Both of them looked at Jonny and Jonny looked at them gravely and went to take the kitten from Matt. Laura said, “We must take Jonny to her mother now. She is waiting.”
“Right; we’ll take her to Doris’ place, too. Look here, Laura, there’s something I want to get straight. I couldn’t until Doris saw it, too. I was in love with her; you know that. After Conrad’s death she needed me. She was alone. I’m very fond of her. I was the only person she could turn to. And she was bewildered about money; she’s been spending wildly; I had to help her to get things straight. I owed her loyalty. But I’m not in love with her. And—she knows it.”
“She’s—in love with you.”
“No, she isn’t. Not really. She only needed me. She doesn’t really want to marry me. And—” Unexpectedly, Matt laughed. His eyes danced. “I’ve got other ideas about the girl I am going to marry.”
Jonny gave Laura a suddenly mischievous and feminine twinkle, cuddled the kitten on her shoulder and walked across the apartment to stand at the window, her back turned sedately upon them. A small song drifted across the room. “I am a little Cracovian.”
Matt laughed again. “You are a little American, Jonny. I’ll teach you ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ But not right now. I’ve got something to say to Laura.” His eyes now were very blue and intent, his face sober. There was a moment of stillness between them. Then he came to Laura.
After a long time, Laura saw Jonny beyond the close, hard curve of Matt’s arm. She was holding the kitten curled snugly under her chin, watching them, her blue eyes dancing in the lights from the Christmas tree. “Dobre,” Jonny said, and added unexpectedly and rather impatiently, “Say—it—Matt.”
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copyright © 1955, 1956 by Mignon G. Eberhart
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