第43章

”No；butIexpecthewillbesoon。””Then！”criedVal，anddivingforward，heseizedherhand。Shetriedtowithdrawit，failed，gaveuptheattempt，andlookedathimwistfully。”Firstofall，”hesaid，”Iwanttotellyousomethingaboutmyfamily。MyDad，youknow，isn’taltogether——Imean，he’sleftmymotherandthey’retryingtodivorcehim；sothey’veorderedhimtocomeback，yousee。You’llseethatinthepaperto-morrow。”Hereyesdeepenedincolourandfearfulinterest；herhandsqueezedhis。ButthegamblerinValwasrousednow，andhehurriedon：

’Ofcoursethere’snothingverymuchatpresent，buttherewillbe，Iexpect，beforeit’sover；divorcesuitsarebeastly，youknow。I

wantedtotellyou，because——because——yououghttoknow——if——”andhebegantostammer，gazingathertroubledeyes，”if——ifyou’regoingtobeadarlingandloveme，Holly。Iloveyou——everso；andIwanttobeengaged。”Hehaddoneitinamannersoinadequatethathecouldhavepunchedhisownhead；anddroppingonhisknees，hetriedtogetnearertothatsoft，troubledface。”Youdoloveme——don’tyou?Ifyoudon’tI……”Therewasamomentofsilenceandsuspense，soawfulthathecouldhearthesoundofamowing-

machinefaroutonthelawnpretendingtherewasgrasstocut。

Thensheswayedforward；herfreehandtouchedhishair，andhegasped：”Oh，Holly！”

Heranswerwasverysoft：”Oh，Val！”

Hehaddreamedofthismoment，butalwaysinanimperativemood，asthemasterfulyounglover，andnowhefelthumble，touched，trembly。Hewasafraidtostiroffhiskneeslestheshouldbreakthespell；lest，ifhedid，sheshouldshrinkanddenyherownsurrender——sotremulouswassheinhisgrasp，withhereyelidsclosedandhislipsnearingthem。Hereyesopened，seemedtoswimalittle；hepressedhislipstohers。Suddenlyhesprangup；

therehadbeenfootsteps，asortofstartledgrunt。Helookedround。Noone！Butthelongcurtainswhichbarredofftheouterhallwerequivering。”MyGod！Whowasthat?”

Hollytoowasonherfeet。”Jolly，Iexpect，”shewhispered。

Valclenchedfistsandresolution。”Allright！”hesaid，”Idon’tcareabitnowwe’reengaged，”andstridingtowardsthecurtains，hedrewthemaside。ThereatthefireplaceinthehallstoodJolly，withhisbackelaboratelyturned。Valwentforward。Jollyfacedroundonhim。”Ibegyourpardonforhearing，”hesaid。

Withthebestintentionsintheworld，Valcouldnothelpadmiringhimatthatmoment；hisfacewasclear，hisvoicequiet，helookedsomehowdistinguished，asifactinguptoprinciple。”Well！”Valsaidabruptly，”it’snothingtoyou。””Oh！”saidJolly；”youcomethisway，”andhecrossedthehall。

Valfollowed。Atthestudydoorhefeltatouchonhisarm；

Holly’svoicesaid：”I’mcomingtoo。””No，”saidJolly。”Yes，”saidHolly。

Jollyopenedthedoor，andtheyallthreewentin。Onceinthelittleroom，theystoodinasortoftriangleonthreecornersofthewornTurkeycarpet；awkwardlyupright，notlookingateac

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