Part 53 (1/2)
”They don't annoy _me_! No girl ever was annoyed by overattention from her suitors--except Penelope--and _I_ don't believe she had such a horrid time of it either, until her husband came home and shot up the whole _the dansant_.”
He was still standing beside her couch without offering to seat himself; and she let him remain standing a few minutes longer before she condescended to move aside on her pillows and nod a tardy invitation.
”Has it been an interesting day, Clive?”
”Rather.”
”And you have really gone back into business again?”
”Yes.”
”And will the real estate market rally at the news of your august reappearance?” she inquired mischievously.
”I haven't a doubt of it,” he said with gravity.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”'There is your extra,' she said pleasantly.”]
”Wonderful, Clive! And I think I'd better get in on the ground floor before values go sky-rocketing. Do you want a commission from me?”
”Of course.”
”Very well. Buy me the old Hotel Greensleeve.”
He smiled; but she said with pretty seriousness: ”I really have been thinking about it. Do you suppose it could be bought reasonably? It's really a pretty place. And there's a hundred acres--or there was.... I would like to have a modest house somewhere in the country.”
”Are you in earnest, Athalie?”
”Really I am.... Couldn't that old house be fixed over inexpensively?
You know it's nearly two hundred years old, and the lines are good if the gingerbread verandas and modern bay windows are done away with.”
He nodded; and she went on with shy enthusiasm: ”I don't really know anything about gardens, except I know that I should adore them.... I thought of a garden--just a simple one.... And some cows and chickens.
And one nice old horse.... It is really very pretty there in spring and summer. And the bay is so blue, and the salt meadows are so sweet.... And the cemetery is near.... I should not wish to alter mother's room very much.... I'd turn the bar into a sun parlour....
But I'd keep the stove ... where you and I sat that evening and ate peach turnovers.... About how much do you suppose the place could be bought for?”
”I haven't the least idea, Athalie. But I'll see what can be done to-morrow.... It ought to be a good purchase. You can scarcely go wrong on Long Island property if you buy it right.”
”Will you see about it, Clive?”
”Of course I will, you dear girl!” he said, dropping his hand over hers where it lay between them.
She smiled up at him. Then, distrait, turned her blue eyes toward the window, and remained gazing out at the late afternoon sky where a few white clouds were sailing.
”'Clouds and s.h.i.+ps on sky, and sea,'” she murmured to herself....
”'And G.o.d always at the helm.' Why do men worry? All sail into the same port at last.”
He bent over her: ”What are you murmuring all to yourself down there?”
he asked, smilingly.
”Nothing much,--I'm just watching the driftsam and flotsam borne on the currents flowing through my mind--flowing through it and out again--away, somewhere--back to the source of thought, perhaps.”