Page:Charlotte Teller - The Cage (1907).djvu/102

THE CAGE thought pressed upon the shocked idea of herself being invited to take wine. "I suppose everyone drinks wine in Vienna." She said it as though apologizing for him.

While they were eating and talking he watched her hands, small and thin. Every once in a while she raised one to push back a straggling lock of hair which kept falling over her forehead.

Her gayety was hushed somewhat by the sense of strangers in the room with her, but she was enjoying it all, particularly the sound of his voice and his intent eyes. All the outside world dropped back and left only that one room hanging in space, and there she was swinging in it with this man who had come so unexpectedly into her life. It was enchantment.

But just as dessert was brought to them the spell was broken. She saw Alec Sloane going out of the dining-room door. He had come from the other side of the room and had not passed her, yet he must have seen her; and the idea that he had been in the room with them made her uncomfortable.

Harden had not caught sight of the young fellow, but he saw her face. "What is it?" he asked.

"Alec Sloane just went out," she said. "He was here."

"Do you want me to bring him back?" He started to rise.

"No! Oh, no!" said Frederica quickly.

"Your father likes him."

"Yes," said Frederica, "but I don't want to—to marry him." The words had slipped out, and yet she was not sorry.

"Do you think I ought to marry him?" she asked. "Anne says that it is a wonderful opportunity to do 92