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"I couldn't help it, Nick," she said, still fast clinging to his hand. "I couldn't let her go alone." "Go on," said Nick. And then she told him of Hunt-Goring's overture, her own sick repulsion for the man, his persistence, his brutality. At that abruptly Nick broke in. "Before you go any farther has he ever made love to you before?" She answered him because she had no choice. "Yes, Nick.
Hunt-Goring laughed easily. "You young fellows have all the luck," he said. "When do you expect to be married?" "On Midsummer Day," said Max. "Really!" Hunt-Goring's laugh was silken in its softness. "Your plans are all cut and dried then. Yet, you know, 'there's many a slip, etc." "Not under my management," said Max. He looked hard and straight into the other man's eyes, and turned aside.
"I know because when I thought you were killed I felt I felt as if the world had stopped. And since then since I knew that you would live I have been able to think of only you only you." Her voice broke upon a sound of tears. "That awful fear for you opened my eyes," she whispered. "I haven't been able to think of Major Hunt-Goring's death or anything else at all. I've even deserted Nick."
He had been spoiling for a fight with this man for a long time. But it was impossible to do anything scientific in that constrictor-like hold, and as they swayed and strove he began to realize that unless he could break it, it would very speedily break him. Hunt-Goring's face, purple and devilish, with lips drawn back and teeth clenched upon his cigarette, glared into his own.
He was on the verge of speaking when there came the sudden rush of Peggy's eager feet, and she darted out upon the verandah, and raced to Noel with a squeal of delight. Noel caught her in his arms. He had never been more pleased to see her. He did not look at Hunt-Goring again, and the words on Hunt-Goring's lips remained unspoken. "Let's go! Let's go!" cried Peggy.
There was a very peculiar smile in his green eyes. "Well," he said very deliberately, "I don't say Hunt-Goring's influence has been exactly a genial one. But that fact in itself would not have much difference. The main reason is the one I have given you. If you are not satisfied with that then you will never be satisfied with anything and you won't deserve to be." He held out his hand.
Was he killed?" "No, not then." Slowly Daisy lifted her eyes; slowly she spoke. "He gave his life in England the following year to save some shipwrecked sailors." "Did he, though? Quite a hero!" Hunt-Goring's eyes met hers and insolently held them. "Were you present at the sacrifice?" "Yes," she answered him briefly, but there was tragedy in her eyes. "Ah!" said Hunt-Goring softly.
Almost insensibly she yielded herself to his control. Quiveringly she began to tell him of the morning's happenings. Perhaps it was as well that she did not see Nick's face as she did so, or she might have found it difficult to continue. As it was she spoke haltingly, with many pauses, describing to him Hunt-Goring's arrival and invitation, her own dilemma, her final surrender.
The boys had been sent to church, Violet was again devouring a book and smoking Major Hunt-Goring's cigarettes in the hammock, and all was very quiet. "I suppose I had better write to Jim too," Nick said, as he looked up at length from his completed epistle. "I was just thinking I would," said Olga. "No. Writing is strictly prohibited by your medical adviser." Nick grinned over his shoulder.
You will pardon me for saying that I don't think there are many girls who could have cut her out." Olga's face froze to a marble immobility. "There was no question of that," she said. "No?" Hunt-Goring's urbanity scarcely covered his incredulity. "I fancied she took the opposite view. Well, well, the poor girl is dead and out of the running. I consider Max Wyndham is a very lucky man."
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