"I trust you've not been getting into trouble, Mr. Lightnut!"
Her lovely eyes were dancing with mischief as they hung there below mine—eyes, bluer than the Hudson at our feet; yet between the jolly ripples that played across those pools of truth I could glimpse far down into depths that were the most devilishly entrancing, darkly, deeply, beautifully—oh,youknow!
Why, by Jove, I almost took a cropper right into them! Only caught just in time, you know; straightened right on the verge, as it were—and came up with a gasp, monocle dangling.
Had almost forgotten the dashed windows—and the two cats that might be looking out!
I murmured some jolly apology, adding:
"Oh, yes—quite so; certainly! Imean—eh what?"
She was smiling, her rose-petal lip dragging through her teeth.
"The 'bobby,' you know, just now"—she nodded toward theporte-cochère—"I was positive he had come to drag you away to your loathsome dungeon. And when he retired, I was—oh,sorelieved!" And she clasped her hands, her eyes lifting upward.
"Oh, I say now—were you, though?" I grinned delightedly and slipping to a rustic chair beside her, looked her affectionately in the eye. For all her air of chaffing, I knew that under it was a current of anxiety for me—the darling!
I screwed my glass at her tenderly.
"What would you have done," I said softly, "if he had—er—lugged me off, you know?"
"Canyou ask?" What a reproachful side-glance she shot me through the meshes of her silken what-you-call-'ems! "Why, of course, I should have drawn my good excalibar and run him thr-r-rough and thr-r-r-ough!"
By Jove, how she said it! And she illustrated with the stemless rose—dash it, no; the roseless stem! She wassuperb—looked like the jolly fencing girl; only a dashed sight more stunning, don't you know! And her excalibar, too! Didn't know what a jolly excalibar was, but guessed it was some delightfully mysterious but deadly feminine thing—some kind of submerged hat-pin-sort-of-thing, you know—thatsort, dash it! Yet she would have drawn it—and hergoodone, too, she said!
"Jove!" I said feelingly. "Would you,really?" And I almost took her hand—and again remembered the windows! So I just shot her a look.
Her glorious eyes sparkled. "That is, I would if I had one," she said smiling; "but I'm afraid poor Arthur lost the last and only one. Sad, isn't it?"
"Oh!"
I just felt my jolly heart sink like what's-its-name. Who the deuce was "poor Arthur?" This must be another—some other thundering chap who had been engaged to her. And what a rotten, careless beggar, too, to have lost it—that is, if hereallyhad! Of course, he would say so, anyhow. And how the deuce did he get it, in the first place—did she give it to him, or did he—
By Jove, how I should have liked to punch Arthur's head! Always did hate a chap with that name! I flushed guiltily, but she did not see. For the moment, she was looking off dreamily across the valley.
"I wonder," she said pensively, "why it is one can never find another man like Arthur. Do you suppose it is because he was the ideal?"
For an instant, I swallowed hard—then I plucked up bravely, or tried to, don't you know.
"Jolly likely!" I chirped. Then gloomily: "Oh, I say, you know, was heyourideal?"
"Always!"—the blue eyes lighted wistfully—"I suppose it's because he was my first love; I found him so brave, so noble-mannered, you know—so simple!"
Simple!Dash simple people—never could stand them! ThingIadmired was brains! Aloud I said gently—almost humbly:
"So glad you like him, don't you know—didlike, I mean!"
"Didlike? I do still!"—her tone lifted in earnest protest—"I love to think of brave, dear Arthur and his knights—so few, and yet so full of love, of gallantry and daring!"
Sohisnights were like that! By Jove, I was devilish glad then that they had beenso few—that was some comfort, dash it! I wondered if the beggar was dead. But what difference did it make now, after all? She was mine now and she knew I knew it; that was why this sweet, ingenuous child was laying bare to me her past—the darling!
Really, I ought not to let her go on.
"Never mind them now," I urged soothingly. And heedless of the windows, I hitched a wee bit closer. "That's all past and gone and you and I will yet see as good nights as theyeverwere." I spoke with assurance. "Don'tyouthink so?" I added softly.
She sighed. "I don't know—I hope so!"—she lingered dubiously over it, looking away again, the while her hand put back the fleecy, golden what-you-call-it that was snuggling to her eyes. I looked at the goddess-like forearm, bared to above the elbow, where it slipped from sight under the roll of sleeve, and thought of that night in my apartment when she had made me feel of her biceps, don't you know.
How deliciously shy she was! Remembered hearing Pugsley say they are often that way with the development of love. Told me he thought he'd get married once—looked over the girls of his set and picked out one; then he went to see her. She was devilish cordial at first and until Pugsley began to tell her about it, then she began to grow agitated—finally went out of the room and had hysterics.Nexttime he saw her she hardly was able to speak to him! Said that ended it and he passed her up—too dashed much bother trying to follow 'em, he decided; they were too high-strung, too emotional, too uncertain of themselves,hethought.
I gave her five seconds, and then—
"You don'tknow?" I repeated with gentle reproach. "Oh, I say, you know! You know youknowyou know!" By Jove, that sounded rather rum, but I knew she knew I knew sheknew—see?
She looked at me sidewise, her slender forefinger pressing the half-parted lips slowly shaping in a curve. Then her little teeth flashed, jewel-like—regular jolly pearl setting in the frankest, sweetest smile!—and then her glorious arm and wrist arched suddenly toward me.
"Yes!" she said contritely, and with the most delightful, kindest inflection and laugh—such a laugh!—a laugh gurglingly melodious—oh, dash it, yes; I mean just that!—like the flute notes in the overture to what's-his-name—thatsort!
"That's the way I love to hear a man talk!" she said warmly. "I think it takes an American to stand up for his own place, his own times—please!"
And gently, but with a lovely smile, she withdrew her hand that I had folded close in mine. I let it go, for I saw her look toward the house, and, of course,Iunderstood—jolly careless of me not to have remembered—but she would know from my nod and shrug that I comprehended.
And really, by Jove, it was almost as pleasant as holding her hand, just to watch her leaning back against the iron pillar about which curved the dark-leaved tendrils of some purple-flowering vine. By Jove, she just looked like a stunning, white, Easter-card angel—that's what!—even to the golden hair they always have and the jolly wings; for her gleaming arms, spread behind her head, made you think of that. Butthatwas as near as one of them could come to her, for no golden-haired angel in white flowing nightgown was ever a patch on her forstyle!
Never a one could look sochicas she did in her smart linen suit, with its blue flannel collar, caught low with a flowing, breezy tie; and no jolly angelIever saw pictured could sport a waist like that, so dainty, so modish, so jolly snug and—er—squeezable, don't you know—never! And I was devilish sure that no barefooted or sandaled angel would ever dare to put a foot beside one of those little white Oxfords or that arching instep, just blushing faintly through the silken mesh that held it—well, I guess not! And where the angel, I should like to know, that could match her glorious, fluffy pompadour or the distracting little golden smoke wisps that whirled and pulled and tangled and tossed and twisted and tugged, trying to lift her in their feeble arms into the current of the wandering breeze?
I sighed, and my deep breath brought her gaze back to me and her flashing smile as well.
"And so," she said, lifting her little chin, "you think there are just as many knights now as there used to be?"
