"Fortunately for Cynthia perhaps," said Jimmy savagely. "For pure, ghastly dullness, recommend me to what is called the "best society" . . . . Christine is only a child--she always will be as long as she is tied to her mother"s ap.r.o.n-strings. I like Mrs. Wyatt awfully, but you must admit that we"ve had a distinctly dull evening."
There was a moment"s silence.
"If you really think that," said Sangster quietly, "I should keep away from them, and I should most certainly give up paying attention to Miss Wyatt."
Jimmy Challoner stopped dead. He turned and stared at his friend.
"What the devil are you talking about?" he demanded. His face looked furious in the yellow light of a street lamp they were pa.s.sing. "I pay attention to Christine! Why"--he laughed suddenly--"She"s only a child."
"Very well, you know your own business best, of course; and Jimmy----"
"Well?"--ungraciously.
Sangster hesitated; finally:
"Did--did Cynthia say anything to you to-night?--anything special, I mean?"
Jimmy laughed drearily.
"She said it was cold, or something equally interesting. She also said that I might call upon her any afternoon, and that she was always pleased to see her "friends."" He accented the last word bitterly.
"What did you expect her to say to me?" he inquired.
"Nothing; at least . . . you know what they are saying in the clubs?"
"What are they saying?"
"That she is engaged to Mortlake."
Through the darkness he heard Jimmy catch his breath hard in his throat.
"Of course, that may be only club talk," he hastened to add kindly.
"I never thought it could be anything else," said Jimmy with a rush.
"I know it"s a lie, anyway. How can she be engaged to Mortlake, or any other man--if her husband is living?"
"No," Sangster agreed quietly. "She certainly cannot be engaged to any other man if her husband is still living."
There was an underlying meaning in his voice. Jimmy swung round savagely.
"What are you trying to get at?" he asked. "If you know anything, tell me and have done with it."
"I don"t know anything; I am only repeating what I have heard."
"A pack of gossiping old women"--savagely.
They walked a few steps silently.
"Why not forget her, Jimmy?" said Sangster presently. "She isn"t the only woman in the world. Put her out of your life once and for all."
"It"s all very fine for you to talk . . . things are not forgotten so quickly. She"s done with me--I told you so--and . . . oh, why the devil can"t you mind your own business?"
CHAPTER VII
LOVE AND POVERTY
But in spite of his fine sounding words, Jimmy had not done with her, and the next afternoon--having shaken off Sangster, who looked in to suggest a stroll--he went round to Cynthia Farrow"s flat.
She was not alone; half a dozen theatrical people, most of whom Jimmy knew personally, were lounging about her luxuriously furnished boudoir.
They were all cheery people, whom Jimmy liked well enough as a general thing, but to-day their chatter bored him; he hardly knew how to contain himself for impatience. He made up his mind that he would stay as long, and longer than they did--that wild horses should not drag him away till he had spoken with Cynthia alone.
She was very kind to him. It might have struck a disinterested observer that she was a little afraid of him--a little anxious to propitiate him; but none of these things crossed Jimmy"s mind.
He adored her, and she knew it; he would do anything in the world for her, and she must know that too. Why, then, should she be in the very least afraid of him?
He found himself talking to an elderly woman with dyed hair, who had once been a famous dancer. She was pleasant enough company, but she had not yet realised that her youth was a thing of the past. She ogled Jimmy as if she had been eighteen, and simpered and giggled like a girl.
She was the last of them all to leave. It struck Jimmy that Cynthia had purposely asked her to stay, but he could not be sure. Anyway, it did not matter to him. He meant to stay there all night or until he had spoken with her alone.
As soon as the door had closed on the rustling skirts of the dancer"s juvenile frock, Jimmy rushed over to where Cynthia was sitting.
She was smoking a cigarette. She threw it pettishly into the fire as he dropped on his knees beside her.
"Cynthia," said Jimmy Challoner hoa.r.s.ely, "aren"t you--aren"t you just a little bit pleased to see me?" It was a very boyish appeal; Cynthia"s face softened before it. She laid a hand for a moment on his shoulder.
"I am always pleased to see you, Jimmy; you know that. I hope we shall always be friends, even though--even though----"
Jimmy caught her hand and covered it with kisses.
"Darling!"
She moved restlessly.
"Jimmy, you"re such a boy." There was a hint of impatience now in her voice. "Aren"t you ever going to grow up?"
He rose to his feet and moved away from her, The momentary flash of happiness had fallen from him; he felt very old and miserable as he stood leaning his elbow on the mantelshelf staring down at the fire.
She no longer cared for him; something in her voice told him that as no actual words would have done. She had not wanted him to come here to-day. Even now she wished that he would go away and leave her. He suddenly remembered what Sangster had said last night. He turned abruptly, looking down at Cynthia.
She was sitting up now, looking before her with puckered brows. One small foot tapped the floor impatiently.
Jimmy moved nearer to her.
"Do you know what they are saying in the clubs?" he demanded.
She raised her eyes, she shrugged her slim shoulders.