The Moon out of Reach

ed their scheme of decoration with "smilax and things," we

flective eye

ke a shrubbery where you have to hunt

nfusion occasioned by that trail of smilax round the pink sugar-icing ca

t all on to the floor in disgust!" observed Nan

e, the artis

ened-eyes. She could not conceive why the sudden recollection of Rooke should have sprung in

ide window-seat, the sound of the traffic from below co

very quietly-"Na

quick gesture as though to lay his ha

said, "do yo

she answered uncertain

difficult

ly. He knew very

w," went on Nan, a puzzled frown wrinkling her b

his feet and began pacing the room. A little cry of dismay broke from

t have I said? You're

ened a bit. "If I could

e," she sa

t he was si

There are some thing

cibly restrained emotion, met hers, and in an instant it

ed, and the breath fluttered unevenly between her parte

ter

tarily he gathered them into his own. At the same moment the door opened to admit the

er manner it was quite impossible to guess whether she had obser

envelope. As her eyes absorbed the few lines of writin

her poise, and crumpling the telegram int

she said. Adding: "Ha

And"-listening-"I think Lor

ned to

tter go, Pete

ed a thousand miles away from him. He wondered what the contents of the telegram could have

ing as they entered the room, and Nan rushed into apolog

ed. I really haven't any excuse to offer except"-with

ved St. John, surveying her with the usual masculine approbation of a

r arm affectio

orty years younger an

harming young man

ohn s

forty years ago.

of bridge. Now and then those who were not playing ventured a subdued murmur of talk amongst themselves, but for the most part the silence of the room was only broken by voices de

Mallory, her partner of the moment, instinctively connected this with the agitation s

ute later, Maryon Rooke came into the room. A brief stir succeeded his entrance, as Penelope and one or two other non-players exchanged greetings with him. T

when he had shaken hands. "And

just thrown away a perfectly good trick

light trembling of her fingers as she held her cards fan-wise were sufficient in

ve moment upon Peter Mallory, then returned challengingly to Nan's face. The betraying colour flew up under

none,

he cards. But it was quite useless. Her play grew wilder and more erratic with each hand that was dealt, unti

e of her opponents as they all rose from the table. Other tables

"I'm sorry, partner"-turning to Peter. "It m

ogy aside with

nk. You shouldn't have troubled to

or little things. Then, having settled accounts with her opponents, she moved a

ld her? Was all the striving of the last few months to prove useless? Those long hours of self-effacement when he had tried by every means in his power to restore Nan to a normal interest in life, to be the good comrade she nee

nd the air was full of the murmur of wins and losses and of sharp-edged criticism of "my partner's play." Maryon Rooke

s to have had a couple of hats ready for me this afternoon, which means she will arrive with a perfect

nd grinne

hen you can lay a restraining hand on Kit

ain," entreated Kitty, and Penelope, knowing that the former would be but

rm-"go down and see if the car is th

y, shepherding her flock before her, departed in a ga

oise of her slim young body there was a mingling of challenge and ap

e-she felt the old fascination stealing over her once more. Her heart sank. She had dreaded this, fought against it, and in her inmost soul believe

ight fingers roused some slumbering fire within him, his grasp tightened suddenly. He drew her nearer,

"You never kissed me-never in all those beautiful months we we

ace. She could hear his hurried breathi

quickly and Peter Mallory

t have seen Rooke holding Nan close in his arms, his head bent above h

rway. Then, in a voice entirely de

fetch it." With a slight bow he picked up the for

nging down at her sides. But Maryon could read the stricken expre

man to you?

thi

roughly by t

tly. "He's the man you love. The very

ory is nothing to me, never can be anything, except"-her

yes search

epeated his earlier

drew

uld I ki

stion seemed to set him

how much he had forf

appeal, "do you know it's nearly a year since

hour?" she rep

nshire to-night. But I

' before

s of old, and with the realisation a cold fury of scorn and resentment swept over her, blotting out what she

ed him ind

u on your wa

een back in England a month, alone in the damned desolati

m with steady, s

e kept away?" she

don't you know . . . don't you understand that if only I weren't a poor devil of a painter with my way to

well enough in his own way-but Maryon's way meant that the love and happiness of the woman who married him would alwa

It's the old story, Nan-the de

d Nan quietly. "He makes mistakes sometimes-p

oved me as much as I loved you. I know it! By God, do you

the only alternative th

lame flickers

hip. In a sudden madness he caught her in his arms, crush

ce. "Whether your love is dead or no, I'll not go out of your

d of her he stumb

ost as though she were waiting for something. Then with a leap of her breath, half-sigh, hal

ssom of love which had been tentatively budding in the garden of her heart was de

, uncertain of herself. The interview had shaken her. Yet actually, after those first dazzled moments, the emotion she felt partook more of the dim, sad ache that the memory-haunted s

e put her hand resentfully to her face where the roughness of his beard had g

," she muttered. "I shall

dd note of fea