No one
looked at her. It was as though they were afraid to read a pitiful
self-betrayal on her young, mobile features, and with a fierce attempt
at composure the Colonel turned to Stafford. He meant to break the icy
threatening silence with the first commonplace which occurred to him,
and at the bottom of his heart he cursed Travers for his attitude of
unconcealed scorn. The next instant, the clumsy words which he had
gathered together in his rage and distress were checked by Lois
herself. She advanced to Stafford with outstretched hand, her face
grave but absolutely composed.
"I congratulate you," she said. "I hope you will be very happy."
That was all, but it sufficed to break the spell which held them
bound. The Colonel's commonplace passed unnoticed, and Mrs. Carmichael
murmured inaudibly. Only Travers remained silent, immovable.
"Thank you," Stafford said. He had taken Lois' hand without hesitation
and the painful uneasiness which had at first marked his manner had
given place to a certain grave, decided dignity. "Thank you," he
repeated. "I hope we shall be happy. In the meantime, I must ask you
to keep our engagement private. My future wife wishes it for the
present--only you were to be told. So much I owed to you."
"Yes, you owed us so much," the Colonel said, and there was a faint,
irrepressible irony in his tone.
Stafford still held Lois' hand. He seemed to have forgotten that he
held it, and when she gently drew it away he started and a wave of
dark color mounted to his forehead.
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