She drew a deep, happy breath. The car skimmed along as if on wings. She could meet the wind with pleasure now. The stars twinkled down their glad greeting. Probably she would never see the like of this again. But to-night it was hers! It should not be spoiled by Blanche Puddicombe! She let her enjoyment have its way and talked and laughed freely.
"How can you keep so cheerful in the Dragon"s prison?" Nelson Randolph asked at length. "I should think all of you would have been dead from gloom before this time."
"Polly Dudley has done a great deal toward keeping us up, and we have several very bright ladies there. Mrs. Albright and Miss Crilly would make a dungeon sunshiny."
"Happy companionship is everything," he a.s.sented. "That is what I am denied. My home is about the most desolate place on earth!"
"It looks delightful from the outside."
"Oh, the house is well enough! But what is the good of a house with n.o.body to speak to! I stay at the club evening after evening, because I dread to go back to that lonely place I call home." He spoke drearily. After a moment he went on. "I started out this afternoon with a good deal of hope; but you have thrown most of it to the winds!"
"I? Why, Mr. Randolph!" She gazed at him in surprise.
"Impolite," he nodded, with an apologetic smile. "But, Miss Sterling, you know that I love you! You must have known it all summer! And you try to be friendly--that"s all! You didn"t want to go to Bryston, and I was selfish enough to keep on! I suppose it is too much to expect, that you will care for an old fellow like me; but--oh, Miss Sterling! can"t you?"
For a moment memory was swept away in the flood of astonishment and joy that overwhelmed her. Then, like a menace, the haughty girl of the sheep pasture loomed before her.
"Oh! no! no!" she gasped. "Why do you say such things to me?--_you_--engaged to Blanche Puddicombe!"
"O-h!"--It held a note of exultation. "Has that absurd story reached you? Miss Sterling, there is not an atom of truth in it!"
The words tumbled from his lips. "Mrs. Puddicombe"s grandmother and my grandfather were sister and brother. The families have always been friendly. Last summer Blanche was in such wretched health that her mother wanted me to take her to ride as often as I could. So whenever I went off on business I would carry Blanche along. That is all there is to it!"
They were moving slowly now. A great car came honking up behind, roared past, and became a red star in the distance. Another flashed out ahead, glared down upon them, and whizzed by. Nelson Randolph spoke again.
"Have you no hope for me?"
"Oh, yes!" It barely rose through the purring of the car.
His right hand left the wheel and closed over the two little gray-gloved ones folded so quietly.
"You shall never regret it!" he promised. "I will try to make you forget this year of misery."
The talk ran on. As they pa.s.sed through th6 outskirts of Fair Harbor, he said:--
"I expect to go to New York to-morrow morning on the 6.30 train.
If I can get through my business in time I shall come back in the evening; but I am afraid it will be too late for a ride. That will have to wait until Thursday. I don"t know how I am going to communicate with you. I cannot bear to leave you without any means of letting me know if you are in trouble."
"I don"t think there will be any trouble," she said contentedly.
"There might be. How would it do for me to tell the Dragon that you belong to me and that you are to be free to go and come as you please or to use the telephone whenever you like?"
"Oh, don"t!" A note of fear was in her voice.
"You had better lock your door at night, then. There is a key?"
"Yes, but it is subject to rules."
"Ignore rules and lock the door! Dragons are not to be trusted.
And remember, if there should be any trouble whatever, call me at once,--in some way,--and I will drop everything and come."
"Thank you! You are so good!"
He laughed softly. "Good to myself!"
They sped along Edgewood Avenue, and the car stopped in the shadow of a great maple. Miss Sterling threw off her borrowed wrap.
He stepped to the ground and put out his arms. What could she do but walk into them!
"I will go in with you," he said, as he set her gently down.
Her face was still aflame with his kisses when they entered the big door together.
Miss Sniffen met them in the hall.
"You are late," she said with a half smile. "Have you had an accident?"
"Oh, no!" Nelson Randolph answered. "We went up to Bryston to dinner, that is all. Miss Sterling thought she had better return home early, but I coaxed her to keep on and find out how Belgian hare tasted." He laughed lightly and said good-night.
Miss Sterling"s foot was on the stair when the superintendent arrested her.
"You are too late for chapel," she said severely.
"I was afraid I would be," was the reply.
"This must not occur again. Do you know that Mr. Randolph is to marry Miss Puddicombe?"
"I heard so," she smiled.
"The wedding-day is set!"
"So I was told."
"Did he tell you?"
"Oh, no! I heard it a good while ago."
Miss Sniffen looked a little disappointed and turned down the hall.
Juanita Sterling closed the door of her room, struck a light, and threw her hat and coat across a chair.
On a small table a twin frame held photographs of a man and a woman.
She took it in both hands.
"Father, mother,--dears! do you know that your "little girl" is happy?--happier than she has been since you went away?"
The last words broke in a sob; but the eyes that looked up into hers were smiling.