In July the Paxtons were asked to spend a week with the Abercrombie
Brendons, at their country place. One of the guests was to be a woman
who wanted her portrait painted, because she admired Jerry's portrait of
Mrs. Brendon so extravagantly. Jerry read the note, which Jane passed to
him, at the breakfast table one morning.
"How do you feel about it?"
"Would you mind if I stayed here? Bobs could come and keep me company."
"You look all right, if that's it."
"I'll go, if you think I should, Jerry."
"I don't see why you should, if it would bore you. I don't want to go
myself, I like it here. Suppose you write her that you don't feel up to
it, or have some guests, but that I will come. I'd like you to go with
me," he added.
"Thanks. I'm better off here."
It was settled that way, and in due time Jerry departed, and Bobs
arrived.
"My-o-me, but this is Paradise, Jane Judd, after the hot streets of New
York," sighed Bobs, as they walked in the garden the night of her
arrival.
"I could hardly bear to think of you in that studio these days. It must
be an oven, with all that skylight."
"I've been too busy to notice."
"Too busy to eat, too, I judge by this thin hand," said Jane, patting
the hand on her arm. "I'm going to give you such a dose of rest and
fresh air that you will protest."
"Have rest and air done it to you, Jane? You have a sort of radiance
about you."
"It's the moonlight," Jane smiled.
"How do you manage it, Jane?"
"Manage what, dear?"
"To keep your balance all the time? Not to be bowled over by your own
emotions?"
"I know a man who said to me, 'I find it necessary to cover my troubles
with a protective coating, a something of my mind that prevents them
from poisoning the whole internal atmosphere.' There is some quality of
mind and heart that does this, just as the healthy blood does it for the
germs. It does not kill them, but it cuts them off from poisonous
contact."
"I don't know how to get this spiritual antiseptic. Would your friend
give me the formula, do you think?"
"I think we all have to work out our own, Bobs."
They paced the little garden paths in silence for a time.
"You've helped me, more than any one, to get through the most difficult
period of my life, Jane."
"I'm glad, dear."
"You're a good soldier; you stand up to things. I'm ashamed to whimper
to you about a bullet in my heart."
"It helps some people to whimper, Bobs. It helps me not to. It's nothing
to my credit, and I shall think no less of you, if you let go, give way
to it, submit to a surgeon. Then we can build new tissue."
"I'm all right, Jane, I'm building now."
"Isn't the garden fragrant to-night?"
"It's like distilled peace. Have you and Jerry been happy here?"
"We've enjoyed it very much. Jerry seems contented. He works and swims
and loafs. We take long tramps in the woods, and up the beach; it is
pleasant."
"Why didn't you go to the Brendons', Jane?"
"I preferred you to the Brendons; there's a compliment."
"Is Miss Morton to be there?"
"I suppose so."
"Don't you care, Jane?"
"My caring would only complicate it."
"Is Jerry glad about the baby?"
This was the first mention of the subject.
"We don't speak of it."
"When is it to be, dear?"
"October."
"You're happy about it?"
"Utterly."
Bobs squeezed her hand.
"You don't mind my speaking of it?"
"No. I hoped you would. Somehow it is hard for me to talk of it."
The week was gone, as if by magic. Jerry wired he would stay on a few
days, which grew into a second week. Jerry's second wire announced that
Mrs. Brendon and Miss Morton were motoring him home. Would Jane put
them up for over Sunday?
"Don't you do it, Jane," urged Bobs.
"Of course, I must do it," she replied, and wired her invitation. "You
must stay, Bobs; it will support me."
"I'll stay, then. Is there room?"
"They can have the big guest chamber, it has two beds."
"R-r-r!" barked Bobs.
The motor party arrived on Friday, in time for dinner. Jerry was not at
all delighted at the sight of Bobs, and she took him up on it instantly.
"Didn't expect to see me here, did you, Jerry?"
"Delighted, I'm sure."
Bobs laughed and joined Mrs. Brendon and Althea, who were complimenting
Jane on the house and garden.
"Like a toy place, isn't it?" said Althea.
When they had gone to their rooms to dress, Jerry said to Jane:
"Couldn't you get rid of Bobs?"
"I urged her to stay."
"But those women are not used to one room," he objected.
"It can't hurt them for two nights, Jerry."
"I hope you didn't mind my turning up with them, like this."
"Not at all, if they can put up with our simplicities. Did you have a
good time?"
"Fair. Landed the portrait order."
"That's good."
"How did you and Bobs get along?"
"Famously. Doesn't she look well? She has slept out of doors, had
breakfast in bed, a swim and a tramp as appetizers. She looks like a
brown boy."
"And you?"
"Fine."
"I hope Mrs. Biggs won't clatter the dishes at dinner," he said.
"Don't worry, Jerry."
"God speed the day when we can have a butler!"
"Don't listen to him, God," said Jane promptly.
He laughed and went to dress.
They dined on the veranda, with a wonderful sunset in process. Mrs.
Biggs was so terrified at the thought of serving Mrs. Abercrombie
Brendon, that Jane had engaged Dahlia, the coloured utility woman of the
settlement, for the days of the house party. Even Jerry had to admit
that the dinner was good and well served. Jane was very stately in the
long, straight robes he had designed for her. Bobs displayed her ready
wit for their amusement. Mrs. Brendon was genuinely entertained, but
Althea was on the watch every minute. Not a glance exchanged between any
of the three escaped her. Mrs. Paxton's condition had given her a shock.