I almost laughed at the child-like question—but I didn't! Dash it, no, I wouldn't have done so for the world. Just looked at her seriously and answered her in kind:
"Perfectly sure of it, don't you know!"
And, by Jove, I was! Knew if there had been any change, some newspaper-reading chap at the club would have mentioned it—thatwas safe: especially one silly ass who was always reading of some jolly comet that was coming.Hewould know about the nights.
"Yes—oh, yes, there are just as many," I affirmed positively, and added quickly: "More, you know!" For suddenly I remembered it was leap-year, and I knew there was some jolly rhyme about leap-year gives us one day more—so, of course, there'd be anothernight!
"You don't know how glad I am to hear you say that," she said musingly. "There are just as many knights, you mean, but the conditions have changed—themanis changed—is that it?"
I should say the man was changed! "Oh, dash it, yes!" I blurted. By Jove, I hoped there wouldn't be another change.
"You mean"—with a little, challenging, puzzled smile, she leaned forward, her elbow resting upon her knee like a sculptured, Grecian pillar; her flower-like curving fingers supporting her chin like a Corinthian what's-its-name, you know, the sort of thing the ancient what-you-call-'ems always added to top off their stunning marble columns—youknow!—well, like that—"you mean we may find knights, not only in the field, but in the shops, upon the streets—even in the slums; or in the hospitals, in the church or even on the bench—thatis your idea?"
Itwasn'tmy idea at all—I should say not! Who wanted to spend nights prowling aroundthatway? Why—why, it wasn't respectable, dash it! Besides, that sort of thing—excursioning about seeing things—was devilish tiresome, if you asked me. I never did do it, even abroad, where you meet Americans, jolly bored and tired, doing all sorts of rum places no one else ever thinks of, don't you know.
And as for abench! Well, it was like her, in her innocence of the world, not to know how downright vulgar that would be. I had seen couples sitting evenings in the park—and Iknew!
But I answered tactfully:
"I don't mean those places so much, don't you know—I think we can find lots jollier and better nights elsewhere." And I closed my free eye and beamed at her through my glass. "Don't have to go so far, you know; under one's own roof, or—er—some one else's roof, for instance—why nothere?" I jerked my head toward the old stone pile behind us.
"Oh!"—her eyebrows lifted at me—"so you've thought of that, too?"—she nodded gravely—"you mean in the library there?"
I winked assent.
The library suitedmeall right!
"Just now," she said in an oddly sobered voice, "I looked in as I passed through, and he was looking so crushed, so worn and tired, you know—he had just come from up-stairs; and yet he faced me so bravely and smilingly"—she shook her head—"poor fellow!"
I stared—puzzled, don't you know. Offhand, dash me if I could see what the judge had to do with our evenings together—why, I had his own approval of my suit. Then I remembered that she, of course, didn't know that—yet. Probably what she had in her dear little mind was that he might be holding the library—and hewould, if he continued to think he was busy; for I had heard him say he expected to work all night. But then, there were dozens and dozens of others places we could go—well, I should justsay!
I had just bent forward to suggest this to her when I saw she was going to speak. So I waited, smiling at her tenderly.
"And about Arthur—" she began, and I cut myself a painful stab with my nails—right in the palm—"now there is a case where I think you find"—she nodded toward the house again—"where you find one of his superb qualities, the one quality that, of all, I admire in a man the most."
"By Jove!" I said, leaning forward. I wondered what it was—and then, dash it, I asked her.
"Justtrust!" she said simply, and her face grew luminous. "Faith, perhaps I should say.Myfather has it larger than any man I ever knew; it is something that goes out from him with his friendship, with his love, making a dual gift"—her voice dropped thoughtfully—"I have studied it in him all my life, and it has always seemed so beautiful to me—so wonderful—the unquestioning peace he has"—her blue eyes widened, shining—"has ever in return for the perfect, abiding trust that he gives to the thing he calls his own. Iknow, for he has mademefeel it from the time I was a tiny little girl!" The last word was almost a whisper, so tense, so vibrant with feeling was it—sheseemedto have forgotten my existence. "And if ever I find a man—" she breathed.
I coughed slightly and she started, stared at me—and then the dimple deepened in her cheek, lost in a bed of jolly roses. Her laughter pealed forth, birdlike—delicious!
"Ibegyour pardon!" she said. "But when I think of papa and of how he believes in his children, especially poor littleme, I think I must get—" Her roguish, puzzled smile searched my face. "Howis it you say it?—oh, I know—'I think I must be gettingdippy!'"
And it was the first slang I had heard from those sweet lips since the night she was in my rooms!
Poor, brave-hearted girl! How pitiful and heartrending to a keen-eyed man of the world, seemed her poor, little sham about her father's trust in her! ForIknew the facts, you know!
What a little thoroughbred she was! By Jove, I just sat there for a full two minutes, bending toward her worshipfully, but with such a lump choking my devilish throat that dash me if I could chirp a single word. Just sat there—that's all—blinking damply at her with my free eye, studying with growing wonder the light she managed to summon to her face; heartsick for the care-free mockery of the cherry lips, shaping seemingly in a meditative whistle; all my jolly heart beating time to the lithesome tapping of her smart little boot upon the wooden floor. And she? She, brave heart, leaning back watching me through her long, fringing lashes—forcing a quizzical smile to her face, the while the jolly worm was gnawing at her what-you-call-'ems!
And suddenly it came to me that I just couldn't and wouldn't let her go on this way, without the sympathy of the man she loved; without the precious consolation of knowing that he knew! She was being badgered and rough-shouldered and put upon and distrusted and maligned by every one she knew, and she hadnoone in all the world to turn to but me—and—
Oh, I wanted her to know whatIthought, don't you know!
I slipped to the seat beside her.
"Er, Miss Billings—" I began, thinking absentmindedly of what I should say, and forgetting that we were quite alone.
"'Miss Billings!'Whydo you call me that?" Her lovely brows puckered. "I remember, now, that's twice you—"
"Frances, then!" I corrected softly.
She straightened, her bosom lifting with a quick intake. By Jove, that was what she wanted!
"Oh!" Then she leaned slowly back, looking at me thoughtfully through half-closed eyes, her lips parted in the oddest smile.
And I screwed my monocle tight and let her have smile for smile, determined to chirp her up and make her feel our oneness—that sort of thing, you know. And I succeeded! For of a sudden her head went back and the joyous peal of her canary laugh started off the jolly birds in the trees above us.
"Oh, you—" A stare, and then another burst as she bent forward, face buried in her hands. Then it lifted sharply, flame-dyed—her lips tremulous, her eyes shining like sapphire stars. "Oh!" she gasped, and how I envied the little hand she pressed against her waist; but the windows—dash the windows! "That's—that'sit—Frances—just that much! But, do you know, I don't—don't believe you really know my full name. I remember now several th—" She bent toward me witchingly, her wide blue eyes challenging my candor. "Honestly, now—do—you?"
So it wasthatthought that was tickling her! Well, by Jove, I had her there, for I had heard the judge mention her name in full. I would surprise her!
