the red seal(红印)-第13章
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were not engaged to Jimmie … wait；〃 as she attempted to interrupt him。
〃You told me the night of the burglary that he was nothing to you。'〃
〃I was mistaken；〃 Helen's voice shook； she was very near to tears。
〃When I saw Jimmie lying there； dead〃 … she faltered； and her shoulders
drooped forlornly …〃 the world stopped for me。〃
〃Hysterical nonsense！〃 McIntyre was careful to avoid Barbara's eyes；
her indignant snort had been indicative of her feelings。 〃Keep to your
room； Helen； until you regain some common sense。 It is as well our
friends should not see you in your present frame of mind。〃
Helen regarded her father under lowered lids。 〃Very well；〃 she said
submissively and walked toward the door； on reaching it she paused； and
spoke over her shoulder。 〃Don't try me too far； father。〃
McIntyre stared for a full minute at the doorway through which Helen
took her departure。
〃Well； what the …〃 He pulled himself up short in the middle of the
ejaculation and turned to Barbara。 〃Go and get dressed；〃 he directed。
〃We must leave here in twenty minutes。〃
〃I am not going；〃 she announced。
〃Not going！〃 McIntyre frowned； then laughed abruptly。 〃Now； don't
tell me you were engaged to Jimmie Turnbull； also。〃
〃I think you are horrid！〃 Barbara's small foot came down with a
vigorous stamp。
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〃Well； perhaps I am；〃 her father admitted rather wearily。 〃Don't keep
us waiting； Babs； the car will be here in less than twenty minutes。〃
〃But； father； I prefer to stay at home。〃
And I prefer to have you accompany us；〃 retorted McIntyre。 〃Come；
Barbara； we cannot be discourteous to Mrs。 Brewster； she is our guest； and
this supper is for her entertainment。〃
〃Well； take her。〃 Barbara was openly rebellious。
〃Barbara！〃 His tone caused her to look at him in wonder； instead of
the stern rebuke she expected； his voice was almost wheedling。 〃I cannot
very well take Mrs。 Brewster to a caf at this hour without causing
gossip。〃
〃Oh； fiddle…sticks！〃 exclaimed Barbara。 〃I don't have to play
chaperon for you two。 Every one knows she is visiting us； what's there
improper in your taking her out to supper？ Why〃 … regarding him
critically …〃 she's young enough to be your daughter！〃
〃Go to your room！〃 There was nothing wheedling about McIntyre at
that instant； he was thoroughly incensed。
As Barbara sped out happy in having gained her way； she announced；
as a parting shot； 〃If you can be nasty to Helen； father； I can be nasty； too。〃
Colonel McIntyre brought his fist down on a smoking table with such
force that he scattered its contents over the floor。 When he rose from
picking up the debris； he found Mrs。 Brewster at his elbow。
〃Can I help？〃 she asked。
〃No； thanks； everything is back in place。〃 He pulled forward a chair
for her。 〃If agreeable to you I will telephone Ben Clymer that we will
stop for him and take him with us to the Caf St。 Marks； or would you
prefer some other man？〃
〃Oh； no。〃 She threw her evening wrap across the sofa and sat down。
〃Are the girls ready？〃
〃They … they are indisposed； and won't be able to go to…night。〃
〃What！ Both girls？〃
〃Yes； both〃 … firmly； not； however； meeting her eyes。
〃Hadn't I better stay with them？〃 she asked。 〃Have you telephoned
or Dr。 Stone？〃
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〃There is no necessity for giving up our little spree；〃 he declared
cheerily。 〃The girls don't need a physician。 They〃 … with meaning；
〃need a mother's care。〃 He picked up her coronation scarf from the floor
where it had slipped and laid it across her bare shoulders； the action was
almost a caress。 She made a lovely picture as she sat in the high…backed
carved chair in her chic evening gown； and as her soft dark eyes met his
ardent look； McIntyre felt the hot blood surge to his temples； and with
quickened pulse he went to the telephone stand and gave Central a
number。
Back in her chair Mrs。 Brewster sat thoughtfully watching him。 She
had been an unobserved witness of the scene with Barbara； having entered
the library in time to hear the girl's last remarks。 It was not the first inkling
that she had had of their disapproval of Colonel McIntyre's attentions to
her； but it had hurt。
The widow had become acquainted with the twins when； traveling in
Europe just before the outbreak of the World War； and had made the hasty
trip back to this country in their company。 Colonel McIntyre had
planned to bring the twins； then at school in Paris； home himself； but
business had kept him in the West and he had cabled to a spinster cousin to
chaperon them on the trip across the Atlantic Ocean。 Nor had he reached
New York in time to see them disembark； and thus had missed meeting
Mrs。 Brewster； then in her first year of widowhood。
The friendship between the twins and Mrs。 Brewster had been kept up
through much correspondence； and the widow had finally promised； to
come to Washington for their debut； visiting her cousins； Dr。 and Mrs。
Stone。 The meeting had but cemented the friendship between them； and at
the twins' urgent request； seconded with warmth by Colonel McIntyre； she
had promised to spend the month of April at the McIntyre home。
The visit was nearly over。 Mrs。 Brewster sighed faintly。 There were
two courses open to her； immediate departure； or to continue to ignore the
twins' strangely antagonistic behavior … the first course did not suit Mrs。
Brewster's plans。
Barbara； who had left the library through one of its seven doors； had
failed to see Mrs。 Brewster by the slightest margin； she was intent only on
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being with Helen。 The affection between the twins was very close； but
while their facial resemblance was remarkable； their natures were totally
dissimilar。 Helen； the elder by twenty minutes； was studious； shy； and too
much given to introspection； Barbara； on the contrary； was whimsical and
practical by turns； with a great capacity for enjoyment。 The twins had
made their debut jointly on their eighteenth birthday； and while both were
popular； Barbara had received the greater amount of attention。
Barbara tip…toed into the suite of rooms which the girls occupied over
the library； expecting to find Helen lying on the lounge； instead； she found
her writing busily at her desk。 She tossed down her pen as her sister
entered； and； taking up a blotter； carefully laid it across the page she had
been writing。
〃Thank heaven； I don't have to go to that supper party；〃 Barbara
announced； throwing herself full length on the lounge。
〃So father gave it up；〃 commented Helen。 〃I am glad。〃
〃Gave up nothing；〃 retorted her sister。 〃He and Margaret Brewster
are going。〃
〃What！〃 Helen wa
