Belle held out her hand.

"I must return the picture to the society, Harve."

"Not just yet," he said ominously. "I want to look at it. I haven't

got it all yet. And I'll return it myself--with a short speech."

"Harvey!"

"Well," he retorted, "why shouldn't I tell that lot of old

scandalmongers what I think of them? They'll sit here safe at home and

beg money--God, one of them was in the office to-day!--and send a young

girl over to--You'd better get out, Belle. I'm not company for any one

to-night."

She turned away, but he came after her, and suddenly putting his arms

round her he kissed her.

"Don't worry about me," he said. "I'm done with wearing my heart on my

sleeve. She looks happy, so I guess I can be." He released her. "Good

night. I'll return the picture."

He sat up very late, alternately reading the report and looking at the

picture. It was unfortunate that Sara Lee had smiled into the camera.

Coupled with her blowing hair it had given her a light-heartedness, a

sort of joyousness, that hurt him to the soul.

He made some mad plans after he had turned out the lights--to flirt

wildly with the unattached girls he knew; to go to France and confront

Sara Lee and then bring her home. Or--He had found a way. He lay

there and thought it over, and it bore the test of the broken sleep that

followed. In the morning, dressing, he wondered he had not thought of

it before. He was more cheerful at breakfast than he had been for weeks.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024