Kitty did drop a hint or two about it. I think an engagement may shortly be announced.”
“I guessed as much. I saw Bob Wane this morning.” Seymour paused and twisted round on the step to face his companion. “You ... you’re not engaged or anything, are you?” Seymour regretted the question the moment the words had left his lips. After all, it was no affair of his. He hoped his words sounded casual and disinterested, but he was, almost to his annoyance, keyed up to hear the answer. From the first moment he had seen her on the Rajah, he had recalled vividly every detail of her appearance, but by now Seymour had forced himself to the realization that, as an engaged man, other girl’s charms should no longer be any concern of his; yet he was unable to deny how much he hung on the answer to his question.
“No, of course I’m not engaged.” Patricia made an abrupt change of subject, as if she too were aware of the curiously charged atmosphere. “Look, the sun’s just disappearing. It’s practically dusk already.” must go in now, I really must.” The words trembled on her lips as she pulled herself from his grasp. “I’ll never be dressed in time, and like every other man, I expect you hate being kept waiting,” she ended with a levity she was far from feeling.
Seymour made no further effort to detain her, but with a murmured “See you later” he let her go, watching her slender figure as she swung away from him and, crossing the verandah, entered into the bungalow. For a moment his eyes lingered on the doorway through which she had disappeared. His thoughts were many miles away, back again in England. It was wet and cold, and beneath a rain-drenched hat he visualized a face just as he had recently seen it, pale and ghostly in the moonlight. His lips formed the words, “ I thought I had managed to forget her ... ” Then he noticed the white jacket which she had left behind, and with a swift, uncontrollable impulse he lifted the soft garment in both hands and held it caressingly against his cheek. For one moment he breathed in the fragrant perfume Patricia always used. This was madness. He was engaged to Maimie—actually engaged this time. Why—oh, why could he not thrust Patricia into the background of his mind? With a deliberate gesture he replaced the jacket on a chair and strode into the lighted bungalow.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“ I really believe that Patricia Dare is in love with Seymour Warinder!” Kitty leaned her two elbows on the table and confronted Ian Alastar with her somewhat startling announcement. “ I certainly believe that she cares more about him than that Hanny girl whom he proposes to marry.”
Ian pushed back his coffee cup and stared across the breakfast table at his companion. “Kitty, my dear, what a devastating statement to make.” He smiled good-humoredly. “If it was anyone but you who had said it I should have, put him down as a good-for-nothing mischief-maker .” His eyes softened. “You couldn’t make mischief about anyone.”
“Don’t you believe it!” Kitty’s face dimpled. “It’s a long time since we met, Dr. Alastar, and for all you know I may be a changed woman.”
“Not you!” Ian glanced indulgently at the girl who, despite her youth, looked the picture of efficiency as she presided at the head of her brother’s table. From the little Ian had seen of the Wane ménage , it was pretty obvious that Kitty was the ruling factor. The rather plump, tomboyish girl hadn’t changed much since he had visited the Wanes’ home in England when he was a mere medical student. Even then she had kept a watchful eye on her brother and been his guide and mentor. Bob Wane, always delicate and in indifferent health, adored his sister, and it had been no surprise to I an when he had heard that she was to accompany him to the East and look after him in his new life. Ian repressed a sigh. How different things might have been, if only he hadn’t been so blind,
“I guessed as much. I saw Bob Wane this morning.” Seymour paused and twisted round on the step to face his companion. “You ... you’re not engaged or anything, are you?” Seymour regretted the question the moment the words had left his lips. After all, it was no affair of his. He hoped his words sounded casual and disinterested, but he was, almost to his annoyance, keyed up to hear the answer. From the first moment he had seen her on the Rajah, he had recalled vividly every detail of her appearance, but by now Seymour had forced himself to the realization that, as an engaged man, other girl’s charms should no longer be any concern of his; yet he was unable to deny how much he hung on the answer to his question.
“No, of course I’m not engaged.” Patricia made an abrupt change of subject, as if she too were aware of the curiously charged atmosphere. “Look, the sun’s just disappearing. It’s practically dusk already.” must go in now, I really must.” The words trembled on her lips as she pulled herself from his grasp. “I’ll never be dressed in time, and like every other man, I expect you hate being kept waiting,” she ended with a levity she was far from feeling.
Seymour made no further effort to detain her, but with a murmured “See you later” he let her go, watching her slender figure as she swung away from him and, crossing the verandah, entered into the bungalow. For a moment his eyes lingered on the doorway through which she had disappeared. His thoughts were many miles away, back again in England. It was wet and cold, and beneath a rain-drenched hat he visualized a face just as he had recently seen it, pale and ghostly in the moonlight. His lips formed the words, “ I thought I had managed to forget her ... ” Then he noticed the white jacket which she had left behind, and with a swift, uncontrollable impulse he lifted the soft garment in both hands and held it caressingly against his cheek. For one moment he breathed in the fragrant perfume Patricia always used. This was madness. He was engaged to Maimie—actually engaged this time. Why—oh, why could he not thrust Patricia into the background of his mind? With a deliberate gesture he replaced the jacket on a chair and strode into the lighted bungalow.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“ I really believe that Patricia Dare is in love with Seymour Warinder!” Kitty leaned her two elbows on the table and confronted Ian Alastar with her somewhat startling announcement. “ I certainly believe that she cares more about him than that Hanny girl whom he proposes to marry.”
Ian pushed back his coffee cup and stared across the breakfast table at his companion. “Kitty, my dear, what a devastating statement to make.” He smiled good-humoredly. “If it was anyone but you who had said it I should have, put him down as a good-for-nothing mischief-maker .” His eyes softened. “You couldn’t make mischief about anyone.”
“Don’t you believe it!” Kitty’s face dimpled. “It’s a long time since we met, Dr. Alastar, and for all you know I may be a changed woman.”
“Not you!” Ian glanced indulgently at the girl who, despite her youth, looked the picture of efficiency as she presided at the head of her brother’s table. From the little Ian had seen of the Wane ménage , it was pretty obvious that Kitty was the ruling factor. The rather plump, tomboyish girl hadn’t changed much since he had visited the Wanes’ home in England when he was a mere medical student. Even then she had kept a watchful eye on her brother and been his guide and mentor. Bob Wane, always delicate and in indifferent health, adored his sister, and it had been no surprise to I an when he had heard that she was to accompany him to the East and look after him in his new life. Ian repressed a sigh. How different things might have been, if only he hadn’t been so blind,
Similar Books
