Beyond the Rocks

And for one second Hector's eyes looked murderous as they glared into

the distance--and Theodora glanced up timidly, and asked, in a

sympathetic voice: What was it? What ailed him?

"Some day I will tell you," he said. "But not yet."

Then he asked her more about her family and her plans.

They would stay in London at Claridge's for a week or so, and go down to

Bessington Hall for Whitsuntide. It would be ready for them then. Josiah

had had it all furnished magnificently by one of those people who had

taste and ordered well for those who could afford to pay for it. She was

rather longing to see it, she said--her future home--and she could have

wished she might have chosen the things herself. Not that it mattered

much either way.

"I am very ignorant about houses," she explained, "because we never

really had one, you see, but I think, perhaps, I would know what was

pretty from museums and pictures--and I love all colors and forms."

He felt sure she would know what was pretty. How delightful it would be

to watch her playing with his old home! The touches of her gentle

fingers would make everything sacred afterwards.

At last they came to the end of the green glade--and temptation again

assailed him. He must ruffle the peace of her soft eyes once more.

"And here is the barrier," he said, pointing to a board with "Terrain

réservé" upon it--Réserveé pour la chasse de Monsieur le Président,

"The barrier which Love keeps--and I want to take him with us as the

prince and princess did in the fairy tale."

"Then you must carry him all by yourself," laughed Theodora. "And he

will be heavy and tire you, long before we get to Versailles."

This time she was on her guard--and besides they were walking--and he

was no longer caressing the edge of her dress with his wild flower; it

was almost easy to fence now.

But when they reached the automobile and he bent over to tuck the rug

in--and she felt the touch of his hands and perceived the scent of

him--the subtle scent, not a perfume hardly, of his coat, or his hair, a

wild rush of that passionate disturbance came over her again, making her

heart beat and her eyes dilate.

And Hector saw and understood, and bit his lips, and clinched his hands

together under the rug, because so great was his own emotion that he

feared what he should say or do. He dared not, dared not chance a

dismissal from the joy of her presence forever, after this one day.