One night he was late in arriving at a dinner-party given in honour of some Americans, whose yacht had appeared in Tangier Bay that day; they were already seated at the table when Bob slipped quietly in, and, at a little nod from Miss Burke, found his place beside her. He was conscious that his other neighbour was a woman—a young and attractive one. He had time to observe that, when his obliging hostess, in reply to his apologies, said, “You are punished enough, for you have lost at least ten minutes of Miss Schuyler’s society.” This, with a knowing little look at Miss Burke, which seemed to say, “To be sure he is your property, but if you are engaged to the most presentable man in Tangier, you must pay the penalty, and give him up to occasional and fastidious visitors.”
Modest little Mabel Burke, who simply basked in “Bob’s” smiles, and wondered at her own good luck in ever winning his love, gave her hostess a proud, happy glance that spoke volumes for her sense of security.
A closer look at Miss Schuyler convinced Mr. Travers that he had never met anyone at all like her; she was so self-possessed and clever that they were soon talking as freely as if they had been old acquaintances. She was not so pretty as his fiancée, but she was very fascinating (a charm that even Bob had not attributed to Miss Burke), and her versatility amazed him. It did not seem to matter whether they discussed horses, religion, or politics—Miss Schuyler had her opinions, and she expressed them without conceit or aggressiveness. During the fortnight that the smart little yacht Liberty was anchored in the waters of Tangier Bay, and its merry party were devoting their days to long country rides, excursions to Cape Spartel, or cantering along the sandy beach, Travers found Miss Schuyler the most interesting of companions; he seemed to have become her acknowledged escort, and (since one night, when he had nearly killed his best horse by galloping several miles for a doctor to come to the rescue of one of the ladies who had broken her arm while the party were making an excursion) Miss Schuyler had singled him out for all sorts of delicate favours. He, on the other hand, discovered that this woman, with her grace and culture, was just such a woman as he had pictured he should eventually take to Travers Towers as its mistress. For in less than a fortnight he realized that in his happy-go-lucky way he had drifted into that engagement with the pretty sister of his dearest friend. What could be more natural? All the conditions had favoured his courtship, and until he saw Miss Schuyler it had seemed very agreeable to possess the affections of the nicest girl in Tangier.
He knew she was not the wife he had dreamt of, but then, he reasoned, one never marries one’s ideal. Mabel Burke was sweet and good, and loved him; so one delicious, star-lit night, after a cosy dinner, he found himself alone with her in the quiet little Moorish court of the Burkes’ villa, and as Mabel gave him his second cup of coffee he looked at her approvingly, and on the impulse of the moment told her he should like to have her always with him. He meant it then; and after that it was all easy sailing, for Boardman Burke was delighted to give his sister to a man whom he already loved as a brother. The gossip of the town had not reached the visitors in the yacht, and Miss Schuyler only heard accidentally that Mr. Travers was engaged to Miss Burke, for Bob had felt a reluctance to tell her—had supposed someone else would—and, finally, seeing she believed him to be free, he had dreaded to tell her. And so their relations progressed undisturbed, and, like all things under an Oriental sun, developed rapidly.
They had been taking tea at Mr. Boardman Burkes and looking at his pictures, when suddenly the artist said:
“I must show you the one I am doing for Travers’ wedding present.”
And when someone remarked that he could take his time to finish the painting, Boardman Burke had said very distinctly:
“Oh, no! I expect to have to give my sister, as well as that best picture of mine, to Travers before the year is out.”
It is just possible that Mr. Burke thought it wise to make this statement, for occupied though he was in his work, he had observed that his sister looked troubled. Although Travers dropped in every day, he, too, seemed pre-occupied, or was in a hurry, and he was seen constantly riding with Miss Schuyler. Little Mabel was too seriously in love with him, and believed in him too deeply, to admit that he had been the least remiss in his attentions to her, but she felt relieved, all the same, to hear that the Liberty would hoist anchor and go over to Gibraltar the next morning, and from there continue her course along the coast of Spain and the Riviera. Even when she heard Travers and the American Consul accept an invitation to go to Gibraltar with the party, she felt no uneasiness, for he would return the following noon by the regular steamer. So she let her accepted lover stroll off with Miss Schuyler, only saying a quiet “good-bye.”
When she looked out from her window the next morning the pretty little yacht had disappeared, and all day she fancied Bob buying up supplies, which he said he wanted for an expedition into the interior.