SON OF THE WIND
last night's revelation. He wondered if she would expect him to stay, to talk over with her what had happened, to hear more from her about it. This he did not want, even if the time had been his. He gave her a glance as he got off the table, but her answering look said, "I didn't need that. I'm coming anyway."
She followed him out into the hall. No sooner was the door shut upon them than she clasped him around the neck. "Don't go, don't go! I am so afraid something dreadful will happen to you."
This gave him an unpleasant start. What was she talking about, he wondered.
"Last time you came back with your head hurt," she said in a trembling voice. "I'm so afraid."
He laughed, relieved. "Not a bit of danger. That was sheer clumsiness." Yet somehow her caresses, and her fears for him did not flatter him. He felt uneasy in their enfolding. He had not called her out here for any lovers' scene. He had a desire to keep to business. "I'm only going to get a peace offering of venison, for your mother," he said. "Tell me, what did she say when you told her about us, eh?"
Blanche leaned coaxingly toward him, tilting her head sidewise until the brown crown of it came caressingly against his ear. It was a way she had of luring him out of seriousness, and beguiling him, but in this case it didn't do.
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