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SILVER l F UTE b w w V t Lida Larrimore W N U CHAPTER XIV 12 12 r i TT B D herD ARBARA ARDARA lay on the beach her arms folded under her eyes dreaming up Into the cloudless blue of ot the sky Kit sat beside her ber sketching Barbara Darbara lay very cry still thinking ot of many things Summer was on over r BayHead ThIs was their last day at nt Bay head Dead Tomorrow the they would re re- return re return turn to What then When the summer Is over Uncle Stephen had bad said She thought with a faint con con- confused confused con confused fused feeling of 01 what l that might mean When the summer Is over She knew know now v that she had tried to hold the days to keep them from passing too rapidly Each ot of them was precious sunny days gray days wrapped In blankets ot of fog stormy days when the wind blew from the northeast and the breakers pounded n against the shore Another day Something ml might ht hap Imp happen happen pen Weeks ahead Passing pass pass- passIng passing passing ing too rapidly sunny days cloudy days da days s 's when the storm wind blew She could not hold them They were gone When the summer sum sum- summer summer mer Is over Uncle St Stephen phen had said She remembered the day he had said It the day after her party when Uncle Steph Stephen n had kissed her beside the lily Illy pond In that new and frIghtening wa way It was late In the afternoon She had sat In the li- li library li library alcove alcore hidden by the hangings trying to write to Bruce a sad difficult difficult cult letter a letter to tell him that she must stay with Uncle Stephen She was tired so dreadfully tired The rain against the window had hadT veen Jeen cen soothing She had gone to sleep tired so dreadfully tired I Voices had roused her Uncle Ste Ste- Stephen's Stephen's phen's voice rolee the plushy sound fat sound fat In Ing voice rolce of ot Aunt Edith's friend Mrs Beach She had meant to come from behind the curtains It wasn't polite to listen to a n conversation when no one knew you OU were vere there And then she had discovered d that Mrs Irs Beach was talking about her She couldn't come out then She hall had been too shy and hurt and ashamed too sorry for Uncle Stephen Ste- Ste Stephen Ste Stephen phen Susie Monroe she had heard had seen Uncle Stephen kiss her lier beside the lily Illy pond Susie had told her grandmother and her grandmother a friend of ot Aunt Edith's had told Mrs Bench Beach Everybody was talk talk- talkIng talking talking ing Mrs Bench reported She felt It her ber duty to tell Stephen Uncle Stephen had been very ery angry Indeed angry angry but very polite lIe had said very little Barbara knew by the tone of ot his voice that he was angry and hurt She had been so sorry Mrry for Uncle Stephen hearing Mrs Beach talk lIe He had been kind to her and the children so wonder wonder- wonderfully wonderfully full fully gentle and kind She wanted to help him somehow There was wai nothing she could do Uncle Stephen at nt last had hall rung rong for Henry Mrs Sirs Beach Delch had rustled out of ot the room Barbara had not meant Uncle Ste Ste- Stephen phen to know that she had over over- overheard overheard heard the conversation She waited until she thought he had hud left leCt the room Then she stepped out from behind the curtains lIe He was there standing beside the hearth his brows vs drawn down over his angry eyes ees lie He had looked sorry when he saw her sorry angry and hurt You heard he had asked Im sorry Uncle Stephen n D D n them lie he had said meaning mean mean- meanIng meaning ing Mrs Sirs Beach and Susie Monroe and Susies Susie's gossiping grandmother Im so terribly sorry som lIe He had looked so sorry and angry that she he had wanted to help him people will talk Uncle Stephen Theres There's nothing you ou can do lIo Theres one thing he lie had said She knew whit what he meant She could tell by Ly th the expression In his eyes es A weight had settled Into her heart henrt If It he hadn't kissed her that evening before In that frightening sort of way she would have thought that he be meant only to protect her But hut he hp h had kissed her She knew about being In love had hall said Barbara he She had wanted to stop him Thinking of ot Bruce Broce she had wanted to run away awny He lIe must have seen feen that she was confused lie He had not touched herVe her Wo We Ve wont won't talk talle about It now he had paid said When the summer Is O er over Undo Stephen had taken them to toBay toBay nay Bay Head with Sarah and a n brown cook named Eliza Ellza lIe He had come do m only for week ends Barbara that Sinco Since the was grateful for evening before Lefore the lily Illy pond since Iru Bench had swept out of ot the II library It tend hall embarras embarrassed ed her to tobe tobe tobe h her herto r It hurt be with Uncle Stephen tl to feel that wa way hut But silo sno couldn't couldn t i help It no matter how v hard she tried He lie had been as kind as ns ever ewer But Dut Buthis Buthis his manner bad had changed lIe He treat treat- treated treated treated ed her like a n grown up young lady Indy lie He never kissed her as he did Cay Gny or tousled her hair or ducked her under the waves lIe He never neer called her Babble lIe He called her Barbara now nil all the time She might have hae thought that she had