'I know that you sing, Mr Calverly. Please do sing something.'
There, now, was an idea! It appealed warmly to Henry. He went straight
to the piano, twisted up the stool, struck his three chords in turn,
and plunged into that old song of Samuel's Lover's that has quaint charm
when delivered with spirit and humour, _Kitty of Coleraine_.
After which he sang, _Rory O'More_. He had spirit and humour aplenty
to-night.
The Senator came quietly in, bowed to Elbow, and asked for _The Low-Back
Car_.
Elbow left.
'Why did you tell me you hadn't any stories you could bring?' Cicely
asked, a touch of indignation in her voice.
'It was so. I didn't.'
'You had these.'
'No. I didn't. That's just it!'
'But you don't mean----'
'Yes! Just since I met you!'
'Ten stories, you said. It seems--I can't----'
'But it's true. Three days. And nights, of course. I've been so
excited!'
'I never heard of such a thing! Though, of course, Stevenson wrote _Dr
Jekyll and Mr Hyde_ in three days. But ten different stories.'... She
sat quiet, her hands folded in her lap, very thoughtful, flatteringly
thoughtful. 'It sounds a little like magic.'
She was delicately pretty, sitting so still in her big chair.
'I wrote them straight at you,' he said, low, earnest. 'Every word.'
Even Henry caught the extreme emphasis of this, and hurried to
elaborate.
'You see I was just sick Tuesday night. Everything had gone wrong with
me. And then that horrible story that wasn't true. I knew I shouldn't
have spoken of it to you, but--well, it was just driving me crazy, and I
couldn't bear to think you might despise me like the others without
ever knowing the truth. And... You see I must have felt the inspiration
you... Even then, I mean...'
He was red. He seemed to be getting himself out of breath. And he was
tugging at the roll of proofs in his pocket.
'Shall I--finish--this?'
'Oh, _yes!_' She sank into a great leather chair; looked up at him with
glowing eyes. 'I want you to read me all of them. Please!'
She said it almost shyly.
Henry drew up a chair, found his place, and read on. And on. And on.
It was victory.