Throw off that robe. Dry yourself--there's a towel there!"
She flung me her kimono. "Here, put this on, till you're comfortable
again."
I came out in her kimono, which I was bursting through ... my arms
sticking out to my elbow.
She laughed herself almost into hysteria at my funny appearance.
* * * * *
"It will be quite safe to-night. I don't think he'd venture out. This is
a hurricane, not a rainstorm ... besides, I believe he's a little afraid
of you, Johnnie ... I was watching him rather closely, while I handled
him, the other night ... he kept an uneasy eye on you all the time."
"God, but you were superb, Hildreth ... if you could only act that way
on the stage!--"
"I _could_ act that way on the stage," she replied unexpectedly, a
trifle put out....
Then--
"A woman has to do many things to save herself--"
"Oh, I swear that you are the most marvellous, the most beautiful woman
in the world ... I love you ... I adore you ... I'd die for you ...
right here ... now!"
* * * * *
As we lay there in the dark the storm pulled and tugged and battered as
if with great, sinister hands, striving to get in at us.
Hildreth trembled in my arms, shaking afresh at each shock of the wind
and the rain.
"Don't be afraid, my little woman!"
"I wonder if he'd dare come down to-night?"
"If he did, and caught us, I'd kill him.
Pages:
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594