Big Game - A Story for Girls

The roles of invalid and anxious inquirer seemed for the moment to be

reversed, for while she was pink and smiling, he was grave and of a

ghastly pallor. Nervous also; for the first words of greeting were an

unintelligible murmur, and they seated themselves in an embarrassed

silence.

"You--er--you received my letter?"

"Yes!" Margot gazed at the tips of her dainty slippers, and smiled

softly to herself. In the interval which had passed since they last

met, the Editor had evidently suffered a relapse into his old shyness

and reserve. She had guessed as much from the somewhat stilted

phraseology of his letter, and was prepared to reassure him by her own

outspoken gratitude.

"Yes; I was so pleased!"

He gave a little start of astonishment, and stared at her with bright,

incredulous eyes.

"Pleased? You mean it? You did not think it a liberty--"

"Indeed I did not. I guessed what you had to tell me, and it made me so

happy."

He leaned forward impetuously, the blood flushing his cheeks.

"You had guessed before? You knew it was coming?"

"Not exactly, but I hoped--"

"Hoped!--Margot, is it possible that you have cared, too? It seems

too wonderful to be true.--I never dreamt of such amazing happiness. At

the best it seemed possible that you would be willing to give me a

hearing. I did not dare to write, but this time of waiting has seemed

as if it would never end..."

As he began to speak Margot faced him with candid eyes, but at the sound

of his voice, and at sight of the answering flash of his eyes, her lids

quivered and fell, and she shrank back against the cushions of her

chair. Astonishment overwhelmed her; but the relief, the thankfulness,

the rapture of the moment obliterated everything else. She gave a

strangled sob of emotion and said faintly-"It--it has seemed long to me, too!"

At that he was on his knees before her, clasping her hands and gazing at

her with an expression of rapturous relief. "Oh, Margot, my darling,

was it because I was not there? Have you missed me? Not as I have

missed you--that is not possible, but enough to remember me sometimes,

and to be glad to meet again. Have you thought of me at all, Margot?"

"I--I have thought of nothing else!" sighed Margot. She was generous

with her assurance, knowing the nature of the man with whom she had to

deal, and her reward was the sight of the illumined face turned upon

her.