"Oh,don'tI?" I exclaimed, winking as I polished my glass. "Well, how about Frances Leslie Billings?" I let her have it slowly, distinctly, and with yet a note of triumph I could not altogether hide. And then remorseful for her amazed expression, I explained frankly: "Got it from your father this morning, don't you know, during our long talk about you in the library."
"Wh—"
Then she swallowed and her face fell perfectly blank. By Jove, I could have kicked myself for a jolly ass for breaking it to her so raw! Of course, she would know that if her father talked of her, it would be nothing for me to hear that was true or kind—nothing she could wish might be said to the man she loved.
I hastened to reassure her:
"But I don't believe a dashed word of anything he said about you"—I spoke hotly—"and I don't care a jolly hang for what the others said, either—so there you are!"
"Oh, youdon't?" Could tell how I had touched her by her expression, don't you know; and she fell to looking at me the queerest way. "And would you mind telling me who the 'others' are?"
I eyed her gloomily, sympathetically. Asifshe didn't know already!
"Well—oh, dash it, my mind has been filled with—er—just anything!" I began cautiously.
"Iknow,"—she murmured it as if to herself—"one canseethat!" And she bit her lip.
"In the first place, you know"—and there I pulled up. No, dash it, I wasn't going to say a jolly word about poor Jack—no,sir! But then, about the other one—well,shewas just a treacherous snake in the what's-its-name, and she ought to be exposed. By Jove, she should be!
"It's the frump, you know," I said indignantly.
"The—thewhat?"
Her pretty teeth flashed like the keyboards of a tiny organ—you could even hear a little gurgly, musical quiver somewhere behind. And then I remembered that, of course, she wouldn't know whom I meant.
"Oh, your guest, you know—your friend from school," I went on, trying to tread cautiously and yet feeling myself growing red. "Oh, see here now, I don't like to say things, but—er—"
"Oh,goon!" she trilled, her sweet face shining wistful.
"Well, I mean this—er—Miss Kirkland; came out with us this morning, don't you know.Ithink of her asthe frump—little idea—er—nickname of mine, you know, she's soawful!" And I screwed my glass with a chuckle.
For an instant I thought she wouldn't catch it, she stared at me so blankly.Thenthe joke of it—the jolly aptness, so to speak—got her full and square, and she just lifted a scream, hugging her knee and rocking back and forth, her face suffused, her laughter pealing like a chime of bells.
And I just rocked, too, keeping her company. Really, I don't think I ever laughed so much since some chap plunked down on the hard crown of my new tile last winter. At least Iwantedto laugh—in church, you know, and it's so awful how you feel there when something—oh,youknow! And if you could have seen that poor fellow's face!
By Jove, how glad I was for her jolly sense of humor that could see the point of things so quickly, and think themclever. Always had so dashed little patience with stupid people, don't you know. And just here another little thing came to me and I let her have it:
"Oh, I say!"—I leaned nearer, chuckling—"your father pretends to think her a most beautiful and winning girl—fancy!" And my face stretched itself in such a jolly grin that I could hardly hold my glass.
She bent toward me, smiling adorably. "You mean this—er—'Miss Kirkland'?"
I nodded chortlingly.
She peered at me through her long what-you-call-'ems—oh,sucha way!
"Butyoudon't think so,doyou?" How sweetly, how fetchingly she said it!
"Me?" I gasped. By Jove, in my horror, I lost my grip upon my jolly grammar. "Oh, I say now!Ithink the frump—this Miss Kirkland, you know—is a fright—regular freak, dash it! I told the judge so!"
"You—you—"
"Ofcourse!" And I shrugged disgustedly, making the ugliest grimace I possibly could. "Why, dash it, if I were a woman and had a face like hers, I never would have left China, or England—or wherever her jolly home was—no, sir!"
She caught her breath with a little gasp—then she was off again! This time she rested her arms upon the rail behind and buried her head in them, her lovely shoulders jiggling up and down, her sobbing laughter sending her off at last into a spell of coughing.
"Oh!" she breathed, lifting at last her gloriously blushing face and dabbing at it with her ridiculous little handkerchief, "oh, you'llkillme—I know you will!"
I certainly had stirred her up, and I was delighted. Itwasfunny to think of any one calling the frump beautiful—it must seem funnier still to her, of course—to Frances, I mean. Why, dash it,sheseemed to find a funny side to it that I didn't, don't you know!
"Tell me, now"—she clasped her knee, lifting her lovely face coaxingly—"tell me all that she said about me—everything!"
And I did—every word, by Jove!
And no one could look into that sweet, ingenuous face as I proceeded, and doubt that the slanders were new to her. Never a jolly one touched her—only you could see their absurdity amused her. Several times I had to pause as she bent under a gale of laughter.
Only once was she brought up, shocked.
"Oh!" she uttered faintly, as I came to the intimation about her being hail-fellow-well-met with the footmen and her drinking and carousing with them and other men-servants until three in the morning. I realized that it wasn't the matter of the drinking that feazed her and drew from her little gasps as I came to this—knewthatdidn't bother her, don't you know, for I knew she did drink—coulddrink, I mean to say; for I had not forgotten the two full whisky glasses of high-proof Scotch she had tossed off that night in my rooms. Why, no, dash it, she wasableto drink—it went in the family! I could never forget with what pride she had told me of putting her brother Jack under the table two nights running.Thatwas all right—it was the other part of the frump's scandal that brought her up, standing, so to speak.
Fornowshe really looked embarrassed, despite another lapse to laughter. Her face and neck were dyed a lovely crimson.
"Oh, dear!" she said finally; and she wiped her eyes. "Whatyou must think of me!"—and she looked away, a pretty frown contracting her face; then the jolly dimple deepened once again and she choked into her handkerchief. "Oh,dear!" she repeated, biting her lip to hold her quivering mouth corners. "Oh, it's a shame," I heard her mutter; "Imustn'tlet him—it's too—" She wheeled upon me, her lips tightened. "Oh!" she ejaculated sharply, almost petulantly, and her foot struck smartly on the boards. "I wonder how much you think—think—"
"Thinklots," I said simply, watching her little toe as it tapped.
"Well,Ishould think as much!" And this time her laugh was short—oddly constrained. She looked away off down the slope to the river. "Oh!" This time it was a tiny gasp as of dismay. And the toe tapped like an electric what's-its-name.
"Yes," I said, watching it musingly, "I suppose it's because you're the only girl, don't you know, that I everdidthink of before—oh, ever at all, dash it!"
The toe stopped. I couldfeelher looking at me sidewise, but I did not glance up, that I remember; was looking down, trying to get hold of a dashed idea I wanted to express.
"Don't know," I continued, boring away at her toe, yet hardly seeing it, "but suppose that's the reason I knew all the time she waslying; but still, somehow that doesn't seem to be therealreason I knew. I think the real reason I knew it couldn't be and wasn't true was"—I sighed heavily—"oh, dash it, it'ssohard to get hold of the jolly thing!"
And there was a pause.
"The real reason?" her voice coaxed gently.
"Was because—" Then she moved the toe and it put me out—"I think just because—oh, yes, Iknownow!" And I looked up eagerly. "Just because I knew that you—areyou!" I finished beamingly.
"Oh, I see!" She said it musingly, her finger lightly pressing upon her lips, her beautiful eyes studying me with the oddest, keenest side-glance.
