Friendship and Folly

rence, who opened his

n she had told him that she had changed her mind about marrying him, and had decided to marry Lord Maxwell. But later, Lord Maxwell, for financial reaso

remarked Lawrence, "on

stood u

you say devilishly," she respo

t w

more pious; if they wanted to say a bad

nce s

" he answered, "for there are a lot o

ked if Mr. Lawrence had been conversing like this, an

e boy and woman assisted him to rise. He leaned

than break a few ribs and a collar-bo

in a bit," added Leander, whos

ut I didn't know but you were past minding springs. I did insist on a

e groan

he said; "don't s

first he refused to sit down on the feather bed. He caught a glimpse of Prudence's laughing

I've only been stunned," he said, morosely, "

t on the ribs and the collar-bones. Now I'll

could be said, Miss F

hen placed himself between it and the feather b

he spot of ground where he had fallen. He saw something whit

times with the man who was lying there in the farm cart. He had been in love with her,-extravagantly, furiously, delightfully. She s

er all. And he and Caro were "spo

How funny it is! Well, I shall know precisely the state of the case

ree bars of a tune she had often whistled while she had sat beside her mother

he air, much as a young colt sniffs when it has just

o a better kept road, and here she saw ahead of her, and walking towar

ecks, after the manner of g

f, and examined her, smil

re no good any more

blushed an

se you'r

es

particularly happy. However, I congratulate you; and I won't be de t

and; the other arm she put about her co

returned," prese

ow?" the other

only he is on his way here now, and on a feather bed also, because they didn't have any mattresses. If it isn't ribs it's collar-bone,-what was it the

companion, and was gazing at her, he

w him," added P

ew h

Didn't I tell you he was on his way home, and that it was a feather b

t laugh, and lightly kiss

dreadful thing. She wanted to turn her back on this girl, but, ins

elling me

ur precious young man is hurt

and they were both walking back over the road, that they might

idence had wished to do the perfectly correct thing, you would have been on the Pine-wood road this

, she did not apparently hear her.

ort silence, Pru

summer. I should go raving mad if I had only you

ers, and shuddered. As there

in love with each

e so," me

hought. Are ther

, y

en

f

. You needn't look so curiously at me. It is strictly proper for a girl to like men, only it's very improper to acknowledge the liking. And when they begin to get in love-Oh, isn't that the head of the

forward, her hands very cold, hanging inert

e would not make a scene. Yes, she

ght, grasping the stakes of the cart. He shouted shrilly as he saw his sister. The old horse,

om the tail of the cart, "don't you go

ill cry, Leander," remarked

e hoped Mr. Lawrence was not much hurt, and Mr. Lawren

all reached the house, and Lawrence was helped to his room,

nounced that the young man would be

piazza, when this decision was an

er eyes on that line of dazzling brightness which was the sea. But she

t returned to the house

luxuriously in it. She still wore her bicycle suit. She crossed her

about you, Ca

t know you had t

uggested the question. I think I shall try cigarettes. And one can have a truly divine thing in ciga

and, while she seemed to puff s

ed slightly,

t the same,

t think I had met wit

rdl

, and gazed down at them.

t strapping fellow up-stairs, are you

N

much when you met him jus

to make a scene

she said that she had a bit of advice to offer; advice was easily

t is

ve no intuition, and who can't see the fraction of an inch below the surface. And though they say they don't like scenes, they do, when it's

f the blue

my last

to choke her. She grew red in the face, and d

nced at her

believe I thought Carlsb

notice that, after you have been bored to extinction, and have escaped, you are liable to commit very nearly anything? You are so exhilarated, you know. Now I'm going to do something startling. I don't kn

and clasped her hands o

uldn't talk so!"

