CHAPTER XXXI
IN LIGHTER VEIN
Dinner that evening, the first at their small round table, was a greatsuccess. Nurse Rosemary's plans all worked well; and Garth delighted inarrangements which made him feel less helpless.
The strain of the afternoon brought its reaction of merriment. A littlejudicious questioning drew forth further stories of the duchess and herpets; and Miss Champion's name came in with a frequency which they bothenjoyed.
It was a curious experience for Jane, to hear herself described inGarth's vivid word-painting. Until that fatal evening at Shenstone, shehad been remarkably free from self-consciousness; and she had no ideathat she had a way of looking straight into people's eyes when shetalked to them, and that that was what muddled up "the silly littleminds of women who say they are afraid of her, and that she makes themnervous! You see she looks right into their shallow shuffling littlesouls, full of conceited thoughts about themselves, and nastyill-natured thoughts about her; and no wonder they grow panic-stricken,and flee; and talk of her as 'that formidable Miss Champion.' I neverfound her formidable; but, when I had the chance of a real talk withher, I used to be thankful I had nothing of which to be ashamed. Thoseclear eyes touched bottom every time, as our kindred over the water soexpressively put it."
Neither had Jane any idea that she always talked with a poker, ifpossible; building up the fire while she built up her own argument; orattacking it vigorously, while she demolished her opponent's; that shestirred the fire with her toe, but her very smart boots never seemedany the worse; that when pondering a difficult problem, she usuallystood holding her chin in her right hand, until she had found thesolution. All these small characteristics Garth described with vividtouch, and dwelt upon with a tenacity of remembrance, which astonishedJane, and revealed him, in his relation to herself three years before,in a new light.
His love for her had been so suddenly disclosed, and had at once had tobe considered as a thing to be either accepted or put away; so thatwhen she decided to put it away, it seemed not to have had time tobecome in any sense part of her life. She had viewed it; realised allit might have meant; and put it from her.
But now she understood how different it had been for Garth. During theweek which preceded his declaration, he had realised, to the full, themeaning of their growing intimacy; and, as his certainty increased, hehad more and more woven her into his life; his vivid imaginationcausing her to appear as his beloved from the first; loved and wanted,when as yet they were merely acquaintances; kindred spirits; friends.
To find herself thus shrined in his heart and memory was infinitelytouching to Jane; and seemed to promise, with sweet certainty, that itwould not be difficult to come home there to abide, when once allbarriers between them were removed.
After dinner, Garth sat long at the piano, filling the room withharmony. Once or twice the theme of The Rosary crept in, and Janelistened anxiously for its development; but almost immediately it gaveway to something else. It seemed rather to haunt the other melodies,than to be actually there itself.
When Garth left the piano, and, guided by the purple cord, reached hischair, Nurse Rosemary said gently "Mr. Dalmain, can you spare me for afew days at the end of this week?"
"Oh, why?" said Garth. "To go where? And for how long? Ah, I know Iought to say: 'Certainly! Delighted!' after all your goodness to me.But I really cannot! You don't know what life was without you, when youweek-ended! That week-end seemed months, even though Brand was here. Itis your own fault for making yourself so indispensable."
Nurse Rosemary smiled. "I daresay I shall not be away for long," shesaid. "That is, if you want me, I can return. But, Mr. Dalmain, Iintend to-night to write that letter of which I told you. I shall postit to-morrow. I must follow it up almost immediately. I must be withhim when he receives it, or soon afterwards. I think--I hope--he willwant me at once. This is Monday. May I go on Thursday?"
Poor Garth looked blankly dismayed.
"Do nurses, as a rule, leave their patients, and rush off to theiryoung men in order to find out how they have liked their letters?" heinquired, in mock protest.
"Not as a rule, sir," replied Nurse Rosemary, demurely. "But this is anexceptional case."
"I shall wire to Brand."
"He will send you a more efficient and more dependable person."
"Oh you wicked little thing!" cried Garth. "If Miss Champion were here,she would shake you! You, know perfectly well that nobody could fillyour place!"
"It is good of you to say so, sir," replied Nurse Rosemary, meekly."And is Miss Champion much addicted to shaking people?"
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