He stood before her with outstretched arms, and for answer she rose and came to him slowly, with downcast eyes.
“I do not want to be set free,” she said.
Then gently, tenderly, he folded his arms about her, as if she were too precious to handle roughly, and laid his lips upon hers.
It was the shrill, insistent clang of the telephone bell that broke in upon their bliss. For a moment Gordon let it ring, but its merciless clatter was not to be denied; so, drawing Celia close within his arm, he made her come with him to the ’phone.
To his annoyance, the haughty voice of Miss Bentley answered him from the little black distance of the ’phone.
His arm was about Celia, and she felt his whole body stiffen with formality.
“Oh, Miss Bentley! Good-morning! Your message? Why no! Ah! Well, I have but just come in——”
A pause during which Celia, panic-stricken, handed him the paper on which she had written Julia’s message.
“Ah! Oh, yes, I have the message. Yes, it is very kind of you—” he murmured stiffly, “but you will have to excuse me. No, really. It is utterly impossible! I have another engagement—” his arm stole closer around Celia’s waist and caught her hand, holding it with a meaningful pressure. He smiled, with a grimace toward the telephone which gladdened her heart. “Pardon me, I didn’t hear that,” he went on.... “Oh, give up my engagement and come?... Not possibly!” His voice rang with a glad, decided force, and he held still closer the soft fingers in his hand.... “Well, I’m sorry you feel that way about it. I certainly am not trying to be disagreeable. No, I could not come to-morrow night either.... I cannot make any plans for the next few days.... I may have to leave town again.... It is quite possible I may have to return to New York. Yes, business has been very pressing. I hope you will excuse me. I am sorry to disappoint you. No, of course I didn’t do it on purpose. I shall have some pleasant news to tell you when I see you again—or—” with a glance of deep love at Celia, “perhaps I shall find means to let you know of it before I see you.”
The color came and went in Celia’s cheeks. She understood what he meant and nestled closer to him.