Part 26 (1/2)

She spoke almost as if she were his wife, and he looked less tired as he came to her.

”I like being welcomed home this way,” he told her, putting his arm around her, instead of releasing her, and going with her into the living-room. ”Why, Joy, I take it all back about your not being able to keep house. One look at you would make anybody sure of it.... Are you doing it all for Mother, dear?” he broke off unexpectedly to ask her. ”Aren't you doing it a little bit for me”

She looked up at him, flus.h.i.+ng.

”Yes--a little bit--” she said breathlessly. Then she made herself speak more lightly. ”I did make the dressing and the pudding sauce myself,” she admitted as gaily as she could for a fast-beating heart. ”But I hoped there weren't traces. Is there flour on my face?”

She smiled flas.h.i.+ngly at him and tipped her face up provokingly, slipping from his hold where they stood by the fire together. He made one step close to her again.

”You know perfectly well what to expect for a question like that,”

he said with an unaccustomed excitement in his voice, and kissed her.

Usually when he did that Joy made some struggle to escape. But tonight, in the firelight, a little tired and very glad to see him, she kissed him back, as if she were veritably his.

He dropped on one knee beside the blaze, drawing her down on the hearth-rug by him.

”I feel like the man in the fairy-stories,” he said in a voice Joy did not quite know, ”who catches an elf-girl in some unfair way, and finds her turn to a dear human woman in his house. Joy ... will she stay human?”

Joy's heart beat furiously as she knelt there, held close to his side. The little head with its great coil of glittering hair drooped.

”She--she always was human,” she half whispered, her throat tightening with excitement. She could feel the blood stealing up over her face.

”That is no answer, Joy, my dear,” he said softly.

But it was at this moment that a voice behind the curtains said, ”Dinner is served.”

Joy sprang up, but John stayed where he was, his broad shoulders and fair head bent a little forward as he looked into the blaze.

She touched his arm timidly.

”John--please--you must go up and see your mother before dinner.”

He roused himself from whatever he had been thinking of and turned to her.

”I must, certainly,” he replied, springing up. ”I think I am answered.... Am I not, dear?”

”Why, yes,” said Joy with a little surprise, but as gently and confidently as ever. ”I answered you. I always do what you tell me, don't I?”

He touched her hair lightly and smiled for an answer as he pa.s.sed her on his way up. She heard him whistling light-heartedly above, as she, too, stood staring into the fire.

She hadn't thought that any one could be so very kind and lovely as John was being to her tonight. She could feel yet the pressure of his arm as he held her beside him. And it was going to last a great deal longer--weeks longer! She could be as happy and as much with him and as much to him as she wanted to. There would be Clarence's mocking love-making, too, for flattery and amus.e.m.e.nt. And when she had to go back home, at last, she would have so much happiness, so much good times, so much love to remember, that it would keep her warm and happy for years and years!

When John returned, Ms hair damp and nearly straight with brus.h.i.+ng, and his eyes still bright with laughter, she was sitting at the head of the table, waiting for him happily.

”It's a nice world, isn't it?” she suggested like a child. ”And do you like whipped cream in your tomato bisque?”

”It is, and I do, very much. Am I to have it?”

Joy nodded proudly, her eyes s.h.i.+ning.