She
tilted her head back against the big tree, and awaited her sentence.
John felt for the moment exactly the mingled pleasure and
embarrassment that a man does who has been adopted by an unusually
nice dog. It is a compliment, but one doesn't know exactly what to
do with the animal. Joy sat and looked at him with what seemed to
him to be a perfect trust that he would be good to her. As a matter
of fact, Joy was merely pleased because he was there and not angry
at her. She did hope a little that he would offer to do the
explaining that they weren't engaged to Grandfather. But she was
quite unprepared for what he said next, after a little silence.
"You're a brave little thing," he told her gently. "You shan't miss
your roses and your moons on my account.... I'll tell you what we'll
do, Joy. We'll stay engaged till we're out of sight of land."
She looked at him with parted lips.
"What--what do you mean?"
"You shall go to Phyllis' just the same, child. We won't even tell
the Harringtons that it isn't true till we're on the train for
Wallraven."
Joy stared at him, incredulous still. She could not speak for a moment.
"Oh!" she said then. "Oh--why, you're the kindest man I ever knew.
But then, I _knew_ you were! Thank you ever so much ... but--are
you sure you don't mind at all?"
"Quite sure," he told her.
"Well--_thank_ you!" said Joy fervently. "And oh, if I ever get
the chance, I promise I'll do something for you you want.
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