A pause; and then: "Andhowlong have you known me, pray? Just a—"
"A thousand years!" I said promptly and earnestly. "A thousand years and all my life, don't you know! Never will know you any better."
"I wonder," she murmured, nodding slowly. And then for a moment she didn't say a word, just sat there looking me over curiously, her expression half shy, half quizzical, don't you know.
Then her smile flashed again—a radiant, dazzling brightness that brought her nearer, like the effect of the sunlight's sudden gleam there at times upon the blue line of the "West Shore" away across the broad, three-mile span of the old Tappan Zee.
"And now"—again her splendid young arms were clasped, wing-like, behind her head; and its golden glory hung like a picture against the dark vine leaves, bossed with the clustered purple flowers—"now," she repeated, settling comfortably, "you must just go on and tell me the rest—I can bear it! What did my"—her big blue eyes twinkled as she smiled—"my father say about me?"
I shifted uncomfortably. "Oh, I can't, you know!" I demurred. "I say, what's the use, dash it?" Poor old boy, somehow I just hated to round on him—he was so jolly hard hit already; Jack, don't you know! Besides—
"Please!" Jove, how she said it!
"Oh, dash it, I'm afraid it will hurt you," I protested uneasily; "and I don't think the judge really—"
"I just don't carethat"—a snap from her little fingers and her arm went back—"for anythingheever said about me that wasmean! So, please go on—I must go dress for luncheon."
And so I just took a deep breath, a long running leap, and cleared the bar—told her all, you know!
Oddly, this time she didn't laugh—and I knew why: it was her father, and it had cut her to the heart. This was what I had feared. As I proceeded, narrating the interview in the library, she just grew rosier and rosier red, but sat looking at me wide-eyed and unflinching. The pulsation of her bosom quickened a little, but her dear face remained unchanged, save for her little trick of dragging her under-lip through her white teeth.
"And, by Jove, that's all!" I finished with relief as I mopped my face. "But who cares, don't you know, or believes any bit of it? Anyhow,wedon't—for we know!"
"Are yousure?" She spoke gravely, yet in her eyes were the dancing star-motes of a laugh. "The extravagance, the gambling, and the—oh, all of it? I must tell youIheard some sad things myself about Francis Billings while I was at Cambridge—"
I grunted scornfully. "Iknow: from that two-faced cat, Miss Kirkland! Say, how I wish, by Jove, that woman would pack up and go back to China—thesponge!" And I screwed my glass indignantly.
"Oh, now!" she remonstrated sweetly, "you mustn't saythat! You might be sorry!" She smiled archly.
I grunted contemptuously.
Again she rested her little chin upon her hand, eying me thoughtfully, earnestly.
"And so you don't believe any of it?"
I chuckled at the idea. "Oh, I say now, Frances, youknowI don't!" And I shoved a bit nearer, looking into her eyes. But just then I saw Wilkes come out and look around.
Andshemust have glanced about quickly and have seen him, too, for as I shifted my eyes to her again she was blushing furiously and had moved a bit.
"I'm afraid," she said measuredly, her chin lifting a little, "you do believe—partof it!" And in her eyes was a glint of fire.
And then as my face fell blankly, a slow little smile came creeping back to hers. Her eyes softened.
"Forgive me," she said gently; "I misunderstood!"
The darling! And, dash it, if they were going to have vines to a pavilion, why didn't theyhavevines?
"Do you know," she said, "I don't believe youdobelieve any of these awful things could be true about me,"—her voice quickened here—"and do you know I just think it's lovely of you! Ido!" And her dear voice dropped like the softer notes of a what's-its-name. Her hands lay in her lap and she was studying me in the kindest, sweetest way! And I wanted to tell her how good she was and how much I loved her, don't you know, but just then, behind the pavilion, came the gardener. He was talking to one of his assistants about slugs—dashslugs!
And then her face lighted again as though she would speak and I leaned eagerly toward her—waiting, expectant.
"When Arthur made his court at—" she began, and, by Jove, my jolly heart sank. If she would only drop Arthur and give me a chance to makemycourt, dash it! "Camelot, you know," she went on, and I almost groaned. What didIcare that he came a lot? Perhaps, now, if I could divert her mind—
"Oh, I say, you know," I broke in interestedly, "what was it you were—er—humming—just now, don't you know."
"Vivian's song—don't you remember it?"
I tried to think, but I couldn't seem to place her, though I knew the whole line of 'em back to Lottie Gilson.
I finally had to shake my head.
She smiled. "Don't you know," she said:
"'I think you hardly know the tender rhymeOf "trust me not at all or all in all."'"
"'I think you hardly know the tender rhymeOf "trust me not at all or all in all."'"
She was right! I didn't know the jolly thing, that was a fact, but somehow I liked the swing of it. She went on, and struck me with another remark. By Jove, she seemed to have forgotten about the jolly song and I was devilish glad, forIhad rather hear hertalk, don't you know.
"'In Love, if Love be Love, if Love be ours—'"
"'In Love, if Love be Love, if Love be ours—'"
"If?" I ejaculated reproachfully, hitching nearer. But she only smiled, and continued her remark:
"'Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers;Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all.'"
"'Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers;Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all.'"
"Oh!" I uttered. For, by Jove, she had said it—the thing I had felt all the time and couldn't express; the something that had been with me all along in connection with herself. And hereshehad the jolly idea pat upon her tongue! I just blinked at her admiringly—didn't dare speak, you know; afraid I'd break the thread of what's-its-name.
She went on telling me something about a lover's lute, and it was hard not to speakthen, for I did so want to ask what a jolly lute was. And then some remark about specks in garnered fruit—here her line of thought had been changed, I knew, by some remark of the gardener outside: something about worms and the orchard. However, I just chirped up a nod and listened as attentively as though she had gone right on. She was busy with her hair now, but with her mind still on the worm, murmured abstractedly:
"'That rotting inward slowly moulders all.'"
"'That rotting inward slowly moulders all.'"
And just here, with a little clatter, her back comb struck the floor, bounding to the other side of the pavilion. As I scrambled to get it, her voice lifted through a choke of laughter:
"'It is not worth the keeping; let it go!'"
"'It is not worth the keeping; let it go!'"
The idea!
I laughed as I caught the thing up and whirled, my hand outstretched to lay it in her own. She was on her feet, pulling down her belt, and paused to lift away a leaf that clung to her snowy skirt. And just here, the gardener's voice lifted startlingly across the park to some one distant and invisible:
"Better bring paris green, Jud; it's the only way we'll ever get rid of 'em," he bawled. "I see they're going after the leaves now, and they can live on them and air. Pizen'll fix 'em, though!"
The comb outstretched, I stood staring at Frances, doubled over and writhing. And then, with a long-drawn gasp that was half a screech, her lithesome figure straightened, her head went back, and from her throat there trilled the very joy of health and youth and happy days.
"Oh!" she gasped, her hand pressing to her side. And while I looked at her anxiously, she went on pantingly, her eyes bright with tears:
"'But shall it? Answer, darling, answer no,And trust me not at all or all in all.'"
"'But shall it? Answer, darling, answer no,And trust me not at all or all in all.'"
