Gates of Dawn (20 page)

“
Doesn
’
t he?
”
Noel appeared almost to be grinning a little.
“
But that
’
s only what you think, isn
’
t it?
”

Melanie, crushing down embarrassment—because this was a subject she could never discuss with Noel, or anyone, if it came to that—studied her for a moment in silence, and realized that with renewed health the girl had become again almost startlingly pretty. And she looked older than her sixteen years, and the blue housecoat lent her additional glamor. What was it Brigid had said about Noel?
...
“
You will meet a man who lives amongst the snows, and you will marry him!
...
”

Of course, it was ridiculous to think of Noel married at this stage of her existence, and in her present fragile condition of health, but one day, if everything went well, a man—perhaps many men!
would
want to marry her—maybe such a man as Kurt Muller!
...

But this sort of speculation was absurd, and Noel little minx for putting it into her head. She shut up her
writing
pad with a snap and ordered her inside to bed, and Noel went with that annoying little
Cheshire
cat grin still on her face.

“
When are you going to climb another mountain with Kurt? Don
’
t tell me he hasn
’
t asked you!
...”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ACTUALLY it was about a fortnight later that Melanie once more climbed the mountain path which led to the dizzy pinnacle overhanging the flower-carpeted valley. But this time she climbed with the stars burning brightly overhead, and the
awesome
hush which precedes the miracle of a new day
’
s birth lying like a mantle over the valleys.

Kurt Muller guided her footsteps as before, only this time with even greater care because of the darkness. And as they neared the ledge where they had stood before she felt excitement begin to grip her, because the dawn, she knew, could not be far off.

But Kurt refused to allow her to hurry, although he sensed her eagerness. There was plenty of time, he said, and no danger of missing the spectacle they had set out to see.

And actually when they reached the ledge they had a little time to spare. There was no lightening of the darkness—if anything it was deeper than ever in those few solemn minutes before an unseen hand painted a kind of uncertain halo about the su
mm
it of the mountain peak facing them across the valley—and they sat down to smoke a cigarette apiece whilst they were waiting. Kurt had a rucksack which contained a flask of coffee and sandwiches intended to provide them with their breakfast, but during those minutes of waiting they were content to sit silently side by side on the ledge and gaze out across the valley without even feeling the need of conversation.

Melanie had her hands about her drawn-up knees, and she was thinking how utterly insignificant they two were in that curious isolation of loneliness where human beings were of such slight importance that they need not have existed at all. Even the stars so soon to be blotted from the sky above their heads—but only temporarily—had a more fixed purpose in the scheme of things, and were of infinitely greater value to mankind. At least they guided and directed the paths of those who looked to them for guidance, and their span of life was not brief but a portion of Time itself.

Kurt, who sat a little behind her, could see the outline of her head against the vague sky, and the pale, delicate blur of her profile. Not even a hair of her head stirred, for there was no wind at that hour, and the slight hands locked together about her knees were as motionless as if they had been carved out of stone.

And then it happened! The widening of that line of light about the summit of the mountain, as if the slow-burning wick of a lamp was being suddenly turned up to its fullest extent. As on another occasion Melanie felt the breath catch in her throat, and she leaned forward eagerly over her knees while the arc of light widened still further and there was nothing between her and the promise of a radiant new world which was actually the promise of a radiant new day.

The snow on the mountain peak shimmered like an opal, and a sea of unbelievably tender blue began to spread tranquilly above it. A rush of lemon light poured in from the east, and then a rush of rose and amber which turned the snows to crimson fire. One star remained caught up in all that turbulence, and it glittered and hung suspended as if by an invisible thread.

“
The gates of dawn!
”
Kurt murmured.
“
They
’
ll be wide open in a moment, and then the sun will rise!
”

When it rose Melanie felt as if the first warm touch of it on her face was something miraculous. That decided chill of the early summer night which had caused
her to feel thankful for the cosy comfort of her thick windcheater and stout tweed skirt was gone now—banished by the golden light which would soon flood the valleys—and she stretched forth her hands as if to seize it in her grasp and hold it up against her, and watching her Kurt saw that her whole face was irradiated by the brilliance which poured over her, and her eyes alight with wonder.

