Nell of Shorne Mills
Page 47"I--I am glad you take it so easily, Drake," she said. "You don't blame
me, do you? I couldn't run against father, could I? You know how poor we
are. I must make a good marriage, and--and----"
"And so it is 'good-by,'" he said.
He looked so stern, so self-contained, that her self-possession forsook
her for a moment, and she stood biting softly at her underlip and
looking by turns at the ultramarine sea and the stern face of the lover
whom she was discarding. He held out his hand again.
"Good-by, Luce," he said. "You have taught me a lesson."
"What--do you mean?" she asked.
"That women care only for rank and gold, and that without them a man
cannot hold you. I shall take it to heart Good-by."
She looked at him doubtfully, hesitatingly.
"You will take the _Seagull_ south?" he said. "Be good enough to ask
your father to wire me as to her whereabouts. I may need her. But don't
hurry. I'm only too glad that you are sailing her. Good-by."
She murmured "Good-by," and went down the steps slowly; and Drake,
Viscount Selbie, refilled his pipe. Then he rose quickly and overtook
her. She stopped and turned, and if he had expected to see signs of
the look of apprehension with which she heard his voice had been
followed by one of relief.
"One moment," he said. "I want to ask you not to mention that you have
seen me here."
She opened her soft hazel eyes with some surprise and a great deal of
curiosity.
"Not say that I have seen you?" she said. "Of course, if you wish it;
but why?"
"The reason will seem to you inadequate, I am afraid," he said coldly;
bandied about so much, you see," bitterly, "that I am a little tired of
it."
"I see," she said. "Then I am not to tell father. How will he know how
to address the wire about the yacht?"
"Send it to Sparling," he said. "I am sorry to have stopped you.
Good-by."
She inclined her head and murmured "Good-by" for the second time, and
went on again; but a few steps lower she stopped and pondered his
strange request.