't _you_ interfere," he said, freeing himself.

Eve turned to the judge. "Oh, take her away!"

"Where to? I relied upon Tennant; I thought Tennant would be able to do something," said the old man, miserably.

Paul meanwhile, his back turned squarely to Eve, was again holding out the letter to Cicely.

Cicely did not take it.

"I'll read it aloud, then." He drew the sheet from its envelope, and, opening it, began, "'Dear old Paul--'"

Cicely put out both her hands,--"Give it to me." She took it hastily.

"Oh, how can you treat him so--Ferdie, your own brother!" Her eyes were full of tears.

"I cared for him before you ever saw him," answered Paul, exasperated.

"What do you know about my feelings? Ferdie wishes you to stay here, and every one thinks you exceedingly wrong to go--every one except Miss Bruce, who seems to have lost her head." Here he flashed a short look at Eve.

"I shall go!" cried Cicely.

"Because you think he cannot get on without you?"

"I know he cannot."

"Read the letter, then."

"No, take the letter away from her," said Eve. She spoke to Paul, and her tone was a command. He looked at her; with a sudden change of feeling he tried to obey her. But it was too late, Cicely had thrust the letter into the bodice of her dress; then she rose, her sleeping child in her arms. "Grandpa, will you come with me? Will you carry Jack?"

"I will take him," said Paul.

"No, only grandpa, please; not even you, Eve; just grandpa and I. You may come later; in fifteen minutes." She spoke with a dignity which she had never shown before, and they went away together, the old man carrying the sleeping child.

"What was in that letter?" Eve demanded accusingly, as soon as they were left alone.

"Well, another woman."

"Cruel!"

"Yes, it seems so now," said Paul, disturbed. "My one idea about it was that it might make her less confident that she was all-important to him; in that way we could keep her on here a while longer."

"Yes, with a broken heart."

"Oh, hearts! rubbish!--the point was to make her stay. You haven't half an idea how important it is, and I can't tell you; she cannot go back to him until I have been down there and--and changed some things, made new arrangements."

"I think it the greatest cruelty I have ever heard of!" She hurried through the woods towards the tents; Paul followed her.

The judge came out as they approached. "She is reading it," he said in a whisper. "Tennant, I hope you know what you are about?"

"Yes; that letter will make her stay," answered Paul, decisively.

Eve turned to enter the tent.

"The fifteen minutes are not up," said Paul, holding her back.

She drew away from him, but she did not try to enter again; they waited in silence.