A Butterfly on the Wheel

She turned the oblong handle which released two of the windo

ow pure, and how different from the ho

she did, indeed, seem to be bathed by a sweet and delicate refreshment, a cleansing, reviving air, wh

now, late as it was, innumerable lights twinkled over Paris, and a big honey-coloured moon, which shamed the fire

n it and with an impulsive gesture stretched out her arms to where the Lamp of the night,

am going to be good! I really, really am. I am

hard, metallic, and insis

one bell w

, as it were, she put down her good resolutions on t

one, caught the receiver to he

is it? Oh! Where are you? Chalo

ire, but behind her and in the ro

ly and turned round

e. His hair was dark and curly and grew low upon his forehead; his eyebrows were beautifully pencilled; and below them two shrewd, mocking, and yet somehow simple and merry

e speak, Peggy?"

mbarrassment. Then without a further word she fluttered towards the door of her bedroom, dropp

e of quick, decisive steps to the

per. What? What? 2.34 to-night-I mean this morning?

standing by her bedroom door. "T

the gir

p the receiver again and pressed it to hi

us at Chalons? What? You have decided not

rest, and turned the handle to ring off. Then he loo

is vexed,

most alluring pink, h

ve the room

he said. "I heard the telephone rin

of the room, the door not far from that which led into the cor

e hotel was full-it was the only

hing else also-something very difficult to define. "Wait," she said. "That doo

ve the somewhat tragic note of Mrs. Admaston's voice into nothing-to mak

when I heard you at the telephone. I thought you would not mind. Besides, I wanted to know what E

different," she said; "we are in a strange hotel-by

a little, and answered

ourse; surely yo

I thought; but I feel

, it was the most reassuring and

ther alarming,"

epped up towards her. "But rather nic

ing in his voice and smile that Mrs. Adm

little switch-board and putting out the big central lig

een laid. She was obviously tremendously amused, but she made a great effo

most ordinary occasion. He strolled lazily over to the fireplace, took

nyone know

ed alarmed

light a cigarette. It is

out a cloud of smoke, to cross over

st one cigarette. Just one, in front of the fir

ette, but only o

a low, quiet voice; and then, raising his head, he

e excitement of this odd meeting, got the better of her prudence. She came to t

r face was tantalisingly close to his, and she noticed, well enough, that his hand was trembling a

o shake also. "Now, Peggy,

ggy a litt

froid, still shook like a leaf in the wind, he lit the cig

ke your shape a

that shrewd an

obin Goo

y, which seemed to remove all diffidence from Co

head of the sofa. "Oh, Puck was

?" he

en she bent towards him, swinging her little brown-shoed foot.

ous little demons I ever

regist

porter at Charing Cross forgot

f luck, wasn't

was gazing at the end of his cigarette and not looking

then suddenly she stopped, and C

ontinued, "what the

"She can jolly well

ut I'll bet she's put some rotten idea into Ellerdi

strained. The lips assumed an appearance of somewhat exaggerated

ke Lady Attwi

plied. "Where does sh

girl did not notice it. "I don't

g?" Peggy asked, with

s she any?" Col

hasn't, how do

wits,

t go in for wits,

is the diplomatic fa

l wind that blows nobody good. Th

he said, "she's the only po

d to keep anything. Can he be i

ffed slowly at

if a man loves a woman he doesn't leave a comfortable hotel to travel all night in a slow train

attractive cat

ws about her," Collingwoo

hy did

ou-for no ot

," Peggy said. "Do you? I

rom the sofa. "Now, sto

yes glowed more strongly. "She's a

ng down again upon the couch and tapping impatiently with his foot upon the car

then she leant down towards Collingwood. "What so

ld have noticed that tiny beads of perspiration

"you are a tantal

bsolutely happy. "I suppose I ought

f deep yearning, and the note of passion restrained till

force and power. "Why not, Peggy? I love you when you

owards the door of her bedroom. "What about that cigarette?" she

passion, and, having done so, wom

en't finished it yet. But listen

o-night, Colling; you promised," sh

gy; I love you s

ing, don't ta

ough it lost nothing of its power. "I

at her tea-gown and shrank

love," she said

she shrank away, not this time into the sure

th feeling. "Why not? It is in the air-the very night is charged with

g; you frighte

monotonous and dull your life must be. Good God! don't I know it? Am I not always thinking of it? Poor little Butterfly! What a

ulous with fear. "Please go, Colling! It isn't fair. I am afraid.

