“And you have found out—” I began.
He laid his hand quickly on my arm.
“Yes, I have found that it is I who love her—eternally, truly! But don’t tell any one of this; it seems to me strange that I should speak of it, even to you. I cannot ask her to marry me yet. But there seems to be a relief in letting you know.”
I was expressing my pleasure at being of any use to him, when the ominous sound of the approaching cars made itself heard, and I had to hurry off. But, all the way back to the city, I could think of nothing but Silverthorn’s announcement; and suddenly there flashed upon me the secret and the danger of the whole situation. This girl, who had so much interested the two friends, in spite of their strong contrasts of character, was, perhaps, the only one in the world who could have pleased them both; for in her own person she seemed to display a mixture of elements, much the same and quite as decided as theirs. What, then, if Vibbard also should wake up to the knowledge of a love for her?
The next time I saw Silverthorn, which was a full year later, I said to him:
“Do you hear from Vibbard anything about that agreement to divide your gains?”
“No!” he replied, avoiding my eye; “nothing about that.”
“Do you expect him to keep it?”
“Yes!” he said, glancing swiftly up again, with a gleam of friendly vindication in his eyes. “I know he will.”