out the stopper and let

ude

a'

ask you s

cheerfully answered; estima

she said that she wished h

amma isn't washed off yet. It will take a whole summer, and several men in love with me

an across it and leaned on the wall at the end of it. Beyond lay the bay, flas

eo in the sandy

es

ttle thing

es

uld almost mana

es

d. A young man lying impatiently on a bed in a room on the second f

he had cared for Prudence Ffolliott. She must be out there by the wall. He raised himself on his elbow, but, though he could look through the window,

n on the beach, when Prudence had quoted that verse, and how her voice had

was incredible that he had been moved so by that woman. He was beyond

ing but the ocean and the sails. Then he turned with his back to the window, groaned by reason

ut her with an intensity that was almost painful. Among other things, she was trying to determine what it was in Prudence Ffolliott's face that made it interesting, and that gave it something very much more effective than beaut

d told herself it was an impossible thing that any human countenance should be so contradictor

about Carolyn, and the two stood in silence a few moments. The water before them was vivid, shining green and blue and

this place on the Savin Hill lawn,

gently, and sighed s

ve

something. And I wondered if I should ever sail in the Vireo. And now I mean to sail in her the very first minute I can manage it. I got me the loveliest s

now you wen

ate in coming across. Oh, how divine that color is beyond Long Ledge! Life is worth the living, isn't it, Caro dear? Yes, it is certainly a blessed

nion's shoulder while she recited in a half-v

ay, so

en's ow

and ocean

irs I

d me

g to the mur

r th

nd I

shadow of

y in

oolin

n my drows

dreamf

piri

r sings and

led wit

ows an

future oil

Prudence lifted her head a

had a wild notion, for the instant, that a woman who could smile like that, an

Carolyn, as she ha

say, "Ma'am." She responded

re erectly; she felt her han

you happened to engage yo

hat, when you've just been and done the

't be fl

on't be.

that I wonder how, having engaged yourself to Rodne

r Lord

thousand Lo

r. Lawrence for his lordship; his lordship jilted me for the brewer's daughter. I notice t

u wouldn't b

you any more r

I thought you were i

s standing with her hands clasped among th

em so?" s

es

till farther away

n love w

certainly unaccountab

t what I th

turned back towards her

im by day and dreamed of him by night; when he looked at me I felt my heart give one delightful thr

rrupted Carolyn, harshly; a

eve one word

udence lifted

m like that you would not ha

the fever was

hy won't you

rious enough for tw

white. She now walked away, following th

k green of the creeper that covered the stones. There was some new l

she met her gaze wit

want to say to me? You

I'm trying to as

o

ind extreme difficulty in saying wha

o try to win Rod

ely face as she spoke; a pain, a hope and doubt whi

Prudence. "How ridiculous you a

felt about you. It's useless to pretend that I don't remember, or that he is in love with me in that kind of a way. You'd find out all about it, and I may just as well tell you. I've loved h

urmured. But the other did not seem

faltered for an instant, then went on. "I love him beyond anything I can imagine in this world or the next. I suppose I am wicked, and an idolater, and all that, but it's the truth

udence hurriedly passed her hand ov

how much breaking a man's heart w

s she made t

fter all. But we won't discuss that. I want you to reply to me. I've talked so frankly to you because I thought on

thi

it?" she as

ok on, when I can't help it, at

to flirt with Rodney?

other sa

s way possible," she said; "but no matter. I had a desire to have you give me your promise, a

ook her hand for an instant. To her surprise, she found it as co

o girls like you and me, I shouldn't look at m

ds the house, "is that Leander's voice? There's no one in the universe but a boy who can be in all places at once.

the sun like this, 'n' the tide like this, 'n' late as this, I tell you. What you two been talkin' about?" He scanned the faces

ve," answer

out one grimy hand and took hold o

to have a secret. I know two of the co

ou know

l if they don't do so and so, you know. There's the cook, now. She's got so she makes my kind of choc'late cake '

d danced a short shuffle

en," said Carolyn, so sharply tha

dancing. His fac

s if Rodney was here. You're as sweet as California honey when he's round. And I ain't a ca

e getting very tired of telling secrets. Whe

. His face seemed swelling,

ur pardon," hastil

I was real gentlemanly 'bout that reward." Then, with a sudden fu

away. As he did so, a black spe