human
Ted,--dear! I thought you'd gone to school!
gpt
I'm just going. Sis,--I --he came close to her, his bonny young face suddenly scarlet--
human
I just wanted to say--I know why you're going down there, and--and I'm for you a million! He's all right, old Jimsy. Don't you let anybody tell you he isn't. I--you're a sport to pike down there all by yourself. _You're all right_, Sis! I'm strong for you!
gpt
Ted! The distance between them melted; she felt the hug of his hard young arms and there was a lump in her throat and tears in her eyes, but she fought them back. He would be aghast at her if she cried. He wouldn't be for her a million any longer. She must not break down though she felt more like it than at any time since her arrival. She kept silent and let him pat her clumsily and heavily till she could command her voice.
human
I'm glad you want me to go, Teddy.
gpt
You bet I do. You stick, Sis! _And don't you let Carter spill the beans!_
human
Why, Ted, he----
gpt
You keep an eye on that bird, said the boy, grimly.
human
You keep your lamps lit!
gpt
Why do you suppose he said that, Stepper?
human
I don't think he meant anything specific, T. S., but you know the kids have never cared for Carter.
gpt
I know; it's that he isn't their type. They haven't understood him.
human
Or--it's that they have.
gpt
Stepper! You, too? Honor was driving and she did not turn her head to look at him, but he knew the expression of her face from the tone of her voice.
human
Do you mean that, seriously?
gpt
I think I do, T. S. Look here,--we might as well talk things over straight from the shoulder this morning. Shall we?
human
Please do, Stepper.
gpt
Want me to drive?
human
No,--I like the feel of the wheel again, after so long. You talk, Stepper.
gpt
Well, T. S., I've no tangible charge to make against Carter, save that his influence has been consistently bad for Jimsy since the first day he limped into our ken. Consistently and--_persistently_ bad, T. S. You know--since we're not dealing in persiflage this morning--that Carter is quite madly, crazily, desperately in love with you?
human
I--yes, I suppose that's what you'd call it, Stepper. He--rather lost his head last summer,--the night before you sailed.
gpt
But the night before we sailed, said her stepfather, drawing from his neatly card-indexed memory,
human
Yes,--but on my way upstairs. The lift had stopped, you know. I was frightfully angry at him and said something cruel, but the next morning he looked so white and wretched and wrote me such a pathetic letter, asking me to forgive and forget and all that sort of thing, and I sent him a wire to the steamer, saying I would.
gpt
Ah! That was his telegram. We wondered.
human
And he's been very nice since, in the few letters I've had from him.
gpt
I daresay. But Ted's right, Top Step. In the parlance of the saints you _do_ 'want to keep your lamps lit.' Carter, denied health and strength and physical glory, has had everything else he's ever wanted except you,--and he hasn't given you up yet.
human
And now--more plain talk, T. S. This is a fine, sporting, rather spectacular thing you're doing, going down to Mexico after Jimsy, and I'm absolutely with you, but--if the worst should be true--if the boy really has gone to pieces--you won't marry him?
gpt
No, said the girl steadily, after an instant's pause.
human
If Jimsy should be--like his father--I wouldn't marry him, Stepper. There shouldn't be--any _more_ 'Wild Kings.' But I'd never marry any one else, and--oh, but it would be a long time to live, Stepper, dear!
gpt
I'm betting you'll find him in good shape,--and keep him so, Top Step. At any rate, however it comes out, you'll always be glad you went.
human
I know I will.
gpt
Yes; you're that sort of woman, T. S.,--the 'whither thou goest' kind. I believe women may roughly be divided into two classes; those who passively let themselves be loved; those who actively love. The former have the easier time of it, my dear. His tired eyes visioned his wife, now closeted with Madame. He sighed once and then he smiled.
human
And they get just as much in return, let me tell you,--more, I really believe. But I want you to promise me one thing.
gpt
What?
human
That you'll never give up your singing. Keep it always, T. S. There'll be times when you need it--to run away to--to hide in.
gpt
Every woman ought to have something! Men have. It should be with women as with men--love a thing apart in their lives, not their whole existence! Then they wouldn't agonize and wear on each other so! I believe there's a chapter in that, for my book, Top Step.
human
I'm sure there is, said Honor, warmly. They had reached the station now and a red cap came bounding for her bags.
gpt
And I won't even try to thank you, Stepper, dear, for all----
human
Don't be a goose, T. S.,--look! There are your Mexicans!
gpt
Aren't they _delicious_? They hurried toward them.
human
The girl's adorable!
gpt
They all are. Stephen Lorimer performed the introductions with proper grace and seriousness and they all stood about in strained silence until the Señora was nervously sure they ought to be getting on board.
human
Might as well, T. S., her stepfather said. She was looking rather white, he thought, and they might as well have the parting over. Honor was very steady about it.
gpt
Good-by, Stepper. I'll write you at once, and you'll keep us posted about Mr. King?