Man and Maid

"Rochester had a dinner for me on Wednesday night. All the jolliest

people in Paris--some of those dear French who have been so nice to us

all along, and some of the War Council and the Ryvens, and so on--and,

do you know, Nicholas--I heard Rochester telling Madame de Clerté the

same story about his bon mot when a shell broke at Avicourt--as I had

already heard him tell Admiral Short, and Daisy Ryven!--that decided

me--. There was an element of self-glorification in that modest

story--and a man who would tell it three times, is not for me! In ten

years I should grow into being the listener victim--I could not face it!

So I said good-bye to him in the corridor, before up to my room--and I

telephoned to Jim, who was in his room on the Cambon side, and he came

round in the morning!"

"Was Rochester upset?"

"Rather! but a man of his age--he is forty-two, who can tell a

self-story three times is going to get cured soon, so I did not worry."

"And what did Jim say?"

"He was enchanted, he said he knew it would end like that--give a man of

forty-two rope enough and he'll be certain to hang himself, he said,

and, Oh! Nicholas--Jim is a darling, he is getting quite masterful--I

adore him!"

"Senses winning, Nina! Women only like physical masters."

She grew radiant. Never has she seemed so desirable. "I don't care a fig

Nicholas! If it is senses, well, then, I know it is the best thing in

the World, and a woman of my age can't have everything. I adore Jim! We

are going to be married the first moment he can get leave again--and I

shall 'wangle' him into being a 'red tab'--he has fought enough."

"And if meanwhile he should get maimed like me--what then, Nina?"

She actually paled.

"Don't be so horrid Nicholas--Jim--Oh! I can't bear it!" and being a

strict Protestant, she crossed herself--to avert bad luck!

"We won't think of anything but joy and happiness, Nina, but it is

quite plain to me you had better have a fortnight at the sea!"

She had forgotten the allusion, and turned puzzled brown eyes upon me.

"You know--to balance yourself when you feel you are falling in love"--I

reminded her.

"Oh! It is all stuff and nonsense! I know now I adore Jim--good-bye

Nicholas"--and she hugged me--as a sister--a mother--and a family

friend--and was off down the stairs again.