第98章

"Mean? Simply that I am at a loss as to whether Mr.Smith is to be congratulated more upon his exquisite taste or upon his extraordinary good fortune.""Good fortune, yes, is it not splendid?"

"Splendid is the exact word," said the doctor stiffly.

"And I am so glad."

"Yes, you certainly look happy," replied the doctor with a grim attempt at a smile, and feeling as if more enthusiasm were demanded from him."Let me offer you my congratulations and say good-by.Iam leaving."

"You will be back soon, though?"

"Hardly.I am leaving the West."

"Leaving the West? Why? What? When?"

"To-night.Now.I must say good-by."

"To-night? Now?" Her voice sank almost to a whisper.Her lips were white and quivering."But do they know at the house? Surely this is sudden.""Oh, no, not so sudden.I have thought of it for some time;indeed, I have made my plans."

"Oh--for some time? You have made your plans? But you never hinted such a thing to--to any of us.""Oh, well, I don't tell my plans to all the world," said the doctor with a careless laugh.

The girl shrank from him as if he had cut her with his riding whip.

But, swiftly recovering herself, she cried with gay reproach:

"Why, Mr.Smith, we are losing all our friends at once.It is cruel of you and Dr.Martin to desert us at the same time.Mr.

Smith, you know," she continued, turning to the doctor with an air of exaggerated vivacity, "leaves for the East to-night too.""Smith--leaving?" The doctor gazed stupidly at that person.

"Yes, you know he has come into a big fortune and is going to be--""A fortune?"

"Yes, and he is going East to be married.""Going EAST to be married?"

"Yes, and I was--"

"Going EAST?" exclaimed the doctor."I don't understand.Ithought you--"

"Oh, yes, his young lady is awaiting him in the East.And he is going to spend his money in such a splendid way.""Going EAST?" echoed the doctor, as if he could not fix the idea with sufficient firmness in his brain to grasp it fully.

"Yes, I have just told you so," replied the girl.

"Married?" shouted the doctor, suddenly rushing at Smith and gripping him by both arms."Smith, you shy dog--you lucky dog! Let me wish you joy, old man.By Jove! You deserve your luck, every bit of it.Say, that's fine.Ha! ha! Jeerupiter! Smith, you are a good one and a sly one.Shake again, old man.Say, by Jove!

What a sell--I mean what a joke! Look here, Smith, old chap, would you mind taking Pepper home? I am rather tired--riding, I mean--beastly wild cows--no end of a run after them.See you down at the house later.No, no, don't wait, don't mind me.I am all right, fit as a fiddle--no, not a bit tired--I mean I am tired riding.

Yes, rather stiff--about the knees, you know.Oh, it's all right.

Up you get, old man--there you are! So, Smith, you are going to be married, eh? Lucky dog! Tell 'em I am--tell 'em we are coming.

My horse? Oh, well, never mind my horse till I come myself.So long, old chap! Ha! ha! old man, good-by.Great Caesar! What a sell! Say, let's sit down, Moira," he said, suddenly growing quiet and turning to the girl, "till I get my wind.Fine chap that Smith.Legs a bit wobbly, but don't care if he had a hundred of 'em and all wobbly.He's all right.Oh, my soul! What an ass!

What an adjectival, hyphenated jackass! Don't look at me that way or I shall climb a tree and yell.I'm not mad, I assure you.Iwas on the verge of it a few moments ago, but it is gone.I am sane, sane as an old maid.Oh, my God!" He covered his face with his hands and sat utterly still for some moments.

"Dr.Martin, what is the matter?" exclaimed the girl."You terrify me.""No wonder.I terrify myself.How could I have stood it.""What is the matter? What is it?"

"Why, Moira, I thought you were going to marry that idiot.""Idiot?" exclaimed the girl, drawing herself up."Idiot? Mr.

Smith? I am not going to marry him, Dr.Martin, but he is an honorable fellow and a friend of mine, a dear friend of mine.""So he is, so he is, a splendid fellow, the finest ever, but thank God you are not going to marry him!""Why, what is wrong with--"