Big Game - A Story for Girls

Margot glanced at him with involuntary, girlish curiosity, the

inevitable question springing to her lips before Prudence had time to

order silence.

"Do you--have you--did you ever--"

The Chieftain laughed softly.

"Have I ever been in love, you would ask! What do you take me for,

pray? Am I such a blind, cold-hearted clod that I could go through the

world for forty-five years and keep my heart untouched? Of course I

have loved. I do love! It was once and for ever with me--"

"But you are not--"

"Married? No! She died long ago; but even if she had lived she was not

for me. She would have been the wife of another man; a good fellow; I

think she would have been happy. As it is, we remember her together.

She was a bright, sunshiny creature who carried happiness with her

wherever she went... To have known her is the comfort of our lives--not

the grief. We have lived through the deep waters, and can now rejoice

in her gain... Do you know there is something about yourself which has

reminded me of her several times! That is one reason why I like being

with you, and am interested in your life. I should like you to think of

me as a friend, and come to me for help if you were ever in need of

anything that I could give."

The colour rushed into Margot's cheeks, and her heart beat with

suffocating quickness. Here was the opportunity for which she had

longed, offered to her without any preliminary effort or contriving on

her own part! The place, the time, the person were all in readiness,

waiting for her convenience. If through cowardice or wavering she

allowed the moment to pass, she could never again hope for another such

opening. Already the Chieftain was watching her with surprise and

curiosity, the softness of the last few minutes giving place to the

usual alert good-humour.

"Hey? Well! What is it? What's the trouble? Out with it! Anything I

can do?"

"Mr Elgood," said Margot faintly, "you are very good, very kind; I am

most grateful to you. I hope you will help me, but first there is

something I must say... I--I have been deceiving you from the

beginning!"

"What's that?" The Chieftain sat up suddenly and stared at her beneath

frowning brows. "Deceiving me? You? I don't believe a word of it!

What is there to deceive me about, pray? You are not masquerading under

a false name, I suppose? Not married, for instance, and passing

yourself off as single for some silly school-girl freak?"

"Oh no! Oh no! Everything that I have told you about myself is true,

absolutely true."

"I knew it. You are not the sort that could act a lie. What's all the

fuss about, then?"