Gone Away by Marjorie Moore Page A

hadn’t rushed into a marriage which, had he paused to consider, could never have ended in any other way than it had. Still, thank goodness it wasn’t too late. When he was entirely free of his shackles, when his divorce decree was made absolute ... he stared meditatively at Kitty, and a feeling of happiness pervaded his heart, such contentment as he had not known for years.
    “You do look serious. What are you thinking about?” Kitty’s l ips widened into a smile. “Are you beginning to wonder whether, after all, I’m not right?”
    “As a matter of fact, I wasn’t. I’m not the least bit concerned with Warinder’s love-affairs. I was thinking of something far more personal.” The look accompanying his words left Kitty little doubt as to the subject of his thoughts. It was such a short time since his arrival, and yet in innumerable ways he had shown Kitty that, after all her years of waiting, there was still a chance that she would obtain her heart’s desire. Ian had altered; he had grown into a man, so much more introspective than the boy she had known. Like Patricia, she also found him difficult to draw out, but—she cheered to the thought—he was changing; already she was sure that he would regain the cheery optimism he had once possessed. She loved him deeply, and this time, with the confidence of added years, she was sure of winning him.
    “Do you think it was awful of me to suggest that Patricia might be in love with an engaged man?” she questioned, reverting to the subject on which she was subconsciously longing for an opinion.
    “ It’s not awful, as you put it, but you’ve only seen Patricia once or twice, and I really don’t see how you could form an opinion,” Ian protested.
    “I called at Warinder’s bungalow one morning last week, and have seen both Pat and Maimie a few times since.” She shook her head obstinately. “I still say that’s the impression I got.” She leaned more confidingly towards Ian. “You told me yourself that Maimie had a hectic flirtation with Claud Burny on the way out. It’s still going on. He called for her while I was there and they went out together. Yesterday I saw them both at the swimming club. How long do you think Seymour Warinder will stand for that? You don ’ t know the Singapore crowd as we do. Everyone knows everyone else here, and each other’s business as well! Claud Burny only spends a month or two a year in Singapore, but he has the reputation of being the most outrageous philanderer, and Seymour Warinder certainly must know it.”
    “So much the better! He won’t attach any importance to the friendship if he realizes that Burny isn’t serious.”
    Kitty shook her head impatiently. “You don’t understand. Flirting may be harmless with some people, but Claud’s reputation with girls is beyond a joke. He makes a hobby of having affairs, and no decent girl ought to have anything to do with him.”
    “Maimie will soon find that out, if she hasn’t already. I expect she’ll shake him off as soon as she settles down. Anyway, she gets married in a week or two, doesn’t she?” Ian inquired.
    “She told me originally that they had decided to wait a month.” A frown creased Kitty’s smooth brow. “I know you think this is just a passing thing. I can’t explain how I feel about it, only I know I’m not as sanguine as you. Claud’s awfully attractive. Supposing Maimie has really fallen for him and isn’t just passing the time?”
    “If neither of them is fooling, it isn’t too late for Maimie to jilt Warinder and marry Burny,” Ian responded philosophically. He pushed back his chair from the table and rose, as if dismissing the conversation.
    “Sit down again. I haven’t nearly finished,” Kitty ordered laughingly. “This thing’s on my mind and I must discuss it with someone. ”
    Ian did as he was requested and turned again to Kitty. The smile had left his face, and a serious expression clouded his eyes. “You aren’t