" he said. "I want you so badly-want you for my own-to-night-to-morrow, all the nights and all the days. I have been very good. I have alwa

udden, gliding step, and pl

my friend, my very de

he cried, co

ly that

t he caught her in his arms, straining her to him wildly, showering kisses upon the shining coronet of her hair. "We're alone, Peggy," he cried,

ace pale as linen, her voice wit

ing. Do help me, Colling! I don't love you like

lute sincerity, mingled with fear, that he

face changed and melt

ried. "You wou

fa and sat down upon it, burying his face in

whisper to himself; "s

e end of the sofa, aghast at what she had d

you too well to let you do anything that would spoil our happiness. I am not unkind-r

tterly, without looki

ut the girl to the heart. She went round from the back of the sofa and knelt at

what else can

ment his voice did not soften. Ther

ave left London with me if we had only been friends and nothing more. Were we only friends when we used to sit up together night after night a

mustn't say

kneeling upon the floor, and pas

the risks that we have run? For God's sake, here and now let us be honest with each other. Why, w

ver. "Colling! oh, Colling!" she said in a pit

y too glad to think. You know well

ng realisation. She clasped both hands to her breast, and the light shon

she

up to he

u don't ca

she gasped. "Tell me, d

thinking it? Haven't we

hat! We have only been very fond frie

n her voice. She kept clasp

think ungenerous things of others. I have been too trusting-too confiding. Wh

anities-your yearning for devotion, for adulation, for sense of power. I know! You wanted all the joys and none of the risks. That sums up the whole thing in a nutshell. There are lots of women like you. They drive me

like a whip. She stared at him in helpless amazement and misery. He had paused in his

mean you to be mine. There will be a crash soon-that is certain. Admaston will take notice of what everybody is sa

at have I done!

ou exist. His heart beats by Act of Parliament. He'd a thousand times rather address a villag

ike, but say nothing against him. You do not know my husband. We are n

said, with a curious note of perplexity in his voice. The

know. I have had no chance to lov

on his heels and swung back again. "I see," he said; "you

hink I am neglected. That is absurd. It was my father's wish that we should marry.

hat she was trying to persuade herself that her

not even Admaston-can stand ridicule for long. Remember, I

to speak

ociety and make you a very proud and ambitious man. Don't shake your head-that's only because you want to be gallant. He

ut position," he

who have some big purpose in life

rst time there came a glint of malicious and real ill-humour ove

is a fighter, Colling. I think many women would

ething-or someone-to fight for. My nature must be baffled. There must be obstacles in the way for me. I have a wick

e long since, but now almost all expression went from it also fo

was being cruel only to be kind. She must face the situation once and for all, and then perhaps everything might be right. The situation, serious as it was, was very largely of his own creation. Seeing no other way, he had deliberately endeavoured to compromise Mr

ignities and all the shame of a process in the courts. In his overmastering desire, her reputation, her hon

and the university have given them a certain code. They must pay their gambling debts, they must do various other things of that sort; b

eggy, driving

when she had recovered a little. "Really, really, you are mistaken. I am quite satisfie

he had deliberately done her best to be provocative. Her intentions, doubtless, were innocent enough as far as any dishonour to her husband entered into the question. But her love of adulation, her vanity, her d

ve deceived

t say that. I

loved you, and ever since then you have let me go here and th

good. You have never been u

r less evidence than we have furnished. And all the while you have acc

what do

about us. Mean? I mean that the call of love is in the spring, Peggy, whispering to you and me. Mean? I mean

d caught her up in

u, Colling! Let

our fault as well as mine! Kiss me, Peggy!

! His face blazed. There

for a moment almost passive in his arms after her first fight and struggle, a loud, s

ne!" Peg

g," Collingw

clasped together, and once more th

y cried; "answ

ght round her. Before he had been straining her to him pass

the bell

Collingwood stepped up to the

aid. "Who is it? W

f all ordinary qualities s

and!" sa

gesture with his left hand,

wrong train. Yes, Collingwo

the telephone. Again he motioned her to silence, givin

an't hear you distinctly. You want to speak to E

table and ran up to Peggy, who w

," Collingwood said in a low, fierce wh

his way and that as if about to fall

ing," he said; "

he? London

" he replied.

rdine has just gone out. Hello! Where are you s

d strained as a greyhound on the leash; then

oking at her almost stupidly, as

ime. At last he spoke. "I didn't think

?" she almo

llo

head, thinking deeply. Then he looked up at Peggy. "Peggy," he said at

ng off a blow. "Go, go!" she cried; "please go! I sh

u now, Peggy. I j

id," she said, and move

said, in a voice instinct with agonised pleadin

d firmly, and stre

anything in the world-better than myself.

r!" sh

u-to have you for my own. You know it is true. Peggy, before God, I bel

r hand and press

" she said in a d

er for him as far as she was concerned. Undisciplined as his nature was, baffled and disowned as he felt, he nevert

will come right. Good night." With one last lingering look at

ost over-mastered by her rising h

her eyes closed, when the corridor door op

e!" sh

one great s

u have not g

so anxious about yo

rl cried; "there is a pain like t

over the young girl's form with loving, frightened caresses. "Poor darling! There is somethi

hat d

ne; I saw him looking at your boxes. Then just after

eel that something dreadful is going to happen. Stay with me-don't go back to your