Why didn't you come? Why ever did you let me be on
my own with him? He's a devil."
"Nonsense," Julian said brusquely.
She laid her hand on his, and hers was trembling.
"Well, then, why's he gone off all sudden like that?"
"Only for a joke. Wait, I'll fetch him back."
Cuckoo Bright looked frankly terrified at the idea.
"No," she cried; "don't. I'm goin'. I'm off. Help me on with my cloak,
dearie. I'm off."
Julian saw that it was useless to argue with her. He put the cloak round
her shoulders. As he did so he was standing behind her, with his face to
the fireplace. The leaping flames sprang from the coals in the grate, and
their light was reflected on the wall, near the door, but only, of
course, to a certain height. Julian's eyes were attracted to these
leaping flames on the wall, and he saw one suddenly detach itself from
the shadows of its brethren, take definite shape and life, develop while
he looked from shadow into substance, float up on the background of the
wall higher and higher, reach the ceiling and melt away. As it faded the
drawing-room door opened and Valentine reappeared.
Miss Bright started violently, and caught at her cloak with both hands.
Valentine came forward slowly.
"You are not going already, surely," he said.
Pages:
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267