"Jove!" I said delightedly, placing the comb in her outstretched hand and pressing it—the hand, I mean, dash it! "Ido, don't you know! I trust you all in all!"
"But tell you, sir, he isnotmy son!" The judge was bending over the desk 'phone as I looked in a half hour later. His voice rose in a crescendo of rage: "Wha—what'sthat? Do I want to speak with him? Certainlynot, sir—and Iwon't!... Um, yes—John W. Billings—yes, that's his name.... Stuff and nonsense, sir! He's up-stairs now in his room.... Says what?"—the judge's eyes rolled frowningly upward as he listened; then he licked his lips and bent again, speaking with passionate incisiveness: "Why, dammit, man, I've just this minute been talking to him—just left him, y'understand....Certainlyyour man's an impostor—youought to know that!... Yes, this is Judge Billings, himself.... Eh? Oh, that's allright, but now let me tell you something"—he cleared his throat and gathered his voice in cold, deliberate accents: "You let me be annoyed again from your precinct, and I can promiseyouthat.... Um, well that's all right then.... 'Bye!"
He banged the receiver to the hook and faced about, muttering things to himself.
"Well, upon my word! Of all the—excuse me, Lightnut!" He wiped his forehead, his glance abstracted and scowling. "Somebody is putting this fool up to this—somebody trying to annoy me!" He uttered a short laugh that was more of a snort. "There's some fool lunatic down in New York that they've arrested and he's got a bug that he's my son! This is the second offense. Caused me to lose two hours from my office yesterday in the city and upset me for the whole day! And me so busy! busy!"—his hands lifted toward the papers on the table—"so busy I can hardly"—another snort, and he relighted his cigar, puffing savagely—"looks like there's just one fool thing after another interrupting me or absorbing my time!"
"Jolly shame, you know!" I responded, dropping sympathetically into a chair. I pushed the papers to one side so I could rest my elbow on the table edge; besides, I saw they were fretting him—could tell by his glances, you know.
For another thing, I had got hold of a devilish shrewd idea I wanted to break to him—about this chap who was pretending to be his son. I remembered that the old rascal who had invaded my rooms had tried to make me believe thatIwas his bosom friend.
"Oh, I say, you know," I began, declining a cigar and selecting a cigarette from my case, "I've an idea!"
And I faced him impressively.
"You'vewhat?"—he straightened forward, with a kind of twisted smile—interested, you know—"whatever makes you thinkthat, my boy?"
I waited, sending a long, thin smoke funnel upward. Kept him expectant, you see, and gave me time to get hold of the corners of the jolly thing myself. Catch the point? So devilish important when you have to lift an idea, don't you know.
"Rather fancy your chap's the same one I know of," I drawled, "an oldish duffer—white mutton-chops—beefy sort of face—sunburn line and baldish—all that sort of thing!"
"Well, by-y-y George!"—he slapped his hand down—"I should say thatwasa real idea! And you say you know this crazy fool?"
"Crazy? He's not crazy!" I exclaimed indignantly, thinking of her pajamas. "And he's no morefoolthan I am!"
He fell back with a grunt. "Oh, well, Iknow—but—"
He coughed. By Jove, he seemed disappointed, somehow!
I proceeded calmly: "Real truth is, the beggar's a notorious criminal, known to the police as Foxy Grandpa—pretends all sorts of things about people, don't you know."
"My dear Lightnut,"—he was staring at me, mouth distended—"why—how the devil doyouknow this?"
I inhaled deliberately. "Awfully simple, don't you know," I responded quietly; and I let him wait till I had blown six rings. "Fact is,I'mthe one sent him to jail!"
"You!"—his laugh was frankly amused, incredulous.
"Oh, yes!"—carelessly—"found the fellow thieving in my rooms the other night and called in police—oh, they recognized him in a minute!"
He looked floored. "Well, what do you think of that?" he murmured slowly. Then his face flushed and he sat erect. "And sothat'sall the crazier the ruffian is—that'sthe kind of smart Alex that's been trying to get gay with me—withme!" He started up, snorting like a war-horse—"Huh! Well,twocan play at that game, and"—his eyes twinkled wrathfully—"I'll show him who's got the best hand! I'll just—"
The rest trailed off in a mutter. He had dropped beside the telephone again, his cigar crushed firmly in the corner of his mouth, his gray mustache bristling aggressively. I tried to trace the family resemblance to Frances, but clashed if I could see a single point. And while I was thinking of this, he got his number.
"Yes, yes," I heard, "Idowant to speak to him personally—this is Judge Billings!"—a moment, and then: "Morning, Commissioner—this is Billings.... Fine, thank you!... Oh, no! No bad effects at all—takes more than that to throw a seasoned old diner like my—.... What say?"—a cackling chuckle—"yes, I knew the dinner would loosenhimup! Had his promise before we left the table; Soakem heard him—so did Benedict.... Yes—oh, yes; he's got it—had it with me, you know,in case!... No-o-o, of course not; not a single line or scrap!"—a lower drop of tone—"just in a plain, blank envelope—best way always, you know.... Yes, that gives us a safe margin in the Senate now, not even counting upon what they do in committee—and Soakem'll take care of that end.... Yes, he went back to Albany this morning—he says the bill's safely deader'n Hectornow.... Er, by the way, Commissioner,"—the judge cleared his throat and his voice sobered: "Little favor I want to ask—h'm! I'm being greatly annoyed by some low vagabond confined at one of the stations....Yes, I really mean it!—Captain Clutchem's precinct, you know—and this ruffian insists to them that he's my son.... No,indeed, I'm not joking at all.... All right, you may laugh, but I fail to appreciate the funny side, myself—especially now, you know, when I'm up to my neck in this merger case.... How's that? What do I wantdone? Oh, I wouldn't venture to say as tothat! I leave that toyou!...Iknow.... Yes, I understand all that, but ... wait—wait just a minute! Now you listen—"
The judge concentrated more intensely over the instrument.
"You know what you asked me to do when I saw you last night—and I refused"—another voice drop—"with the mayor, you know? Well—now listen—you make assurance that this scoundrel will not bother me for thirty days and—well, I give you my word that I'll do all I can to bring things the way you want.... Good!... What'll you do with him? Why, what in Sam Hill doIcare what you do with him?... Oh, butsay, Commissioner—yes, I do care, too!"—a laugh here like a jolly fiend—"Ishouldn'tlike for him to be put away off in some nice, damp, dark cell to cool off—he! he! he!—y'understand?"
He got so mixed up in his chuckling and coughing that he couldn't get out another word for a moment. Then—
"Oh, no!Cer-tainly not; nor one too hot and airless, as you say—he! he! he! And don't put him—don't put him—" the judge was gasping for air now—"don't put him on bread and water, or anything of that kind, nor in a cell with rude, rough men who would tame his playful spirit—he! he! he!—oh,don'tdo that!... What say? I didn't quite catch—" And then, dash it, it seemed hedidcatch it, for he began waving his arm and pounding the desk. "Oh—oh, no, that would betoobad—really!... Eh? Oh, well, you know best—it's up to you now!... 'Bye, and many thanks, Commissioner! Eh? All right, to-morrow then at one at the Lawyers' Club—you can go over again the points of what you want with the mayor. 'Bye!"
