Part 60 (1/2)
It was time for him to be getting back to the Lion House. They stopped again at the gate. ”If you will keep the ring,” he said, ”I shall be glad to think that you have it. Jean gays Derry gave you a check. If it is not enough to buy pink parasols, will you let me give you another?” He was speaking with the ease of his accustomed manner.
”No; I am not an--adventuress, though you seem to think that I am, and to condemn me for it.”
”I condemn you only for one thing--for that flat bottle behind the books.”
”But you wanted it.”
”For that reason you should have kept it away. You should have obeyed orders.”
”You asked me to doff my cap, so I--doffed my discipline.” She was standing on the ground, holding the door open as she talked; again he was aware of the charm of her pink and white.
”Good-bye, Hilda.” He reached out his hand to her.
She took it. ”I am going to France.”
”When?”
”As soon as I can.” She stepped back and the door was shut between them. As the car turned, Hilda waved her hand, and the General had a sense of sudden keen regret as the tall cloaked figure with its look of youth and resoluteness faded into the distance.
When he reached the Lion House the children were waiting. ”Did you hear him roar?” Teddy asked as he climbed in.
”No.”
”Well, he did, and we came out 'cause it fwightened Peggy.”
”Frightened--” from Nurse.
”Fr-ightened. But I liked the leopards best.”
”Why?”
”Because they're pre-itty.”
”You can't always trust--pretty things.”
”Can't you tre-ust--leopards--General Drake?”
The General was not sure, and presently he fell into silence. His mind was on a pretty woman whom he could not trust.
That night he said to Jean, ”Hilda is going to France.”
”Oh--how do you know?”
”I met her in the Park.”
He was sitting, very tired, in his big chair. Jean's little hand was in his.
”Poor Hilda,” he said at last, looking into the fire, as if he saw there the vision of his lost dreams.
”Oh, no--” Jean protested.