The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-03-14

a8RA 1922 49, h1
preventing the intruder from entering.
did you ring, miss?" inquired Mr..
Tarbeaux's voice.
"a mistake" said Alexander, quick
~. II will ring if l want you." He
closed the door, and peered searching
ly at Aimee.
Il do not understand what this
MEANS" he said coldly, "but it does
not seem IN occasion for the intrusion
of servants, We are alone. VIII you
explainf"
Aimee felt a sudden relief; a twinge
almost of gratitude. She had not ex-
pected Alexander to do anything Sc
sensible.
I'll make it clear If / can," she
said, and, looking Alexander in the
face with an angelically simple express
sion, she told him the tale from the
beginning, briefly, yet comprehensive
ly. AS she was speaking, aimee
watched Mr.. Lambe's face. The waves
of emotion that passed over his usu-
ally serene features made them inter-
esting, suggesting some delicate in
strument subjected to shocks for
which it had never been designed.
AT the end he was gasping family, like
a stranded but still dignifed fish.
And So" concluded Aimee, you see
it's a piece of my skirt the police have
got. And it was l who tripped you
UP the stairs. Pm sorry-Cousin."
Mr.. Lambe passed a somewhat I'M
steady hand across his forehead. He
looked at Aimee, and then turned
slowly to G%eorgina.
. Miss Berners@" he said.
Georgina's answer was a sob. Imme-
diately Aimee stepped across, raised
her from her chair and, with an arm
round her waist. faced Alexander.
"Stop! Not a word from you to
Georgina !" she said defiantly. There's
nc one to blame but me. Everything
she's done, l made her do. She want
ed me to own up. All this, she's done
to try and save me. Georges the best
thing that eve happened"
Alexander looked at Aimee.
"My dear child" he said gently. 81
have only one wish and that Is TO help
you"
Aimee's lips parted; she stared at
him incredulously. She saw the rlost
human sympathy in the clean-shaven,
priestly face the kindliest light in his
large eyes.
Miss Berners," said Alexander,
still more gently, twill you leave me
with your cousin? I should like to
speak to her alone. I will see you
presently, if you will give me an op-
portunity."
Georgina nodded brokenly, and
moved to the window.
George" whispered Aimee quickly
as she passed, meet me by the little
arbor down the gardens In half an
hour-it won't be safe hereafter
this"
Aimee and Alexander were left to.
gether, facing each other. There was
an embarrassed pause.
Tell me, Cousin" said Alexander,
quietly, why have you done this mad
thing?"
WELL" said Aimee, for once at q
loss, "I-you see-I was afraid of you
Alexander" She glanced up at him
almost shyly. II didn't want to come
to %Jervaulx. I thought it would suit
George much better than me-"
Alexander's firm lips twitched very
slightly.
81 got fed up at home" continued
Aimee, desperately. Everybody was
so solemn. They drove me to i'll
just did it on the impulse. And then ]
things sort of happened-I-"
She made an impatient, hopeless
gesture with her hands.
ooh, what's the use of talking about
it? It's done, and here l am In this
wretched mess. Police after me, and
e%verythingl You've found me out
you can give me away. What are you
going to do?'
'sThere is only one thing to do" said
Alexander. MAKE a clean breast of
it,"
Aimees lips frightened.
"Come with me to Aunt Erythea,'
said Mr.. Lambe %soothingly. Il will ac-
company you. I'll do everything |
can for you. There is no other way.
For l can see," he said, that you have
courage"
mo-" said Aimee decisively, sit is
impossible"
Alexander's eyes became keener. He
looked a little contemptuous.
"Are you afraid?" he said. do you
not see that you must face the conse-
quences of this foolish thing you have
done? Once the truth is told, you
have nothing to fear from the police"
1.-THE police ~ said Aimee s%cornfully.
I'm not afraid of the police. I'm
not much afraid of Aunt Erythea. 1t
isn't that at all. It's-the other
thing"
"What other thing?"
Aimee looked at him with growing
embarrassment.
"Oh!" she said at last, desperately,
shave l got to put it in so many
words? My staying at Ivy cottage
Didn't you understand what l told
YOU? I was there-two nights"
Mr.. Lambe, to her surprise, did not
look f%orbidding or %censorious. Instead,
he looked a little puzzled. And in
that moment Aimee conceived a liking
for Alexander.
Now that l have seen you. and
heard your story" he said, 81 attach
no Importance to that incident, what