And with good humor perfectly restored, he faced me, wabbling like a jolly jellyfish.
"'S greatest joke ever heard of in my life!" he chortled.
"Oh, I say, how did you find Jack?" I asked, for that was the thing I had begun to think of.
His face collapsed so dashed sudden, I was afraid it would break. And from being a peppery red, he changed to a devilish sickly yellow.
"Awful!" he said jerkily. "Something awful!" And he groaned like a jolly horse in pain. "Went up there, you know, but—" his hands lifted and dropped; he shook his head—"didn't seem to know me at all—was sitting there in his pajamas examining with a magnifying glass some leaves he had pulled at the window. Seems obsessed with some crazy patter of talk I couldn't understand—poor fellow!" The judge sighed. "Only thing he seemed to want me to do for him was to promise to wear his pajamas to-night—pajamas seem to be the focus of his malady this time."
I swallowed pretty hard and looked down.
"I promised," continued the judge gloomily. "And I'll do it—oh, yes, anything to humor him! He's to put them outside his door to-night—it's his own whim, you know." He went on moodily: "He won't allow any luncheon sent up; says if not too much trouble, would be grateful for two and one-half ounces of unleavened bread and clabber—what the devil'sclabber?"
I had never heard of it—knew, of course, no one had!
"Well," he said with a deep breath, "we'll just have to do the best we can. Of course, under the circumstances, it's best for him to keep his apartment—Oh, say, would you like to go up?"
"Oh—er—think not!" I stammered. "Don't believe I—"
"You're right! You're right!" He pursed his lips: "Too pitiful a sight—only sadden you!" He began gathering up the papers behind my arm, though I murmured that they were not in my way at all. The cathedral chimes in the hall had played the half hour. The judge strolled over to the French windows that opened upon the loggia.
"I say, Lightnut, have you ever noticed the view from out here?" he asked briskly. "Fine, you know! Nice to sit here and watch the boats—have you your cigarettes?Oh, yes! Trythischair! Now, if you'll excuse me I'll be with you in—"
"Luncheon is served!" intoned a human machine.
"Ah-h!" The judge's tone evinced satisfaction. "My dear Lightnut," his hand upon my arm, "do you know I look upon you as so nearly one of us—?"
"Thank you, judge!" I said feelingly. By Jove, it was devilish comfy to have her father so jolly friendly about it!
"That I'm just going to ask you to excuse me from lunching with you—know you'll understand, my boy!—so infernally busy, you see!"
Ididn'tsee, though he had beensayingthis all morning. But as he seemed to think he was busy, I wasn't going to make any dashed break contradicting him, you know. So I pretended Ididsee.
"Thank you—thank you, my boy!" He patted me on the back. "And as you'll have an opportunity of seeing a little more of that charming girl, Miss Kirkland—" Charming girl, indeed! I wondered what he would think, if he knew of her designs on poor Jack! "I want you to go in for her a bit—cultivate her a little; you may change your opinion—eh?" He laughed softly and paused in our progress through the library to dig me sharply in the side. "Go ahead—flirtwith her, my boy! She will like it—all girls do—and it will do you good; do both of you good!" The old boy beamed at me over his glasses as he vented a horrible chuckle; didn't seem to notice how painfully shocked I was.
A flirtation, indeed! And with the frump, of all others! Of course he was just having his little joke, and didn't seem to realize what devilish poor taste he exhibited as the father of my darling.
"Thank you," I said rather coldly, "but I don't think that—er—sort of thing would show much consideration for Frances and—"
"Rubbish!" And, by Jove, how he laughed! "Do you think Francis would show any consideration foryou?"—he snapped his fingers. "I think you're a bit too quixotic, young man!"
I didn't know—don't know now; never was up on any of those legal terms.Heknew what he meant!
"Pshaw, now!" he went on, "ifthat'swhat's restraining you, you must drop it! I want you to have a pleasant time while you are here with Miss Kirkland—get along with you!"—then he pulled me back again—"You needn't be thinking about the slightest obligation so far as Francis is concerned. Why should you when the affair is all one-sided?"
"One—one-sided?" I repeated falteringly.
"Why, yes; the girl doesn't care for anybody in the whole word except her old father—and he idolizes her!"
Oh,didhe!
"So you go on in there and loosen up—have a good time—and make her have one; and keep it up this afternoon. I'm so anxious for you to find something to interest andoccupyyou—" His glance dropped an instant to the papers and law books as though wishing he had something better with which to occupy himself. "Besides," he added carelessly, "Francis won't be here to see what you do—gone off with Scoggins up somewhere in the hills—big dog-fight up there and Francis took four curs, Scoggins two—they won't be back till night—so go ahead!"
But I had caught the back of a chair.
"Dog-fight?" I said faintly. "Frances up in the hills—and—and with Scoggins?" And she had only left me a half-hour ago!
"Why,certainly!" he said wearily, almost testily. "What of it? I tell you you've got to get your ideas all readjusted about Francis. What's the matter with the dog-fight?"
"So—so surprised," I faltered; "so unexpected, you know!"
"Poof!"—and he pushed me out through the doorway—"I never face anything unexpected in that quarter!"
But I think he would have, if he had followed me across into the dining-room and had faced, as I did—
Frances!
"Soglad you didn't go to the dog-fight!" I said presently, beaming across at her delightedly.
Her sweet lips glowed at me as her dainty fingers poised the tiny trident before her lips. Jove, how I envied that jolly oyster! Then she smiled witchingly, teasingly.
"It wasn't because I didn't have an invitation," she responded archly.Iknew! That beast, Scoggins!
"Umph;" grunted the frump, seated on the curve between us. "I verily believe Francis would go to anything!"
I scowled—couldn't help it, dash it! And Frances saw, and ducked her head, biting her lip and blushing. I could have choked the frump for so embarrassing her!
Yet the womandidtry to be pleasant to me.
"Did you ever find a pearl in an oyster, Mr. Lightnut?" she asked.
"By Jove, no!" I said, staring at her for the fool question. Forwhocould ever lose a pearl in a jolly oyster, don't you know? And yet, the next instant:
"Ihave!" said my darling, glancing up at me the oddest way.
"Have you, Frances?"—the frump faced her interestedly. "You should examine with a microscope the interstratifications of calcareous matter and animal membrane."
My beauty looked down at her plate.
"Iamexamining it," she said gravely, "and microscopically. Probably shall this afternoon."
But shedidn't! No, by Jove, we were together almost all the afternoon, though we never could get away from the frump—dash it, she just took charge of us. And it was the same again in the evening. By Jove, it was disgusting—really, that's the only word to use—the way that woman assumed toward everybody the air of expect-to-be-mistress-here-some-day-and-might-as-well-begin-now!
Once she did break away from us for fifteen minutes while she went up to see how Jack was. She came back much relieved.
"He wassoglad to see me," she said, "and he kissed me twice. We had such an interesting discussion about theamoeba."
"Thewhat?" asked Frances.
"Theamoeba—tiny animalcules, don't you know, that have the power of changing their form and appearance. Jacky thinks that perhaps man, too, in the process of time and evolution might scientifically acquire this—"
"How silly!" laughed my darling. And I thought so too. Of course if a man looked like himself once, he wouldalwayslook like himself. Any fool knew that!
