The Essential Elinor Glyn Collection. Glyn Elinor

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ now she realized she loved him she did not fence any longer, she never thought of concealing it from him or of blaming him. They were sinners both, he and she equally guilty.

      Another woman might have argued, "He is fooling me; perhaps he has said these things before--I must at least hide my own heart," but not Theodora. Her trust was complete--she loved him--therefore he was a perfect knight--and if he was wicked she was wicked too.

      Her gentian eyes were full of tears as she let fall her hands and looked at him. "Oh yes, I have been asleep--I should have known from the beginning why, why I wanted to see you so much--I should never have come--and I should have understood in the wood that we could not leave it without bringing Love with us--and now we may not be happy any more."

      And then it was his turn to be exalted with wild joy.

      "Do you know what you have said," he whispered, breathless. "Your words mean that you love me--Theodora--darling mine." And once again passion blazed in his eyes, and he would have taken her in his arms; but she put up her hands and gently pushed him from her.

      "Yes," she said, simply, "I love you, but that only makes it all the harder--and we must say good-bye at once, and go our different ways. You who are so strong and know so much--I trust you, dear--you must help me to do what is right."

      She never thought of reproaching him, of telling him, as she very well could have done, that he had taken cruel advantage of her unsophistication. All her mind was full of the fact that they were both very sad and wicked and must help each other.

      "I _cannot_ say good-bye," he said, "now that I know you love me, darling; it is impossible. How can we part--what will the days be--how could we get through our lives?"

      She looked at him, and her eyes were the eyes of a wounded thing--dumb and pitiful, and asking for help.

      Then the something that was fine and noble in Hector Bracondale rose up in him--the crust of selfishness and cynicism fell from him like a mask. He suddenly saw himself as he was, and she--as she was--and a determination came over him to grow worthy of her love, obey her slightest wish, even if it must break his heart.

      He dropped upon his knees beside her on the greensward, and buried his face in her lap.

      "Darling--my queen," he said. "I will do whatever you command--but oh, it need not be good-bye. Don't let me sicken and die out of your presence. I swear, on my word of honor, I will never trouble you. Let me worship you and watch over you and make your life brighter. Oh, God! there can be no sin in that."

      "I trust you!" she said, and she touched the waves of his hair. "And now we must not linger--we must come at once out of this place. I--I cannot bear it any more."

      And so they went--into an _alle_ of close, cropped trees, where the gloom was almost twilight; but if there was pain there was joy too, and almost peace in their hearts.

      All the anguish was for the afterwards. Love, who is a god, was too near to his kingdom to admit of any rival.

      "Hector," she whispered, and as she said his name a wild thrill ran through him again. "Hector--the Austrian Prince at Armenonville said life was a current down which our barks floated, only to be broken up on the rocks if it was our fate; and I said if we tried very hard some angel would steer us past them into smooth waters beyond; and I want you to help me to find the angel, dear--will you?"

      But all he could say was that she was the angel, the only angel in heaven or earth.

      And so they came at last to the Bason de Neptune, and on through the side door into the Rservoirs--and there was the widow's automobile that moment arrived.

      XII

      Every one behaved with immense propriety--they said just what they should have said, there was no _gne_ at all. And when they went up the stairs together to arrange their hair and their hats for dinner, the elder woman slipped her arm through Theodora's.

      "I am going to marry your father, my dear," she said, "and I want you to be the first to wish me joy."

      The dinner went off with great gayety. The widow especially was full of bright sayings, and Captain Fitzgerald made the most devoted lover. Not too elated by his good-fortune, and yet thoroughly happy and tender. He continually told himself that fate had been uncommonly kind to mix business and pleasure so dexterously, for if the widow had not possessed a cent, he still would have been glad to marry her.

      He had been quite honest with her on their drive, explaining his financial situation and his disadvantages, which he said could only be slightly balanced by his devotion and affection--but of those he would lay the whole at her feet.

      And the widow had said:

      "Now look here, I am old enough just to know what my money is worth--and if you like to put it as a business speculation for me, I consider, in buying the companion for the rest of my life who happens to suit me, I am laying out the sum to my own advantage."

      After that there was no more to be said, and he had spent his time making love to her like any Romeo of twenty, and both were content.

      All through dinner a certain strange excitement dominated Theodora. She felt there would be more deep emotion yet to come for her before the day should close.

      How were they going back to Paris?

      The moon had risen pure and full, she could see it through the windows. The night was soft and warm, and when the last sips of coffee and liqueurs were finished it was still only nine o'clock.

      On an occasion when no personal excitement was stirring Captain Fitzgerald he probably would have hesitated about approving of Theodora spending the entire evening alone with Lord Bracondale. She was married, it was true--but to Josiah Brown--and Dominic Fitzgerald knew his world. To-night, however, neither the widow nor he had outside thoughts beyond themselves. Indeed, Mrs. McBride was so overflowing with joy she had almost a feeling of satisfaction in the knowledge that the others would possibly be happy too--when she thought of them at all!

      Again she decided the situation for every one, and again fate laughed.

      There was no use staying any longer at Versailles, because the park gates were shut and they could not stroll in the moonlight, but a drive back and a few turns in the Bois with a little supper at Madrid would be a fitting ending to the day.

      "You must meet us at Madrid at half-past ten," she said; "and Dominic"--the name came out as if from long habit--"telephone for a table in the bosquet--Numero 3--I like that garon best, he knows my wants."

      And so they got into their separate automobiles.

      "Let us have all the windows down," said Theodora, "to get all the beautiful air--it is such a lovely night."

      Her heart was beating as it had never beat before. How could she control herself! How keep calm and ordinary during the enchanting drive! Her hands were cold as ice, while flaming roses burned in the white velvet cheeks.

      And Hector saw it all and understood, and passion surged madly in his veins. For a mile or two there was silence--only the moonlight and the swift rushing through the air, and the wild beating of СКАЧАТЬ