i f6c06dd9cf3fe221 by Unknown (100 books to read in a lifetime .txt) 📗

looked at Herbert Barrington and slowly closed her eyes.

"Oh, these people!" her expression said.

"I must go and have a word with Kate. Excuse me just a minute." Peter ambled over to the other group, hoping that his comments had made the scene before them appear more general. Rodney seemed to be storing up trouble for himself with every step he took tonight. "Hello, Kate!

Hello, Annie!"

"Oh, hello. Doctor Davidson."

"How are you, Kate? But why need I ask! You're looking fine; and this young lady too!" He patted Annie's cheek.

Tor which I have to thank you, doctor. "

Me, Kate? "

"Of course. I should have never met the Tolmaches but for you."

"They are grand folk, aren't they, Kate?"

"The most wonderful on earth."

"Don't you think she's grown into a very grand young lady, Rodney?"

"Very grand indeed!" said Rodney, not taking his eyes for one second from Kate's face.

"And she's going to be married!"

"Married! And this the lucky young man?" said Peter, turning to the man, who now stood a little apart, uncontrolled jealousy burning in his eyes.

"I should know you, shouldn't I? You're a Jarrowite like myself, surely?"

Somewhat mollified by the personal note, the young man replied, "Yes, Doctor Davidson; I'm Alee Moran. I'm the agent for The New London Insurance."

"Yes, yes, I thought I should know you. So you and Kate are to be married. Well, I hope you'll both be very happy."

"And what does my little girl say about all this?" said Rodney, stooping down to Annie. Annie's fingers traced themselves over the white scarf hanging from his neck, as she said, "Santy Clause is bringing me a doll and a shop."

"Have you got our box, doctor?" Herbert Barrington's voice broke in, with studied politeness.

"Be with you in a minute," said Rodney without looking up, his tone expressing total indifference.

"This way, sir," said the manager to Banington; 'if you'll just follow me. "

Stella, with neither a glance to right nor left, passed the group at the foot of the staircase. Rodney looked up from Annie's glorified countenance to the cold beauty of his wife, whose displeasure was evident from the point of

her fine kid shoes to the floating tulle on her head. Great lady, he said to himself; she couldn't be expected to speak to the common people. His eyes hardened.

Turning to Annie again, he said, "That's not all Father Christmas is going to bring you. I saw him this afternoon, and what do you think he told me? ... You don't know?"

Annie shook her head, her eyes, like dark green pools, adoring him.

' "Well," he said, "I'm away off now to Africa to see if I can get a black baby for Annie Hannigan! " "A black baby?"

"Yes, with curly hair." Peter made accompanying sounds of delight.

"Doctor, it was most kind of you; it's really beautiful," said Kate softly.

"Nonsense!" His eyes came back to her face again.

"We must go now," said Kate hurriedly.

"Good night, Doctor Davidson.

Good night. Doctor Prince. Say "Good night, and a merry Christmas" to the doctors, Annie. "

Annie suddenly flung her arms up and around Rodney's neck; her young mouth pressed on his, and then she laughed in high delight, "Your beard tickles."

"Good night," said Kate again, forcefully dragging Annie away to where Alee, now glowering, awaited them from a distance.

Rodney and Peter walked up the stairs to the circle. Rodney was strangely stirred by the child's kiss; it opened the old desire, the ever-present desire for a child of his own. By God, he would have a child! He would make her have a child 1 "Kate's quite a grand-looking girl, isn't she?" Peter remarked.

"The Tolmaches think the world of her. I heard old Bernard had ideas for her, but this marriage will knock them on the head."

"He looks a surly devil; I can't see her being happy with him."

"Oh, I don't see why not; the most odd-assorted couples generally make the best go of it. Anyway, it's the best thing for her, and he'll be a father to the child."

A deep, inexplicable sadness enveloped Rodney . a new sadness, a new emptiness. For some time now he had felt that he owned nothing, possessed nothing, beyond his work; but it would seem there were still things which could be taken from him. "He'll be a father to the child 1' he repeated to himself.

THE RIDE

Peggy Davidson sat hunched up on a lop-sided pouf fe in front of the fire between her husband and the dark, sombre man who had, in some strange way, become part and parcel of their joint lives. The busy day was nearly over, and tor the past two hours they had sat, talking in spasms or sunk in companionable silence. But as the time of quietude was almost spent and she must arouse herself to get ready for her journey into Jarrow she returned to the attack she had waged on, and off, all evening: "Why be so pig-headed, Rodney? You have no need to go home. Now, have you? You can telephone Mrs. Summers and tell her you are staying the night, and, as you are coming to dinner tomorrow, doesn't it seem silly to go back to an empty house?"

"Woman, won't you be convinced? You cannot talk me round," said Rodney.

"If I were to stay, old Peter there would miss Midnight Mass, and there I'd be, sitting in torment, knowing I had imperilled his immortal soul," he laughed; 'and the face of Father O'Malley would haunt me for weeks afterwards. "

"Isn't he a fool!" said Peggy to her husband.

Peter laughed at the seriousness of her thin face, and nodded.

"Don't be silly, Rodney; there are no Father O'Malleys in Jarrow church. If you met Father Patterson, you'd change