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For Marshall must know everybody must know that the Beldens, though neighbors of the Bateses, had never been admitted, and never were to be admitted, into their house. Belden stood behind the vast spread of dingy plate-glass, and watched Bingham putting Mrs. Bates into her carriage. He found additional offence in the gay nod which she sent to Marshall through the carriage window.
If it hadn't been for me we should never have left our old home and given up our old life, and Rosy wouldn't have cut all our friends and gone to England to live; and Truesdale wouldn't be talking about starting off across the Pacific for somewhere or other, and we should never have made enemies of those Beldens, and poor pa wouldn't have lost his business, and wouldn't be going off to die inch by inch in that big cold place out on the prairie.
It was absurd to remember that he might never see her, conscious, again his own little Caddy. He sat awkwardly on the side of the bed. "Well, little woman, how goes it?" "Queen's taste, Will!" "Good for you! I'm proud of the Beldens, Caddy Billy acts like a drum-major." Her eyes softened. "The dear boy," she murmured. Their eyes met. "Look after him," hers said, and his, "As long as I live!"
She had surmised her son's disdain for the importunities of Gladys McKenna, and she had joined with him in a ringing derision when the Beldens had accused him of encouraging her in her folly that he might employ her as a spy upon the happenings in their house. "My son," she concluded, "will return at his own pleasure, and will always be welcome under his father's roof."
"No, I never did," acknowledged Truesdale, grimly. By these and other such subterfuges did Gladys keep her epistolary hand in, until the time came when she really had something of consequence to communicate. Once or twice she also regaled him with the comments of the Beldens on the building projects of the Marshalls.
His face showed a graver line. "It couldn't be helped. The horses had to be followed, and that youngster couldn't do it and, besides, I expected to get back that night. Nobody but an old snoop like Seth Belden would think evil of our girl. And, besides, Norcross is a man to be trusted." "Of course he is, but the Beldens are ready to think evil of any one connected with us.
For twenty years and more she had attended this annual dinner; she had attached herself there to former friends and neighbors, who listened indulgently to her narrow little dribble of reminiscent gossip the gossip and reminiscences of the smaller town and the earlier day. And the Beldens! that was the last straw of all.
McFarlane was perfectly aware that she was not silencing the gossip; on the contrary, she was certain that the Beldens would leave a trail of poisonous comment from the Ptarmigan to Bear Tooth. It was all sweet material for them. Berrie wanted to know who was speaking, and Mrs. McFarlane replied: "Mrs. Belden wanted to know if you got through all right."
No one knows of our being alone there except Tony and father." "Are you sure? Doesn't Mrs. Belden know?" "I don't think so not yet." Mrs. McFarlane's nervousness grew. "I wish you hadn't gone on this trip. If the Beldens find out you were alone with Mr. Norcross they'll make much of it. It will give them a chance at your father." Her mind turned upon another point. "When did Mr.
McFarlane could not hope that her daughter would be spared especially by the Beldens, who would naturally feel that Clifford had been cheated. She sighed deeply. "Well, nothing can be done till Joe returns," she repeated. A long day's rest, a second night's sleep, set Wayland on his feet. He came to breakfast quite gay.
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