The Pagan Madonna - Page 134/141

"So that's where I saw you?" said Cleigh, ruminatively. He expanded a

little. He wanted the respect and admiration of this young woman--his

son's wife-to-be. "Don't weave any golden halo for me," he added, dryly.

"After Denny packed up and hiked it came back rather hard that I hadn't

paid much attention to his childhood. It was a kind of penance."

"But you liked it!"

"Maybe I only got used to it. Say, Denny, was there a wireless man in the

crew?"

"No. I knew there wouldn't be. But I can handle the key."

"Fine! Come along then."

"What are you going to do?"

"Do? Why, I'm going to have the Asiatic fleets on his heels inside of

twenty-four hours! That's what I'm going to do! He's an unprincipled

rogue!"

"No," interposed Jane, "only a poor broken thing."

"That's no fault of mine. But no man can play this sort of game with me,

and show a clean pair of heels. The rug and the paintings are gone for

good. I swore to him that I would have his hide, and have it I will! I

never break my word."

"Denny," said Jane, "for my sake you will not touch the wireless."

"I'm giving the orders!" roared Cleigh.

"Wait a moment!" said Jane. "You spoke of your word. That first night you

promised me any reparation I should demand."

"I made that promise. Well?"

"Give him his eight months."

She gestured toward the sea, toward the spot where they had last seen the

Haarlem.

"You demand that?"

"No, I only ask it. I understand the workings of that twisted soul, and

you don't. Let him have his queer dream--his boyhood adventure. Are you

any better than he? Were those treasures honourably yours? Fie! No, I

won't demand that you let him go; I'll only ask it. Because you will not

deny to me what you gave to those little children--generosity."

Cleigh did not speak.

"I want to love you," she continued, "but I couldn't if there was no mercy

in your sense of justice. Be merciful to that unhappy outcast, who

probably never had any childhood, or if he had, a miserable one. Children

are heartless; they don't know any better. They pointed the finger of

ridicule and contempt at him--his playmates. Imagine starting life like

that! And he told me that the first woman he loved--laughed in his face! I

feel--I don't know why--that he was always without care, from his

childhood up. He looked so forlorn! Eight months! We need never tell him.

I'd rather he shouldn't know that I tried to intercede for him. But for

him we three would not be here together, with understanding. I only ask

it."