"Then she didn"t tell--"
"About the insurance? I should say she did. She was so worried for fear you"d be distressed about it all. She admitted that _she_ was to blame.
But she knows how conscientious you are, and she was afraid--"
Scidmore impatiently interrupted his wife. "Julia Norris ought to have some business sense, Kitty; upon my word she should. And it _has_ worried me. A woman like that--one never can be sure of just what she does think. It"s an even chance that deep down she believes that she delivered the message to me, and that _I_ neglected it."
He could feel his face flushing with mingled indignation and disapproval as he voiced his displeasure.
Kitty got up to pour a gla.s.s of water.
"Why, John," she half chided, "I"m sure Julia wouldn"t be guilty of such a thought. You don"t know her--generous--impulsive. Why, she"d forgive you for neglecting, if you really had neglected anything. As a matter of fact she said very decidedly, "If I"d been dealing with anybody but John Scidmore, I do believe I"d be inconsistent enough to try to blame the other fellow, but of course I know--"
"Yes," he broke in excitedly, "that"s just it. That"s the way she puts it, to you. But such a remark as that just bears out what I say--she"s not altogether satisfied. I know what she thinks; I saw it in her face this morning--_this is what comes of trying to help one"s poor friends._"
His wife stopped pouring water and laid down the pitcher.
"Nonsense. Julia Norris has perfect faith in you."
"Why should she have?" he persisted hotly. "Isn"t it just as possible for me to forget, to overlook a telephone message, as the other fellow?
I"m not infallible any more than she is."
"No," Kitty returned very quietly. "I don"t think she imagines that you are infallible. But she knows that if you took her message and forgot it, you"d admit it."
He rallied from this blow with a feeling of fierce antagonism.
"Well," he sneered sarcastically, "if she"s silly enough to have any such notions, she _does_ need a guardian! As a matter of fact, I"d conceal my mistakes as quickly as any one else would."
Kitty began to laugh, a full-throated, indulgent laugh, that made him bite his lips.
"What a lot of foolish brag you"re indulging in, Johnny Scidmore. Well, after all, let"s forget about it; Julia herself laughed it off."
He crumpled the napkin in his hand. "Yes, that"s just it. _She_ can laugh over it, while we--why, if we lost ten thousand it would be a tragedy. I couldn"t help thinking to-day after she"d left the office, suppose, just suppose, I _had_ received Julia Norris"s "phone message--and forgotten it. The very thought made me sick all over."
He paused, frightened at the lengths to which his uneasiness had forced him. His wife"s smile gave way to a puzzled look as she returned very quietly,--
"Do you really think it worth while to face these imaginary situations?"
His resentment flared again at the comfortable evenness of her tone.
"Yes, I do," he snapped back. "It helps one to exercise one"s morals. I wanted to know just how I would act in such an emergency. And I"ve found out. The very thought frightens me too much. I know that I should feel morally bound to confess, but I"d never have the courage of my convictions. Now, what do you suppose you would advise me to do in a situation like that? What would you tell me to do?"
Kitty Scidmore looked straight at her husband. He dropped his eyes.
"I would not advise you, John," she said, distinctly. He glanced up at her. "You"d not say a word?"
She shook her head. "No, it wouldn"t be necessary."
He began to stir his tea. His hand was shaking, and his spoon rattled noisily against the teacup.
IV
After he had helped Kitty with the dishes, John Scidmore left the house for a walk. It was a calm, beautiful night, lit by a slender moon hung high in the heavens and stars twinkling cheerily. As he went along the elm-shaded streets, he drew in deep breaths, striving to steady the tumult within him.
Kitty"s words hummed themselves into his inner consciousness. "No, John, it wouldn"t be necessary." What did she really mean? Did she think he had the courage to settle such a question decisively--righteously?
Did-- He stopped, turning the phrase over in his mind. He knew that materially he had been a failure. People called him a nice fellow and let it go at that. Was it possible for his wife, the wife who had lived so close to all his weaknesses, to glorify him with so large a hope? The thought began to thrill him.
He heard the Old Library clock on the University campus chime nine. He began to walk slowly in the direction of the chiming clock. He was still undecided, still battling with his cowardice. The shrill whistle of an incoming train arrested him. This same train would swing back to San Francisco in ten minutes. He retraced his steps. In ten minutes-- His legs seemed weighted. He wondered whether he would really catch it.
Standing before the ma.s.sive facade of the Hotel Fairmont, John Scidmore had a fleeting hope that Julia Norris would not be at home. But almost as instantly he felt a desperate need to clear himself at once. If he waited even an hour he could not vouch for the outcome. He walked rapidly into the lobby, gave his name to the hotel clerk, and awaited the reply with beating heart. Mrs. Norris _was_ in. A bell-boy, answering the clerk"s summons, showed him to her apartments.
A maid ushered him into a reception room. He sank into one of the luxurious chairs, drumming upon its arms with nervous fingers.
A lamp on the centre table threw a rich, golden light over the surroundings. Thrown over a chair a lace scarf fell with the undulating softness of a cascade. Near a vase of blood-red roses a long white glove had been dropped carelessly.
He did not wait long. Julia Norris came toward him with her usual warm smile, and a hand outstretched in welcome. He stood up. She was very simply dressed, in white, and a band of velvet at her throat set off a fine cameo ringed with pearls, but her air of quiet elegance caught and held his resentful eyes.
A fierce, unreasoning hate began to sway him; for a moment his vision blurred.
As she stepped back to pick up her lace scarf from the chair, John Scidmore recovered his poise.
"I was afraid you would be out," he began inadequately.
She threw the scarf about her shoulders. "I was preparing to drift downstairs to watch the dancing," she answered. "You caught me just in time."
He stood irresolutely, almost awkwardly, watching her dainty manipulations of the filmy lace. Then quite suddenly, so suddenly as to surprise even himself, he blurted out,--
"I lied to you this morning. I took your order for insurance. I forgot to place it."
She stood for a moment in silence.
"What made you--"
John Scidmore shrugged. His vision was clearing. He felt quite calm.
"You suggested the idea yourself. You were so ready to take the blame. I suppose it was self-preservation. I began to strike blindly--as any desperate man would. I"m not what they call a success--I never have been. You know how it is, some people-- Oh, well! Some of us don"t get by, that"s all."
He turned away. Julia Norris touched him on the shoulder.
"John, can"t you see that the ten thousand dollars doesn"t matter to me?
But you and Kitty--you and Kitty _do_ matter."
He began to crush his hat between his clasped hands.
She threw the scarf from her shoulders. "Look here, John--"
He stopped her with an abrupt gesture. "I"ve won this victory for Kitty"s sake," he said. "This is the first time in my life I"ve lived up to her hope of me. If you were a failure you"d realize how much that means."