Adventure, February 1917 — page 148: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

146 When I seturned an hour or so later they were still talking, and so continued to do until Dr. Todd arrived upon the scene, re At first they did not see him, for he stood at-an angle to them, put I saw him and watched his face with a great deal of interest. It, or rather its expression, was not pleasant; before now I have seen some- thing like it on that of a wild beast which thinks that it is about to-be robbed of its prey by a stronger wild beast, in short, a mixture of hate, fear and jealousy— especially jealousy. At the last I did not wonder, for these two seemed to be getting on uncommonly well. I think Anscombe had just told her one of his good stories, and they were both laughing merrily. Then she caught sight of the doctor and her merriment evaporated like a drop of water on a hot shovel. Dis- tinctly I saw her pull herself together-and prepare for some “Flow do you do?” she said rapidly, rising and holding out her slim sun-browned hand. “But I need not ask, you look so well.” “How do you do, my dear,” with a heavy emphasis on the “dear,” he answered slowly. ‘‘But I needn’t ask, for I see that you are in perfect health and spirits,” and he bent forward as if to kiss her. Somehow or other she avoided that endearment or seal of possession. I don’t quite know how, as I turned my head away, not wishing to witness what I felt to be unpleasant. When I looked up ‘again, however, I saw that she had avoided it, the scowl on his face, the demureness of hers and Anscombe’s evident amusement assured me of this. She was asking about her father; he answered that he also seemed quite well. “Then why did you write to tell me that I ought to come back at once as he was not well?” she inquired, with a lifting of her delicate eyebrows. The question” was never answered, for at that moment Marnham himself ap- peared. “Oh, father!” she said, and rushed into his arms, while he kissed her tenderly on both cheeks. So I was not mistaken, thought I to myself, she does really love this moral wreck, and what is more, he loves her, which shows that there must be good in him. Adventure The influence of Miss Heda in the house was felt at once. The boys became smarter and put on clean clothes. Vases of flowers appeared in the various rooms; ours was turned -out and cleaned, a disagreeable process so far as we were concerned. Moreover, at dinner both Marnham and Todd wore dress clothes with short jackets, a circumstance that put Anscombe and myself to shame since we had none. It was curious to see how with those dress clothes, which doubtless awoke old associa- tions within him, Marnham changed his color like a chameleon. Even the doctor looked a gentleman, which doubtless he was once upon a time, in evening dress. More- over, some kind of truce had been arranged. He no longer called Miss Heda “‘My dear”’ or attempted any familiarities, while she on more than one occasion very distinctly called him Dr. Todd. So much for that night and for several others that followed. As for the days, they went by pleasantly and idly. Heda walked about on her father’s arm, conversed in friendly fashion with the doctor, always _ watching him, I noticed, as a cat watches . a dog that she knows is waiting an oppor- tunity to spring, and for the rest associated with us as much as she could. Particularly did she seem to take refuge behind my own insignificance, having, I suppose, come to the conclusion that I was a harmless person who might possibly prove useful. But all the while I felt that the storm was banking up. Indeed Marn- ham himself, at any rate to a great extent, played the part of the cloud-compelling Jove, for soon it became evident to me, and without doubt to Dr, Todd also, that he was encouraging the intimacy between his daughter and Anscombe by every means — in his power. In one way and another he had fully informed himself as to Anscombe’s pros- pects in life, which were brilliant enough. Moreover he liked the man who, as the remnant of the better perceptions of his youth told him, was one of the best class of Englishmen, and what is more, he saw that Heda liked him also, as much indeed as she disliked Todd. He even spoke to me of the matter in a round-about kind of fashion, saying that the young woman who married Anscombe would be lucky and that the father who had him for a son-in- law might go to his grave confident of. his GEomichoo (CO) SS