to him that hath-第56章

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of　what　I　did。　　How　gladly　would　I　do　it　again。　　Jack　is　wonderful
to　me。　　Wonderful　to　me；〃　she　repeated　softly。　　Her　lip　trembled
and　she　lay　back　upon　her　pillow　and　from　her　closed　eyes　two　tears
ran　down　her　cheek。

〃Now；〃　said　Adrien　briskly；　〃you　are　too　tired。　　We　shall　wait　till
to…morrow。〃

〃No；　no；　please；〃　cried　Annette。　　〃Jack　didn't　tire　me。　　He
comforts　me。〃

〃But　Malcolm　will　tire　you；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃Do　you　really　want　to
see　him？〃

A　faint　colour　came　up　into　the　beautiful　face　of　her　patient。

〃Yes；　Adrien；　I　really　want　to　see　him。　　I　am　sure　he　will　do　me
good。　　You　will　let　him　come；　please？〃　　The　dark　eyes　were　shining
with　another　light；　more　wistful；　more　tender。

〃Is　he　here；　Adrien？〃

〃Is　he　here？〃　echoed　Adrien　scornfully。　　〃Has　he　been　anywhere　else
the　last　seven　days？〃

〃Poor　Malcolm；〃　said　the　girl；　the　tenderness　in　her　voice　becoming
protective。　　〃I　have　been　very　bad　to　him；　and　he　loves　me　so。　　Oh；
he　is　just　mad　about　me！〃　　A　little　smile　stole　round　the　corners
of　her　mouth。

〃Oh；　you　needn't　tell　me　that；　Annette；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃It　is　easy
for　you　to　make　men　mad　about　you。〃

〃Not　many；〃　said　the　girl；　still　softly　smiling。

McNish　went　toward　the　door　of　the　sick　room　as　if　approaching　a
holy　shrine；　walking　softly　and　reverently。

〃Go　in；　lucky　man；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃Go　in；　and　thank　God　for　your
good　fortune。〃

He　paused　at　the　door；　turned　about　and　looked　at　her　with　grave
eyes。　　〃Miss　Templeton；〃　he　said　in　slow；　reverent　tones；　〃all　my
life　shall　I　thank　God　for　His　great　mercy　tae　me。〃

〃Don't　keep　her　waiting；　man；〃　said　Adrien；　waving　him　in。　　Then
McNish　went　in　and　she　closed　the　door　softly　upon　them。

〃There　are　only　a　few　great　moments　given　to　men；〃　she　said；　〃and
this　is　one　of　them　for　those　two　happy　people。〃

In　ten　days　Annette　was　pronounced　quite　fit　to　return　to　her
family。　　But　Patricia　resolved　that　they　should　have　a　grand　fete
in　the　Maitland　home　before　Annette　should　leave　it。　　She　planned　a
motor　drive　in　the　cool　of　the　day；　and　in　the　evening　all　their
special　friends　who　had　been　brought　together　through　the　tragic
events　of　the　past　weeks　should　come　to　bring　congratulations　and
mutual　felicitations　for　the　recovery　of　the　patient。

Patricia　was　arranging　the　guest　list；　in　collaboration　with　Mr。
Maitland　and　the　assistance　of　Annette　and　Victor。

〃We　will　have　our　boys；　of　course；〃　she　began。

〃Old　and　young；　I　hope？〃　suggested　Mr。　Maitland。

〃Of　course！〃　she　cried。　　〃Although　I　don't　know　any　old　ones。　　That
will　mean　all　the　fathers　and　Vic；　Jack；　Hugh　and　Rupert；　and
Malcolm〃

〃Ah！　　It　has　come　to　Malcolm；　then？〃　murmured　Vic。　　〃Certainly；　why
not？　　He　loves　me　to　call　him　Malcolm。　　And　then　we　will　have　Mr。
Matheson。　　And　we　must　have　Mr。　McGinnisthey　have　become　such
great　friends。　　And　I　should　like　to　have　the　Mayor；　he　is　so
funny。　　But　perhaps　he　wouldn't　fit。　　He　DOES　take　up　a　lot　of
attention。〃

〃Cut　him　out！〃　said　Victor　with　decision。

〃And　for　ladies；〃　continued　Patricia；　〃just　the　relativesall　the
mothers　and　the　sisters。　　That's　enough。〃

〃How　lovely！〃　murmured　Vic。

〃Oh；　if　you　want　any　other　ladies；　Vic；〃　said　Patricia　severely；
〃we　shall　be　delighted　to　invite　them　for　you。〃

〃Me？　　Other　ladies？　　What　could　I　do　with　other　ladies？　　Is　not　my
young　life　one　long　problem　as　it　is？　　Ah！　　Speaking　of　problems；
that　reminds　me。　　I　have　a　communication　to　make　to　you　young
lady。〃　　Vic's　manner　suggested　a　profound　and　deadly　mystery。　　He
led　Patricia　away　from　the　others。　　〃I　have　something　to　tell　you；
Patricia；〃　he　said；　abandoning　all　badinage。　　〃I　hate　to　do　it　but
it　is　right　for　you；　for　myself；　for　Adrien；　and　by　Jove　for　poor
old　Jack；　too。　　Though；　perhapswell；　let　that　go。〃

〃Oh；　Vic！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃It　is　about　the　note！〃

〃Yes；　Patricia。　　That　note　was　given　by　Jack　to　Sam　Wigglesworth；
who　gave　it　to　Rupert　Stillwell。〃

