"E. E. Doc Smith - Skylark 1 - Skylark of Space " - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

`What a stunt!' he muttered ruefully to himself as he considered what he had done. `What
a stupid jerk! If she doesn't give me the bum's rush for this I'll never do it again if I live to
be a million years old.тАЩ




-3-
Chapter Two

As evening came on and the fireflies began flashing over the grounds of her luxurious
Chevy Chase home, Dorothy Vaneman went upstairs to dress. Mrs. Vaneman's eyes
followed her daughter's tall, trim figure more than a little apprehensively. She was
wondering about this engagement. True, Richard was a fine chap and might make a
name for himself, but at present he was a nobody and, socially, he would always be a
nobody . . . and men of wealth, of distinction, of impeccable social status, had paid court
... but Dorothy - no, `stubborn' was not too strong a term - when Dorothy made up her
mind . . .

Unaware of her mother's look, Dorothy went happily up the stairs. She glanced at the
clock, saw that it was only a little after six, and sat down at her dressing table, upon
which there stood a picture of Richard. A strong, not unhandsome face, with keen, wide-
set gray eyes; the wide brow of the thinker, surmounted by thick, unruly, dark hair; the
firm, square jaw of the born fighter - such was the man whose vivid personality, fierce
impetuosity, and indomitable perseverance had set him apart from all other men ever
since their first meeting, and who had rapidly cleared the field of all other aspirants for
her favor. Her breath came faster and her cheeks showed a lovelier color as she sat
there, the lights playing in her heavy auburn hair and a tender smile upon her lips.

Dorothy dressed with unusual care and, the last touches deftly made, went downstairs
and out upon the porch to wait for her guest.

Half an hour passed. Mrs. Vaneman came to the door and said anxiously, `I wonder if
anything could have happened to him? 9
`Of course there hasn't' Dorothy tried to keep all concern out of her voice. `Traffic jams -
or perhaps he has been picked up again for speeding. Can Alice keep dinner a little
longer?'

`To be sure,' her mother answered, and disappeared.
But when another half hour had passed Dorothy went in, holding her head somewhat
higher than usual and wearing a say-something-if-you-dare expression.
The meal was eaten in polite disregard of the unused plate. The family left the table. For
Dorothy the evening was endless; but at the usual time it was ten o'clock, and then ten-
thirty, and then Seaton appeared.

Dorothy opened the door, but Seaton did not come in. He stood close to her, but did not
touch her. His eyes searched her face anxiously. Upon his face was a look of indecision,
almost of fright - a look so foreign to his usual expression that the girl smiled in spite of
herself.