The Second Honeymoon

ood for a moment in the darkness, n

but that she should have thought it worth while to lie to him about it struck him to the soul. Sh

rried his hat in his hand. The coo

sionate thought. Nobody wanted him-nobody cared a hang what became of him; he

brandy; that made him feel better, and he ordered a second on the

would never forgive her; she was not worth

e Wyatt had more affection in the clasp of her hand

ristine recalled

Christine and he had been sweethearts as children certainly, b

e memory gave him back some of his lost self-confidence. Christine liked him, at all events; Christine would never have behaved as Cynthia had d

e who liked his company. He was bruised all over by the treatment he

t Mrs. Wyatt was out, but th

wish to see," sai

e knew the Wyatts had a private sitting-room. C

she sai

ent forward with

in so soon; but I was bored-thorough

ed to disguise her true feelings. Jimmy was sti

brandy and his own agitation had excited him; he drew her o

you marry me, Ch

s a shar

own as white as death; her sof

said again. "Oh, Jimmy!" She caught her breath in something like

lost h

. . . Say yes, Christine-say yes. We'll be ever so ha

n for kisses, and she had always loved him. She felt giddy with happiness. This was a moment she had longed for e

nd her now; he put his ho

her to say it. He could be very masterful when he chose, a

burst in

ver dreamed of anything like this; and now-now her head

skily. "Don't cry-I did

fright

ise what he had done. A little c

not love her. There was something still of the old boyish affec

an effort. "Would you like me to g

e dried

-happy," she said on the top of a l

ow infinitely pathetic.

l from abou

ood enough for yo

her innocent whole-hearted surrender. Christine was looking

mother say?" she wh

gst

was such a child. Why on earth sh

ad seemed to float into her mind with the touch of Jimmy's lips. She was gla

mmy made no attempt to kiss her

taxi-coming home from the theatre. In imagination he could still smell the scent of

hild, she missed nothing in this strange proposal. Her eyes were like stars

Jimmy,"

on the cheek. She put her han

eally-love me?" s

not meet h

se I do,

*

dinner. There was no doubt that she was delighted at the turn affairs had taken, though she had s

issed Christine; she s

evening was ended. He drew a great breath o

o Christine. He felt as if someone

d mean a very different thing

ifferent lives, had been b

ree and easy Bohemian

was not so sure

. He had tied himself for life; there wou

ed a better man. He felt acutely

tired when he let himself into his room

th under his breath

to see at the present moment. He kep

said. "Bee

sure to be in. Costin said you

. stayed with th

hing him. His gaze got unbearable. He swung round with sharp impa

ly brute you're gett

rew his

me news for you. It'll be in all the papers to-morrow, so I th

id Sangste

match on the so

" he said, "t

ngster moved or spoke. After a moment

t's a nice friendly way to receive news. Why the dev

then; something which

ght to

silence fel

lazing coals furiousl

rose to his feet; he threw his unsmoked cigare

y tu

beggars--" His face was abashed; there was a sort of waverin

t him with biting cont

and your abominable selfishness. I-oh, what's the go

lf into it. His face was a study; now and the

hose to get engaged to Christine and half a dozen other girls at the same time. Anyone would think he had done a shabby trick

!" said Jimm

went out almost immediately, and he f

n that away also; he lay back i

a woman whom he adored. Now he was engaged to Christine, the girl who h

did love her-of course he did; or, at least, he would when they were ma

heaps of unhappy marriages which had been brought before

y Christine, she was a dear little thing. But the face of Cynthia would rise before

m; he remembered only that she loved him-t

his niggardly shell and stump up a bit! It was not fair-he was as rich

out the light, went off to bed. But the darkness seemed worse than the light; it was crowded with pictures of Cynthia. He saw her face in a thousand different m

fell asleep he had dreadful dreams. He woke up to the sound of C

sir," said Co

ing through the window. He closed his eyes; his head still

o go round to the Wyatts' that morning or not; everything was a bla

that clearly eno

ause the sun was shining; he was annoyed because London was l

the Wyatts' hotel; they were bot

se you called, sir," the porter told him

lunch; he wandered down Regent Street. Presently he found himself staring in at

ous sum. He had been hard up for weeks afterwards in consequence; and even then it was not n

his mind that if Christine would have him, he would marry her at once. There was nothing to

lked on. He remembered that he had not answered his brother's letter; on the

o Christine Wyatt, of Upton H

tio. The cable, together with his brother's address, cost him fifteen

on again u

yatts' hotel. Christine came running down the stairs

pected him to kiss her, he thought; after a mo

" he said stiltedly. "I-er-I had an

indifferent; he tried in vain to infuse

s; she assented eagerly when he suggest

have a ring, yo

aw the way her lips trembled.

ppy," he said. He dropped h

a. He had not been tongue-tied and foolish then; he had not needed to be reminded

gone for her

k. "Do you know, Jimmy, I have thought sometimes lately that she

r than when she had mothered him down at Upton House all those years ago. Christine w

d the counter thought him the most casual lover he had ever yet served. He looked at Christi

pealed to Ji

chose one for me. Which

ok his

t to wear it." He saw a little swift look

ce," he said wit

itted, and she turned her little hand about del

left the shop. Now and then she glanced at Ji

re that he, too, must have loved her, or h

Over the buttered muffi

an't we get marri

lour dyed

just got engaged," s

are always short nowada

have married him that minute had he suggested it

brother to tell

m this morning,

. "How sweet of you, Jimmy. Do

out anything," said Ji

he corner of the table

to marry me, Mrs. Wyatt won't stand in the wa

hed and

sing-supposing you found out that-that you'

flush from hers; for a

lly happy," he asserted

u love

His hand fell c

ll, then

ine sa

did not love her tremendously, he would not be so anxious to be married, she told hers

rs. Wyatt, or will

d like to-first

ind mother eyes; he dreaded lest she might read deep down into his heart, and kno

ered that question had he been quite honest with himself; but as it was he evaded facing it at all. He merely con

o the hotel. "And I'll write to you, Jimmy; I'll--" she broke off

k to you a

ne move

y to wait, sir," the man said

hension swept across Ji

ist

-just a moment." He t

ll, what

lowered

o. The doctor is with her now. I was told to tell you as soo

had come

. She looked from Jimmy to the port

unconsciously. "There is a doctor with her now. . . . No, don't b

the half-closed door he could see the doctor and a woman in nurse's dress. His heart began to race. S

relative of Mrs.

hesi

he said. "I hope-I hope there

nstinctively turned in the same direction; he could see C

ds should not reach Christine. "It's only a question of hours at most. I've done all I can, but n

od staring at him,

ly shocked; he could not believe it. He look

ho is to tell her?" h

or shook

gest that you

inking of the old days down at Upton House; the great kindness that had always be

to tell her," said the do

ooked towards the door; she rose softly

a hundred miles from guessing the t

t not to have left her when I knew she wasn't well. I shall never forgive

yes; he bit his lip hard t

came to Jim

similar attacks to this

ne cons

nce she said she had a pain in her side; but--" She broke off; she looked breathlessly

she sai

d her; his voice was a

oyish still in many ways, and he felt more like breaking down and weeping with h

he stood with hands clasped together, staring before h

then again, "Mother!" And now there

d to hold her back, but she broke away from him, staggered a