"You _have_ done right. It is for me to do right."
"Well," she said, "I'm bitterly disappointed, and that's all there is to
it. Ought I to thank you for letting me off?"
"Yes, dear."
"Then I thank you."
Neither spoke for a long time. At last Barbara said:
"When do you go West?"
"In a very few days."
"Then you will be able to go to Mr. Blizzard's party and hear him play."
"Are you still determined on that?"
"Why, yes. It will be fun. And besides, I haven't any husband to forbid
me."
Wilmot's temper rose a little. "I'll go," he said shortly. "When will
the bust be finished? And the whole Blizzard episode?"
"I'm sure I don't know," said Barbara patiently. "But I think the
Blizzard episode--as you call it--is rather a permanent friendship. I
find reasons to like him, and to admire him."
Wilmot made no comment. He longed to speak evil of Blizzard, but the
fact of his financial obligation to the man kept him silent. He
contented himself with saying: "I'm glad that I haven't your artistic
judgment of character. One of these days you will learn, to your cost,
that men's judgment of a man is usually correct."
"I wish he had legs," said Barbara. "I'd like to do Prometheus bound to
the rock."
Wilmot's disgust was intense. "Do you mean to say--" he began, and then
checked himself. "Why not have your father graft a pair on him? He's
succeeded, by all accounts, in doing so for all sorts of beasts."
"Do you know," said Barbara sweetly, "that is just what my father would
try to do for Mr. Blizzard if some interested person would only step
forward and supply the legs."
"I dare say Blizzard would find a pair quickly enough, if he thought
they could be attached."
"But how could he?"
"Oh, I'm just joking, Miss Innocence. But, seriously, he could buy a
pair for a price. You can buy anything in this world--except love,"
Blizzard, sitting in the sun on the steps of 17 McBurney Place, watched
the pair approaching in the runabout, noted as they drew near the
affectionate seriousness of their attitude toward each other--for they
had stopped talking of him and returned to themselves--and his whole
being burned suddenly with a rage of jealousy. Controlling the
expression of his face, he rose upon his crutches and descended the
steps to greet Barbara at the curb.
"Glad to see you!" said she. "And how about Wednesday night for the
party? Mr. Allen is coming, and I have asked three or four
other people."
The legless man bowed and said: "Thank you. Wednesday at half-past
nine."
He nodded affably to Allen, who returned the salute with all his
charming ease and courtesy. You might have mistaken them for two men who
really valued each other.
"Miss Ferris," said Blizzard, "I shall be ready for work as soon as you.
I wish to ask Mr. Allen a question."
Wilmot winced, since he noted a tone of command in Blizzard's voice, and
it jarred on him, and he said good-by to Barbara and watched her
disappear into the studio-building with a feeling of strong resentment
against the man who had to all intents and purposes dismissed her from
the scene.
"Well?" he said curtly.
But Blizzard, enjoying the childish satisfaction of having separated the
pair, was no longer in the mood to take offence. "I wish to make a
proposition to you," he said, "but at some length. Will you come to my
place at three o'clock this afternoon? It is easier for you to get about
than for me."
"I am very busy," said Wilmot; "I am getting ready to go West."
"So I have gathered. Have you anything definite in view?"
"Not very," said Wilmot. "Nor any money to put it through with. About
the loan you were so kind as to make me, I can only say that I am going
to turn over a new leaf, and to work very hard at something or other. If
I have any luck you shall be paid."
The legless man dismissed the matter of the loan with a backward toss of
his head. "If you've nothing definite in view," said he, "please come at
three o'clock, I have interests in the West--legitimate interests, and
influence. Perhaps I can put you in a way to clear up your debts."
"Well, by George," said Wilmot, his good nature returning, "if that's
the idea, I'll turn up at three sharp. Sure thing."