CHAPTER X
TONY DANCES INTO A DISCOVERY
Tony was dressing for dinner on her first evening at Crest House.Carlotta was perched on the arm of a chair near by, catching up on mutualgossip as to events that had transpired since they parted a month beforeat Northampton.
"I have a brand new young man for you, Tony. Alan Massey--the artist. Atleast he calls himself an artist, though he hasn't done a thing butphilander and travel two or three times around the globe, so near as Ican make out, since somebody died and left him a disgusting big fortune.Aunt Lottie hints that he is very improper, but anyway he is amusing anddifferent and a dream of a dancer. It is funny, but he makes me think alittle bit once in a while of somebody we both know. I won't tell youwho, and see if the same thing strikes you."
A little later Tony met the "new young man." She was standing with herfriend in the big living room waiting for the signal for dinner when shefelt suddenly conscious of a new presence. She turned quickly and saw astranger standing on the threshold regarding her with a ratherdisconcertingly intent gaze. He was very tall and foreign-looking,"different," as Carlotta had said, with thick, waving blue-black hair, aclear, olive skin and deep-set, gray-green eyes. There was nothing abouthim that suggested any resemblance to anyone she knew. Indeed she had afeeling that there was nobody at all like him anywhere in the world.
The newcomer walked toward her, their glances crossing. Tony stood verystill, but she had an unaccountable sensation of going to meet him, as ifhe had drawn her to him, magnet-wise, by his strange, sweeping look. Theywere introduced. He bowed low in courtly old world fashion over thegirl's hand.
"I am enchanted to know Miss Holiday," he said. His voice was as unusualas the rest of him, deep-throated, musical, vibrant--an unforgettablevoice it seemed to Tony who for a moment seemed to have lost her own.
"I shall sit beside Miss Tony to-night, Carla," he added. It was not aquestion, not a plea. It was clear assertion.
"Not to-night, Alan. You are between Aunt Lottie and Mary Frances Day.You liked Mary Frances yesterday. You flirted with her outrageouslylast night."
He shrugged.
"Ah, but that was last night, my dear. And this is to-night. And I haveseen your Miss Tony. That alters everything, even your seatingarrangements. Change me, Carlotta."
Carlotta laughed and capitulated. Alan's highhanded tactics alwaysamused her.
"Not that you deserve it," she said. "Don't be too nice to him, Tony. Heis not a nice person at all."
So it happened that Tony found herself at dinner between Ted's friend,and her own, Hal Underwood, and this strange, impossible, arbitrary,new personage who had hypnotized her into unwonted silence at theirfirst meeting.
She had recovered her usual poise by this time, however, and was quiteprepared to keep Alan Massey in due subjection if necessary. She did notlike masterful men. They always roused her own none too dormantwillfulness.
As they sat down he bent over to her.
"You are glad I made Carlotta put us together," he said, and this, too,was no question, but an assertion.
Tony was in arms in a flash.
"On the contrary, I am exceedingly sorry she gave in to you. You seem tobe altogether too accustomed to having your own way as it is." And ratherpointedly she turned her pretty shoulder on her too presuming neighborand proceeded to devote her undivided attention for two entire courses toHal Underwood.
But, with the fish, Hal's partner on the other side, a slim young personin a glittering green sequined gown, suggesting a fish herself, or, atpolitest, a mermaid, challenged his notice and Tony returned perforce toher left-hand companion who had not spoken a single word since she hadsnubbed him as Tony was well aware, though she had seemed so entirelyabsorbed in her own conversation with Hal.
His gray-green eyes smiled imperturbably into hers.
"Am I pardoned? Surely I have been punished enough for my sins, whateverthey may have been."
"I hope so," said Tony. "Are you always so disagreeable?"
"I am never disagreeable when I am having my own way. I am always goodwhen I am happy. At this moment I am very, very good."
"It hardly seems possible," said Tony. "Carlotta said you were notgood at all."
He shrugged, a favorite mannerism, it seemed.
"Goodness is relative and a very dull topic in any case. Let us talk,instead, of the most interesting subject in the universe--love. Youknow, of course, I am madly in love with you."
"Indeed, no. I didn't suspect it," parried Tony. "You fall in loveeasily."
"Scarcely easily, in this case. I should say rather upon tremendousprovocation. I suppose you know how beautiful you are."