Imagined that evening beside the Illy lily pond except that that sometImes he looked at nt her In a wistful sort fOrt ot of otI wn way I And now It was September When the summer Is over oer Uncle St Stephen phen had said Do you know where Bruce Is Dabs Babs Kit lounging beside her ber asked No Xo she said turning her head to avoid nold Kits Kit's eyes She didn't know He lIe had not answered the difficult letter she wrote him the I letter which told him that she must stay with Uncle Stephen Her lIer fol- fol following fol following lowing letters had been heen returned un unopened un- un unopened open opened ell Bruce had disappeared without telli telling g her that he under under- understood understood understood stood without a consoling word Bruce Druce who had loved her lier so much I sho should think be he would write to tous tous tous us Kit grumbled I thought be liked us n a lot Item Remember ember how he used to take us swimming Barbara nodded unable to speak because of ot a lump In her throat thront lie He was afraid to tell her how deeply he loved lond her because Lecause she was a little girl no higher than his heart and he be wasn't sure that she knew v about being In love Kits Kit's voice olce broke the silence Here comes Uncle Stephen he said springing up from the sand lIes early toda today I guess that's be- be because because be because cause were we're going home Going home borne I But home was the shingled gray house In to town Province Province town She could never think ot of as home They were going bac back tomorrow When the summer Is over o Uncle Stephen had said Barbara saw Uncle Stephen walk walk- walking walking In ing toward them down Yn the Leach beach tall and erect In his bathing suit tanned by weekends week with them at atthe atthe the shore She saw Gay leave len the I chatterIng group and run to meet him She saw Jamie racing toward him She saw KIt Kit his face shining I with excited pleasure crowding Gay I I and Jamie aside The children loved Uncle Stephen She loved him too j But Dut she slie wanted to run away Hows my girl Stephen asked dropping down on the sand beside her Fine she answered crawling In- In Inside In Inside side sille the secret shell of ot herself herselt She didn't like to hide from Uncle Stephen But she had to somehow It was something she couldn't help Barbara saw and loved his pa- pa patience patience pa patience tience with the children It was lovely to see them together healthy and happy and brown and carefree They wouldn't be here of course It If It wasn't for or Uncle Stephen She could never be grateful enough But he didn't want her to be grate grateful ful fut He Ue wanted her to be happy Would she be happy after a n while Would she forget foret about Bruce Druce Would the ache In her throat thront dis Ills disappear disappear appear lf It Perhaps If she tried very hard bard Run nun along Stephen said pres pres- presently ertly I want to talk to Barbara They scattered In various directions directions Barbara sat very nry still What would Uncle Stephen say When the summer Is over O r rIt It was about the house bouse In I I had a letter from the real es- es estate estate es estate tate agent Stephen said Some esI I one wants to buy It Oh Uncle Stephen I 1 Barbara felta felt a strange lonely ache In her heart hart She couldn't bear the thought ot of selling the shingled gray house Do you ou mind so much Stephen asked seeing a shadow slip across her face seeing her hands clasping each ench other tightly I loved It It she said Mid with a n lit lit- littie lit little tle tie catch In her ber voice She had liked to think It was waiting there waiting for Bruce and for her But Dut you wont won't ne need It probably Stephen said What was she think think- thinkIng thinking ing tag he wondered He lie knew v so little about her ber The summer had made no difference She seemed more distant from rom him than tan she had hadIn hadin hadIn In the spring What could he be do No Xo she agreed with a little sigh We wont won't ever eer need It again Its rather a good offer Stephen continued What do you want todo to todor do doT dor Sell It I guess It would be behers behers hrs hers no longer the shingled gray gray house she had bad loved lo She wouldn't live there with Bruce Druce It might Just as all well be sold Bold Therell be money she rhe added I can pay for forthe forthe forthe the clothes Must lust you Stephen asked Ilk Uk- lik liking ing her Independence but a little hurt as ns well Id Ill feel better she said That was the agreement you know v Yes I know But Im I'm your guar guardian dian dlan now You weren't then She smiled faintly I think that makes a dif dU- difference difference ference Was she happy Stephen won won- wondered wondered on dered What lay behind the smile behind the sadness In her eyes ees She was dear to him so very ery dear Should he have waited Should he hn have e asked her to marry him that night beside the Illy lily pond She had seemed so small and so very ver- youn young Was Ras It her mother he hall had kissed the Barbara he had loved a aHry avery avery very long time ago ngo He lIe had want want- wanted wanted ed cd to be sure lIe He wasn't sure even now Would you like to go to Pros Pros- ProvIncetown he asked There are arc some things s I would like to have hare The dark lashes Inshes lift lift- lifted