'What about?' said Johnny bitterly. 'That he gets away with murder?' Their eyes met and Bart's were troubled. Johnny said, 'Good-bye.'
'Good-night.' The door closed.
Johnny stood on the porch. Had no car. He plunged into the drive, emerged from the trees. The landscape, carpeted with the low gieen, was yet as desolate as the moon.
CHAPTER 19
The phone rang in Johnny's room about half past nine in the morning. Friday.
Nan's voice. Hope jumped.
''Johnny, I'm sorry for anything I said last night or if I sounded mean.'
'. . . all right.'
'I will go to see my father, of course. Dick and I will do all we can to make liim feel—all right about us. So everythmg is going to work out.'
He got out the necessary word, '. . . glad.'
'But, Johnny, I don't want you and me to be fighting. And on my wedding day.'
Now, he felt very cold. 'I'll stay away,' he promised quickly. 'Don't worry about that.'
'But, Johnny, that isn't ... I wish you'd understand. These are my mother's people. But I don't mean to ... I wouldn't offend you or Aunt Barbara ...'
'You're not asking me to be there, Nan?'
'Well . . .'
'Did Dorothy talk you into this?'
'No, she didn't. We didn't even stay in the same room last night. Everybody thought . . . Well, I wanted to be alone. But she's going to stand up with me. So I should think . . .'
'You want me to—?'
'Oh, not to stand up or . . . You see, Uncle Bart is my very own uncle and he ought to be the one to give me away.' Nan's voice was gayer; it was losing its trouble. This was her wedding day. 'Only Blanche and Bart think we should be at peace, Johnny, or—it's not lucky.'
'What about Dick?'
'Oh, Dick says that if you promise not to talk the way you've been . . . Dick says he hasn't anything against you. Just if you'd stop, oh—busybodying.' Her voice trailed off. It came back, coaxing. 'So, Johnny? Won't you come to my wedding and wish me happiness?'
He didn't know whether he could. He couldn't speak.
'For Aunt Emily's sake, then?'
The flash of rage that had been ready and waiting, went through him now. But he said quietly, 'All right. Nan.'
'About a quarter of eleven? It won't take long. And afterwards, I suppose, you'll be driving Dotty home.'
'All right, Nai^' he said, keeping control.
Grimes had told him that Copeland was coming down. But Copeland hadn't come, nor had Johnny's call to Roderick Grimes, this morning, been completed, when the hour was upon him and he must go to Nan's wedding.
The maid let him in. Four or five strange people were standing in the parlor. Flowers everywhere. A Httle lectern before the mantel. The old lady, with a soft pink shawl around her shoulders, held coiurt. A man said, 'I'm Dr. Jenson. We are groom's. You must be bride's, I guess.'
Johnny didn't say which he was. More names were given. Hands shaken. He nodded toward but did not go near the old lady.
Bart came in through the doors from the dining room.
'Morning.'
Bart looked him over with deliberate care. 'You haven't changed your mind,' he pronounced quietly.
'I am a symbol of something,' Johmiy's face felt as if it were splitting and tearing, as he grinned. Bart said, 'Nan has one of the pins now.' Johnny pressed his hps very tightly closed. 'The one supposed to be Chiisty's,' Bart said. 'The one from McCauleys' pocket. Kate's pin.' Johnny's hps opened.
'I don't know what can be done,' said Bart quickly. 'You have no proof.'
'What makes you change your mind?'
'I believe Dick sounded out the chance of a loan on Nan's prospects too soon. I can't prove it.'
'You lend your house for this wedding? You give the bride away?' Johnny felt sick.
Bait said, 'How will it help if they elope?' He was stiff, proud, helpless. 'To make a scene?'
They stared at each other sadly for a moment. Then Bart said, 'Miss Dorothy is in the dining room. Go on in.'
Dorothy was wearing a pink dress and a pink and white corsage. She was standing very straight beside one of the ; heax'y old carved chairs. 'Oh, Johnny,' she said warmly. 'You didn't have to comel You don't have to watch
