He bent his knee slowly,lowering himself till his
face was on a level with hers. Only, sheadded more doubtfully, I dont know if my
lady would like it.
The unseen motes in the air-and lesser points of
matter than they -responded.
And God sendthat that shall be true until we
die-and perhaps he will. She knew ratherthan saw that it was the girl she had once
called her friend.
Her face was alight; she exclaimed:Your grandmother
my nurse!
Jonathan said grimly: I dont know that youll be
much better off formy explaining. Betty said: So it was you who lifted me out of the
lake! It was faintly repellent, as anactual doll might be if it were peculiarly
deformed or ugly. Sothat altogether time was against him; the first condition of
theuniverse was against him.
There hungabove it in that hall another sound as
small as the whistfing-the echoof a longing voice. Betty said: It would be very nice
of Lester.
Simon to turnthat passage back upon itself? The
Clerk lifted a finger and she stood still. It wont need food or drink or sleep
unlessyou choose. Thats one great advantage of being engaged-one always has
aperfectly good reason for taking taxis.
But theres a thing thats been on my mind, my dear,
all theseyears, and I think I ought to tell you.
She added, quite naturally: Blessme, now. She shook
herself into shape as she did so,putting up her hands and settling her neck and
head. She looked up, Miss Betty wascoming down the stairs.
Jonathan said grimly: I dont know that youll be
much better off formy explaining. Butyoud be wiser-Im sure youd be wiser-to come
away. Besides, youredining with me, and after that well see.
Itll grow when you do, and you cango about in it.
She moved forward with Evelynthrough the wall.
Plumsteads suite; she made itseem that by the way
she welcomed them.
Powerful as the lie may be, it is still a
lie.
There he justmanaged to get to bed before he went
to sleep.
Lester released her hold, but as she did so, two
grasping hands went upand fastened on hers.
Betty was leaning forward now, and gazing intently
at the oldlady.
She knew ratherthan saw that it was the girl she
had once called her friend.
He heard Evelyn say, as she came into the hall:
Here she is.
Lester was by her at once; the speed of hermovement
depended now chiefly on her will.
His mind turned again to that house by
Holborn.
Betty, you wont go back to
Highgateto-night?
Lester was by her at once; the speed of hermovement
depended now chiefly on her will. Jon, you must tell me about it-what its supposed
to be. Itll grow when you do, and you cango about in it.
Id thought of that myself, said
Jonathan.
Before Betty had begun dressing, shehad pulled the
curtains and put out the light.