"The last one
is about me."
"May I be allowed to see it?"
"It isn't there."
"Ah! I see. You've topped the pile with it. With your leave, I'll delay
its doom." He snatched the leaf from its stick, and bending down read it
by the light of the burning paper. Kitty watched him, frowning, her hand
on her hip, the white wrap she wore over her night-dress twining round
her in close folds a slender, brooding sorceress, some Canidia or
Simaetha, interrupted in her ritual of hate.
But Ashe was in no mood for literary reminiscence. His lip was
contemptuous, his brow angry as he replaced the leaf in its cleft stick,
whither the flames immediately pursued it.
"Wretched stuff, and damned impertinence!--that's all there is to say.
For Heaven's sake, Kitty, don't let any one suppose you mind the
thing--for an instant!"
She looked at him with strange eyes. "But if I do mind it?"
His face darkened to the shade of hers. "Does that mean--that you still
think of him--still wish to see him?"
"I don't know," said Kitty, slowly. The fire had died away. Nothing but
a few charred remnants remained in the brazier. Ashe lit the gas, and
disclosed a tragic Kitty, flushed by the audacity of her last remark.
Pages:
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396