Men don't ever seem to know things about themselves. But I must
remember that it's no sign he likes _me._"
But it was quite true that it was going to have to continue. It had
dawned on Joy that her will was no match for that of the Hewitt
family. But it was a very kindly will. She smiled a little,
irrepressibly, as she clasped her girdle--she was wearing one of the
old picture dresses--and went downstairs. For even if you are a
little impostor who has captured a five-weeks' lover by means of a
wishing ring, unlimited things to wear are nice, and having the man
you are in love with want to pet you is nice, too!
At the top of the stairs a thought struck her. Joy's thoughts had a
way of arriving suddenly. She had set out to be happy. Very well!
"I don't see why I shouldn't be engaged to the limit!" she thought
daringly. "I--don't--see--why I shouldn't! ... for just this little
while--just this one little while out of my life before I go back to
the shadows! ... I don't care if I am bad! I don't care if I am
unmaidenly! I'll be as happy as ever I can. They'll think I'm very
dreadful, anyway, all of them, when they know all about me!"
She swept on down the stairs, head up, cheeks flaming.
And so, when she came upon John, waiting her courteously at the
stair-foot, she did just exactly what in her heart she desired to
do. She stood on the step above him and deliberately laid both
little white hands on his shoulders and smiled into his eyes.
Pages:
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166