a girl of the limberlost-第59节
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betrothed no longer！〃
Polly grasped Edith's arm。
〃Oh； Edith！〃 she implored。 〃Don't make a scene here；
and to…night。 Edith； this has been the loveliest
dance ever given at the club house。 Every one is saying so。
Edith！ Darling； do come！ Phil will be back in a second。
He can explain！ It's only a breath since I saw him go out。
I thought he had returned。〃
As Polly panted these disjointed ejaculations； Tom
Levering began to grow angry on her account。
〃He has been gone just long enough to show every
one of his guests that he will leave me standing alone；
like a neglected fool； for any passing whim of his。
Explain！ His explanation would sound well！ Do you know
for whom he caught that moth？ It is being sent to a girl
he flirted with all last summer。 It has just occurred to me
that the dress I am wearing is her suggestion。 Let him
try to explain！〃
Speech unloosed the fountain。 She stripped off her
gloves to free her hands。 At that instant the dancers
parted to admit Philip。 Instinctively they stopped as
they approached and with wondering faces walled in
Edith and Philip； Polly and Tom。
〃Mighty good of you to wait！〃 cried Philip； his face
showing his delight over his success in capturing the
Yellow Emperor。 〃I thought when I heard the music
you were going on。〃
〃How did you think I was going on？〃 demanded Edith
Carr in frigid tones。
〃I thought you would step aside and wait a few seconds
for me； or dance with Henderson。 It was most important
to have that moth。 It completes a valuable collection for
a person who needs the money。 Come！〃
He held out his arms。
〃I ‘step aside' for no one！〃 stormed Edith Carr。
〃I await no other girl's pleasure！ You may ‘complete
the collection' with that！〃
She drew her engagement ring from her finger and
reached to place it on one of Philip's outstretched hands。
He saw and drew back。 Instantly Edith dropped the ring。
As it fell； almost instinctively Philip caught it in air。
With amazed face he looked closely at Edith Carr。
Her distorted features were scarcely recognizable。
He held the ring toward her。
〃Edith； for the love of mercy； wait until I can explain；〃
he begged。 〃Put on your ring and let me tell you how it is。〃
〃I know perfectly ‘how it is；'〃 she answered。 〃I never
shall wear that ring again。〃
〃You won't even hear what I have to say？ You won't
take back your ring？〃 he cried。
〃Never！ Your conduct is infamous！〃
〃Come to think of it；〃 said Philip deliberately； 〃it is
‘infamous' to cut a girl； who has danced all her life； out of
a few measures of a waltz。 As for asking forgiveness for so
black a sin as picking up a moth； and starting it to a friend
who lives by collecting them； I don't see how I could！
I have not been gone three minutes by the clock； Edith。
Put on your ring and finish the dance like a dear girl。〃
He thrust the glittering ruby into her fingers and again
held out his arms。 She dropped the ring； and it rolled some
distance from them。 Hart Henderson followed its shining
course； and caught it before it was lost。
〃You really mean it？〃 demanded Philip in a voice as
cold as hers ever had been。
〃You know I mean it！〃 cried Edith Carr。
〃I accept your decision in the presence of these
witnesses；〃 said Philip Ammon。 〃Where is my father？〃
The elder Ammon with a distressed face hurried to him。
〃Father； take my place；〃 said Philip。 〃Excuse me to
my guests。 Ask all my friends to forgive me。 I am
going away for awhile。〃
He turned and walked from the pavilion。 As he went
Hart Henderson rushed to Edith Carr and forced the ring
into her fingers。 〃Edith； quick。 Come； quick！〃 he implored。
〃There's just time to catch him。 If you let him go that way；
he never will return in this world。 Remember what I told you。〃
〃Great prophet！ aren't you； Hart？〃 she sneered。
〃Who wants him to return？ If that ring is thrust upon
me again I shall fling it into the lake。 Signal the
musicians to begin； and dance with me。〃
Henderson put the ring into his pocket； and began the dance。
He could feel the muscular spasms of the girl in his arms；
her face was cold and hard； but her breath burned with
the scorch of fever。 She finished the dance and all
others； taking Phil's numbers with Henderson； who had
