well, about old times and--friends,you know."
"He never told me," she rejoined slowly. "I saw him yesterday and hementioned very casually that he met you recently; he did not say that hewas intimate here."
"Perhaps he didn't think that it would interest you," he suggested. "Orhe might have thought the subject tabooed."
"With me?" she cried. "Impossible! I am always talking about you."
"Very flattering of you, my dear Evie," he laughingly rejoined, "butyou'll never persuade me that you are so one idead."
Miss Bolton put the photograph back in its place, and turned towards theentrance with an evident desire to get away.
"I am," she said. "I've only got one idea at present and that's tea.Don't let us waste more time, Jack, but come along at once."
"It's an awful pity Jill can't come with us," he remarked as he followedher out, "but we couldn't both leave together."
"Yes," acquiesced Evie, none too heartily, "it is a pity. Never mindshe sees plenty of you now and I don't. She can't begrudge me a fewhours now and then. I am seriously thinking of getting married myself,Jack; it is so deadly dull since you went."
Thinking of Markham, St. John looked pleased.
"Why don't you?" he asked.
"I am going to," she answered settling herself in a corner of thecarriage with an airy laugh. "I am looking about for a title."
"Oh!" observed St. John disapprovingly, "I shouldn't bother about that.Why not look about for someone you can give your heart to?"
"Because I haven't got one to bestow," she retorted. "If I everpossessed such an uncomfortable organ it must have been stolen from melong ago, but I don't feel the want of it so don't miss it at all. Isuppose you flatter yourself that Jill has given her heart to you?"
"Yes," he answered smiling, and patting his left side, "I have it heresafe enough in place of the one I gave to her."
"Ah!" returned Miss Bolton coolly, "a pretty fancy no doubt, but a fancyall the same, my dear Jack, and absolutely ridiculous."
"Don't be cynical," he said; "it's a sign of the times, and unbecoming."
"And cynical women are generally old maids," laughed Evie. "That won'tdo for I must have my title. I won't die an old maid if I have toadvertise in a matrimonial journal."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
When St. John returned after seeing his cousin safely home it was latein the afternoon, and though the place still remained open business wasapparently over for the day. Thompkins and Co. were not over-burdenedwith customers at any time, and their number since the advent of the newCo. had been steadily on the decrease. Business was slack, the returnswere very small, and St. John felt by no means sanguine as to thesuccess of his venture. He had been married a little over four months,and it was only by exercising the greatest care that they managed to paytheir way even. Jill was a thrifty housewife--she always had been,--butSt. John forgot his straightened circumstances at times, and launchedout a little recklessly. He had not been altogether careful thatafternoon, and the consciousness of the fact gave him an unpleasanttwinge of remorse as he mounted the steep stairs to their littlesitting-room.
Jill was alone standing looking out of the window with her back towardsthe door, nor did she turn round at his entry. She was displeased.
"You have been a long time," she said.
"I'm afraid I have," he admitted. "You weren't lonely I hope?"
"No; I was too busy for that. And afterwards Mr Markham came in. Hehas just left."
"Why, he was here yesterday. He surely didn't want his photo takenagain?"
"No, I think he wanted a chat, and when he found I was alone he stayedon for company. Have you had a pleasant time? Where did you go?"
"We went and had tea," he answered. He didn't say where; he was ashamedto; it was one of the places where you pay for locality and Miss Boltonhad not once offered to share expenses. "And then we spent a littletime at the Academy--Evie's fond of pictures you know."
"Oh, yes, I know," agreed Jill drily. "I have a vivid recollection ofher passion for art; it was so upsetting. I suppose she shut her eyesoccasionally? Some people take art like they do physic--shut their eyesand hold their noses except when nobody's looking."
"Jill dear, don't be nasty," he said.
Jill laughed.
"I can't help it," she answered. "I'm afraid my nature must be warped Ihave such a knack of being disagreeable. I could have pinched thathorrid little baby this afternoon, it irritated me so; and yet I am fondof children. And I could have been exceedingly rude to Miss Bolton ifshe hadn't been rude to me first;--of course I wouldn't follow herexample in anything."
"Rude to you?--Evie? How?"
"Oh! in an entirely lady-like manner. She merely gave me to understandthat she didn't intend to recognise me, and treated me as she would anyother shop assistant. Miss Bolton means taking you up and cutting yourwife. I suppose she is perfectly justified."
"Don't be ridiculous, Jill," St. John cried sharply. "Evie meansnothing of the sort. She spoke of you most kindly, and said it was apity you couldn't go with us."
"Ah!" rejoined Jill queerly. "My mistake again. Evie has a mystifyingway of showing her kindness, but doubtless she means well. You, Isuppose, understand her better than I do, but I shouldn't advise you totry arranging an excursion for three."
"Very well," he returned, "I won't go with her again. I wouldn't haveto-day if I had thought it would annoy you. We were like brother andsister always and it was pleasant for me to see her again."
Jill heaved a deep sigh, and leaned her forehead against the windowpane. She knew that he had no intention of wounding her feelings yetthese unconscious allusions to the sacrifice that he had made inmarrying her hurt her more than they need have done. And St. John neverguessed. Not for a moment had he regretted the step he had taken, andit did not occur to him that Jill should imagine he might.
"I am not annoyed," she said after a brief pause. "I am irritable thisevening, that's all. Mr Markham said that I wasn't looking well;perhaps I am a little out of sorts. Are the pictures good this year,Jack?"
"Good enough. But none of them to come up to yours in my eyes as I toldEvie. It's scandalous to think that real talent should get overlooked,yet it's often enough the case."
"Mr Markham," jerked out Jill suddenly, "wishes me to paint hisportrait."
St. John laughed.
"Markham is getting vain," he said. "No doubt he purposes presenting itto Evie. When is the first sitting to be?"
"I don't know, nothing is definitely settled, I thought I would speak toyou about it first."
St. John looked at her in astonishment.
"Why?" he asked.
Jill hesitated. She had no real reason to offer, but when Mr Markhammade the proposal she felt that she would like to consult Jack beforedeciding. She had consulted him, and now regretted having done so.
"I wasn't sure whether the arrangement would be agreeable to MrThompkins," she answered. "He expects me to be available for the studioat all times and seasons you know, and, of course, undertaking thiswould mean giving a good deal of my time--"
"To hear you one would think," interposed her husband, "that youcontemplated painting a multitude. You know as well as I do thatThompkins will be quite agreeable. I should have thought you would havesettled the matter out of hand."
"I am not at all sure that I will undertake it," retorted Jillpettishly. "I hate painting men; they make such horribly uninterestingsubjects; and I'm sick to death of the sound of Evie Bolton's name.Fancy listening for a solid hour to the extolling of her virtues! Idon't think I could stand it."
"Oh! that's it, is it?" laughed St. John. "Well, of course, you mustplease yourself, old girl, but I shouldn't let Evie do me out of a fiverif I were you. Besides I have thought lately that Markham avoids thesubject I suppose he twigs that you're not so fond of it as he is."
Jill said nothing. She had noticed the same thing; and could not helpwondering why their v
isitor came so frequently when he no longer caredto discuss the once all sufficing topic. Jack had formerly declaredthat he only came to talk Evie, but that could hardly be said of himnow. Sometimes Mrs Jack fancied that his suit did not progressaltogether as he could have wished, and in her womanly, whole-heartedway felt sorry for him. She had been so happy in her own love that