Brian felt the tears coming into his
eyes.
At first Penny didnt know what the deuce it meant.
This did not alarm Margaret quite as much as Denzil expected. Then he concluded that
she had accepted him.
IVEarly in December Frank Darks engagement to Mrs
Katherine Muir wasannounced in the local papers.
Margaret took itmeekly, recognizing his right and
his just grievance.
She might if she had anyhope he still cared. He did
not daredisobey, although he went in such terror of the Moon Man.
The previous evening company had come to tea
andsomething extra had to be provided.
She had never been able to burnthem before but she
must do it now.
Besides, he was goingto go to the States for a
divorce and would marry Pauline.
It seemed the mostnatural thing in the world that
he should be there beside her.
But one night she said suddenly,Talk to me,
Roger.
They thought she had taken itpretty
well.
Brian was glad, too, although he didnt understand
more than halfthe Moon Man had said.
Brian felt the tears coming into his eyes. When the
ride was ended Margaret wouldnt get off.
At first Gay only listened;then, insensibly, she
began to talk, too. She would be too far away from iteven for occasional
visits.
His little face was so wistful thatMargaret smiled
at him and said,Would you like a ride, Brian?
Something about them made her thinkof the apple
blossoms on the day of Aunt Beckys levee. But at any rate knees thatcould be
shown.
You made a nice exhibition of yourself, said Penny
coldly. Besides, he was goingto go to the States for a divorce and would marry
Pauline. Dont believe them any longer, said the Moon Man. The generalopinion is that
Stanton Grundy made it up. Brian gathered the little creature in his arms in
rapture. Only her littlehands when he lifted her from the car at the end of their
drive. She would notgive all those heartless gossipers food for talk.
She alwaysconcluded rather sadly that it wasnt. He
had beenthere alone one night, very lonely and unhappy as usual.
They never dared come out when Cricket was
there.
Winter birches with stars in their hair were
tossing all around thehouse.