She had come to the house with the deliberate intention of finding out
what her power was over Jerry. She could not believe that he loved Jane,
and yet a year of untiring effort on her part to intrigue him had
accomplished nothing.
After dinner they wandered about, watching the moonrise. Jerry and Miss
Morton strolled to the gate, then beyond. The three women sat on the
veranda. Mrs. Brendon made herself most agreeable. She spoke of Jerry's
career with enthusiasm.
"Artists need advertising just like anything else," she said. "Once you
get people to talking about so-and-so's delightful portraits, his fame
is made."
"I wonder who press-agented Sargent," murmured Bobs. "_We_ all think it
is a crime for Jerry to give his time to these portraits," she added.
"You don't like his portraits, Miss Roberts?"
"I think a portrait by Jerry Paxton, savin' yer prisince, is a
brilliant, shallow _tour de force_. He's got the clever knack of making
people look patrician. It is the most flattering thing a portrait
painter can do to you."
"Bobs, behave yourself," said Jane. "This is one of her hobbies, Mrs.
Brendon; don't listen to her."
"I'm sure you think your husband's portraits are wonderful," her guest
reassured her.
"I'm no critic," Jane evaded.
"Hypocritttt!" Bob hissed in Jane's ear.
Eleven o'clock came but no sign of the other two. Bobs yawned openly;
Mrs. Brendon stifled hers.
"Where do you suppose they have gone?" she said finally.
"Maybe they're gone off in the motor boat."
"I'm for bed," said Bobs.
"Let us all go," Jane suggested.
"It's outrageous of Althea!" exclaimed Mrs. Brendon.
"Isn't she always outrageous? That type so often is," remarked Bobs
ingenuously.
They went to their rooms. At midnight Bobs went to Jane's door.
"I could kill him!" she said.
"Wouldn't do any good. Go back to bed and go to sleep," Jane ordered.
About half-past one Jerry appeared. He explained that they went off in
the motor boat, and it broke down. When they finally landed, Althea
slipped and turned her ankle.
"I had the devil's own time getting her home," he said crossly. "I'm
sorry to waken you, Jane."
"No matter."
The next morning Miss Morton was unable to leave her room. She refused
to see a doctor, she needed only to keep off the foot. Jerry explained
the situation elaborately and Bobs laughed. Mrs. Brendon, having had no
sleep, was brief and to the point in her comment. Jane was calm as a May
morn.
The invalid was carried down to the veranda for luncheon. She was a
bewildering vision in lace and pink bows, stretched on the
_chaise-longue_, with Jerry in close attendance. Mrs. Brendon napped all
afternoon. Jane and Bobs went for a walk.
Sunday followed with apparently no improvement in the wounded member. It
was evident that Miss Morton's visit would be prolonged.
"Jane, she has no more a sprained ankle than I have!" said Bobs.
Jane smiled.
"Your patience makes me mad! She's only doing it to annoy you and annex
Jerry."
"She can't annoy me," said Jane.
Mrs. Brendon left Monday morning. Miss Morton decided she was not so
well, and kept to her bed. Jerry read aloud to her.
It was Wednesday that he came upon Jane alone.
"Jane, for God's sake, go talk to her. I'm nearly dead."
"All right. Go off for a walk, and get some exercise."
She went to the veranda, and drew a chair near her guest.
"Where's Jerry?" demanded the lady.
"He's gone for a tramp."
"With that Roberts girl?"
"Probably," lied Jane.
"I can't endure her."
"She is my best friend," Jane said shortly.
"Do you like it out here?"
"Very much."
"Must be awfully dull for Jerry."
"Oh, he manages to amuse himself."
"It always seems so dreadful for a great artist to be handicapped by
poverty, a family, and all those things."
"Most great artists have been so handicapped, I believe."
"But Jerry always seems like a prince...."
"Oh, were you speaking of Jerry?"
"He should come into a fortune."
"I believe he had the opportunity," said Jane, and regretted it the
minute it was out of her mouth.
"You don't like me, do you, Mrs. Paxton?"
"I trust you have not found me lacking in hospitality?"
"Oh, you've been hospitable enough. I suppose it is natural that you
should not care for me much."
"Why natural?"
"Jerry and I have been together so much. I'm afraid I've kept him away
from you."
"That would not have anything at all to do with my liking or disliking
you," said Jane, looking directly at her.
"Why do you, then?"
"I don't really dislike you. I'm sorry for you. It is always pitiful to
be the last of a type, like a lone Indian among civilized whites."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"There is a new kind of feeling among women of brains in the world
to-day, a sodality. You may not have heard of it. No woman with
self-respect sets herself to hurt another woman, not even to win a man
they both care for. I belong to this new group, Miss Morton. That is why
you are able to take advantage of my hospitality."
"You fool! Don't you know Jerry cares for me?" cried Althea, sitting up,
white with rage.
"That doesn't interest me," replied Jane.
Whereupon a miracle occurred. Miss Althea Morton threw aside the silken
coverlet, swung her feet to the floor, and walked quickly into the
house.