I stood motionless listening to the retreating footsteps of Raoul
through the stone passageway. And, as I lingered, intensely curious and
beginning to feel uneasy, Clelia came out of the kitchen looking like
some flushed, excited school-girl, her golden hair in two braids, and
her blue eyes very brilliant in the bright sunshine.
*X*
*CLELIA*
When Clelia saw me a startled expression came into her face, instantly
controlled and concealed by the lovely smile so characteristic of her
and of Thusis.
"Something," said I, "smells very appetizing in there."
"Tea-cakes," she nodded. "Shall I bring you one from the oven?"
"Bring one for yourself, too, Clelia."
At that she blushed, then with a pretty, abashed smile, went into the
pantry and immediately reappeared with two delicious tea-cakes.
"We mustn't be caught here doing this," she whispered, offering me one
of the cakes.
"Who'd object? Raoul?"
"Pouf!" she laughed.
"Who then? Josephine? Thusis?"
"Pouf! Pouf!"
"Smith?"
She blushed a deep pink but shrugged her young shoulders.
"Pouf!" she said calmly.
"Well then, who is there to object to our taking tea together?"
"Your guests, Monsieur O'Ryan."
"My guests!" I mimicked her gaily: "Pouf! for my guests, Clelia. Do you
think you could find two glasses of fresh milk for yourself and for me?"
"With cream on it?" she inquired naively.
"Certainly."
She went back to the pantry. I heard Josephine demurring, then they
both laughed, and Clelia reappeared with the milk and two more fresh
tea-cakes.
We seated ourselves on the stone milk-bench in the cool, shadowy
passageway.
"The way you behave with your servants," she remarked, "seems almost
scandalous, doesn't it?"
"Outrageous," said I. "What does Josephine think?"
"Oh, you haven't attempted any familiarities with her."
"No. I'd as soon try to pick up Juno and address that goddess as
'girlie.'"
We both laughed, sitting there side by side absorbing milk and
tea-cakes.
"Now," said I, "the illusion would be complete if you wipe your mouth on
your apron and I do a like office for myself on my sleeve."
She looked up at me and did it. So did I.
"What else?" she inquired.
"Now we'll kiss each other, Clelia, and then you'll go back to your pots
and pans and I'll go out and hoe potatoes."
"Do you think you'd better kiss me?"
"Yes, I do," said I.
"I've never done it."
"What!" I laughed incredulously.
"Why no," she said, surprised.
"Is that true, Clelia?"
"Perfectly."
"And you're willing to begin on _me_?"
"Oh, pour ca--one must _begin_--if only to know how when necessary."
"You think you ought to know how it's done?" I inquired, controlling my
gaiety with an effort.
"Well"--she hesitated with adorable indecision--"in an emergency,
perhaps, it might be as well that I know how such things are
accomplished."
"It's up to you, Clelia."
"Is it?" She thought deeply for a moment. Then: "It's going to be a
shock to me, I suppose. But I've made up my mind that it's likely to
happen to me some day. And I think I'd better be prepared.... Don't
you?"
"Yes, I do." ...
"Besides, I never was afraid of you."
"Of course not. Nobody is!" said I, laughing.
"Oh, yes, they are."
"Who?"
"Well, for one, my sister, Thusis, is."
"Thusis! Afraid of _me_!" I exclaimed.