"I look in the mirror occasionally," admitted Tony with a glimmer ofmischief in her eyes. "Carlotta told me you were a philanderer.Forewarned is forearmed, Mr. Massey."
"Ah, but this isn't philandery. It is truth." Suddenly the mockery haddied out of his voice and his eyes. "_Carissima,_ I have waited a verylong time for you--too long. Life has been an arid waste without you,but, Allah be praised, you are here at last. You are going to loveme--ah, my Tony--how you are going to love me!" The last words werespoken very low for the girl's ears alone, though more than one person atthe table seeing him bend over her, understood, that Alan Massey, thatprofessional master-lover was "off" again.
"Don't, Mr. Massey. I don't care for that kind of jest."
"Jest! Good God! Tony Holiday, don't you know that I mean it, that this,is the real thing at last for me--and for you? Don't fight it,Mademoiselle Beautiful. It will do no good. I love you and you are goingto love me--divinely."
"I don't even like you," denied Tony hotly.
"What of that? What do I care for your liking? That is for others. Butyour loving--that shall be mine--all mine. You will see."
"I am afraid you are very much mistaken if you do mean all you aresaying. Please talk to Miss Irvine now. You haven't said a word to hersince you sat down. I hate rudeness."
Again Tony turned a cold shoulder upon her amazing dinner companion butshe did not do it so easily or so calmly this time. She was not unusedto the strange ways of men. Not for nothing had she spent so much of herlife at army posts where love-making is as familiar as brass buttons.Sudden gusts of passion were no novelty to her, nor was it a new thingto hear that a man thought he loved her. But Alan Massey was different.She disliked him intensely, she resented the arrogance of hisassumptions with all her might, but he interested her amazingly. And,incredible as it might seem and not to be admitted out loud, he wasspeaking the truth, just now. He did love her. In her heart Tony knewthat she had felt his love before he had ever spoken a word to her whentheir eyes had met as he stood on the threshold and she knew tooinstinctively, that his love--if it was that--was not a thing to betreated like the little summer day loves of the others. It was big,rather fearful, not to be flouted or played with. One did not play witha meteor when it crossed one's path. One fled from it or stayed and letit destroy one if it would.
She roused herself to think of other people, to forget Alan Massey andhis wonderful voice which had said such perturbing things. Over acrossthe table, Carlotta was talking vivaciously to a pasty-visaged,narrow-chested, stoop-shouldered youth who scarcely opened his mouthexcept to consume food, but whose eyes drank in every movement ofCarlotta's. One saw at a glance he was another of that spoiled littlecoquette's many victims. Tony asked Hal who he was. He seemed scarcelyworth so many of Carlotta's sparkles, she thought.
"Herb Lathrop--father is the big tea and coffee man--all rolled up inmillions. Carlotta's people are putting all the bets on him, apparently,though for the life of me I can't see why. Don't see why people withmoney are always expected to match up with somebody with a wholecaboodle of the same junk. Ought to be evened up I think, and a bit ofeugenics slipped in, instead of so much cash, for good measure. You cansee what a poor fish he is. In my opinion she had much better marry yourneighbor up there on the Hill. He is worth a gross of Herb Lathrops andshe knows
it. Carlotta is no fool."
"You mean Phil Lambert?" Tony was surprised.
Hal nodded.
"That's the chap. Only man I ever knew that could keep Carlotta inorder."
"But Carlotta hasn't the slightest idea of marrying Phil," objected Tony.
"Maybe not. I only say he is the man she ought to marry. I say, Tony,does she seem happy to you?"
"Carlotta! Why, yes. I hadn't thought. She seems gayer than usual, ifanything." Tony's eyes sought her friend's face. Was there something alittle forced about that gaiety of hers? For the first time it struck herthat there was a restlessness in the lovely violet eyes which wasunfamiliar. Was Carlotta unhappy? Evidently Hal thought so. "You havesharp eyes, Hal," she commented. "I hadn't noticed."
"Oh, I'm one of the singed moths you know. I know Carlotta pretty welland I know she is fighting some kind of a fight--maybe with herself. Irather think it is. Tell Phil Lambert to come down here and marry her outof hand. I tell you Lambert's the man."
"You think Carlotta loves Phil?"
