Blue Ruin by Grace Livingston Hill Read Free Book Online

disclose a secret she had been keeping for four years to surprise him.
    “I’m not sulky,” she said gravely. “I’m just astonished. Startled perhaps. You talk so strangely. You do not seem like yourself. It hurts to have you talk that way.”
    “That’s natural,” sympathized Dana somewhat loftily. “Everything changes as we grow older. We can’t be children always, you know. I confess I was somewhat startled myself when I first went to college and found out how many wrong notions I had acquired. But it will all seem perfectly harmonious when you get adjusted to the new order, my dear, and it’s really much more beautiful and free. It gives one a chance for individual thinking along broad lines without being hampered by so many ‘thou-shalt-nots’.”
    “I don’t quite think I understand you,” said Lynette in a voice that was cool, almost stern with apprehension.
    “Don’t try,” said Dana lightly. “Let’s put it aside for today. We’ve just a few minutes left before we get home. Let’s enjoy every minute of it. Hasn’t this been a perfect day? Look at the valley now with that broad band of low sunlight across it. That brings out your metal embroidery in fine shape, doesn’t it?”
    Lynette lifted unseeing eyes to the gorgeous valley, but she was not thinking about the landscape. There were things that Dana had said that did not seem to ring true to his old convictions. Had Dana changed? She was weighing his words carefully to see if she might have misunderstood him.
    Dana talked on volubly, but Lynette walked the rest of the way home almost in silence with downcast, troubled eyes. There seemed somehow to have been a great many things said that day that were disturbing. Or was it purely her imagination? Yet he had been critical, of her college, herself, and her way of thinking. Was she perhaps growing conceited that it hurt her to be criticized?
    The long afternoon shadows were beginning to lay gray fingers over the bright meadows and draw shy veils of mystery across the more distant mountains as they came in sight of town. In the end they had to hurry. Dana left her a block from her home and started on a run, for it was getting near train time and he had to go to the garage for the car before he could go to the station.
    Lynette, lingering, walking slowly with troubled demeanor, tried to shake off the feeling of depression that hung upon her like a weight. How foolish of her to let such thoughts take possession of her! It was just because she was so wrought up about getting home and being with Dana again. Tonight they would have a good talk and clear all the trouble up. Dana was all right. Of course he had not changed! Hadn’t she known him for years? Dana couldn’t change!
    But her mother was waiting on the porch! She must have seen Dana go by and would be wondering what was the matter and where she was. She hastened her steps and summoned a smile. Her mother must not see that she was upset. Mother was always so keen to read right through her and pick out what was in her heart, sometimes when she didn’t even know it was there herself.
    “Dana had to go to the station to meet some tiresome visitors for his Aunt Justine,” she explained as she came up the walk. “Oh, yes, he’s coming back to supper. I’m glad I got home so soon. Now I’ll have time to make the biscuits for you. No, I’m not a bit tired. I’ll love to make them! You lie down in the hammock and rest. I just know you’ve been on your feet all day. You always do on birthdays. Oh, yes, I’ve had a wonderful time, you dear little mother! And where is Grandmother? I haven’t had my birthday kiss from her yet. And Elim! Did he go fishing? I’m afraid he was disappointed. I promised him a long time ago and didn’t realize.”
    She passed lightly in at the porch door and her mother looked after her yearningly. Was there a shadow in her girl’s eyes?
    Well, but there was no ring on her girl’s finger—not yet !

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