CHAPTER XXVIII. AND AFTER
“THAT was a mighty good toast, Jane,” said Mr. Hersheimmer, as he andhis cousin were being driven back in the Rolls-Royce to the _Ritz_.
“The one to the joint venture?”
“No--the one to you. There isn’t another girl in the world who couldhave carried it through as you did. You were just wonderful!”
Jane shook her head.
“I don’t feel wonderful. At heart I’m just tired and lonesome--andlonging for my own country.”
“That brings me to something I wanted to say. I heard the Ambassadortelling you his wife hoped you would come to them at the Embassy rightaway. That’s good enough, but I’ve got another plan. Jane--I want you tomarry me! Don’t get scared and say no at once. You can’t love me rightaway, of course, that’s impossible. But I’ve loved you from the verymoment I set eyes on your photo--and now I’ve seen you I’m simply crazyabout you! If you’ll only marry me, I won’t worry you any--you shalltake your own time. Maybe you’ll never come to love me, and if that’sthe case I’ll manage to set you free. But I want the right to look afteryou, and take care of you.”
“That’s what I want,” said the girl wistfully. “Some one who’ll be goodto me. Oh, you don’t know how lonesome I feel!”
“Sure thing I do. Then I guess that’s all fixed up, and I’ll see thearchbishop about a special license to-morrow morning.”
“Oh, Julius!”
“Well, I don’t want to hustle you any, Jane, but there’s no sense inwaiting about. Don’t be scared--I shan’t expect you to love me all atonce.”
But a small hand was slipped into his.
“I love you now, Julius,” said Jane Finn. “I loved you that first momentin the car when the bullet grazed your cheek....”
Five minutes later Jane murmured softly:
“I don’t know London very well, Julius, but is it such a very long wayfrom the _Savoy_ to the _Ritz?_”
“It depends how you go,” explained Julius unblushingly. “We’re going byway of Regent’s Park!”
“Oh, Julius--what will the chauffeur think?”
“At the wages I pay him, he knows better than to do any independentthinking. Why, Jane, the only reason I had the supper at the _Savoy_ wasso that I could drive you home. I didn’t see how I was ever going toget hold of you alone. You and Tuppence have been sticking togetherlike Siamese twins. I guess another day of it would have driven me andBeresford stark staring mad!”
“Oh. Is he----?”
“Of course he is. Head over ears.”
“I thought so,” said Jane thoughtfully.
“Why?”
“From all the things Tuppence didn’t say!”
“There you have me beat,” said Mr. Hersheimmer. But Jane only laughed.
In the meantime, the Young Adventurers were sitting bolt upright,very stiff and ill at ease, in a taxi which, with a singular lack oforiginality, was also returning to the _Ritz_ via Regent’s Park.
A terrible constraint seemed to have settled down between them. Withoutquite knowing what had happened, everything seemed changed. They weretongue-tied--paralysed. All the old _camaraderie_ was gone.
Tuppence could think of nothing to say.
Tommy was equally afflicted.
They sat very straight and forbore to look at each other.
At last Tuppence made a desperate effort.
“Rather fun, wasn’t it?”
“Rather.”
Another silence.
“I like Julius,” essayed Tuppence again.
Tommy was suddenly galvanized into life.
“You’re not going to marry him, do you hear?” he said dictatorially. “Iforbid it.”
“Oh!” said Tuppence meekly.
“Absolutely, you understand.”
“He doesn’t want to marry me--he really only asked me out of kindness.”
“That’s not very likely,” scoffed Tommy.
“It’s quite true. He’s head over ears in love with Jane. I expect he’sproposing to her now.”
“She’ll do for him very nicely,” said Tommy condescendingly.
“Don’t you think she’s the most lovely creature you’ve ever seen?”
“Oh, I dare say.”
“But I suppose you prefer sterling worth,” said Tuppence demurely.
“I--oh, dash it all, Tuppence, you know!”
“I like your uncle, Tommy,” said Tuppence, hastily creating a diversion.“By the way, what are you going to do, accept Mr. Carter’s offer ofa Government job, or accept Julius’s invitation and take a richlyremunerated post in America on his ranch?”
“I shall stick to the old ship, I think, though it’s awfully good ofHersheimmer. But I feel you’d be more at home in London.”
“I don’t see where I come in.”
“I do,” said Tommy positively.
Tuppence stole a glance at him sideways.
“There’s the money, too,” she observed thoughtfully.
“What money?”
“We’re going to get a cheque each. Mr. Carter told me so.”
“Did you ask how much?” inquired Tommy sarcastically.
“Yes,” said Tuppence triumphantly. “But I shan’t tell you.”
“Tuppence, you are the limit!”
“It has been fun, hasn’t it, Tommy? I do hope we shall have lots moreadventures.”
“You’re insatiable, Tuppence. I’ve had quite enough adventures for thepresent.”
“Well, shopping is almost as good,” said Tuppence dreamily. “Think ofbuying old furniture, and bright carpets, and futurist silk curtains,and a polished dining-table, and a divan with lots of cushions.”
“Hold hard,” said Tommy. “What’s all this for?”
“Possibly a house--but I think a flat.”
“Whose flat?”
“You think I mind saying it, but I don’t in the least! _Ours_, sothere!”
“You darling!” cried Tommy, his arms tightly round her. “I wasdetermined to make you say it. I owe you something for the relentlessway you’ve squashed me whenever I’ve tried to be sentimental.”
Tuppence raised her face to his. The taxi proceeded on its course roundthe north side of Regent’s Park.
“You haven’t really proposed now,” pointed out Tuppence. “Not what ourgrandmothers would call a proposal. But after listening to a rotten onelike Julius’s, I’m inclined to let you off.”
“You won’t be able to get out of marrying me, so don’t you think it.”
“What fun it will be,” responded Tuppence. “Marriage is called all sortsof things, a haven, and a refuge, and a crowning glory, and a state ofbondage, and lots more. But do you know what I think it is?”
“What?”
“A sport!”
“And a damned good sport too,” said Tommy.
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