She threw aside her furs, and, without removing her hat, pa.s.sed into the bed-chamber at the left of the cosy little boudoir. This was Hetty"s room. Her own was directly opposite. On the girl"s dressing-table, leaning against the broad, low mirror, stood the unframed photograph of a man. With a furtive glance over her shoulder, Sara crossed to the table and took up the picture in her gloved hand. For a long time she stood there gazing into the frank, good-looking face of Brandon Booth. She breathed faster; her hand shook; her eyes were strained as if by an inward suggestion of pain.
She shook her head slowly, as if in final renunciation of a secret hope or the banishment of an unwelcome desire, and resolutely replaced the photograph. Her lips were almost white as she turned away and re-entered the room beyond.
"He belongs to her," she said, unconsciously speaking aloud; "and he is like all men. She must not be unhappy."
Presently she entered the library. She had exchanged her tailor-suit for a dainty house-gown. Hetty was still seated in the big lounging chair, before the snapping fire, apparently not having moved since she looked in on pa.s.sing a quarter of an hour before. One of the girl"s legs was curled up under her, the other swung loose; an elbow rested on the arm of the chair, and her cheek was in her hand.
Coming softly up from behind, Sara leaned over the back of the chair and put her hands under her friend"s chin, tenderly, lovingly.
Hetty started and shivered.
"Oh, Sara, how cold your hands are!"
She grasped them in her own and fondly stroked them, as if to restore warmth to the long, slim fingers which gave the lie to Mrs.
Coburn"s declarations.
"I"ve been thinking all morning of what you and Brandon proposed to me last night, dear," said Sara, looking straight over the girl"s head, the dark, languorous, mysterious glow filling her eyes. "It is good of you both to want me, but--"
"Now don"t say "but," Sara," cried Hetty. "We mean it, and you must let us have our way."
"It would be splendid to be near you all the time, dear; it would be wonderful to live with you as you so generously propose, but I cannot do it. I must decline."
"And may I ask why you decline to live with me?" demanded Hetty resentfully.
"Because I love you so dearly," said Sara.
THE END