〃Then it's as a diversion that you want me。〃
〃A thing of beauty and a joy forever； the poet puts it。 But diversion if
you like。 What greater test of charming versatility for a woman than that
she remain a diversion to her husband； unstaled by custom and undulled
by familiarity？〃
After all her father would be pleased to have her marry an American
business man。 The Powers' millions could easily buy for her a fine old
dukedom if she wanted one。 At present there was more than one available
title…holder on her horizon。 But Valencia did not care to take up the
responsibilities that go with such a position。 She was too indolent to adapt
her life to the standards of othersand perhaps too proud。 Moreover； it
happened that she had had enough of the club man type in the late
lamented Van Tyle。 This man was a worker。 He would not annoy her or
interfere with her careless pleasures。 Again she asked herself； Why not？
〃I suppose you really do like me。〃 Her face was tilted in gay little
appeal。
〃I'm not going to tell you how much。 It wouldn't be good for discipline
in the house。〃
Her soft little laugh bubbled over。 〃We seem to have quite settled it。
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And I hadn't the slightest notion of agreeing to anything so ridiculous
when I ventured that indiscreet remark about an abduction。〃 She looked up
at him with smiling insolence。 〃You're only an adventurer； you know。 I
daresay you haven't even paid for the car in which you were going to
kidnap me。〃
〃No；〃 he admitted cheerfully。
〃I wonder what Dad will think of it；〃
〃He'll thank Heaven you didn't present him with a French or Italian
count to support。〃
〃I believe he will。 His objection to Gus was that he looked like a
foreigner and never had done a day's work in his life。 Poor Gus！ He didn't
measure up to Dad's idea of a man。 Now I suppose you could earn a living
for us。〃
〃I'm not expecting you to take in sewing。〃
〃Are you going to do the independent if Dad cuts up rough？〃 she
asked saucily。
〃Independent is the word。〃 He smiled with a sudden appreciation of
the situation。 〃And I take it he means to cut up rough。 I wired him to…day I
was going to ask you to marry me。〃
〃You didn't。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But wasn't that a little premature？ Perhaps it wouldn't have been
necessary。 Or did you take me for granted〃
〃There was always the car for a kidnapping in case of necessity；〃 he
joked。
〃Why did you do it？〃
〃I wanted to be above board about it even if I am an adventurer。〃
〃What did he say？ How could you put it in a telegram？〃
〃Red consoles marooned sweet post delayed。〃
〃Dear me！ What gibberish is that？〃
〃It's from our private code。 It means； 'Going to marry your daughter if
she is willing。 With your consent； I hope。'〃
〃And he answered？ I'll take the English version； please。〃
〃'Consent refused。 No fortune hunters need apply。' That is not a direct
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quotation； but it conveys his meaning accurately enough。〃
〃So I'm to be cut off with a shilling。〃 Her eyes bubbled with delight。
〃I reckon so。 Of course I had to come back at him。〃
〃How； may I ask？〃 She was vastly amused at this novel
correspondence。
〃Oh； I merely said in substance that I was glad to hear it because you
couldn't think now I wanted to marry you for your money。 I added that if
things came my way we would send him cards later。 One doesn't like to
slang one's wife's father； so I drew it mild。〃
〃I don't believe a word of it。 You wouldn't dare。〃
That she admired and at the same time distrusted was so apparent that
he drew a yellow envelope from his pocket and handed it to her。
〃This is his latest contribution to the literature of frankness。 You see
his feelings overflowed so promptly he had to turn loose in good American
talk right off the bat。 Couldn't wait for the code。〃
She read aloud。 〃Your resignation as General Counsel Transcontinental
will be accepted immediately。 Turn over papers to Walker and go to the
devil。〃 It was signed 〃Powers。〃
〃That's all； is it？ No further exchange of compliments；〃 she wanted to
know。
〃That's all； except that he is reading my resignation by this time。 I sent
it two hours ago。 In it I tried to convey to him my sense of regret at being
