He smiled.
"Darling girl, I"ve told you before that"s a thing I can"t do. I really oughtn"t to be alone with you at all until we"re quite free...."
"But I feel we"re engaged," said Edith simply. "Is it wrong to kiss your fiancee?"
"Engaged? Of course we"re engaged. Wrong? Of course it"s not wrong! Only...
I _can"t_! Haven"t got the self-command.... I do believe you"re made of ice, Edith--I"ve often thought so."
"Yes," said Edith, "I dare say you"re right."
Aylmer laughed.
"Nonsense! Good night, my darling--don"t catch cold. And, Edith."
"Yes, Aylmer?"
"I"ll meet you here at nine o"clock tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Aylmer."
"Then you"d better go back in the afternoon. It won"t do for you to stay another night here. Oh, Edith, how happy we _shall_ be!"
He watched her as she walked across the garden and went into the hotel at the front door. Then he went indoors.
The next day Edith, Dilly and the nurse went back to London early in the afternoon.
CHAPTER x.x.x
Edith, during the short journey home, sat with a smile on her lips, thinking of a little scene she had seen before leaving Eastcliff from the hall, known as the lounge, of the hotel. She had watched Dilly, beaming with joy, playing with a particularly large air-ball, bright rose colour, that Aylmer had bought her from a well-known character of the place, a very old woman, who made her living by the sale of these old-fashioned balloons. Dilly was enchanted with it. She had said to Aylmer when the old woman pa.s.sed with a quant.i.ty of them. "They look like flowers; they ought to have a pretty scent," which amused him immensely. As she held it in her hand, pressing it with her tiny finger, a tragedy happened. The air-ball burst. Edith could hardly help laughing at seeing Dilly"s expression. It was despair--gradual horror--shock, her first disillusion! Then as tears were welling up in the large blue eyes--she was saying: "Oh, it"s dead!"--Edith saw Aylmer s.n.a.t.c.h the collapsed wreck from the child"s hand and run as fast as he could (which was not very fast, and only when leaning on a stick) after the old woman.... He caught her as she turned the corner, brought back a pink and a blue air-ball and gave them to Dilly, one for each hand. The child beamed again, happier than at first, threw her arms round his neck and kissed him. How touched and delighted Edith was! Would Bruce _ever_ have done such a thing? Aylmer had so thoroughly appreciated the little drama of joy, disillusion and consolation shown in the expression in Dilly"s lovely little face. Had anything been wanting to Edith"s resolution this small incident would have decided it.
When they arrived home, a day sooner than they were expected, the servant told Edith at the door that Madame Frabelle had gone away.
"Gone without seeing me?"
"Yes, madam. A telegram came for her and she left last night. Here is a letter for you, madam."
Edith ran into the dining-room and tore it open.
"MY DEAREST EDITH (it said),
"To my great regret a wire I half expected came, and I was compelled to leave before your return, to join my relative, who is ill. I can"t tell you how sorry I am not to say good-bye and thank you for your dear kind hospitality. But I"ll write again, a long letter. I hope also to see you later. I will give you my address next time.
"May I say one word? I can"t say half enough of my grat.i.tude for your kindness and friendship, but, apart from that, may I mention that I fear your husband _is very unwell indeed_, his nerves are in a terrible state, and I think his condition is more serious than you suppose. He should be humoured in everything, not worried, and allowed to do whatever he likes. Don"t oppose any of his wishes, dear. I say this for your and his own good. Don"t be angry with him or anybody. Never think me wanting in grat.i.tude and friendship.
"Truly, I am still your affectionate friend,
"EGLANTINE."
What a strange letter. How like her to lay down the law about Bruce! It irritated Edith a little, also it made the future seem harder.
About four o"clock Landi called unexpectedly. He always came just when Edith wanted him most, and now she confided in him and told him of her promise to Aylmer.
He approved of their resolution to wait till Aylmer returned from the front and to have nothing on their conscience before. He was indeed much relieved at the postponement.
"And how is the Spanish girl?" he asked. "How does she get on with Lady Conroy?"
"Oh, all right. She"s not Spanish at all. She had rather a blow last week, poor girl. Her father nearly went bankrupt; she was quite in despair. It seems your friend Valdez came to the rescue in the most generous way, and she"s immensely grateful."
"He helped her, did he?" said Landi, smiling.
"He seems to have behaved most generously and charmingly. Do you think he is in love with her, Landi?"
"Very likely he will be now."
"And she--she adores Aylmer. Will she fall in love with Valdez out of grat.i.tude?"
"C"est probable. C"est a esperer.... Enfin-mais toi, mon enfant?"
"And where is Madame Frabelle?" asked Landi.
Edith looked at the postmark.
"Apparently she"s at Liverpool, of all places; but she may be going somewhere else. I haven"t got her address. She says she"ll write."
"C"est ca.... When does Aylmer return to the front?"
"He goes before the Board tomorrow and will know then."
That evening, when Bruce came in, Edith was struck by his paleness and depression; and she began to think Madame Frabelle was right; he must be really ill. Then, if he was, could she, later, be so cruel as to leave him? She was in doubt again....
"Very bad news in the evening papers," he said.
"Is it so bad?"
"Edith," said Bruce, rather solemnly, without listening, "I want to speak to you after dinner. I have something serious to say to you".
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
Edith wondered. Could Bruce suspect anything? But apparently he didn"t, since he spoke in a very friendly way of Aylmer, saying that he hoped he wouldn"t stop away long....
The dinner pa.s.sed in trivial conversation. She described Eastcliff, the hotel, the people. Bruce appeared absent-minded. After dinner she went to join him in the library, where he was smoking, and said: