Page:Restless Earth.djvu/41

“I agree with you there. Let’s talk about you.”

At that moment they opened out the long sweep of beach to the north, and Harley took a deep, satisfying breath of sea-air into his starved lungs, exhaling in a sigh of deep contentment.

Patricia looked at him with understanding.

“The beach is your battle-ground, isn’t it, Jimmy?” she smiled.

“Why do you say that?”

“It is here you fight your emotional battles—where you are not hemmed in by houses and curious people. Don’t be silly and ask me how I know. Have I not assisted in one?”

Harley looked out to sea and shook his head slowly.

“That was a wonderful night, Pat,” he murmured. “The most wonderful night in my life.”

“And in mine, Jimmy.”

He turned upon her swiftly, eagerly.

“Was it? Honestly?”

Patricia did not answer directly. She in turn looked out to sea, and he, in his turn, gazed wistfully at the profile of the adored.

“I love the beach, too,” she said softly. “I come here to—to breathe, very often.”

“And you have seen me here?”

“Often.”

“Then why, for pity’s sake, Pat, did you not speak to me and help me?”

“Because it would have been definitely outside the letter and spirit of our contract, Jimmy,” she answered, looking into his eyes. “One month, was it not? One month apart. One month in which to learn whether our bad luck was due to a full moon or to Destiny—God. The month is not ended until to-morrow———”

“And have you found out?” he asked eagerly, capturing her hands. “Have you?”

Patricia smiled enigmatically, and looked at him keenly.