“I feel like a cross between an idiot and a
criminal,” I said shortly, “and I don’t
know particularly why every one thinks I should be
the victim for the sacrifice. But if you will
promise to get her off early to her train, and if
you will stand by me and not leave me alone with her,
I—I might try it.”
“Of course, we’ll stand by you!”
they said in chorus. “We won’t let
you stick!” And Dal said, “You’re
the right sort of girl, Kit. And after it’s
all over, you’ll realize that it’s the
biggest kind of lark. Think how you are saving
the old lady’s feeling! When you are an
elderly person yourself, Kit, you will appreciate
what you are doing tonight.”
Yes, they said they would stand by me, and that I
was a heroine and the only person there clever enough
to act the part, and that they wouldn’t let
me stick! I am not bitter now, but that is what
they promised. Oh, I am not defending myself;
I suppose I deserved everything that happened.
But they told me that she would be there only between
trains, and that she was deaf, and that I had an opportunity
to save a fellow-being from ruin. So in the end
I capitulated.
When they opened the door into the living room, Max
Reed had arrived and was helping to hide a decanter
and glasses, and somebody said a cab was at the door.
And that was the way it began.
The minute I had consented I regretted it. After
all, what were Jimmy’s troubles to me?
Why should I help him impose on an unsuspecting elderly
woman? And it was only putting off discovery
anyhow. Sooner or later, she would learn of the
divorce, and—Just at that instant my eyes
fell on Mr. Harbison—Tom Harbison, as Anne
called him. He was looking on with an amused,
half-puzzled smile, while people were rushing around
hiding the roulette wheel and things of which Miss
Caruthers might disapprove, and Betty Mercer was on
her knees winding up a toy bear that Max had brought
her. What would he think? It was evident
that he thought badly of us already—that
he was contemptuously amused, and then to have to
ask him to lend himself to the deception!
With a gasp I hurled myself after Jimmy, only to hear
a strange voice in the hall and to know that I was
too late. I was in for it, whatever was coming.
It was Aunt Selina who was coming—along
the hall, followed by Jim, who was mopping his face
and trying not to notice the paralyzed silence in
the library.
Aunt Selina met me in the doorway. To my frantic
eyes she seemed to tower above us by at least a foot,
and beside her Jimmy was a red, perspiring cherub.
“Here she is,” Jimmy said, from behind
a temporary eclipse of black cloak and traveling bag.
He was on top of the situation now, and he was mendaciously
cheerful. He had not said, “Here is
my wife.” That would have been a lie.
No, Jimmy merely said, “Here she is.”
If Aunt Selina chose to think me Bella, was it not
her responsibility? And if I chose to accept the
situation, was it not mine? Dallas Brown came
forward gravely as Aunt Selina folded over and kissed
me, and surreptitiously patted me with one hand while
he held out the other to Miss Caruthers. I loathed
him!
