He
was content to wait, content to watch. The time would come when he
could tell her of the love that was in his heart; but it was not to be
thought of now.
He walked between them, carrying Mrs. Braddock's handbag. Christine
refused to burden him with hers. As they neared the business section
of the town--one of the Ohio River towns--they encountered drunken men
and merry-makers. A particularly noisy but amiable group approached
them from the opposite direction. Christine nervously clutched David's
arm. She came very close to him. He was thrilled by the contact. After
the revelers had lurched by them, she gave an odd little laugh and
would have removed her hand. He pressed his arm close to his side,
imprisoning it. She looked up quickly, a sharp catch in her breath.
Then she allowed her hand to rest there passively.
They were nearing the hotel when David impulsively gave utterance to
the hungry cry that was struggling in his throat:
"Oh, Mrs. Braddock, if I were free to go back to Jenison Hall! I could
ask you and Christine to come there and stay. You'd love it there.
It's the finest old place in--"
"Why, David!" cried Mrs.
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