"
"Damn the fool!" said Saltash.
She broke into a breathless laugh. "That's--that's just what I said. But
I thought--I thought perhaps--you'd rather--rather I waited." She
shivered suddenly. "I don't like this place. Can you take me somewhere
else?"
He bent lower, put his hand under her elbow and helped her to her
feet. She came up from the couch with a spring, and stood before him,
half-daring and half-shy.
Saltash kept his hold upon her arm, and turned her towards the wall
beside the tall mantel-piece. She went with him readily enough, watching,
eager-eyed, as he stretched his free hand up to the oak panelling.
"Now I'm going to find out all your secrets!" she said boyishly.
"Not quite all," said Saltash.
There came the click of a spring and the panel slid to one side, leaving
a long, narrow opening before them. Toby glanced up at him and, with a
small, nestling movement, slipped within the circle of his arm. It
tightened upon her in an instant, and she laughed again, a quivering,
exultant laugh.
"I'm glad you've come," she said.
They paused on the edge of darkness, but there was no hesitation about
Toby. She was all athrill with expectancy. Then in a flash the room
before them was illuminated, and they entered.
Pages:
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338