He caught
himself, but it was too late. And in an instant her hand was at his
mouth, and she was whispering eagerly, almost fiercely:
"No, no, no--don't answer me, Derry! DON'T ANSWER ME! I know, and I
understand, and I'm glad, glad, GLAD! He's alive, and it was you who
let him live, the big, glorious brother I'm proud of! And everyone else
thinks he's dead. But don't answer me, Derry, don't answer me!"
She was trembling against him. His arms closed about her, and he held
her nearer to his heart, and longer, than he had ever held her before.
He kissed her hair many times, and her lips once, and up about his neck
her arms twined softly, and a great brightness was in her eyes.
"I understand," she whispered again. "I understand."
"And I--I must answer you," he said. "I must answer you, because I love
you, and because you must know. Yes, John Keith is alive!"
XVI
An hour later, alone and heading for the inspector's office, Keith felt
in battle trim. His head was fairly singing with the success of the
morning. Since the opening of Conniston's chest many things had
happened, and he was no longer facing a blank wall of mystery. His
chief cause of exhilaration was Mary Josephine.
Pages:
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163