Later, the judge came to my room, accompanied by Wilkes with some Heidelberg punch,frappé.
"Couldn't leave you out of this," he said genially; "besides, wanted to toast your first night under the roof of Wolhurst!
"Hope they're making you comfortable," he went on. "Infernal shame, Lightnut, that I've had to neglect you so; so absurdly busy, you know—youunderstand?"
I pretended to, for I knew he wanted me tothinkthat, but I had heard the butler tell the frump that the judge wasreading.
"Don't expect to retire at all," he continued; "and then there's my promise to my poor boy—Imustkeep that somehow; never failed on a promise in my life—I mean, you know, about wearing his new pajamas." He shook his head sadly.
"T' be sure!"—and I swallowed hard—Jove, but the very word, "pajamas," gave me cold marrows!
"And, my boy, I haven't forgotten my promise toyou, either," he continued, smiling kindly and replenishing my glass to the brim. "I'm still going to have a word with Francis to-night—that is, if they ever get back from that infernal dog-fight—I want to pave the way for you, you know."
"Thanks awfully!" I murmured nervously.
Somehow, I felt mean—always hate to feel mean, dash it—felt almost like a jolly cad, in fact.Couldn'ttell him how far Frances and I had progressed already; he might take it out on her, you know. Andthen, to find out that he didn't know she hadn't gone to the dog-fight after all!
"Well," he sighed, "I will manage it all somehow, even about the pajamas. Perhaps, when the house is quiet, I may—here, have another—oh, yes, you must!—won't hurt you; only a pint or so of rum in the whole mixture. Fine, isn't it? Yes, I think Wilkes is certainly an artist when it comes to a nightcap. Now, let me fill yours again—oh, yes!"—and he did it—"Won't hurt a baby—make you sleep tight, you know!"
And, by Jove, I had to go it!
"Well—" he shifted as if to go, and sent me a smile over his glass's rim, "pleasant dreams!"
And then the door closed behind our "good nights."
Jenkins was studying me somberly.
"Yes, sir," he said presently, when I had made comment about the bully punch. And that was about all I could get out of him, until he was ready to push out the light.
Then he addressed me gloomily:
"Good night, sir," he said with a sickly, feeble smile, "I hope you'll sleep well; and—" he coughed faintly—"and—er—wake up—h'm—all right!"
"Frisky as a—" I bunched my head sleepily into the pillow—"as a jolly—" But the idea wouldn't come!
"Night!" I murmured; and let it go at that!
Ididn'tfeel frisky when I awoke!
No, dash it, I had a devilish headache and my mouth had that gummy, warm-varnish taste—youknow! The sunlight lay across the floor, and outside I could hear the jolly birds twittering among their what's-its-names. Jenkins stood by the foot of the bed and somehow had a gloomy look. He cleared his throat, and I had a feeling that he had already done it several times. I raised to my elbow, mouthing at him heavily.
"Morning, sir!" He said it very gently—I thought solicitously. "Howdo you feel, sir?" This last in the kind of tone you use when the chap's going to die to-morrow, don't you know, and doesn't know it yet himself.
I mumbled reply, gulping down the glass of ice-water he tendered.
He rubbed his hands one over the other and stooped above me anxiously.
"Ihope, sir, you're not in much pain—from last night, sir, I mean?"
"Pain?" I ejaculated crossly. "Why should I be in pain? Don't be a silly ass!"
"Yes, sir!"—very softly, and with a deep sigh as he dropped back. By Jove, he looked as cheerful as a jolly tombstone!
"What the deuce—" I began.
"Noth—nothing, sir!"—hastily—"I was just a-thinking of the—h'm—may I say scrimmage, sir?"
I waited till I had taken from his hand the second glass of ice-water and swallowed it, thinking maybe I would get hold of it—the dashed idea, I mean.
I batted at him perplexedly.
"What was that?Scrimmage?I don't remember hearing anything—what'sthat?"
And I reached for another glass.
"Pardon, sir—" Jenkins' eye shifted unhappily; "but may I ask, sir, whatisthe last thing you do remember?"
"Eh?"
I sat up a bit straighter, rubbing my head and devilish annoyed at being made to try to think at all. Then I remembered: We were in a jolly blue aëroplane drawn by golden humming-birds and she was just telling me—no, dash it, that was a dream—just a dashed dream! I groaned, dropping my head upon my knees. "Why, the last thing I remember was the punch—punch—"
"Punch—yes, sir!" And Jenkins sighed.
"Yourpunch to put out the light," I finished. Then I looked at him, startled. "Oh, I say, now, it wasn't burglars, was it?"
You see, I thought at once of Foxy Grandpa and my darling's pajamas.
"Notprecisely, sir." Jenkins hesitated; then moved a little nearer. "I—I hope you'll pardon me, Mr. Lightnut, sir; but I can't help a feeling that you ought to know everything before—h'm—I was going to say, sir, before you see the family. Ihopeyou'll pardon me, sir!"—he heaved desperately—"I mean about all that happened last night."
I stared. "Oh, I say, Jenkins," I said, with an anxious thought, "youdidn't—er—youknow—I mean you and Wilkes didn't drink the rest of the punch—after he took it away, you know—eh?"
"Me?" Jenkins' hand clutched the heavy brass curve at the foot of the bed. "No,sir!"—and he added sadly: "Besides, sir, therewasn'tany rest of it! Mr. Wil—I mean Wilkes, was a-commenting on it. That was how I come to find I didn't have any more of the blank pledges. So I just walked across the park to get some extra ones I had given the gardener, and he said I could have 'emall, if I'd just let him get a little sleep; and he chucked 'em all out of his window. Seemed irritated like because I woke him up. And then, sir, I don't know whether it was because of the splashing of the fountains, but I had an idea."
"That'snothing," I said contemptuously, "I often do at night when I hear water splashing. Ioftenget up and get something."
Jenkins' face sobered. "Iknowit, sir—pardon, sir, I mean I frequently know you have—h'm—know by the glasses—youunderstand, sir!" Then he went on: "The idea that came to me was a great liberty—I know that, sir, and I'm sorry—but I guess I was thinking that about the end justifies—youknow it, sir?"
I didn't know, but I did wishhewould make an end!
"The library windows was open on the loggia, sir, and when I looked in, I didn't see anybody and I thought—" Jenkins coughed and looked devilish rattled—"thought I would just slip in and lay a few of the temperance pledges between the papers the judge had been working on." Jenkins reddened, looking at me in an appealing way.
"Jove!" I ejaculated, staring. "Oh, I say, now!"
"Yes, sir,"—faintly—"I knew how you would feel—I ain't excusing myself, sir; and when I heard your voice I tried to get out, but there wasn't time, so I—" Jenkins touched his hands in front, then behind him, and shifted distressfully, "I—I hid behind the alcove curtains—h'm—and just then—"
"Here!" I broke in, "Wait, dash it!Whosevoice did you hear?"
Jenkins' eyes ducked.
"Yours, sir," he said faintly. "And then you came in."
I stared, trying to take it in. Couldn't chirp a word, don't you know, for tothinkI had taken to sleep-walking—andhere!
