Page:The Soft Side (New York, The Macmillan Company, 1900).djvu/314

306 I hope, such extraordinary discoveries!' It seemed absurd to be afraid to be light.

'May none of her discoveries be more fatal than mine!' Marmaduke wasn't uproarious, but his treatment of the matter had the good taste of simplicity. 'They've wanted it so for her,' he continued to me wonderfully, 'that we've at last seen our way to it—I mean to what Lavinia has mentioned.' He hesitated but three seconds—he brought it brightly out. 'Maud-Evelyn had all her young happiness.'

I stared, but Lavinia was, in her peculiar manner, as brilliant. 'The marriage did take place,' she quietly, stupendously explained to me.

Well, I was determined not to be left. 'So you're a widower,' I gravely asked, 'and these are the signs?'

'Yes; I shall wear them always now.'

'But isn't it late to have begun?'

My question had been stupid, I felt the next instant; but it didn't matter—he was quite equal to the occasion. 'Oh, I had to wait, you know, till all the facts about my marriage had given me the right.' And he looked at his watch again. 'Excuse me—I am due. Good-bye, good-bye.' He shook hands with each of us, and as we sat there together watching him walk away I was struck with his admirable manner of looking the character. I felt indeed as our eyes followed him that we were at one on this, and I said nothing till he was out of sight. Then by the same impulse we turned to each other.

'I thought he was never to marry!' I exclaimed to my friend.

Her fine wasted face met me gravely. 'He isn't—ever. He'll be still more faithful.'

'Faithful this time to whom?'

'Why, to Maud-Evelyn.' I said nothing—I only checked an ejaculation; but I put out a hand and took one of hers, and for a minute we kept silence. Of course it's only an idea,' she began again at last, 'but it seems to me a beautiful