Captain Desmond, V.C.. Diver Maud

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СКАЧАТЬ here, Honor," he exclaimed. "I draw the line at that! Ladybird ought not to allow it. We've no right to turn you into a domestic drudge."

      "Ladybird – as you so delightfully call her – knows me far too well to try and stop me when she sees I mean to have my own way! Shall you mind if I go shares in your special name for her? It suits her even better than her own."

      "Yes, it seems to express her, somehow – doesn't it?"

      An unconscious tenderness invaded his tone, and his glance turned upon a panel photograph of his wife in her wedding-dress that stood near him on the mantelpiece. Watching it thus, he fell into a thoughtful silence, which Honor made no attempt to break. Speaking or silent his companionship was equally acceptable to her: and while she awaited his pleasure a great hole, made by the removal of one of Evelyn's "lattice windows," filled up apace.

      Of a sudden he turned from the picture, and, drawing up a low chair, sat down before her, leaning a little forward, his elbow resting on his knee. The urgency and gravity of his bearing made her at once lay down her work.

      "Honor," he began, "I'm bothered … about Ladybird, … that's the truth. I wonder if I can speak without fear of your misunderstanding me?"

      "Try me! I am only too glad to help her in any way."

      His intense look softened to a smile.

      "You've made that clear enough already. I begin to wonder what she will do when John comes back to claim you again. You so thoroughly understand her, and thoroughly – love her."

      "She is a creature born to be loved."

      "And to be kept happy," he added very quietly. "But the vital question is whether that is at all possible in Kohat, or in any other of our stations; for Kohat is by no means the worst. She hates the place, doesn't she? She's counting the days to get away to the Hills. You know you can't look me straight in the face and say she is happy here."

      The unexpected attack struck Honor into momentary silence. Desmond was fatally quick to perceive the shadow of hesitation, transient as a breath upon glass; and when she would have spoken he silenced her with a peremptory hand.

      "Don't perjure yourself, Honor. Your eyes have told me all I wanted to know."

      Distress gave her a courage that surprised herself.

      "Indeed they have done nothing of the kind! You ask a direct question, and you are bound in fairness to hear my answer. The life here is still very new to Evelyn, and she has not quite found her footing yet; – that is all. I have had it from her own lips that the place matters very little to her so long as she is – with you; and you go too far in saying that she is not happy here."

      But her words did not carry conviction. He was still under the influence of his wife's curious aloofness since the night of the fire.

      "You're trying to let me down gently, Honor," he said, with a rather cheerless smile. "And you may as well save yourself the trouble. Only – this is where you must not misunderstand me, please, – no shadow of blame attaches to Ladybird if she isn't happy. I had no right to bring her up to this part of the world, knowing it as I did; and I've no right to keep her here. That's the position, in a nutshell."

      "Do you mean you ought to – send her away?"

      "No —take her away."

      Honor started visibly.

      "But – surely – that's impossible?"

      "I think not," he said, in a matter-of-fact tone that distressed her more keenly than any display of emotion. "It's merely a question of facing facts. If I had money enough, I could throw up the Army and take her home. But, as matters stand, I can only do the next best thing, and give up – the Frontier, by exchanging into a down-country regiment."

      "The Frontier…! Theo! Do you realise what you are saying?"

      "Perfectly."

      "Oh, but it's folly – worse than folly! To give up what you have worked for all these years – the men who worship you – your friends, the regiment – "

      "They would survive the loss. I don't flatter myself I'm indispensable. Besides, this isn't a question of me or my friends. I am thinking of Ladybird."

      The coolness of his tone, and the set determination of his mouth, chilled her fervour like a draught of cold air.

      "Oh, if only Major Wyndham were here!" she murmured desperately.

      "Thank God he is not! And if he were, it would make no difference. I shouldn't dream of discussing such a matter with him or – any of them. When my mind is made up, I shall tell him; that is all."

      He rose as though the matter were ended; but Honor had no mind to let him shut the door upon it – yet.

      "It is strange that you can speak so," she said, "when you must know, better than any one, what your leaving the regiment would mean – to Major Wyndham."

      "Yes – I know," he answered quietly, and the pain in his eyes made her half regret her own daring. "The only two big difficulties in the way are my father – and Paul."

      "I see a whole army of others almost as big."

      "That is only because you are always in sympathy with the man's point of view."

      "A matter like this ought to be looked at first and foremost from the man's point of view. The truth is, Theo, that you have simply appealed to me in the hope of having your own Quixotic notion confirmed. You want me to say, 'Yes, go; you will be doing quite right.' And – think what you will of me – I flatly refuse to say it!"

      He regarded her for a few seconds in an admiring silence, the smile deepening in his eyes. Then:

      "Don't you think you are a little hard on me?" he said at length. "It is not altogether easy to do – this sort of thing."

      Honor made no immediate reply, though the strongest chords of her being vibrated in response to his words. Then she rose also, and stood before him; her head tilted a little upwards; her candid eyes resting deliberately upon his own. Standing thus, at her full height, she appeared commandingly beautiful, but in the stress of the moment the fact counted for nothing with either of them. All the hidden forces of her nature were set to remove the dogged line from his mouth; and he himself, looking on the fair outward show of her, saw only a mind clear as crystal, lit up by the white light of truth.

      For an instant they fronted one another – spirits of equal strength. Then Honor spoke.

      "If I do seem hard on you, it is only because I want, above all things, to convince you that your idea is wrong from every point of view. You have paid me a very high compliment to-day. I want you to pay me a still higher one: to believe that I am speaking the simple truth, as I see it, from a woman's standpoint, not merely trying to save you from unhappiness. May I speak out straight?"

      "As plainly as you please, Honor. Your opinion will not be despised, I promise you."

      "Well, then – is it fair on Evelyn to make her upbringing responsible for such a serious turn of the wheel? Would you give her no voice in the matter – treat her as if she were a mere child?"

      "She is very little more than a child."

      "Indeed, Theo, СКАЧАТЬ