gain that deep, deep blue as of
flaming spirit.
"You mean it?" he said.
Breathlessly she answered him. "Yes, I mean it."
"Then"--he bent his great head to her, and for the fraction of a moment
she saw the meteor-like flash of his smile--"yes, I'll teach you,
Columbine," he said.
With the words he kissed her on the lips, kissed her closely, kissed her
lingeringly, and in that kiss her torn heart found its first balm of
healing.
* * *
"Well, what did I say?" crowed Adam a little later. "Didn't I tell you
if you left 'em alone he'd steer her safe into harbour? Wasn't I right,
missus? Wasn't I right?"
"I'm not gainsaying it," said Mrs. Peck, with a touch of severity. "And
I'm sure I hope as all will turn out for the best."
"Turn out for the best? Why, o' course it will!" said Adam, with cheery
confidence. "My son Rufus he may be slow, but he's no fool. And he's a
good man, too, missus, a long sight better than that curly-topped chap.
Him and me's partners, so I ought to know."
"To be sure you ought," said Mrs. Peck tolerantly. "And it's to be hoped
that Columbine knows it as well."
And in the solitude of her own room Columbine bent her dainty head and
kissed with reverence the little wild white roses that spoke to her of
the purity of a good man's love.
* * * * *
THE MAGIC CIRCLE
The persistent chirping of a sparrow made it almost harder to bear. Lady
Brooke finally rose abruptly from the table, her black brows drawn close
together, and swept to the window to scare the intruder away.
"I really have not the smallest idea what your objections can be," she
observed, pausing with her back to the room.
"A little exercise of your imagination might be of some assistance to
you," returned her husband dryly, not troubling to raise his eyes from
his paper.
He was leaning back in a chair in an attitude of unstudied ease. It was
characteristic of Sir Roland Brooke to make himself physically
comfortable at least, whatever his mental atmosphere. He seldom raised
his voice, and never swore. Yet there was about him a certain amount of
force that made itself felt more by his silence than his speech.
His young wife, though she shrugged her shoulders and looked
contemptuous, did not venture upon open defiance.
"I am to decline the invitation, then?" she asked presently, without
turning.
"Certainly!" Sir Roland again made leisurely reply as
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