〃And　he　forgot？〃　gasped　Patricia。

〃Ahahat　least；　he　didn't　deliver　it。　　No；　Patricia；　we　are
telling　the　whole　truth。　　He　didn't　forget。　　You　remember　he　asked
about　Jack。　　There；　I　have　given　you　all　I　know。　　Make　of　it　what
you　like。〃

〃Shall　I　tell　Adrien？〃　asked　Patricia。

〃I　think　certainly　Adrien　ought　to　know。〃

〃Then　I'll　tell　her　to…night；〃　said　Patricia。　　〃I　want　it　all　over
before　our　fete；　which　is　day　after　to…morrow。〃

Rupert　Stillwell　had　been　in　almost　daily　attendance　upon　Adrien
during　the　past　two　weeks；　calling　for　her　almost　every　afternoon
with　his　car。　　The　day　following　he　came　for　her　according　to　his
custom。　　Upon　Adrien's　face　there　dwelt　a　gentle；　tender；　happy
look　as　if　her　heart　were　singing　for　very　joy。　　That　look　upon　her
face　drove　from　Rupert　all　the　hesitation　and　fear　which　had　fallen
upon　him　during　these　days　of　her　ministry　to　the　wounded　girl。　　He
took　a　sudden　and　desperate　resolve　that　he　would　put　his　fate　to
the　test。

Adrien's　answer　was　short　and　decisive。

〃No；　Rupert；〃　she　said。　　〃I　cannot。　　I　thought　for　a　little　while；
long　ago；　that　perhaps　I　might；　but　now　I　know　that　I　never　could
have　loved　you。〃

〃You　were　thinking　of　that　note　of　Jack　Maitland's　which　I　sent　you
last　night？〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　she　said　gently。　　〃Not　that。〃

〃I　felt　awfully　mean　about　that；　Adrien。　　I　feel　mean　still。　　I
thought　that　as　you　had　learned　all　about　it　from　Victor；　it　was　of
no　importance。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　replied　gently；　〃but　I　was　the　best　judge　of　that。〃

〃Adrien；　tell　me；〃　Rupert's　voice　shook　with　the　intensity　of　his
passion；　〃is　there　no　hope？〃

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃there　is　no　hope；　Rupert。〃

〃There　is　someone　else；〃　he　said；　savagely。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　happily；　〃I　think　so。〃

〃Someone；〃　continued　Rupert；　his　voice　trembling　with　rage；
〃someone　who　distributes　his　affections。〃

〃No；〃　she　said；　a　happy　smile　in　her　eyes；　〃I　think　not。〃

〃You　love　him？〃　he　asked。

〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　whispered；　with　a　little　catch　in　her　breath；　〃I
love　him。〃

At　the　door　on　their　return　Jack　met　them。　　A　shadow　fell　upon　his
face；　but　with　a　quick　resolve；　he　shouted　a　loud　welcome　to　them。

〃Hello；　Adrien；〃　he　cried；　as　she　came　running　up　the　steps。　　〃You
apparently　have　had　a　lovely　drive。〃

〃Oh；　wonderful；　Jack。　　A　wonderful　drive；〃　she　replied。

〃Yes；　you　do　look　happy。〃

〃Oh；　so　happy。　　I　was　never　so　happy。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Jack；　dropping　his　voice；　〃may　I　congratulate　you？〃

〃Yes；　I　think　so；〃　she　said。　　〃I　hope　so。〃　　And　then　laughed　aloud
for　very　glee。

Jack　turned　from　her　with　a　quick　sharp　movement；　went　down　the
steps　and　offering　his　hand　to　Rupert；　said：

〃Good　luck；　old　chap。　　I　wish　you　good　luck。〃

〃Eh？　　What？　　Oh；　all　right；〃　said　Rupert　in　a　dazed　sort　of　way。
But　he　didn't　come　into　the　house。

Never　was　there　such　a　day　in　June；　never　such　a　fete。　　The　park
never　looked　so　lovely　and　never　a　party　so　gay　disported
themselves　in　it　and　gayest　of　them　all　was　Adrien。　　All　day　long
it　seemed　as　if　her　very　soul　were　laughing　for　joy。　　And　all　day
long　she　kept　close　beside　Jack；　chaffing　him；　laughing　at　him；
rallying　him　on　his　solemn　face　and　driving　him　half…mad　with　her
gay　witchery。

Then　home　they　all　came　to　supper；　where　waited　them　McNish　and　his
mother　with　Mr。　McGinnis；　for　they　had　been　unable　to　join　in　the
motor　drive。

〃Ma　certie；　lassie！　　But　ye're　a　sight　for　sare　een。　　What　hae　ye
bin　daein　tae　her；　Mr。　Jack；〃　said　Mrs。　McNish；　as　she　welcomed
them　at　the　door。

〃The　Lord　only　knows；〃　said　Jack。

〃But；　man；　look　at　her！〃　exclaimed　the　old　lady。

〃I　have　been；　all　day　long；〃　replied　Jack　with　a　gallant　attempt　at
gaiety。

〃Oh；　Mrs。　McNish；〃　cried　the　girl；　rippling　with　joyous　laughter；
〃he　won't　even　look　at　me。　　He　justwhat　do　you　sayglowers；
that's　itglowers　at　me。　　And　we　have　had　such　a　wonderful　day。
Come；　Jack；　get　yourself　ready　for　supper。　　You　have　only　a　few
minutes。〃

She　caught　her　arm　through　his　and　laughing　shamelessly　into　his
eyes；　drew　him　away。

〃I　say；　Adrien；〃　said　Jack；　driven　finally　to　desperation　and
drawing　her　into　the　quiet　of　the　library；　〃I　am　awfully　glad　you
are　so　happy　and　all　that；　but　I　don't　see　the　necessity　of　rubbing
i