'I am arranging for a series of articles to start at once. Crimes committed by women through the ages.'
Bridget gazed at him with admiration.
'Gordon, I think that's a wonderful idea.'
Lord Easterfield puffed out his chest. 'So please leave me now. I must not be disturbed. I have a lot of work to get through.'
Luke and Bridget tiptoed from the room.
'But he really is sweet,' said Bridget.
'Bridget, I believe you were really fond of that man.'
'Do you know, Luke, I believe I was.'
Luke looked out of the window. 'I'll be glad to get away from Wychwood. I don't like this place. There's a lot of wickedness here, as Mrs. Humbleby would say. I don't like the way Ashe Ridge broods over the village.'
'Talking of Ashe Ridge, what about Ellsworthy?'
Luke laughed a little shamefacedly. 'That blood on his hands?'
'Yes.'
'They'd sacrificed a white cock, apparently.'
'How perfectly disgusting!'
'I think something unpleasant is going to happen to our Mr. Ellsworthy. Battle is planning a little surprise.'
Bridget said, 'And poor Major Horton never even attempted to kill his wife, and Mr. Abbot, I suppose, just had a compromising letter from a lady, and Doctor Thomas is just a nice unassuming young doctor.'
'He's a superior ass.'
'You say that because you're jealous of his marrying Rose Humbleby.'
'She's much too good for him.'
'I always have felt you liked that girl better then me.'
'Darling, aren't you being rather absurd?'
'No, not really.' She was silent a minute, and then said, 'Luke, do you like me now?'
He made a movement toward her, but she warded him off. 'I said 'like,' Luke; not 'love.''
'Oh, I see. Yes, I do. I like you, Bridget, as well as loving you.'
Bridget said, 'I like you, Luke.' They smiled at each other a little timidly, like children who have made friends at a party.
Bridget said, 'Liking is more important than loving. It lasts. I want what is between us to last, Luke. I don't want us just to love each other and marry and get tired of each other, and then want to marry someone else.'
'Oh, my dear love, I know. You want reality. So do I. What's between us will last forever, because it's founded on reality.'
'Is that true, Luke?'
'It's true, my sweet. That's why, I think, I was afraid of loving you.'
'I was afraid of loving you too.'
'Are you afraid now?'
'No.'
He said, 'We've been close to death for a long time. Now that's over! Now we'll begin to live.'
