A fleeting shadow passed over the girl's face: "Billy promised me he would be there to-day," she said thoughtfully,
"something must have happened. I don't think Billy was with the
baseball team--" then her eyes travelled away out the window to the
distant hills, she didn't seem to see Laurence Shafton at all. It was a
new experience for him. He was fairly good looking and knew it.
Who the deuce was this Billy? And what did she care about Miss Saxon
crying? Did she care so much for Billy already? Would it be worth his
while to make her uncare?
"Mrs. Carter wasn't out," said Mrs. Severn as she poured coffee, "I
hope she's not having more trouble with her neuralgia."
The minister suddenly looked up from his carving: "Did Mark come back yesterday, Marilyn?"
The girl drew a quick breath and brought back her eyes from the hills,
but she did not look at the young man: "No, father he didn't come."
Who the deuce was Mark? Of course there would be several, but
there was always one. Billy and Mark! It was growing interesting.
But Billy and Mark were not mentioned again, though a deep gravity
seemed to have settled into the eyes of the family since their names
had come up. Laurie decided to speak of the weather and the roads: "Glorious weather we're having," he chirped out condescendingly, "But
you certainly have the limit for roads. What's the matter with the
highway? Had a Detour right in the best part of the road. Bridge down,
it said, road flooded! Made the deuce of a time for me--!"
"Bridge?" remarked Marilyn looking up thoughtfully.
"Flood?" echoed the minister sharply.
"Yes. About two miles back where the highway crosses this valley. Put
me in some fix. Had a bet on you know. Date with a lady. Staked a lot
of money on winning, too. Hard luck," Then he looked across at
Marilyn's attentive face. Ah! He was getting her at last! More on that
line.
"But it'll not be all loss," he added gallantly with a gesture of
admiration toward her, "You see I didn't have any idea I was going to
meet you."
But Marilyn's eyes were regarding him soberly, steadily, analytically,
without an answering smile. It was as if she did not like what he had
said--if indeed she had heard it at all--as if she were offended at it.
Then the eyes look on an impersonal look and wandered thoughtfully to
the mountains in the distance. Laurie felt his cheeks burn. He felt
almost embarrassed again, like during the prayer. Didn't the girl know
he was paying her a compliment? Or was she such a prude that she
thought him presuming on so slight an acquaintance? Her father was
speaking: "I don't quite understand," 'he said thoughtfully. "There is no bridge
within ten miles, and nothing to flood the road but the Creek, which
never was known to overflow its banks more than a few feet at most. The
highway is far above the valley. You must have been a bit turned
around."