Would it be rubber trees in Madagascar, or just a plain case of “worthless cheque”? Or would it be “power of attorney” with one or the other of them getting the “heiress”? Phœbe hoped it would be the latter. “I’ve handled a lunatic,” she said to herself, “which makes me hanker after the intelligent even if they be criminal.”
“Well, we’ll keep our eyes open, boy,” said Phœbe; “but whatever you do don’t let on you suspect anything. Meet a confidence man with confidence. You’ll spoil everything if you go about like you were this afternoon lookin’ as glum as cold beeswax. Didn’t you see how I was jollyin’ ’em along? Did you think I meant half what I said? Of course I didn’t. It was to make them feel easy. The devil was never yet fooled by a pious face.”
Phœbe understood Walter better than anyone else. This theory of her hilarious enjoyment filled him with peace and sent him home with his head in the air.
CHAPTER XVIII
HARDY PERENNIALS
Jerry’s long walk the previous evening had given her an excuse to have her coffee and rolls served in her room. She did not want to admit even to herself that she was nervously apprehensive of committing herself in the presence of Richard, but an undefined fear of him had quenched some of her natural Virginia boldness. With so many willing blacks about the place breakfast in one’s room was an easy matter at “Red Jacket”; and it was too common a custom to create comment. She might avoid luncheon, too, but she knew that she could not hide indefinitely; so she came down.
Some of her indefinite fears became definite when she faced Richard at table. The men were full of their sail and of their good times at Phœbe Norris’. That permitted her to watch them unobserved. Occasionally, however, Richard glanced at her as if curious about her expressionless silence, but, she admitted ruefully, he was unconscious of his effect on her, as unconscious as a contented kitten. He was a terribly satisfied person! That was due, she supposed, to his frank egoism, but whatever the cause she felt helpless before it. Could nothing move this man? His peaceful blue eyes fronted the world too serenely for her comfort. “Sea blue imperturbable,” she thought, purposely twisting Carlyle’s phrase.
There was one way to move him, but that would move him out of the county on the next train—to make eyes at him. She would never do that; never! Her lips closed firmly and a snap came into her eyes at the very thought of it. Nevertheless, she felt cornered, and it almost angered her. Here was the tragic dilemma of sex: she must not make the slightest advance, and unless she did, this man would never be budged.
She thought of all her fine speeches to him about the joy of being treated not as a woman but as a human being, but she did not care to remember his enthusiastic reception of this point of view. Other men had fluttered and looked unutterable male things at her and she had been annoyed. Why was this calm gentleman built on such an unflutterable mould? Jawn, now, was flirting with her this very minute; Richard—the thought of Richard flirting with anyone was so preposterous that she unconsciously smiled.
The eager Jawn was quick to pounce on that smile. He took it to himself and ogled back.
“Huh!” he puffed; “I worked hard for that! I thought you were going to walk in your sleep during the whole meal. It took five exceptionally clever remarks, each guaranteed to raise a laugh, to bring one little smile. Do we owe for last week’s board, or something? Or have you missed a solid silver spoon?”