第63章

“I’dtakeitmanfully，andberespectedificouldn’tbeloved，“saidAmy，withthedecisionofonewhoknewnothingaboutit。

Now，Laurieflatteredhimselfthathehadborneitremarkablywell，makingnomoan，askingnosympathy，andtakinghistroubleawaytoliveitdownalone。Amy’slectureputtheMatterinanewlight，andforthefirsttimeitdidlookweakandselfishtoloseheartatthefirstfailure，andshuthimselfupinmoodyindifference。Hefeltasifsuddenlyshakenoutofapensivedreamandfounditimpossibletogotosleepagain。Presentlyhesatupandaskedslowly，“DoyouthinkJowoulddespisemeasyoudo？“

“Yes，ifshesawyounow。Shehateslazypeople。Whydon’tyoudosomethingsplendid，andmakeherloveyou？“

“Ididmybest，butitwasnouse。“

“Graduatingwell，youmean？Thatwasnomorethanyououghttohavedone，foryourgrandfather’ssake。Itwouldhavebeenshamefultofailafterspendingsomuchtimeandmoney，wheneveryoneknewthatyoucoulddowell。“

“Ididfail，saywhatyouwill，forJowouldn’tloveme，“

beganLaurie，leaninghisheadonhishandinadespondentattitude。

“No，youdidn’t，andyou’llsaysointheend，foritdidyougood，andprovedthatyoucoulddosomethingifyoutried。

Ifyou’donlysetaboutanothertaskofsomesort，you’dsoonbeyourhearty，happyselfagain，andforgetyourtrouble。“

“That’simpossible。“

“Tryitandsee。Youneedn’tshrugyourshoulders，andthink，`Muchsheknowsaboutsuchthings’。Idon’tpretendtobewise，butIamobserving，andIseeagreatdealmorethanyou’dimagine。I’minterestedinotherpeople’sexperiencesandinconsistencies，andthoughIcan’texplain，Irememberandusethemformyownbenefit。LoveJoallyourdays，ifyouchoose，butdon’tletitspoilyou，forit’swickedtothrowawaysomanygoodgiftsbecauseyoucan’thavetheoneyouwant。There，Iwon’tlectureanymore，forIknowyou’llwakeupandbeamaninspiteofthathardheartedgirl。“

Neitherspokeforseveralminutes。Lauriesatturningthelittleringonhisfinger，andAmyputthelasttouchestothehastysketchshehadbeenworkingatwhileshetalked。

Presentlysheputitonhisknee，merelysaying，“Howdoyoulikethat？“

Helookedandthenhesmiled，ashecouldnotwellhelpdoing，foritwascapitallydone，thelong，lazyfigureonthegrass，withlistlessface，half-shuteyes，andonehandholdingacigar，fromwhichcamethelittlewreathofsmokethatencircledthedreamer’shead。

“Howwellyoudraw!“hesaid，withagenuinesurpriseandpleasureatherskill，adding，withahalf-laugh，“Yes，that’sme。“

“Asyouare。Thisisasyouwere。“AndAmylaidanothersketchbesidetheoneheheld。

Itwasnotnearlysowelldone，buttherewasalifeandspiritinitwhichatonedformanyfaults，anditrecalledthepastsovividlythatasuddenchangesweptovertheyoungman’sfaceashelooked。OnlyaroughsketchofLaurietamingahorse。Hatandcoatwereoff，andeverylineoftheactivefigure，resoluteface，andcommandingattitudewasfullofenergyandmeaning。Thehandsomebrute，justsubdued，stoodarchinghisneckunderthetightlydrawnrein，withonefootimpatientlypawingtheground，andearsprickedupasiflisteningforthevoicethathadmasteredhim。Intheruffledmane。Therider’sbreezyhairanderectattitude，therewasasuggestionofsuddenlyarrestedmotion，ofstrength，courage，andyouthfulbuoyancythatcontrastedsharplywiththesupinegraceofthe`DOLCEFARNIENTE’sketch。Lauriesaidnothingbutashiseyewentfromonetotheother，Amysayhimflushupandfoldhislipstogetherasifhereadandacceptedthelittlelessonshehadgivenhim。Thatsatisfiedher，andwithoutwaitingforhimtospeak，shesaid，inhersprightlyway……

“Don’tyourememberthedayyouplayedRareywithPuck，andwealllookedon？MegandBethwerefrightened，butJoclappedandpranced，andIsatonthefenceanddrewyou。I

foundthatsketchinmyportfoliotheotherday，toucheditup，andkeptittoshowyou。“

“Muchobliged。You’veimprovedimmenselysincethen，andIcongratulateyou。MayIventuretosuggestin`ahoneymoonparadise’thatfiveo’clockisthedinnerhouratyourhotel？“

Laurieroseashespoke，returnedthepictureswithasmileandabowandlookedathiswatch，asiftoremindherthatevenmorallecturesshouldhaveanend。Hetriedtoresumehisformereasy，indifferentair，butitwasanaffectationnow，fortherousinghadbeenmoreeffaciousthanhewouldconfess。Amyfelttheshadeofcoldnessinhismanner，andsaidtoherself……

“Now，I’veoffendedhim。Well，ifitdoeshimgood，I’mglad，ifitmakeshimhateme，I’msorry，butit’strue，andIcan’ttakebackawordofit。“

Theylaughedandchattedallthewayhome，andlittleBaptist，upbehind，thoughtthatmonsieurandmadamoisellewereincharmingspirits。Butbothfeltillatease。Thefriendlyfranknesswasdisturbed，thesunshinehadashadowoverit，anddespitetheirapparentgaiety，therewasasecretdiscontentintheheartofeach。

“Shallweseeyouthisevening，monfrere？“askedAmy，astheypartedatheraunt’sdoor。

“UnfortunatelyIhaveanengagement。Aurevoir，madamoiselle。“

AndLauriebentasiftokissherhand