第92章 CHAPTER XIX(3)
"Hold steady!"cried Philip."Don't move for your life!"He rushed toward the moth,made a quick sweep and held it up between his fingers."All right!"he called."Thanks,every one!Excuse me a minute."He ran to the office.
"An ounce of gasolene,quick!"he ordered."A cigar box,a cork,and the glue bottle."He poured some glue into the bottom of the box,set the cork in it firmly,dashed the gasolene over the moth repeatedly,pinned it to the cork,poured the remainder of the liquid over it,closed the box,and fastened it.
Then he laid a bill on the counter.
"Pack that box with cork around it,in one twice its size,tie securely and express to this address at once."He scribbled on a sheet of paper and shoved it over.
"On your honour,will you do that faithfully as I say?"he asked the clerk.
"Certainly,"was the reply.
"Then keep the change,"called Philip as he ran back to the pavilion.
Edith Carr stood where he left her,thinking rapidly.
She heard the murmur that arose when Philip started to capture the exquisite golden creature she was impersonating.She saw the flash of surprise that went over unrestrained faces when he ran from the room,without even showing it to her."The last one Elnora needs,"rang in her ears.He had told her that he helped collect moths the previous summer,but she had understood that the Bird Woman,with whose work Miss Carr was familiar,wanted them to put in a book.
He had spoken of a country girl he had met who played the violin wonderfully,and at times,he had shown a disposition to exalt her as a standard of womanhood.
Miss Carr had ignored what he said,and talked of something else.But that girl's name had been Elnora.
It was she who was collecting moths!No doubt she was the competent judge who was responsible for the yellow costume Philip had devised.Had Edith Carr been in her room,she would have torn off the dress at the thought.
Being in a circle of her best friends,which to her meant her keenest rivals and harshest critics,she grew rigid with anger.Her breath hurt her paining chest.No one thought to speak to the musicians,and seeing the floor filled,they began the waltz.Only part of the guests could see what had happened,and at once the others formed and commenced to dance.Gay couples came whirling past her.
Edith Carr grew very white as she stood alone.Her lips turned pale,while her dark eyes flamed with anger.
She stood perfectly still where Philip had left her,and the approaching men guided their partners around her,while the girls,looking back,could be seen making exclamations of surprise.
The idolized only daughter of the Carr family hoped that she would drop dead from mortification,but nothing happened.
She was too perverse to step aside and say that she was waiting for Philip.Then came Tom Levering dancing with Polly Ammon.Being in the scales with the Ammon family,Tom scented trouble from afar,so he whispered to Polly:
"Edith is standing in the middle of the floor,and she's awful mad about something.""That won't hurt her,"laughed Polly."It's an old pose of hers.She knows she looks superb when she is angry,so she keeps herself furious half the time on purpose.""She looks like the mischief!"answered Tom."Hadn't we better steer over and wait with her?She's the ugliest sight I ever saw!""Why,Tom!"cried Polly."Stop,quickly!"They hurried to Edith.
"Come dear,"said Polly."We are going to wait with you until Phil returns.Let's go after a drink.
I am so thirsty!"
"Yes,do!"begged Tom,offering his arm."Let's get out of here until Phil comes."There was the opportunity to laugh and walk away,but Edith Carr would not accept it.
"My betrothed left me here,"she said."Here I shall remain until he returns for me,and then--he will be my betrothed no longer!"Polly grasped Edith's arm.
"Oh,Edith!"she implored."Don't make a scene here,and to-night.Edith,this has been the loveliest dance ever given at the club house.Every one is saying so.
Edith!Darling,do come!Phil will be back in a second.
He can explain!It's only a breath since I saw him go out.
I thought he had returned."
As Polly panted these disjointed ejaculations,Tom Levering began to grow angry on her account.
"He has been gone just long enough to show every one of his guests that he will leave me standing alone,like a neglected fool,for any passing whim of his.
Explain!His explanation would sound well!Do you know for whom he caught that moth?It is being sent to a girl he flirted with all last summer.It has just occurred to me that the dress I am wearing is her suggestion.Let him try to explain!"Speech unloosed the fountain.She stripped off her gloves to free her hands.At that instant the dancers parted to admit Philip.Instinctively they stopped as they approached and with wondering faces walled in Edith and Philip,Polly and Tom.
"Mighty good of you to wait!"cried Philip,his face showing his delight over his success in capturing the Yellow Emperor."I thought when I heard the music you were going on.""How did you think I was going on?"demanded Edith Carr in frigid tones.
"I thought you would step aside and wait a few seconds for me,or dance with Henderson.It was most important to have that moth.It completes a valuable collection for a person who needs the money.Come!"He held out his arms.