Her little room, generally so dear andbeloved and cosy, seemed like a
prison.
Some subtle prescience alwaystold him she was not yet ready to be
kissed.
Dean looked inscrutably at the little packet she held out to him.
Between the house and the view, but not hiding it, was a row ofwonderful
Lombardy poplars.
She glancedup at the starlit sky of the autumn night. But it
isnt going to beDisappointed any longer.
Emilyfilled the built-in cabinet in
the living-room with it and gloatedover it. I only want time to bury myself
decently. Would he not see something worth while in this? Then she recovered
enough to sendher story out again. And Dean had jewels of closets and cupboards
put in everywhere.
Well, I can write short stories at least. Ilse wrote weekly
letters in which she rather tooobviously tried to cheer Emily up. She looked it
over by her window in the fading light.
When he was with her Emily felt that
she might evenbe able to face a lifetime of lameness. Dean and Emily didnt care
whether it was respectable andlucky or not. To feel that the comingyears are
crowding to meet you and lay their largess at your feet? I should be less than
yourfriend if I told you falsehoods about this, Emily. Her little room,
generally so dear andbeloved and cosy, seemed like a prison. More and more as
theinterminable days of storm and gloom passed she turned to him. Her
heart,that had beaten so tumultuously a few minutes ago, was like lead,heavy
and cold. Well, gurrl dear, ye do be having a good mouth for kissing,anyway.
Thats a view I can live with, said Dean exultingly. I really think hes quite
unconscious of ithimself.
Ill make a sensible weddingot, just as youre doing,
with a heart of gold and a pocket ofsilver. When he was with her Emily felt
that she might evenbe able to face a lifetime of lameness.
Well, gurrl dear, ye
do be having a good mouth for kissing,anyway.
Ive done nothing except snatch at
happiness.
Horrible things always are good foryou, I suppose. When a third
publisher sent it back with a printed slip Emilysbelief in it died.
Of course
Aunt Addie did not put it inso many blunt words but she might as well
have.
Theres a story about almost everything Iveput in this house.
She had lost
Andrew, so must console herselfwith lame Jarback Priest. My days of laughter
are done, Emily said to herself.
He limpedsoftly after her and touched her
shoulder.
She glancedup at the starlit sky of the autumn night. You dont really
believe that about Him, Dean.
Thats what youve always seemed to me, Emily.
And
did you ever see such a shrewd, humorous, complacent, slightlycontemptuous old
face?
|