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Page 25
"Move him out of the way," he ordered.
The man in the kimono smirked and bowed.
"Allow me," he said; "allow me to show you to the library.
This is no place for ladies."
The young man with the stern face frowned impatiently.
"You will please return to your room, sir," he repeated.
With an attempt at dignity the figure in the kimono gathered
the silk robe closer about him.
"Certainly," he said. "If you think you can get on without
me--I will retire," and lifting his bare feet mincingly, he
tiptoed away. Miss Forbes looked after him with an expression
of relief, of repulsion, of great pity.
The owner of the car glanced at the young man with the stern
face, and raised his eyebrows interrogatively.
The young man had taken the revolver from the limp fingers of
the burglar and was holding it in his hand. Winthrop gave
what was half a laugh and half a sigh of compassion.
"So, that's Carey?" he said.
There was a sudden silence. The young man with the stern face
made no answer. His head was bent over the revolver. He
broke it open, and spilled the cartridges into his palm.
Still he made no answer. When he raised his head, his eyes
were no longer stern, but wistful, and filled with an
inexpressible loneliness.
"No, _I_ am Carey," he said.
The one who had blundered stood helpless, tongue-tied, with no
presence of mind beyond knowing that to explain would offend
further.
The other seemed to feel for him more than for himself. In a
voice low and peculiarly appealing, he continued hurriedly.
"He is my doctor," he said. "He is a young man, and he has
not had many advantages--his manner is not--I find we do not
get on together. I have asked them to send me some one else."
He stopped suddenly, and stood unhappily silent. The
knowledge that the strangers were acquainted with his story
seemed to rob him of his earlier confidence. He made an
uncertain movement as though to relieve them of his presence.
Miss Forbes stepped toward him eagerly.
"You told me I might wait in the library," she said. "Will
you take me there?"
For a moment the man did not move, but stood looking at the
young and beautiful girl, who, with a smile, hid the
compassion in her eyes.
"Will you go?" he asked wistfully.
"Why not?" said the girl.
The young man laughed with pleasure.
"I am unpardonable," he said. "I live so much alone--that I
forget." Like one who, issuing from a close room, encounters
the morning air, he drew a deep, happy breath. "It has been
three years since a woman has been in this house," he said
simply. "And I have not even thanked you," he went on, "nor
asked you if you are cold," he cried remorsefully, "or hungry.
How nice it would be if you would say you are hungry."
The girl walked beside him, laughing lightly, and, as they
disappeared into the greater hall beyond, Winthrop heard her
cry: "You never robbed your own ice-chest? How have you kept
from starving? Show me it, and we'll rob it together."
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