2
When Rose-Ann reached her apartment in Santa Monica, after a leisurely lunch in Los Angeles, and turned her key in the lock, she heard some one inside spring up and come to the door. It was opened for her, and Felix stood there smiling.
“How did you get in?” she demanded in surprise.
“Never mind how I got in,” he said. “I’m here.”
“It’s a matter of some importance to me how you got in,” she retorted, edging around him into the room and putting her purse on the little table. “I am known here as Miss Prentiss. The people here suppose me to be unmarried....” she paused. “How did you get in?”
“I walked in.... You had left your door unlocked.”
“Oh!”
“Aren’t you glad to see me?”
She relaxed her attitude of defence, and came over to give him her hand. “Forgive me, Felix, for being so sensitive. I am glad to see you. As well as surprised.”
Her last remark was a demand for explanations.... Should he tell her why he had come? Or dissemble his intentions? Courage!
“You know why I came,” he said.
She was on guard again instantly at the challenge in his voice.
“No.... Why?”
“Guess!”
He had only his theory to uphold him. Never had she seemed more utterly alien than she became in that moment. There was a cool surprise in her manner, and he felt as though he had committed some stupid insolence.
She did not reply, but only looked at him. He was making up his mind.... Now was the time when any husband in the world would assert his mastery of the situation. A contemptuous phrase came into his mind: “cave-man stuff!”
As if she were reading the thoughts in his mind, her cheeks grew red and then white, and her eyes blazed dangerously. Every muscle was taut.
He took one step toward her; and in that instant a wild frightened look came into her eyes ... like that in an animal’s caught in a trap. He turned away, saw a chair before him, and sat down, sick at heart. No, he would rather fail, than succeed—that way.
When he looked up, she was standing, a little dizzily, beside the table, steadying herself with her hand.
His theory had been wrong.... It wasn’t husband and wife—it was himself and Rose-Ann.
And yet—was she despising him? Well, let her.
“How long have you been in town?” she asked, quite naturally.
“I arrived this noon,” he answered quietly.
“Then you haven’t seen anything yet.”
“No.”
“There are some lovely places.”
“I suppose so.”
“I’ll show you about, if I may. I’d like to.”
“I sha’n’t be here long,” he said. “Only a few days.” Since he had failed, he might as well go back quickly.
“I’m sorry you can’t stay longer,” she said—wistfully, it seemed.
That silly lie he had told to the managing editor to save his dignity, came into his mind. It would save his dignity here too.
“I came to see the moving picture people about my play,” he said.
“Oh, did Winters write you about it?”
“Winters? No.”
“I told him about it, and he was very much interested.”
How utterly absurd! His play a movie!... Still, under the circumstances, he could hardly say that to her....
“You haven’t settled anything finally, have you?” she went on. “Because you really ought to see Winters. I’ll introduce you, if you wish.”
“That will be fine,” he said mechanically. He wished he could tell her it was a lie; but that would be a confession of his purpose in coming—and his failure.
“What are you doing this afternoon?” she pursued.
“Nothing,” he said.
She laughed. “You might be sociable and invite me to tea!”
He pulled himself together. He must play this thing out somehow. It was only for a few days.
“Tea?” he repeated stupidly.
“Can’t you come? Then how about dinner?—No—” she bit her lip. “I forgot—I’ve an engagement for dinner. But—I suppose I can break it ... if you’d like me to.”
“No, don’t break your dinner engagement. I can come to tea,” he said.
She hesitated, and then said appealing, “I want to be good friends with you, Felix!”
“I see no reason why we shouldn’t be,” he said.... That wasn’t very well done—he ought to be able to do better than that.... “It will be very nice to have tea with you.”
“Have you seen the Palisades?” she asked.
“No.”
“No, of course not....”
“The Palisades?” He appeared inquiringly interested.
“Pergolas and palm-trees. You’ll like it. We’ll go there for a walk.”
He smiled. “That will be lovely!”
Rose-Ann put on her hat, and looked at it in the mirror. It did not satisfy her, and she went to a closet for another. She viewed herself with dissatisfaction, and then turned to him and said lightly,
“Wait for me downstairs, Felix, while I change into some fresh things—I get so tired of my work-clothes.”
He was swept with a sudden uncontrollable anger, so that he trembled as he stood up.... It was strange that this petty humiliation, and not the thought of losing her for ever, should destroy his self-possession! He was ashamed of himself. He went toward the door.... Once outside, he would go away and go home and never see her again....
She followed him to the door and put her hands on his shoulders; and then they were in one another’s arms.