plain dress of warm blue woollen stuff she wore set off the life and colour in her head. It struck Dane with the force of a revelation that she was wonderful, and that, more wonderful still, she cared for him.
Trying to cover her first confusion, she ran to him, holding out her hand. She remembered that Jimmy’s sharp eyes would be upon them.
“It’s a rat. Do wait till we get it,” she said excitedly.
He made a face. “You’re going to kill it?”
They both spoke as if they had seen each other the day before.
“Oh, yes, a rat, yes.”
Seeing it run across the room she darted from him. Just for a minute he was annoyed that after his absence he should be ignored for a rat. Then watching her he was amused. He heard Jimmy yell as the beast turned on her. It sprang onto her shoulders and ran down her back. But she made no sound. She turned with an extraordinarily swift spin and, catching it wavering, despatched it with a deadly blow.
Jimmy leapt into the air with a shout, and then gazed at Valerie with adoration. A girl who was not afraid of a rat—he nearly burst as he thought of it. But she was looking at the dead beast and at the trickle of blood that came from its crushed head. And she knew that Dane was looking down at her.
She got slowly to her feet, and ignoring Dane for the moment, looked round the room as Jimmy picked up the body of the rat.
“I’ll clean it up, Miss Carr,” said the boy, divining her thoughts.
“Well, I guess it will have to be done, Jimmy,” she smiled, and then she turned and walked to the door where Dane still stood with his eyes on her.