arrived too late to arrange a programme。 She left with
the others； merely inclining her head as she passed
Ammon's father taking his place； and entered the big touring
car for which Henderson had telephoned。 She sank limply
into a seat and moaned softly。
〃Shall I drive awhile in the night air？〃 asked Henderson。
She nodded。 He instructed the chauffeur。
She raised her head in a few seconds。 〃Hart； I'm going
to pieces；〃 she said。 〃Won't you put your arm around me
a little while？〃
Henderson gathered her into his arms and her head fell
on his shoulder。 〃Closer！〃 she cried。
Henderson held her until his arms were numb； but he
did not know it。 The tricks of fate are cruel enough； but
there scarcely could have been a worse one than that：
To care for a woman as he loved Edith Carr and have her
given into his arms because she was so numb with misery
over her trouble with another man that she did not know or
care what she did。 Dawn was streaking the east when he
spoke to her。
〃Edith； it is growing light。〃
〃Take me home；〃 she said。
Henderson helped her up the steps and rang the bell。
〃Miss Carr is ill；〃 he said to the footman。 〃Arouse her
maid instantly； and have her prepare something hot as
quickly as possible。〃
〃Edith；〃 he cried； 〃just a word。 I have been thinking。
It isn't too late yet。 Take your ring and put it on。
I will go find Phil at once and tell him you have； that
you are expecting him； and he will come。〃
〃Think what he said！〃 she cried。 〃He accepted my decision
as final； ‘in the presence of witnesses；' as if it were court。
He can return it to me； if I ever wear it again。〃
〃You think that now； but in a few days you will find
that you feel very differently。 Living a life of heartache
is no joke； and no job for a woman。 Put on your ring and
send me to tell him to come。〃
〃No。〃
〃Edith； there was not a soul who saw that； but sympathized
with Phil。 It was ridiculous for you to get so angry over
a thing which was never intended for the slightest offence；
and by no logical reasoning could have been so considered。〃
〃Do you think that？〃 she demanded。
〃I do！〃 said Henderson。 〃If you had laughed and stepped
aside an instant； or laughed and stayed where you were；
Phil would have been back； or； if he needed punishment
in your eyes； to have found me having one of his dances
would have been enough。 I was waiting。 You could have
called me with one look。 But to publicly do and say
what you did； my ladyI know Phil； and I know you
went too far。 Put on that ring； and send him word
you are sorry； before it is too late。〃
〃I will not！ He shall come to me。〃
〃Then God help you！〃 said Henderson； 〃for you are
plunging into misery whose depth you do not dream。
Edith； I beg of you〃
She swayed where she stood。 Her maid opened the door
and caught her。 Henderson went down the hall and out
to his car。
CHAPTER XX
WHEREIN THE ELDER AMMON OFFERS ADVICE；
AND EDITH CARR EXPERIENCES REGRETS
Philip Ammon walked from among his friends a
humiliated and a wounded man。 Never before had
Edith Carr appeared quite so beautiful。 All evening
she had treated him with unusual consideration。
Never had he loved her so deeply。 Then in a few seconds
everything was different。 Seeing the change in her face；
and hearing her meaningless accusations； killed something
in his heart。 Warmth went out and a cold weight took
its place。 But even after that； he had offered the ring
to her again； and asked her before others to reconsider。
The answer had been further insult。
He walked； paying no heed to where he went。 He had
traversed many miles when he became aware that his feet
had chosen familiar streets。 He was passing his home。
Dawn was near； but the first floor was lighted。
He staggered up the steps and was instantly admitted。
The library door stood open； while his father sat with
a book pretending to read。 At Philip's entrance the
father scarcely glanced up。
〃Come on！〃 he called。 〃I have just told Banks to bring
me a cup of coffee before I turn in。 Have one with me！〃
Philip sat beside the table and leaned his head on his
hands； but he drank a cup of steaming coffee and felt better。
〃Father；〃 he said； 〃father； may I talk with you a little while？〃
〃Of course；〃 answered Mr。 Ammon。 〃I am not at
all tired。 I think I must have been waiting in the
hope that you would come。 I want no one's version
