power kept his promise. the afternoon sun was still high in the sky when he let loose his horse in the stable yard at surprise and walked across the stones to the house. he approached in view of the shadiest verandah where the household had come together after lunch. in the amplest chair lay selwyn lost to all the ill humours of the heat; but mrs. selwyn interrupted her reading to give him a searching glance, and neville shot up shaggy eyebrows and cried "hello!" maud came down the steps. she wore a big hat as protection from the sun; but she looked up to speak and showed power the lines of care that twenty-four hours had drawn upon her face.
"come this way, jim. it's shady up the creek, and there are too many inside."
they passed together a little way up the bed of the creek, clambering once and again over sharp faces of rock where fair pools of water rest after the rains. they reached a spot where a[pg 238] sapling throws a broken shade upon a shelf of stone. they sat down. the prospect is gentle here as prospects are judged at surprise. below, stands the house peering round the bank of the rise—above, the creek climbs up into the hills.
"well, jim?"
"yes."
"come, don't look so cut up. it isn't fair to me. i've spent all day looking things in the face and you must help."
"i've come here as you asked. what is there to say?"
"do you still feel the same about her?"
"yes. it will always be the same."
"we have come to the end of things. is that it?"
"it needn't be that. there is friendship left."
"fall from first to second place? how dare you ask me that.... what makes you like this? she has nothing more than her looks. she has no education. she can have only a child's experience of life."
"it makes no difference."
"and where will you be when the glamour has gone?"
"it will be time to see when that happens."
"but they say she isn't even a good girl. a girl must be so weak to let men do as they like with her."
"we have said enough."
"and what am i to do? make the best of things i can? take off my love like an old coat and throw it away because it is out at the elbows? jim, you don't know what love is. that's why this thing has happened."
"talking won't mend things."
"there's no more to say; is that what you mean? we have come to the parting of the ways. i'm to understand that, am i? the house i built has tumbled on top of me, and i am to get clear of the ruins as best i can. in a little while this affair of yours will be over, and where shall we both be? can't you see what a priceless thing we are ready to waste?"
"of course i see it; but it makes no difference. i was a man a month ago, able to take or let alone. now ... i love the child. there's the beginning and end of it."
"we had a hundred things to help us over the difficult bits of life and now because you are tired i am asked to feel the same. that's where the laugh comes in. i find i can't do it."
"what a cad you make me!"
"she doesn't love you. you told me that yesterday. how are you going to get over that?"
"she may change."
"have you thought what i have to face? 'there goes maud neville who was found wanting and now takes second place to a girl whose lips are plastered with the kisses of a dozen men.' some day the words may not seem much; just now, my friend, they have a harsh sound. how dare you bring me to this?"
"would you have us marry as things are?"
"no, i wouldn't. i must eat my humble pie. but as yet i cannot make myself believe that we are at the end of things. it's not easy to speak out the truth even to you. i ought to cut you for good. but i just can't do it. love takes a lot of killing. the world will think me a girl of poor spirit; but better that than that this thing should come to grief in haste. i must have time to think things out. i owe this to you and to myself.... what are you looking at the sun for? do you want to get away?"
"i have to meet o'neill at three o'clock."
"meet him at three so as to be in time somewhere else later on—i suppose that's it. well, so be it."
"are you coming to the stable?"
"no. i'm going to stay here a little while. jim, this mustn't be our good-bye. before you go, promise me you won't quite forget us here. come when you can."
"good-bye."
"good-bye."
