No, Lucy told her, it was something
pleasant.
Not to have wrapped up and sent home,
certainly;where would she put them?
Lucy glanced despairingly about the room; but it
was dark, hecouldnt see anything. Sebastian, I wish you didnt ever have to be sad!
Sebastian, and he spoke of Sebastian in a tone that wasobjectionably familiar. Ihave
a dinner engagement, Lucy, and I shall take you home on theway. Oh, why had she
exposedher wound and her anger! Auerbachcame to the door and asked her to stop at
his study before she leftthe building.
The dining-roomwas almost empty when they at last
left it and took a cab forLucys part of the town. Lying there she felt herself
drifting again intohis breathing, into his heart-beats.
Neither of us had looked forward to this American
seasonwith much pleasure.
Send a draftfor the amount she mentions, and get it
off today, not later.
She had heard him explain over the telephone, to
afriend just arrived from the Orient, that Mrs.
Meanwhile she must sit down and get warm. But she
felt sure that things were not like that with themnow.
If she had encouraged him, he would have talked to
her too freelyabout Mrs.
I had a nice boyin my house once; but he had to go
away to school. MacGowan hadslipped out of all this; grey skies, falling rain,
chilledaffections.
Things happen to our friendships; thats theworst
about living.
There were not a great many people there, and inthe
dusky light she easily found Sebastian.
She wished shecould get his white face out of her
mind. When he got out before the bakery he told the cabman to wait.
She did not want to sign her name, but the
messenger boy insistedthat it was necessary.
It was not Sebastian, however, but the hall porter,
with therailway tickets.
The piano and the book-shelves were far away, out
of reach; and she was far away fromherself. She saw the hall porter carryout a
steamer trunk on his shoulder and strap it on the back of acab.
Then he brought out his bottle of port and they sat
downbefore the fire.
He was standing before the fire,putting on his
white gloves, when a latch-key scratched at thedoor. Lucy found herself at the door
with her hand on the knob.
Just then he was called to the telephone to speak
with his agent. It was storming outside, and there was asnowdrift on her floor
beneath the open window. Im afraid I startled you, turning up uninvited like that.
For thefirst time it occurred to Lucy that even this smiling little manmight have
his regrets.
Seeing Lucy, he removed his hat and bowed. It was a
farce, that she should beplaying for Sebastian; just how had she ever got in for
it?
The lad was sensitive, and so adoring of her that
her severityamounted to cruelty.
He hadnt met with just that kind ofdelicacy before,
in man or woman.
And I shall call to you atdaybreak from my balcony!