He halted, reflected for a few moments, and then struck out into the undergrowth, confident that he was upon the spot where the unknown girl had sunk dying into his arms. Elma, who watched, followed him. He scarcely spoke, so fully absorbed was he in his quest.
At last he crossed some dead and broken bracken, and said:
Here! This is where I found her!
His pretty companion halted at his side and gazed about her. There was nothing save a tangle of undergrowth and dead ferns. Above were high bare oaks swaying slowly in the wintry wind.
Well, said Elma at last. Theres nothing here, is there?
He turned and looked her straight in the face, his expression very serious.
No. There is nothing, I admit. Nothing! And yet a great secret lies here. Here, this spot, remote from anywhere, was the scene of a mysterious tragedy. You hold one clue, Elma and I the other. And again he looked straight into her eyes, while standing on that very spot where the fair-haired girl had breathed her last in his arms, and then, after a few seconds silence, he went on: Elma! I I call you by your Christian name because I feel that you have my future at heart, and and I, on my part I love you! May I call you by your Christian name?
She returned his look very gravely. Her fine eyes met his, but he never wavered. Since that first day when Tweedles, her little black Pomeranian, had snapped at him she had been ever in his thoughts. He could not disguise the fact. Yet, after all, it was a very foolish dream, he had told himself dozens of times. He was poor very poor a mere adventurer on lifes troublous waters while she was the daughter of a millionaire with, perhaps, a peeress career before her.
Roddy, at last she spoke, I call you that! I think of you as Roddy, she said slowly, looking straight into his eyes. But in this matter we are very serious both of us eh?
Certainly we are, Elma, he replied, taking her hand passionately.
She withdrew it at once, saying:
You have brought me here for a purpose to find traces of of the girl who died at this spot. Where are the traces?
Well, the bracken is trodden down, as you see, he replied.
But surely that is no evidence of what you allege?
No, Elma. But that photograph which you showed me last night is a picture of her.
The girl smiled mysteriously.
You say so. How am I to know? They say that you are unfortunately suffering from delusions. In that case sight of any photograph would possibly strike a false chord in your memory.
False chord! he cried. Do you doubt this morning that I am in my sane senses? Do you doubt that which I have just said, Elma do you doubt that I love you?
The girls cheeks flushed instantly at his words. Next second they were pale again.
No, she said. Please dont let us talk of love, Mr Homfray.
Roddy call me that.
Well yes, Roddy, if you like.
I do like. You told me that you thought of me as Roddy. Can you never love me? he implored.
The girl held her breath. Her heart was beating quickly and her eyes were turned away. She let him take her gloved hand and raise it fervently to his lips. Then, without answering his question, she turned her splendid eyes to his and he saw in them a strange, mysterious expression such as he had never noticed in the eyes of any woman before.
He thought it was a look of sympathy and trust, but a moment later it seemed as though she doubted him she was half afraid of him.
Elma! he cried, still holding her hand. Tell me tell me that you care for me a little just a little! And he gazed imploringly into her pale face.
A little! she echoed softly. Perhaps well, perhaps I do, Roddy. But but do not let us speak of it now not until you are better.
Ah! You do love me a little, he cried with delight, again raising her hand to his lips. Perhaps you think Ive not recovered from that infernal drug which my unknown enemies gave me. But I declare that to-day I am in my full senses all except my memory which is still curiously at fault.
Let us agree to be very good friends, Roddy, the girl said, pressing his hand. I confess that I like you very much, she admitted, but love is quite another matter. We have not known each other very long, remember.