Bright Arrows by Grace Livingston Hill

Author:Grace Livingston Hill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing Inc
Published: 2016-07-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Caspar Carvel lunged in, in much the same way he had always done in the years gone by, much as if the house were his own old home and he had a right there. As if there were nothing special due for the privilege of coming. One would never have known from the quality of his regular old-time grin that he had come to apologize for anything. And Eden, whose quick eyes had noted this at once, felt her former anger rising, because she could not seem to forget the insolent words he had spoken. But she had spent time on her knees with her Bible open before her and had definitely put the matter in her new Master's hands. She felt assured that He would make it plain how she was to deal with this.

"Hi there, beautiful!" he began. "At last my perseverance is rewarded by your worthy presence! You certainly have taken on an air of discipline and distance. What's the little old idea, anyway, lovely?"

Eden did not respond to this garrulous opening of the interview. Instead, she went quietly, sweetly about the duties of a hostess, utterly ignoring his question.

"Good evening!" she said coolly as if it were a stranger she was greeting. "Won't you sit down?" She motioned toward a straight chair and went herself toward another at a little distance.

Caspar stood surveying her, a mask of puzzlement on his brow. So, she really must have been angry at what he had said on his last visit. But he slid down on the chair she had indicated and turned to her a puzzled, grieved expression as if he did not understand.

"But what's the little old idea, Eden," he complained. "Why the frigidity?"

"I beg your pardon, Caspar. I understood you came here to make an apology for your remarks the last time you were here."

"Oh, that! Why, baby! You're not mad yet, are you? You knew I didn't mean what I said."

"It certainly sounded as if you meant it," said Eden quietly, with sweet dignity.

"Aw, now, baby! Don't get that way! You ought to know me better than that. You know I'm awfully fond of you. I wouldn't hurt you for the world. I just took it for granted that you had grown up to the times and would understand. Why, excuse me, baby, but you don't seem to have changed at all. I suppose your father's sickness has kept you cooped up away from the world. You don't seem to know times have changed."

"I certainly realize that you have changed," said Eden, still speaking quietly and with gentle dignity.

"But, there, Eden," said the young man, "wake up and be yourself. You certainly can't think you're being attractive carrying on a line like that."

"I was not trying to be attractive," she said, "but I am wondering if this is your idea of an apology?"

The young man put on another act of hurt dignity.

"Apology? Oh! Why, yes, sure I said I would apologize if that is what you want.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.