And
his interest was growing by leaps and bounds. This woman
fascinated him; he was infatuated--bewitched by her personality.
To be near her affected him mentally and physically in a way too
extraordinary to analyze or to describe. It was as if they were so
sympathetically attuned that the mere sound of her voice set his
whole being into vibrant response, where all his life he had lain
mute. She played havoc with his resolutions, too, awaking in him
the wildest envy and desire. He no longer thought of her as
unattainable; on the contrary, her husband's shortcomings seemed
providential. Absurd, impossible ways of winning her suggested
themselves. To risk a further estrangement, therefore, was
intolerable.
But as if his thoughts were telepathic messages, she did the very
thing he feared.
"We won't be in before midnight," she said, "but I'll send you to
Jonesville in the morning."
"Thank you, ma'am--I'll have to go right through."
"I'll get you there in time for business. We've gained a
reputation for inhospitableness at Las Palmas that I want to
overcome." In spite of their recent clash, in spite of the fact
that this fellow's ruthlessness and indifference to human life
shocked her, Alaire was conscious of her obligation to him, and
aware also of a growing friendship between them which made the
present situation all the more trying.
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