第69章

"Oh, there's no one to blow the organ," she said, divining his suggestion."And I haven't the key--and, besides, the organ is too heavy and severe for an invalid.It would overwhelm you tonight.""Not as you would know how to play it for me,"urged Theron, pensively."I feel as if good music to-night would make me well again.I am really very ill and weak--and unhappy!"

The girl seemed moved by the despairing note in his voice.

She invited him by a sympathetic gesture to lean even more directly on her arm.

"Come home with me, and I'll play Chopin to you," she said, in compassionate friendliness."He is the real medicine for bruised and wounded nerves.You shall have as much of him as you like."The idea thus unexpectedly thrown forth spread itself like some vast and inexpressibly alluring vista before Theron's imagination.The spice of adventure in it fascinated his mind as well, but for a shrinking moment the flesh was weak.

"I'm afraid your people would--would think it strange,"he faltered--and began also to recall that he had some people of his own who would be even more amazed.

"Nonsense," said Celia, in fine, bold confidence, and with a reassuring pressure on his arm."I allow none of my people to question what I do.They never dream of such a preposterous thing.Besides, you will see none of them.

Mrs.Madden is at the seaside, and my father and brother have their own part of the house.I shan't listen for a minute to your not coming.Come, I'm your doctor.

I'm to make you well again."

There was further conversation, and Theron more or less knew that he was bearing a part in it, but his whole mind seemed concentrated, in a sort of delicious terror, upon the wonderful experience to which every footstep brought him nearer.His magnetized fancy pictured a great spacious parlor, such as a mansion like the Maddens'

would of course contain, and there would be a grand piano, and lace curtains, and paintings in gold frames, and a chandelier, and velvet easy-chairs, and he would sit in one of these, surrounded by all the luxury of the rich, while Celia played to him.There would be servants about, he presumed, and very likely they would recognize him, and of course they would talk about it to Tom, Dick and Harry afterward.But he said to himself defiantly that he didn't care.

He withdrew his arm from hers as they came upon the well-lighted main street.He passed no one who seemed to know him.Presently they came to the Madden place, and Celia, without waiting for the gravelled walk, struck obliquely across the lawn.Theron, who had been lagging behind with a certain circumspection, stepped briskly to her side now.Their progress over the soft, close-cropped turf in the dark together, with the scent of lilies and perfumed shrubs heavy on the night air, and the majestic bulk of the big silent house rising among the trees before them, gave him a thrilling sense of the glory of individual freedom.