The Rocks of Valpré

much of it; and she looked very worried over the process. She would have liked to have borrowed Aunt Philippa's maid, but this was a prohibited luxury except on v

er. She was not exactly afraid of her, but she was instinctively wary in her presence. She knew quite well that Aunt Philippa had given her this season as her one and only chance in life, and had done it, moreover, more than half against her will, impelled thereto by the

iety, however sorely against her will. Her main anxiety had fortunately by that time ceased to exist. There was no likelihood of Chris, with her brilliant, vivacious ways, outsh

s. Forest still maintained her attitude of irresponsibility where her brother's children were concerned, although

d come to him from his father-he had made little further provision for them. His eldest son, Rupert, was a subaltern in a line regiment. No one knew whether he lived on his pay or not, and no one inquired. The second son, who poss

tunity of developing any other qualities, though it was certainly hard that she should be regarded as in any degree responsible for them. She and her brothe

she not already shown herself to be incorrigibly flighty? But since it vexed her still more that anyone should r

back into England three years before, secreted in an immense pocket in the lining of a great motor-coat. Not that she had seen very much of him since that memorable occasion. In fact, until the present summer they had scarcely met again. He was a celebrated man

were even some who suspected him of being an empire-bui

ordaunt also possessed to a marked degree. Therefore it was not surprising that soon after her first appear

ing to wonder a little at Mordaunt's unusual energy in a social sense, for it was

e was always kind to her, always ready to make things go smoothly for her, and she never knew an awkward moment in his society. T

rning. They had met at a dance on the previous evening, and her card had been

ome," she had told him in di

es of his that never seemed to miss anything, and had asked her if he might

g invitation to do so, and he ha

uch a proceeding. Aunt Philippa knew nothing of the expected visitor. As a matter of fact Chris, in her airy fashion, had quite forgotten to mention the matter. Mrs. Forest, being still uncertain as to Mordaunt's state of mind, had discreetly foreborn

igence spared her this. And so on that sunny summer morning she was sublimely unconscious of what was before her, and

p it. I just couldn't get up this morning. You know how one feels after going to

and lay in his, her gay young face

"And please don't apologize for being late," he added. "It is I

said

nly she knew what he had come to say, and turned white

gasped rather inco

say anything that need frighten you. If you were a little olde

Mr. Mordaunt, can't we-can't we wait a little? I

, though it did not reach his eyes. He

is," he said, "I wo

d him to lead her to a sofa and sit beside her, but she avoided his eyes.

proposed to you

she wh

y 'No' to me, say it, and I'll go. I shall come back again, of course. I shall keep on coming back till you say

e said. "How

nny?" h

ulatively; her panic wa

so much older th

rty-five,

in the cheek nearest to him. "Fancy me getting married!"

d. "Anyhow, there is nothing in it to fright

brief mirth gone. "But, Mr. M

lieve I can teach you," he s

u won't ask me to marry you for a long w

te made up your mind to

dau

. "No, not then either. N

ing, in his grasp. "And if I accept that condition," he said-"it's a very despot

hesi

I want you more than anything else in life, that I w

straint than emotion in his utterance. He spoke a

emble. She knew instinctively that here was something colossa

ery tightly upon his han

er downcast eyes. But she would not raise them. Her heart was beating very

moved, drew her to him,

fraid of m

a little gesture that

y hidden against him,

why?" he said

ow why," mu

ecause I love

shoulder. "You ought no

h. I'm not g

id, "I am not worthy to

, fondling, caressing. She nestled

really. I get up to all sorts of pranks. I'm wild

than Aunt Philipp

seen my good side. I'm always

reason for marrying

That's just it. You-you wil

ke the ris

to," murmured Chris. "It

ery gently. "Meaning that y

y after the way you helped me with Cinders long ago. I never forgot that-never! Only I do think-befo

n a fashion that emboldene

a tone that tried to be indignant. "You'

olding her as she sat. He looked straight down into

herself. "You will get a stick and beat me," she said. "I know. People

ld resist him; and then in a moment it was gone, lost in a wonder that left no room for anything else. For he kissed her, once and once only, so passionately, so burningly, so possessively, that it seemed to Chri