Part 10 (1/2)

”S-h-s-h!”

”Aren't you well?”

”Yes, I'm all right.”

”What is it, then?”

As a grunt was the only answer, Loveday got up and drew aside the curtains. Her room-mate was ready dressed, and was in process of combing her light-brown locks and fixing in a slide.

”What the d.i.c.kens are you up to, child?” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Loveday in amazement.

Diana turned quickly, pulled Loveday down on to the bed, flung an arm round her, and laid a fluffy head on her shoulder.

”Oh, _do_ be a sport!” she implored.

”But what do you want to do?”

”Look here--it's like this! I'm such a duffer at explaining, or I'd have told you last night. My cousin, Lenox Clifford, has come over to England with the American contingent. He has just thirty-six hours' leave, and he rushed over to Petteridge to see the Burritts. Lenox and I were brought up together; I've stayed whole months with them when Uncle Carr had a ranch in New Mexico. It was Lenox who taught me to ride, and to fish, and to row, and to skate. There's no one in the world so clever as Lenox! It's his birthday to-day. It was for him I wanted to get those cigarettes--I thought he'd like them in camp. I couldn't think of anything else to send him that he could pack among his kit. Well, he's going off this week to the front, and, as likely as not, he'll be killed right away, and I'll never see him in this world again. It makes me crazy to think of it. He's only ten miles away, and I mayn't even say good-bye to him. Lenox, who's called me his 'little indispensable' ever since I was four! If he was killed, and I hadn't had one last word with him, I'd break my heart. Yes, I would! You English girls are so cold--you laugh at me because I feel red-hot about things.”

”We're not cold really. I didn't understand,” said Loveday. ”You never told me all this about your cousin. Does Miss Todd know he's just off for the front?”

”Cousin Coralie said so in her letter. That's what made me so furious. I wouldn't have asked to go to Petteridge just for the sake of a holiday; but when it's a case of seeing Lenox, perhaps for the last time, I'm desperate. Rules are cruel things!”

”I do think Miss Todd might have made a special exception,” said Loveday, hugging the agitated little figure that clung to her. ”I'm sure Mrs. Gifford would have let you go. It's because Miss Todd is new, and also because, when once she's said a thing, she sticks to it. You were kept to 'bounds'.”

”I know. But, Loveday, I'm going to break them this morning. I must say good-bye to Lenox whatever happens. I'm going to cycle over to Petteridge--now don't talk, for I've planned it all out. I can climb down the ivy, and I left Wendy's bicycle outside last night on purpose.

I shall be back by half-past seven.”

The audacity of the proposal nearly took Loveday's breath away.

”But--but----” she remonstrated.

”No buts,” said Diana, getting up and putting on her tam-o'-shanter.

”But, you silly child, you'll never do it in the time, and they won't be up when you get to Petteridge.”

”Won't they? I rather guess they will! I told Cousin Cora I was coming to breakfast at six o'clock, and they must send me back in the car, bicycle and all.”

”Did you put that in the letter you sent by the chauffeur?”

”Yes. Miss Todd didn't ask to read it. I reckon they'll have a nice little meal waiting. If I can manage to slip in here before the gong sounds for prayers, n.o.body need know a word about it except you, Loveday, and I trust you not to tell.”

”It's frightfully against my conscience,” faltered Loveday doubtfully.

”Oh! Suppose you had a brother or a cousin of your own who was going out to the front, wouldn't you want to say just one word of good-bye?

Especially when you hadn't seen him for a year! It isn't as if I were doing anything that Father and Mother would be angry about. And Cousin Cora will send me back in the car.”