The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-08
CHAPTER xxi

Lynn looked like ghost in white
chiffon. She turned instinctively to
the right and stepped into the dark
ness. She stood within few PAGES
of the spot where, one night ago, she
had bridled at Norwood's blunt COM
ments. It seemed as if whole life
time had passed in the interval.
The guitar and the songs on the
wall were a far-off memory.
Norwood strobe out of the dark
ness. "Silence!" he said. mot a
word. Nothing so easy on the
nerves as saying nothing"
They continued walking until they
came to a moonlit lotus pond and
stood together staring at the reflec-
tons of trees. A little animal
jumped into the water and swan.
They watched the ripples spread I'M
til they reached the marble banks.
At last Norwood spoke:
"Feeling better?"
81 can't analyze it. / suppose I'm
feeling guilty"
''Want some more silence?"
''No. / would rather you'd say
what you think"
Norwood chuckled: "You remem-
Der the parrot. I draw extra pay
for thinking and not talking. have
only one virtue"
"You say only one virtue? What
is it?"
81 never use double meanings"
care you telling the TRUTH"
"Yes."
"Good. Then please say what you
think of me, straight, without any
double meanings or reservations.
Let's get that over with"
every well, Lynn. But are you
quite sure you won't be belligerent
about it? I didn't bring you out here
to start fight"
It wasn't the first time he had
called her Lynn, but she noticed it.
When Rundhia first called her Lynn
she actually hadn't noticed it.
81 never am belligerent," she an
swered.
'No? What a pity. Of course, I
don't expect to be shot but I don't
even want to make you really an
CRY. You're bit angry now, aren't
your"
eyes, but with myself. I'm not
angry with you. Go ahead, punish
me. I'll take it. Say what you
think"
"Do you promise you won't hit
back, or make a scene, or accuse
me of hidden motives?"
Captain Norwood, kindly 20
ahead and tell me. I've treated you
very badly and you're entitled to
revenge. I will listen. And won't
answer back"
Don't promise"
''Say what you think" she in
sisted.
II think the same now that I did
when I first saw you"
''What is it?"
perhaps I'm not being quite ac-
curate. It wasn't until that aston
ishing picnic at the palace that I
made up my mind to marry you. I
fell in love with you at first sight,
without guessing who you were,
when ! saw you with the Mahara-
nee in the carriage. When / saw
you on horseback in the early morn
ing, it was all over as far as I'm
concerned-nothing further to argue
about. I've committed myself to
the hilt. How about your"
Lynn caught her breath. "I-I
never dreamt of It'll"
IT know you didn't. And you're
not dreaming now. We're both of us
stone-cold sober and wide awake"
''Do you always make love like
this"
81 don't even know the first rules
Of the game. I'm chronic bache-
lor, suddenly converted"
"But Captain Norwood"
"The only girl ] ever fell in love
with calls me Carl or else calls the
police"
But" Lynn laughed. "Are there
any police"
"Try. Shout for them. An Indian
night is as full of eyes as the sky
is of stars"
''But wouldn't know what to say
to the police. I'd better call you
Carl"
Sand now to use one of your
phrases, let's get this over with:
I'm pauper. I've four hundred
pounds year and an Engineer Cap
tain's pay"
"Carl, hope you don't think
I'm wealthy. ! haven't a cent in
the world. I've been disinherited."
"You have? Is that an actual
fact?"
s'Yes. Aunty hasn't even left me
reputation"