CHAPTER XXX

erwithanexpressionofcontemptaswellasofanger,“thatyoulovehim?Areyougoingtotreathimasyoutreatedme?” Shelookedathim,wondering,inspiteofallherperplexity,atthespiritthatpossessedhim. “Iforbidyoutodrawthecurtain,”shesaid. Hereflected,andthentookhishandaway. “I’venorighttointerfere,”heconcluded.“I’llleaveyou.Or,ifyoulike,we’llgobacktothedrawing-room.” “No.Ican’tgoback,”shesaid,shakingherhead.Shebentherheadinthought. “Youlovehim,Katharine,”Rodneysaidsuddenly.Histonehadlostsomethingofitssternness,andmighthavebeenusedtourgeachildtoconfessitsfault.Sheraisedhereyesandfixedthemuponhim. “Ilovehim?”sherepeated.Henodded.Shesearchedhisface,asifforfurtherconfirmationofhiswords,and,asheremainedsilentandexpectant,turnedawayoncemoreandcontinuedherthoughts.Heobservedherclosely,butwithoutstirring,asifhegavehertimetomakeuphermindtofulfilherobviousduty.ThestrainsofMozartreachedthemfromtheroomabove. “Now,”shesaidsuddenly,withasortofdesperation,risingfromherchairandseemingtocommandRodneytofulfilhispart.Hedrewthecurtaininstantly,andshemadenoattempttostophim.Theireyesatoncesoughtthesamespotbeneaththelamp-post. “He’snotthere!”sheexclaimed. Noonewasthere.Williamthrewthewindowupandlookedout.Thewindrushedintotheroom,togetherwiththesoundofdistantwheels,footstepshurryingalongthepavement,andthecriesofsirenshootingdowntheriver. “Denham!”Williamcried. “Ralph!”saidKatharine,butshespokescarcelylouderthanshemighthavespokentosomeoneinthesameroom.Withtheireyesfixedupontheoppositesideoftheroad,theydidnotnoticeafigureclosetotherailingwhichdividedthegardenfromthestreet.ButDenhamhadcrossedtheroadandwasstandingthere.Theywerestartledbyhisvoicecloseathand. “Rodney!” “Thereyouare!Comein,Denham.”Rodneywenttothefrontdoorandopenedit.“Hereheis,”hesaid,bringingRalphwithhimintothedining-roomwhereKatharinestood,withherbacktotheopenwindow.Theireyesmetforasecond.Denhamlookedhalfdazedbythestronglight,and,buttonedinhisovercoat,withhishairruffledacrosshisforeheadbythewind,heseemedlikesomebodyrescuedfromanopenboatoutatsea.Williampromptlyshutthewindowanddrewthecurtains.Heactedwithacheerfuldecisionasifheweremasterofthesituation,andknewexactlywhathemeanttodo. “You’rethefirsttohearthenews,Denham,”hesaid.“Katharineisn’tgoingtomarryme,afterall.” “WhereshallIput—”Ralphbeganvaguely,holdingouthishatandglancingabouthimhebalanceditcarefullyagainstasilverbowlthatstooduponthesideboard.Hethensathimselfdownratherheavilyattheheadoftheovaldinner-table.RodneystoodononesideofhimandKatharineontheother.Heappearedtobepresidingoversomemeetingfromwhichmostofthememberswereabsent.Meanwhile,hewaited,andhiseyesrestedupontheglowofthebeautifullypolishedmahoganytable. “WilliamisengagedtoCassandra,”saidKatharinebriefly. AtthatDenhamlookedupquicklyatRodney.Rodney’sexpressionchanged.Helosthisself-possession.Hesmiledalittlenervously,andthenhisattentionseemedtobecaughtbyafragmentofmelodyfromthefloorabove.Heseemedforamomenttoforgetthepresenceoftheothers.Heglancedtowardsthedoor. “Icongratulateyou,”saidDenham. “Yes,yes.We’reallmad—quiteoutofourminds,Denham,”hesaid.“It’spartlyKatharine’sdoing—partlymine.”Helookedoddlyroundtheroomasifhewishedtomakesurethatthesceneinwhichheplayedaparthadsomerealexistence.“Quitemad,”herepeated.“EvenKatharine—”Hisgazeresteduponherfinally,asifshe,too,hadchangedfromhisoldviewofher.Hesmiledathe