"I don't think. 'Tisn't my business prying into a girl's fancies. I'msimply telling you Phil Lambert is the man that ought to marry her, andif he doesn't get on to the job almighty quick that pop-eyed simpletonover there will be prancing down the aisle to Lohengrin with Carlottabefore Christmas, and the jig will be up. You tell him what I say. Andstudy the thing a bit yourself while you are here, Tony. See if you canget to the bottom of it. I hate to have her mess things up for herselfthat way."
Whereupon Hal once more proceeded to do his duty to the mermaid, leavingTony to her other partner.
"Well," the latter murmured, seeing her free. "I have done the heavypolite act, discussed D'Annunzio, polo and psycho-analysis and finishedall three subjects neatly. Do I get my reward?"
"What do you ask?"
"The first dance and then the garden and the moon and you--all tomyself."
Tony shook her head. She was on guard.
"I shall want more than one dance and more than one partner. I am afraidI shan't have time for the moon and the garden to-night. I adore dancing.I never stop until the music does."
A flash of exultancy leaped into his eyes.
"So? I might have known you would adore dancing. You shall have yourfill. You shall have many dances, but only one partner. I shall suffice.I am one of the best dancers in the world."
"And evidently one of the vainest men," coolly.
"What of it? Vanity is good when it is not misplaced. But I was notboasting. I _am_ one of the best dancers in the world. Why should I notbe? My mother was Lucia Vannini. She danced before princes." He mighthave added, "She was a prince's mistress." It had been the truth.
"Oh!" cried Tony. She had heard of Lucia Vannini--a famous Italian beautyand dancer of three decades ago. So Alan Massey was her son. No wonder hewas foreign, different, in ways and looks. One could forgive hisextravagances when one knew.
"Ah, you like that, my beauty? You will like it even better when youhave danced with me. It is then that you will know what it is to dance.We shall dance and dance and--love. I shall make you mine dancing,_Toinetta mia_."
Tony shrank back from his ardent eyes and his veiled threat. She was apassionate devotee of her own freedom. She did not want to be made his orany man's--certainly not his. She decided not to dance with him at all.But later, when the violins began to play and Alan Massey came and stoodbefore her, uttering no word but commanding her to him with his eyes andhis out-stretched, nervous, slender, strong, artist hands, sheyielded--could scarcely have refused if she had wanted to. But she didnot want to, though she told herself it was with Lucia Vannini's sonrather than with Alan Massey that she desired to dance.
After that she thought not at all, gave herself up to the very ecstasy ofemotion. She had danced all her life, but, even as he had predicted, shelearned for the first time in this man's arms what dancing really was. Itwas like nothing she had ever even dreamed of--pure poetry of motion, acurious, rather alarming weaving into one of two vividly alive persons ina kind of pagan harmony, a rhythmic rapture so intense it almost hurt. Itseemed as if she could have gone on thus forever.
But suddenly she perceived that she and her partner had the floor alone,the others had stopped to watch, though the musicians still played onfrenziedly, faster and faster. Flushed, embarrassed at finding herselfthus conspicuous, she drew herself away from Alan Massey.
"We must stop," she murmured. "They are all looking at us."
"What of it?" He bent over her, his passionate eyes a caress. "Did I nottell you, _carissima_ Was it not very heaven?"
Tony shook her head.
"I am afraid there was nothing heavenly about it. But it was wonderful. Iforgive you your boasting. You are the best dancer in the world. I amsure of it."
"And you will dance with me again and again, my wonder-girl. You must.You want to."
"I want to," admitted Tony. "But I am not going to--at least not againto-night. Take me to a seat."
He did so and she sank down with a fluttering sigh beside Miss LottieCressy, Carlotta's aunt. The latter stared at her, a little oddly shethought, and then looked up at Alan Massey.
"You don't change, do you, Alan?" observed Miss Cressy.
"Oh yes, I change a great deal. I have been very different ever since Imet Miss Tony." His eyes fell on the girl, made no secret of his emotionsconcerning her and her beauty.
Miss Cressy laughed a little sardonically.
"No doubt. You were always different after each new sweetheart, I recall.So were they--some of them."
"You do me too much honor," he retorted suavely. "Shall we not go out,Miss Holiday? The garden is very beautiful by moonlight."