obliged to sever business relations owing to the fact that I was about to
contract family ties with him。 I hoped that he would command me in any
way he saw fit and was sorry we couldn't come to an agreement in the
present instance。〃
〃I don't believe you're a bit sorry。 Don't you realize what an expensive
luxury you're getting in me and how serious a thing it is to cast off heaven
knows how many millions？〃
〃Oh； I realize it！〃
〃But you expect him to come round when he has had time to think it
over？〃
〃It's hard for me to conceive of anybody not wanting me for a son…in…
law；〃 he admitted cheerfully。
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Valencia nodded。 〃He'll like you all the better for standing up to him。
He's fond of Alice because she's impudent to him。〃
〃I didn't mean to be impudent； but I couldn't lie down and let him
prove me what he called me。〃
〃If you're that kind of a man I'm almost glad you're going to make me
marry you；〃 she confided。
He leaned over her chair； his eyes shining。 〃I'll make you more than
almost glad； Valencia。 You're going to learn what it is to oh； damn it！〃
He was impersonally admiring her Whistler when the maid brushed
aside the portieres。 She had come to bring Mrs。 Van Tyle a telegram。
〃No answer； Pratt。〃
After the maid had retired her mistress called James to her side。 Over
her shoulder he read it。
〃Glad he is an American and not living on his father。 Didn't think you
had so much sense。 Tell that young man I want to see him in New York
immediately。〃
The message was signed with the name of her father。
〃What do you suppose he wants with you in New York？〃
James was radiant。 He kissed the perfect lips turned toward him before
he answered。 〃Oh； to make me president of the Transcontinental maybe。
How should I know？ It's an olive branch。 Isn't that enough？〃
〃When shall you go？〃
He looked at his watch。 〃The limited leaves at nine…thirty。 That gives
me nearly an hour。〃
〃You're not going to…night？〃
〃I'm going to…night。 I must； dear。 Those are the orders and I've got to
obey them。〃
〃But suppose I give you different orders。 Surely I have some rights； to…
night of all nights。 Why； we haven't been engaged ten minutes。 Business
doesn't always come first。〃
James hesitated。 〃It's the last thing I want to do； but when Joe Powers
says 'Come！' I know enough to jump。〃
〃But when I say stay？〃 she pleaded。
〃Then I stop the prettiest mouth in the world with kisses and run away
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before I hear the order。〃 Gaily he suited the action to the word。
But； for once swift； she reached the door before him。
〃Wait。 Don't go； dear。〃
The last word came faintly； unexpectedly。 The enticement of the
appeal went to his head。 He had shaken her out of the indifference that was
her pride。 One arm slipped round her waist。 His other hand tilted back her
head until he could look into the eyes in which a new fire had been
kindled。
〃What about that almost glad？ If I stay will you forget all qualifying
words and be just glad？〃
She nodded quickly； laughing ever so softly。 〃Yes； I'll help you listen
to the birds sing。 Do you know I can almost hear them？〃
James drew a deep breath and caught her swiftly to him。 〃New York
will have to wait till to…morrow。 The birds will sing to…night and we will
not count the cost。〃
〃Yes； my lord；〃 she answered demurely。
For to…night she wanted to forget that their birds were only caged
canaries。
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CHAPTER 23
〃And what are the names of the Fortunate Isles； Lo！ duty and love and
a large content； And these are the Isles of the watery miles That God let
down from the firmament。
Lo！ duty and love and a true man's trust； Your forehead to God and
your feet in the dust： Lo！ duty and love and a sweet babe's smiles； And
these； O friends； are the Fortunate Isles。〃
AND LARKS FOR THE REBEL
Beneath a sky faintly pink with the warning of the coming sunrise
Jeff walked an old logging trail that would take him back to camp from his
morning dip。 Ferns and blackberry bushes； heavy with dew； reached across
the road and grappled with each other。 At every step； as he pushed through
the tangle； a shower of drops went flying。