The Tidal Wave and Other Stories

Columbine?"

ck hair, was watering the flowers in the little conservatory that led out of the drawing-room. She had just come in

s a perpetual wonder to her and a perpetual fascination. The dark, unawakened eyes, the long, perfect bro

, with a sudden movement that had in it something of the grace

Caves by moonlight," she said. "He's doing a moonligh

e him ask you? There's Adam knows every

re just as well as Adam does, Aunt Liza. Adam himself showed me

feel easy about you. And there won't be any moonlight worth speaking of till after ten. It wouldn't do

e in the beautiful eyes and passed like a gleam of light

al, my dear. And it ain't right-it never were right in my

t least, not an ordinary man." There was a hint of earnes

uldn't make it right, not if he was

uch safer than an angel," she protested, "because he can't fly. Besides, the Spear Point Ca

ou didn't go, my dear," she said. "So let

broke off short. "Goodness, how yo

ng the doorway, was standing half in an

you did me! Good evening, R

d, with massive, lounging movements. "

ion!" ejacula

ing-can and swung it carelessly on one finger, huntin

. She was not accustomed to enterta

f mulberry wine

, of the cupboard under the stairs. I'm sure you're very welcome," she added t

ight, Mother,

erm of deference with him rather than a

u make yourself quite at home! Columbine will loo

fus. "I don't kno

You'll see him presently. You stop and have a chat with Columbine!

ine and a glass on a tray the conservatory

ve about her soft lips, a gleam

nd Rufus reappeared. He had been out to fill her

ss. "I don't want to tumble over it, do I? Thank you fo

row," said Rufus, setting the

ur out a glass of Mrs.

glass?"

le over her shoulder. "Well,

slowly. "But I do

ng you don't smoke alone next. If you want some

shes somehow conveyed the impression that she was peeping through them. The tilt of the red lips, with the pearly teeth just showi

she lifted those glorious eyes of

?" she inquired. "

loss to explain himself. "Won't you dr

id Columbine briskl

like it eith

course you do! I know you do! Ta

with solid resolution.

speration. "You're just like a child," she said seve

us, propping himself

he full glass, and, carrying it daintily, advanced upon him. "I su

, facing him, upright, slender,

ppantly, and elevated the glass tow

in the same moment Rufus's great right hand disengaged itself from

uided the glass with unmistakable re

against which she stood checked the backward movement

hose. He caught it from her and drained it almost in the same movement. Not a drop was spilt between them. He s

hole body vibrated as if strung on wires. "How-dare you?" she said

. "But I don't drink-alone," he said in such a tone o

I hate you!" she said.

Rufus, still in the to

like a flame. "It was not a joke!

ufus, as one giving

're a bounder, an oaf, a brute! I-I'll never

of amusement in his eyes-the look of a man who

h slow indulgence. "I didn't know you'd

t of scorn. "Oh, you-you are beyond words!" she said. "You had better get alo

rink with you

with anger. "You've done it for the f

ed like a darting, indi

tle-a whistle that ended on a note of surprise as Columbine sped through the room.

rk, with an inclination-sternly repressed-to waviness above the forehead.

him, but the red blood was throbbing at her

emarked Knight. "I hope

t in it that imparted to him the look of one who could smile at most th

e back of a chair to steady herself. "

ords he moved across to the door into the conservatory and looked through it. He was in ti

and watched him, then quietly

-control. As he drew near she made a slight movement as if to resume her interr

ide her. "What has he been d

him. He is an oaf. I dare say he doesn't know any better, but he'll n

n, isn't he?" q

ll right. I like Adam. But Rufus-well, Rufus is a bou

ression. "They are as much out of place near you as a bed of bindweed would be in the neighbourhood of a passion-flower." His glance took in her

ful princess. "Oh, he's just a lout," she said. "He do

een different, wou

e different," she said with simplicity. "You see, you're a ge

rvous. What a shocking thing it would be if I e

n't," said

eated the word wit

ned with the utmost gravity, as

ou," sai

h. There are some people-a few people-that one knows one can t

ou know, that's rather-a colo

al," said Columbine,

n the table on entering. "Are you sure you are not rash?" he said,

re," said

he had foreseen that she w

the latest?

wed her a blank page. "Tha

at him inte

for my-inspira

ill find it s

tion. "I shall find it tonight by

. "I believe Adam is goin

. "You are never go

ony. "It was the Spear Point

d Knight, "to

ul eyes sank suddenly to the blank page he held

he was looking full at her. He saw the rich colour rising

udly. "I please myself," she said

e. "Then it pleases you-to

and laughed. "I didn't think you'd care," she said. "Adam

if you imagine that I am indifferent as to who goe

l looking at him. "Isn't A

sort of inspiration I am needing for

brows were slightly drawn, bely

nspiration you are wan

provocation. "I'll tell y

more provocative than his. "That

d thoughtfully, "that you please yourself, Miss Columbine.

ght, courtly bow,

le, looking after him with perplexity