“Well,” was Mrs. Noah’s first comment, as the door closed on Maddy; but as Guy made no response to that, she continued: “She is pretty. That you won’t deny.”
“Yes, more than pretty. She’ll make a most beautiful woman.”
Guy seemed to talk more to himself than to Mrs. Noah, while his foot kicked the fender, and he mentally compared Lucy and Maddy with each other, and tried to think that it was not the result of this comparison, but rather Mrs. Noah’s next remark, which affected him unpleasantly.
“Of course she’ll make a splendid woman,” Mrs. Noah said. “Everybody notices her now for her beauty, and that’s why you’ve no business to keep her here where you see her every day. It’s a wrong to her, lettin’ yourself alone.”
Guy looked up inquiringly, and Mrs. Noah continued:
“I’ve been a girl myself, and I know that Maddy can’t be treated as you treat her without its having an effect. I’ve no idea that it’s entered her head yet, but it will, and then good-bye to her happiness.”
“For pity’s sake, what do you mean? Do explain, and not talk to me in riddles. What have I done to Maddy, or what am I going to do?”
Guy spoke savagely, and his boots were in great danger of being burned as he kicked vigorously against the fender. Coming nearer to him, and lowering her voice, Mrs. Noah replied:
“You are going to teach her to love you, Guy Remington, just as sure as my name is Noah.”
“And is that anything so very bad, I’d like to know? Most girls do not find love distasteful,” and Guy walked hastily to the window, where he stood for a moment gazing out upon the soft April snow, which was falling, and feeling anything but satisfied either with the weather or himself; then walking back, and taking a seat before the fire, he said: “I understand you now. You would save Maddy Clyde from sorrow, and you are right. You know more of girls than I do. She might in time get to—to—think of me as she ought not. I never looked upon it in this light before. I’ve been so happy with her;” Guy’s voice faltered a little, but he recovered himself and went on: “I will tell her about Lucy to-night, but I can’t send her away. Neither will she be happy to go back, for though the best of people, they are not like Maddy, and you know it.”