She bowed assent, and together they passed out of the room through theFrench window. Miss Cressy stared after them, the bitter little smilestill lingering on her lips.
"Youth for Alan always," she said to herself. "Ah, well, I was young,too, those days in Paris. I must tell Carlotta to warn Tony. It would bea pity for the child to be tarnished so soon by touching his kind tooclose. She is so young and so lovely."
Alan and Tony strayed to a remote corner of the spacious gardens andcame to a pause beside the fountain which leaped and splashed and caughtthe moonlight in its falling splendor. For a moment neither spoke. Tonybent to dip her fingers in the cool water. She had an odd feeling ofneeding lustration from something. The man's eyes were upon her. She wasvery young, very lovely, as Miss Cressy had said. There was somethingstrangely moving to Alan Massey about her virginal freshness, hermoonshine beauty. He was unaccustomed to compunction, but for a fleetingsecond, as he studied Tony Holiday standing there with bowed head,laving her hands in the sparkling purity of the water, he had an impulseto go away and leave her, lest he cast a shadow upon her by hislingering near her.
It was only for a moment. He was far too selfish to follow the brief urgeto renunciation. The girl stirred his passion too deeply, roused his willto conquer too irresistibly to permit him to forego the privilege of theplace and hour.
She looked up at him and he smiled down at her, once more themaster-lover.
"I was right, was I not, _Toinetta mia_? I did make you a little bitmine, did I not? Be honest. Tell me." He laid a hand on each of her barewhite shoulders, looked deep, deep into her brown eyes as if he wouldread secret things in their depths.
Tony drew away from his hands, dropped her gaze once more to the ripplingwhite of the water, which was less disconcerting than Alan Massey's tooardent green eyes.
"You danced with me divinely. I shall also make you love me divinely evenas I promised. You know it dear one. You cannot deny it," the magicallybeautiful voice which pulled so oddly at her heart strings went onsoftly, almost in a sort of chant. "You love me already, my whitemoonshine girl," he whispered. "Tell me you do."
"Ah but I don't," denied Tony. "I--I won't. I don't want to loveanybody."
"You cannot help it, dear heart. Nature made you for loving and beingloved. And it is I that you ar
e going to love. Mine that you shallbe. Tell me, did you ever feel before as you felt in there when wewere dancing?"
"No," said Tony, her eyes still downcast.
"I knew it. You are mine, belovedest. I knew it the moment I saw you. Itis Kismet. Kiss me."
"No." The girl pulled herself away from him, her face aflame.
"No? Then so." He drew her back to him, and lifted her face gently withhis two hands. He bent over her, his lips close to hers.
"If you kiss me I'll never dance with you again as long as I live!"she flashed.
He laughed a little mockingly, but he lowered his hands, made no effortto gainsay her will.
"What a horrible threat, you cruel little moonbeam! But you wouldn't keepit. You couldn't. You love to dance with me too well."
"I would," she protested, the more sharply because she suspected he wasright, that she would dance with him again, no matter what he did. "Anyway I shall not dance with you again to-night. And I shall not stay outhere with you any longer." She turned to flee, but he put out his handand held her back.
"Not so fast, my Tony. They have eyes and ears in there. If you run awayfrom me and go back with those glorious fires lit in your cheeks and inyour eyes they will believe I did kiss you-."
"Oh!" gasped Tony, indignant but lingering, recognizing the probabletruth of his prediction.
"We shall go together after a minute with sedateness, as if we had beenstudying the stars. I am wise, my Tony. Trust me."
"Very well," assented Tony. "How many stars are there in the Pleiades,anyway?" she asked with sudden imps of mirth in her eyes.
Again she felt on safe ground, sure that she had conquered and put atoo presuming male in his place. She had no idea that the laurels hadbeen chiefly not hers at all but Alan Massey's, who was quite as wiseas he boasted.
But she kept her word and danced no more with Alan Massey that night.She did not dare. She hated Alan Massey, disapproved of him heartily andknew it would be the easiest thing in the world to fall in love withhim, especially if she let herself dance often with him as they haddanced to-night.
And so, her very first night at Crest House, Antoinette Holidaydiscovered that, there was such a thing as love after all, and that ithad to be reckoned with whether you desired or not to welcome it atyour door.