And then, while he waited impatiently in the avenue, Radmore visualised
the extraordinary scene which had taken place in the drawing-room last
evening. Had the cat really seen anything of a supernatural nature? Or
was it only that she had been frightened by being suddenly brought into
a room full of people? If so, it was perhaps natural that she had blindly
flown at the one stranger there.
At last Timmy returned, and they started off, neither speaking a word
until they were clear of the village. Radmore thought he knew every inch
of the way, for he and Betty had once cycled together all over the
countryside. He checked a sigh as he thought of those days--how happy he
had been, with that simple, unquestioning happiness which belongs only to
extreme youth. He wondered if Betty ever remembered those far-off days.
They had come very near, the one to the other, last evening, and yet,
from his point of view, theirs was an unsatisfactory kind of friendship.
It was as if she was always holding something back from him. And then,
while he was thinking of Betty, the little boy sitting by his side
suddenly observed:
"Perhaps we might tell Betty--I mean when we get back again--where
Josephine and her kittens are? She was awfully upset last night; almost
as upset as I was.
Pages:
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284