"He's in the library," she whispered. "I can see a light."
The lust of battle was in Aunt Selina's eye. She girded her robe about
her and began to descend the stairs cautiously. We went through the hall
and stopped at the library door. It was empty, but from the den beyond
came a hum of voices and the cheerful glow of fire light. I realized the
situation then, but it was too late.
"Then why did you kiss her in the dining room?" Bella was saying in her
clear, high tones. "You did, didn't you?"
"It was only her hand," Jim, desperately explaining. "I've got to pay
her some attention, under the circumstances. And I give you my word, I
was thinking of you when I did it." THE WRETCH!
Aunt Selina drew her breath in suddenly.
"I am thinking of marrying Reggie Wolfe." This was Bella, of course. "He
wants me to. He's a dear boy."
"If you do, I will kill him."
"I am so very lonely," Bella sighed. We could hear the creak of Jim's
shirt bosom that showed that he had sighed also. Aunt Selina had gripped
me by the arm, and I could hear her breathing hard beside me.
"It's only Jim," I whispered. "I--I don't want to hear any more."
But she clutched me firmly, and the next thing we heard was another
creak, louder and-"Get up! Get up off your knees this instant!" Bella was saying
frantically. "Some one might come in."
"Don't send me away," Jim said in a smothered voice. "Every one in the
house is asleep, and I love you, dear."
Aunt Selina swallowed hard in the darkness.
"You have no right to make love to me," Bella. "It's--it's highly
improper, under the circumstances."
And then Jim: "You swallow a camel and stick at a gnat. Why did you meet
me here, if you didn't expect me to make love to you? I've stood for
a lot, Bella, but this foolishness will have to end. Either you love
me--or you don't. I'm desperate." He drew a long, forlorn breath.
"Poor old Jim!" This was Bella. A pause. Then--"Let my hand alone!" Also
Bella.
"It is MY hand!"--Jim;'s most fatuous tone. "THERE is where you wore
my ring. There's the mark still." Sounds of Jim kissing Bella's ring
finger. "What did you do with it? Throw it away?" More sounds.
Aunt Selina crossed the library swiftly, and again I followed. Bella
was sitting in a low chair by the fire, looking at the logs, in the most
exquisite negligee of pink chiffon and ribbon. Jim was on his knees,
staring at her adoringly, and holding both her hands.
"I'll tell you a secret," Bella was saying, looking as coy as she knew
how--which was considerable. "I--I still wear it, on a chain around my
neck."