Jenkins proceeded rapidly: "You was cording a dressing-robe about you as you came in and I see a glimpse of one of your dark suits underneath. And following right behind you was that young Mr. Bi—h'm—pardon, sir, I remember you said I wasn't to mention any one connected with that ni—h'm!Youknow who I mean, sir?"—he paused anxiously—"Young man, sir—freckled face—and the big lot of"—his spreading fingers curved above his head—"awfullyyellow hair—um,youknow, sir?"
"Oh,that!" I said with contempt, for I knew he meant that mucker, Scoggins. Then incredulously: "Oh, I say, you don't mean I was talking tohim? And asleep?"
Jenkins eyed me reproachfully. "Not asleep, sir," he remonstrated gently.
"But I tell you—"
"Mr. Lightnut, sir, it was thepunch!" He shook his head. "If you'll excuse me for mentioning—"
"Oh!" I remarked weakly, falling back upon my pillow. "Jove, Jenkins!" And I just looked at him stupidly—fact!
Jenkins stroked his chin, his eyes fixed somberly above my head. "The demon rum, sir," he said slowly, and using the deep, heavy chest tones like the high-up politicians and expensive lecturers, "is rampant in our fair land—that's what I heard Doctor Splasher remark—and the insid'jus monster is slowly—"
And he went on, but I didn't hear. I was trying to think. So I hadn't been sleep-walking, but had been just plain drunk—andin her home!—so jolly well corked, in fact, I hadn't even a dashed glimmer of memory of it. Had been making a spectacle of myself, going all about the house in the wee what-you-call-'em hours of the night and probably—oh, good heavens, probablysinging!
I dropped my head back upon the pillow.
"Go on," I said. "Tell meall!"
"Yes, sir," resumed Jenkins, "as I was saying, you came in with—youknow—er—the young fellow. He kinder slouched in, looking a bit sulky.
"'I've been watching for you to get back from the dog-fight,' you says to him; 'sit down, I want to talk to you.' But the young fellow just stood square in the middle of the floor and just kinder scowled black.
"Then you says, pleasant-like: 'I've been talking with a friend of yours, my son, who thinks I haven't treated you quite fair.'
"'O!' says this young fellow, and seems kinder surprised. Then he got red.
"'And so, my boy,' you went on, tightening your glass as you looked at him, 'if I've been harsh I'm sorry—suppose we start all over again—what do you say? I don't want to cross you in anything if I can help it—I want tohelpyou.'"
My abrupt ejaculation halted Jenkins an instant, then he proceeded:
"'I say, do you mean that?' asks young Mr. Bi—Imean, this young fellow"—Jenkins stirred nervously—"and you says, kinder laughing: 'there's my hand on it!' and then you both shook.
"'One minute,' says the boy, still looking kinder puzzled and uncertain, 'I want to know what about Frances. How do we stand aboutthat?'
"You just laughed sorter and went up and clapped him right on the shoulder and you says: 'Why, if you can, my son, just go in and win her.Idon't care!'—and you said it hearty-like. You went on: 'I haven't a word to say—in fact, I'd be only toogladto see you succeed.'"
Here I straightened with almost a screech:
"What?I said that? Oh, now, Jenkins, you—oh, you're mistaken!"
Jenkins eyed me sorrowfully.
"Your words, sir, exactly, and then you went on, kinder persuadingly: 'Why, I haven't meant to stand in your way at all!'"
I groaned.
"Go on!" I breathed through my teeth. Then I straightened forward. "Whatdid the judge call that punch—what kind?"
"Heidelberg punch, sir,"—a sympathetic pause as I swept my hand through my hair. "Yes, sir, it certainly must be something high—oh,awful, sir!"
He went on as I dipped my head at him. "Then this young chap catches you by the hand and he says, 'Why, you're a brick, after all!' And you says: 'Yes, we'll get along better now, my boy, andyouwant to be mighty grateful to Dicky Lightnut for it.' And this young fellow says, kinder smiling: 'Indeed, I am!' And then him and you just shook hands again all over."
Jenkins stopped for breath, but I didn't say a word. By Jove, it all made me a bit sick, don't you know. Oh, I must have been maudlin, that's what—maudlin. I managed to wag my head to start him off again; couldn't speak, you know!
"Yes, sir. Then you says: 'That's all right, now, my boy; so you run along, because I'm awfully busy. To-morrow we'll talk some more.'
"'Bully!' says the chap. 'Good night, old man!' Then he turns back, kinder smiling sidewise. 'It's sure on the level, is it, that you're going to let me have a clear road with Frances?'
"'Oh, bother Frances!' you says laughing. 'Yes, yes, and when you win her, she'll be to me as myowngirl. And I know I'll have her love, too.'
"'What's that?' says the young fellow, kinder frowning. And you says, easy-like, 'Why, we'll just be one happy family.' Then you chuckled like you was mighty pleased and says: 'And I think she is learning to like me pretty well already. Why, do you know what she did to-night? She came right up to me and in the sweetest way kissed me good night.'"
"Oh!" I said, digging my fingers into the bedclothes, "Oh!"
"Yes, sir!" said Jenkins chokily. He went on: "This young fellow just marches right close up to you and says, speaking kinder quiet and his eyes shining, 'You say Frances kissed you?' And you sorter gave a laugh and dug him in the side and you says, 'I do believe the boy is jealous! Why, yes, you rascal, she certainly did—she kissed me!'
"'Well, it's a lie!' he says back, pointing at you with his finger. 'Because it ain't like her.' And he got closer.
"'See here,' he says, 'have you just been trying to get gay with me to-night? Huh!—well, I'm just going to box your jaws for luck!'
"'What?' you gasps—'what's that?'—and you storms up to him—'Why, you young puppy, do you know who you're talking to?' you says.
"'Bah!' he says, and he just goes up and snaps his fingers in your face. You chokes kinder, and then you yells at him: 'Why, you young ruffian, I've spanked you before, and I can do it again—'
"'Yah!' he says, making faces at you. 'Youspanked! You hit me when I wasn't looking. My foot slipped.'
"'Foot slipped, you blanked fool!' you shouts at him, and then—" Jenkins wiped his forehead—"Then the next thing I see, you mixed."
"Ah!" I breathed with relief. "That'sbetter!"
I chuckled. Then suddenly I felt remorseful.
"Where did I hit him this time, Jenkins—did you notice? Was he hurt much?"
Jenkins looked down, avoiding my eyes. "Um,notexactly, sir," he said; "in fact, it was—er—kinder the other way."
I stared, aghast.
"You don't mean, Jenkins—"
Jenkins evidently did! His eyes expressed both pity and embarrassment.
"What he did to you,"—he rolled his glance upward, trying to shape the idea—"I believe, sir, it's what you might call"—his voice dropped—"I believe it's what theydocall wiping up the floor with."
I closed my eyes an instant.
"Finish!" I whispered, feebly flipping my hand at him.
"He left then, sir, but the noise brought Wilkes and we helped you up-stairs. You wouldn't go any farther than the door of the judge's bedroom—wanted to tell him, we supposed. When we got that far, I noticed Mr. Jack Billings' door—it's right opposite, you remember, sir—was standing just a little open. He called out very anxious and shrill: 'Oh,dobe very careful of the pajamas! My! my! I hope the pajamas are not hurt!'