lifted lifted ed The bed Father made for me his paintings my chest Yes I think Id I'd like to go o We e can cnn go next week All of ot us The question hurt Stephen n a little She didn't want to be alone with him All AU summer she had clung to the children Why If It you like he agreed Is It Ita n a good Idea She nodded slowly avoiding his hise e eyes es Then that's settled he said Suddenly site couldn't bear the thought of ot losing the shingled gray gray house She felt elt her eyes fill flit with VAr I r t f R 3 s 1 s S K The Tears Didn't Show Through the Water That Streaked Her Face tears But she mustn't let Uncle Stephen know v She pulled herself herselt up from the sand Lets go o In swimming she said forcing her voice to sound gay gar Ill race you Uncle Stephen She ran down the beach Leach to the edge of ot the curving waves wares lIe He caught up with her as she dove e through a foaming breaker braker I won l I she cried breathless smiling The tears didn't show through the water that streaked her face S e e e e e eThe The moon rose out ot or the ocean making a path of ot silver across the waves wares It shone on the cottage ver ver- ver- ver veranda veranda anda n where here Stephen sat with Bar Dar Darbara Barbara Barbara bara The summer Is over he lie said breaking a n long uneasy silence Have e you ou been happy Yes she slie said slowly Ive liked It here Its It's been splendId for or the children Do you alwa always s 's think first or of them I want you to think of ot your your- yourself yourself our self now Stephen said gravely Dont consider the children There was something In his voice olce What was he going to say She sat still almost holding her breath Would you like to go to Eu- Eu Europe Europe Eu Europe rope he asked wishing that he could see her eyes All of ot us Just you and and I-and I and Kit per per- perhaps perhaps perhaps haps Oh I The exclamation was a soft little sound Startled Fright Fright- Frightened Frightened ened Happy Stephen could not telL Do I seem very old to you he asked I dont don't think about your our age she said afraid he might be hurt She slipped her hand Into his to tell him that she loved ell him I just think youre you're very Cry nice Stephen held her hand tightly It If only he lie might be sure I Would you like to go with m me- me me Just you and 1 I and Kit lilt Z She knew what he meant She ShedId Shedid Shedid dId not answer at nt once It would be splendid for Cor Kit hit And Uncle St Stephen phen was nice Bruce had gone Nothing else mattered at nt all Hll Yes she Bhe said softly Yes I would like hike to go You know what 1 I mean he asked Yes Uncle Stephen I 1 know v Will that make you happy he persisted He didn't know She sat so quietly beside him him her hand handheld handheld held leM fast In his Wasn't she too quiet too reasonable What lay behind the soft notes In her voice Yes she said She left heft her own chair and sat on the arm of ot his want want- wantIng wanting ing to feel closer to him afraid ot of the queer lonely pain In her heart Are you really happy he asked Cross my heart She made the sign on ou the boll bodice Ice of ot her frock The chIldish gesture touched him and troubled him too Was she ibe old enough He lIe thought that she was lie would be very gentle Well stay until spring he said aid I saidI 1 haven't harent had bad a n real vacation to for years He lIe had thought of ot It constantly during the summer It would be easier he had decided to make tIle the necessary adjustments away awny from home Aunt Edith would come back to live e at Gay and Jamie could be there for vacations Aunt Edith fond was of ot the young young- er younger children When they returned from Europe Aunt Edith would have become accustomed to the Idea It seemed a n sensible plan Do you want to take Kit she asked If you ou would like him to go lIe thought that she slie might be unhappy without the children lIe He wanted I her to be happ happy She was dearer dearr to him than anything In the world It will be splendid for tor Kit hilt she will said and Stephen knew that he had jud judged ed correctly She Slie didn't want to be Le entirely alone with him Had he misunderstood her Impulsive I Ido do love you Uncle Stephen that night beside the Illy lily pond But she had no Interest In n Lo boys s 's She had discouraged them all summer had seemed to be content with the chil chil- children chil- chil children children dren and him The children and him That of ot course was the source of ot his anxieties and doubts Barbara he said Yes Her lier arm was around his neck lle He felt her hair silky and soft brush brush- brushing brushing ing against his cheek Barbaras Barbara's hair would have e felt like that that- that the Barbara he had hall loved Why did he think o of her l when hen the young Barbara was there beside hIm close and warm and fragrant Was It her mother he loved You Yon mustn't do this for me he said gravely Or for the children You must think of ot yourself But nut it didn't matter about her Bruce Druce had gone Jone The silver sliver flute ute was silent lost perhaps It would never nefer play again I love you OU pretty gypsy girl with the roses In your our hair Bruce Broce was lost lot the lovel lovely things they had planned Well count the stars th through ough our 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