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I made an excuse about the house to come and see whether I could find you out." Tavernake, in whom the vanity was not yet born, missed wholly the significance of her smile, her trifling hesitation. "All that," he declared, "is no reason why you should have told Mr. Dowling that your husband was a millionaire and had given you carte blanche about taking a house." "Did I mention my husband?"
The professor set his own down empty with the satisfied smile of a connoisseur. "I think," he said, "that you will agree with me about this vintage. Beatrice, this is what will bring color into your cheeks. My little girl," he continued, turning to Tavernake, "will soon need a holiday. I am hoping presently to be able to arrange a short tour by myself, and if so, I shall send her to the seaside.
Pritchard sprang after him. The door had been cautiously opened and the man crawled through; Pritchard followed; then the door closed and Tavernake beat upon it in vain. For several seconds it seemed to Tavernake much longer he stood gazing at the door, breathing heavily, absolutely unable to collect his thoughts. The whole affair had happened with such amazing celerity!
There was no other industry save a couple of small farmhouses on the outskirts of the place, no railway within twelve miles. Tourists came seldom, excursionists never. In the half contented, half animal-like expression which seemed common to all the inhabitants, Tavernake read easily enough the history of their uneventful days.
A young man of less assurance would have turned and fled. Not so Tavernake. Once sure of his ground he was immovable. There was murder in her eyes but he was not even disturbed. "I saw you take it from the little table by the piano, you know," he continued. "It was rather a rash thing to do. Mrs. Fitzgerald was looking for it before I reached the stairs.
Yet Tavernake, who had fallen into a habit, during his solitude, of analyzing his sensations, was puzzled by this one circumstance, that when he thought of Elizabeth, though his heart never failed to beat more quickly, the sense of shame generally stole over him; and when he thought of Beatrice, a curious loneliness, a loneliness that brought with it a pain, seemed suddenly to make the hours drag and his pleasures flavorless.
"It is a different thing," he insisted. "You will not take me there?" she said once more. "I cannot," Tavernake answered. "Very well, good-bye!" "Don't go," he begged. "Can't I see you somewhere for a few minutes this evening?" "I am afraid not," Elizabeth replied coolly. "Are you going out?" he persisted. "I am going to the Duke of York's Theatre with some friends," she answered. "I am sorry.
There is only one subject which I cannot discuss; that subject is myself and my own doings." Tavernake was silent for a moment. "That makes conversation a bit difficult," he remarked. She leaned back in her chair. "After this evening," she said, "I go out of your life as completely and finally as though I had never existed. I have a fancy to take my poor secrets with me.
What you have said this evening more than ever confirms me in my view." Beatrice smiled thankfully at Tavernake. "Well," she suggested, "at any rate we will leave it for the present. Sometimes I think, though, father, that you frighten them with some of your work, and you must remember that they come to be amused."
She seemed very little interested but every now and then she asked a languid question. "I do not think that it is in the least likely to suit me," she decided at last. "It is all very magnificent, of course, but I consider that the rent is exorbitant." Tavernake regarded her thoughtfully.
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