Part 45 (1/2)
The day was a wonderful autumn one, and I felt the need of a walk.
”I think I will run down to the village,” I said to Lillian. ”This is the day the candy kitchen makes up the fresh toasted marshmallows. I think we could use some, don't you?”
”Lovely,” agreed Lillian enthusiastically.
”I don't think Mother Graham will come out of her room while I'm gone,” I went on. ”Just keep an eye out for her if she should need you.”
”She'd probably bite me if I offered her any a.s.sistance,” returned Lillian, laughing, ”but I'll look out for her.”
But when I came back with the marshmallows, after a longer walk than I had intended, I found Lillian sitting by my mother-in-law's bedside, watching her as she slept. When she saw me she put her finger to her lips and stole softly out into the hall.
”She had a slight heart attack while you were gone, and I was fortunate enough to know just what to do for her. It was not serious at all. She is perfectly all right now and”--she hesitated and smiled a bit--”I do not think she dislikes me any more.”
”Oh, I'm so glad!” I exclaimed, ecstatically hugging her. ”Everything will come out all right now.”
During the rest of the Underwoods' stay it seemed as if my words had come true. The ice once broken, my mother-in-law's heart thawed perceptibly toward Lillian.
By the time the day came when Harry and Lillian left us to go back to their apartment the elder Mrs. Graham had so far gotten over her prejudices as to bid Lillian a reluctant farewell and express a sincere wish that she might soon see her again.
Toward Harry Underwood my mother-in-law's demeanor remained rigid.
She treated him with formal, icy politeness which irritated d.i.c.ky, but appeared greatly to amuse Mr. Underwood. He took delight in paying her the most elaborate attentions, laying fresh nosegays of flowers at her plate at each meal. If he had been a lover besieging a beautiful girl's heart he could not have been more attentive, while he was absolutely impervious to all the chilling rebuffs she gave him.
I think that the touch of malice which is always a part of this man's humor was gratified by the frigid annoyance which the elder Mrs.
Graham exhibited toward his attentions. At any rate, he kept them up until the very hour of his departure.
It was when he happened to be alone with me on the veranda a few moments before the coming of the taxi which was to bear them to their homeward train that he gave me the real explanation of his conduct.
”Tell me, loveliest lady,” he said, with the touch of exaggeration which his manner always holds toward me, ”tell me, haven't I squared up part of your account with the old girl this last week?”
”Why, what do you mean?” I stammered.
”Don't pretend such innocence,” he retorted. ”If you want me to tell you in so many words, I beg leave to inform you that I've been doing my little best to annoy your august mother-in-law to pay her off for her general cussedness toward you, and, incidentally, me.”
”But she hasn't been cross to me,” I protested.
”Not the last three or four days perhaps, but I'll bet you've had quite a dose since she came to live at your house, and you'll have another if she ever finds out my wicked designs upon you.” He smiled mockingly and took a step nearer to me. ”Don't forget you owe me a kiss,” he said, with teasing maliciousness, referring to the time when he had threatened to ”kiss me under water.” ”Don't you think you had better give in to me now?”
d.i.c.ky's step in the hall prevented my rebuking him as I wished. I told myself that, of course, his persistent reference to that kiss was simply one of mockery and I also admitted to myself that as much as I loved Lillian I was glad that her husband was to be no longer a guest in our house.
x.x.xI
A MYSTERIOUS STRANGER
”Well, my dear, what are you mooning over that you didn't see me come in? I beg your pardon, Madge, what is the matter? Tell me.”
Lillian Underwood stood before me a week after her visit to us.
Lillian, whose entrance into the small reception room of the Sydenham, at which we had an appointment, I had not even seen. She stood looking down at me with an anxious, alarmed expression in her eyes.