He went to the Grand Central with her on Christmas Eve, to say good-bye,
for conscience compelled her to go back to Brownsville Landing for the
holidays. They were both in a mood of rapture, although Frankie was
somewhat obsessed by finances. She had given Lionel five envelopes, each
containing just enough money for one of the five days she was to be
away.
“Now remember!” she warned, “that’s _all_ you’ve got, until I get back.
I’ll come early on New Year’s morning, and Miss Eppendorfer’ll give me
my cheque. She never keeps me waiting a day. Then I’ll lend you that
until the fifteenth. But do please, please be careful of what you’ve
got! Remember it’s all you’ve got! You will be sensible, won’t you?”
“No. Frankie, aren’t you sorry to think of my being all alone on
Christmas day in a beastly cheap boarding-house?”
“You know I am! But don’t think about it, dear; think about the
sixteenth.”
They had planned to be married then, the very day after his quarterly
remittance came.
“Five minutes to! We’d better go down to the lower level. Oh, dear old
boy, I do hate to leave you! You will be careful, won’t you? About
everything. About money--and you know what!”
“Dashed if I do! Money and what?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“About--drinking,” she whispered.
“Oh, by Jove!” he cried, startled. “But, my dear girl, I don’t go in
for that, you know. I’m not quite a drunkard.”
“I know! I know, darling! Only I _had_ to say it. Don’t be offended!”
“Of course not, you blessed baby!”
“And you will take at least one glass of milk a day, won’t you? You’re
so thin! And----”
“I shall! I shall!” he cried, laughing. “Come on, old girl! The gates
are open. I say! It’s perfectly all right to kiss you good-bye, isn’t
it? I might be your brother--or your husband. Everyone does, eh?”
She reflected.
“Yes,” she said, with a blush, and raised her face to his. “Good-bye!
God bless you, my own boy! Take care of yourself! I shall think of you
every minute!”
“Good-bye, my beautiful girl!” he answered. “God bless you! Come back to
me soon!”
He stood watching her down the platform, strong, eager, and splendid.
Saw her go, never to return to him.
BOOK THREE: MR PETERSEN IS
BROUGHT LOW