The Streets of Ascalon Part 28

"You are dining out I suppose?"

"No."

She reflected until he spoke again, asking if she was still there.

"Oh, yes; I'm trying to think whether I want you to come around and share a solitary dinner with me. Do I want you?"

"Just a little--don't you?"

"Do you want to come?"

"Yes."

"Very much?"

"I can't tell you how much--over the telephone."

"That sounds both humble and dangerous. Which do you mean to be?"

"Humble--and very, very grateful, dear lady. May I come?"

"I--don't know. Dinner was announced a quarter of an hour ago."

"It won't take me three minutes----"

"If it takes you more you'll ring my door-bell in vain, young man."

"I'll start now! Good----"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "'Do you remember our first toast?' he asked, smiling."]

"Wait! I haven't decided. Really I'm simply stupid with the acc.u.mulated fatigues of two months' frivolity. Do you mind my being stupid?"

"You know I don't----"

"Shame on you! That was not the answer. Think out the right one on your way over. _a bien tot!_"

She had been in the drawing-room only a few moments, looking at the huge white orchids that Langly Sprowl had sent and which her butler was arranging, when Quarren was announced; and she partly turned from the orchids, extending her hand behind her in a greeting more confident and intimate than she had ever before given him.

"Look at these strange, pansy-shaped Brazilian flowers," she said.

"Kindly observe that they are actually growing out of that ball of moss and fibre."

She had retained his hand for a fraction of a second longer than conventional acquaintance required, giving it a frank and friendly pressure. Now, loosing it, she found her own fingers retained, and drew them away with a little laugh of self-consciousness.

"Sentiment before dinner implies that you'll have no room for it after dinner. Here is your c.o.c.ktail."

"Do you remember our first toast?" he asked, smiling.

"No."

"The toast to friendship?"

"Yes; I remember it."

She touched her lips to her gla.s.s, not looking at him. He watched her.

After a moment she raised her eyes, met his gaze, returned it with one quite as audacious:

"I am drinking that same toast again--after many days," she said.

"With all that it entails?"

She nodded.

"Its chances, hazards, consequences?"

She laughed, then, looking at him, deliberately sipped from her gla.s.s, the defiant smile in her eyes still daring him and Chance and Destiny together.

When he took her out she was saying: "I really can't account for my mood to-night. I believe that seeing you again is reviving me. I was beastly stupid."

"My soporific society ought to calm, not exhilarate you."

"It never did, particularly. What a long time it is since we have seen each other. I _am_ glad you came."

Seated, she asked the butler to remove the flowers which interrupted her view of Quarren.

"You haven't said anything about my personal appearance," she observed.

"Am I very much battered by my merry bouts with pleasure?"

"Not much."

"You wretch! Do you mean to say that I am marked at all?"

"You look rather tired, Mrs. Leeds."

"I know I do. By daylight it's particularly visible.... But--do _you_ mind?"

Her charming head was bent over her grapefruit: she lifted her gray eyes under level brows, looking across the table at him.

"I mind anything that concerns you," he said.

"I mean--are you disappointed because I'm growing old and haggard?"

"I think you are even more beautiful than you were."

She laughed gaily and continued her dinner. "I _had_ to drag that out of you, poor boy. But you see I'm uneasy; because imprudence _is_ stamping the horrid imprint of maturity on me very rapidly; and I'm beginning to keep a more jealous eye on my suitors. You _were_ one. Do you deny your guilt?"

"I do not."

"Then I shall never release you. I intend to let no guilty man escape.