The doctor turned slowly and looked at Jane.He himself had experienced the intense attraction of her womanliness,--all the more overpowering when it was realised, because it did not appear upon the surface.He had sensed the strong mother-tenderness lying dormant within her; had known that her arms would prove a haven of refuge, her bosom a soothing pillow, her love a consolation unspeakable.In his own days of loneliness and disappointment, the doctor had had to flee from this in Jane,--a precious gift, so easy to have taken because of her very ignorance of it; but a gift to which he had no right.Thus the doctor could well understand the hold it would gain upon a man who had discovered it, and who was free to win it for his own.
But he only said, "I do not think it odd, dear."Jane had forgotten the doctor.She came back promptly from the glowing heart of the fire.
"I am glad you don't," she said."I did.--well, we both left Overdene on the same day.I came to you; he went to Shenstone.It was a Tuesday.On the Friday I went down to Shenstone, and we met again.Having been apart for a little while seemed to make this curious feeling of `togetherness,' deeper and sweeter than ever.In the Shenstone house party was that lovely American girl, Pauline Lister.Garth was enthusiastic about her beauty, and set on painting her.Everybody made sure he was going to propose to her.Deryck, Ithought so, too; in fact I had advised him to do it.I felt so pleased and interested over it, though all the while his eyes touched me when he looked at me, and I knew the day did not begin for him until we had met, and was over when we had said good-night.
And this experience of being first and most to him made everything so golden, and life so rich, and still I thought of it only as an unusually delightful friendship.But the evening of my arrival at Shenstone he asked me to come out on to the terrace after dinner, as he wanted specially to talk to me.Deryck, I thought it was the usual proceeding of making a confidante of me, and that I was to hear details of his intentions regarding Miss Lister.Thinking that, I walked calmly out beside him; sat down on the parapet, in the brilliant moonlight, and quietly waited for him to begin.Then--oh, Deryck! It happened."Jane put her elbows on her knees, and buried her face in her clasped hands.
"I cannot tell you--details.His love--it just poured over me like molten gold.It melted the shell of my reserve; it burst through the ice of my convictions; it swept me off my feet upon a torrent of wondrous fire.I knew nothing in heaven or earth but that this love was mine, and was for me.And then--oh, Deryck! I can't explain--Idon't know myself how it happened--but this whirlwind of emotion came to rest upon my heart.He knelt with his arms around me, and we held each other in a sudden great stillness; and in that moment Iwas all his, and he knew it.He might have stayed there hours if he had not moved or spoken; but presently he lifted up his face and looked at me.Then he said two words.I can't repeat them, Boy; but they brought me suddenly to my senses, and made me realise what it all meant.Garth Dalmain wanted me to marry him."Jane paused, awaiting the doctor's expression of surprise.
"What else could it have meant?" said Deryck Brand, very quietly.He passed his hand over his lips, knowing they trembled a little.
Jane's confessions were giving him a stiffer time than he had expected."Well, dear, so you--?""I stood up," said Jane; "for while he knelt there he was master of me, mind and body; and some instinct told me that if I were to be won to wifehood, my reason must say `yes' before the rest of me.It is `spirit, soul, and body' in the Word, not `body, soul, and spirit,' as is so often misquoted; and I believe the inspired sequence to be the right one."The doctor made a quick movement of interest."Good heavens, Jane!"he said."You have got hold of a truth there, and you have expressed it exactly as I have often wanted to express it without being able to find the right words.You have found them, Jeanette."She looked into his eager eyes and smiled sadly."Have I, Boy?" she said."Well, they have cost me dear.--I put my lover from me and told him I must have twelve hours for calm reflection.He was so sure--so sure of me, so sure of himself--that he agreed without a protest.At my request he left me at once.The manner of his going Icannot tell, even to you, Dicky.I promised to meet him at the village church next day and give him my answer.He was to try the new organ at eleven.We knew we should be alone.I came.He sent away the blower.He called me to him at the chancel step.The setting was so perfect.The artist in him sang for joy, and thrilled with expectation.The glory of absolute certainty was in his eyes;though he had himself well in hand.He kept from touching me while he asked for my answer.Then--I refused him, point blank, giving a reason he could not question.He turned from me and left the church, and I have not spoken to him from that day to this."A long silence in the doctor's consulting-room.One manly heart was entering into the pain of another, and yet striving not to be indignant until he knew the whole truth.
Jane's spirit was strung up to the same pitch as in that fateful hour, and once more she thought herself right.
At last the doctor spoke.He looked at her searchingly now, and held her eyes.
"And why did you refuse him, Jane?" The kind voice was rather stern.