Another few minutes after that and the mountains stood forth clearly, the green slopes, and even the flower-filled meadows trailing like flowering skirts wrapped around their feet. There was the tiny church down there amongst the waist-high blossoms; the toy-like cows which were now left out all night to graze in the lower pastures, the blossom-wreathed wall of a farmhouse. The air had the sweetness of new wine, and a light breeze sprang up to temper the sudden warmth, Melanie felt it fan out
the
ends of her hair, and exhilaration shot through her as she turned to Kurt to thank him for this opportunity to see something she might never otherwise have seen.

“
Oh, it
’
s wonderful!
”
she exclaimed excitedly,
“
wonderful!
”

Kurt Muller smiled at her.

“
Good!
”
he said softly.

For the first time since they had met she was sparkling and natural and completely youthful. Gone was that faint suggestion of something which might, or might not, have
been unhappiness
—
he had not yet been able to make up
his mind—that persistent little shadow which lurked in her eyes, and so often set him wondering. For a girl of her age who was completely heartwhole would not, he felt sure, look exactly as she looked sometimes, particularly when she was unconscious of anyone observing her. And yet on the other hand she was so practical, so full of what he considered sound common sense, that it seemed a little strange.

But the most level-headed fall in love! And with those wide fawn-like eyes she would not, he was sure, love lightly, when the time came.

It was something in the nature of a reward, therefore, to find her suddenly
“
coming alive,
”
as it were, and sparkling with enthusiasm, because on the mountain-top she had temporarily forgotten her cares, if she had any. At least at this moment she was anything but unhappy, and decidedly grateful to him for a most unlooked-for treat. With the idea of further bolstering up her sense of well-being and contentment he opened his knapsack and produced the coffee flask and the sandwiches.

“
And now to breakfast!
”
he said.

They did not hurry back down the mountain, because for one thing this was
o
ne of the days when Dr. Muller did not report for duty at the clinic until evening, and Noel was quite safe in the charge of Trudi, who would look after her more than adequately. And it was so blissfully warm and inviting up there on the green slopes above the valley that Melanie was well content to linger.

And when they finally arrived back at the spot where they had left Kurt
’
s car he suggested having lunch at the little hotel, and because she did not like to refuse him Melanie agreed. Over lunch they discussed all sorts of things, including Noel and the progress she was making—he thought it essential that she should remain where she was for some considerable while longer if a permanent cure was to be ensured—and his work at the clinic among similar cases, and even Richard Trenchard, whom he had not so far met.

“
Do you think he will be willing to allow you both to remain on at the chalet more or less indefinitely?
”
he asked.
“
He does realize the need—the vital need of doing all that is possible for his niece at this rather difficult stage of her trouble? She must not be allowed any set-backs, and you are so obviously excellent for her that it would be unwise to place her in the care of anyone else.
”

Melanie looked uncertain.

“
But even if I cannot remain she must
—”

“
And why cannot you remain?
”
he asked her bluntly.

She did not quite know how to answer this.

“
Well, for one thing Mr. Trenchard may want to
visit his
chalet himself, and it is quite small
—”
She was
thinking of Sylvia Gaythorpe and the amount of accommodation she would require if she decided to visit Zindenbourg—
“
And then I may have to return to England.
”

He looked at her keenly.

“
Is there any urgent reason why you must return to England?
”

“
No,
”
she answered, and shook her head.
“
No-o
...”
rather more doubtfully.

“
Then Herr Trenchard must find accommodation at the hotel here, and you will remain at the chalet,
”
he said decidedly.

She smiled, and once again it was a faintly wistful smile, for there were reasons why she sometimes longed to return to England.

“
We must put it to him,
”
she said.
“
I can say nothing about his plans. But perhaps it would be better if you wrote to Dr. Crofts.
”

“
Ah, that is it!
”
he exclaimed.
“
I will write to him tonight.
”

She smiled this time a little teasingly.

“
You will be on duty tonight at the clinic.
”

“
Then
tomorrow morning! I will write first thing in the morning.
”

“
But please,
”
she insisted,
“
do make it clear to him—and insist that he makes it clear to Mr. Trenchard—that if he would prefer me to return to England I can now do so, for Noel is now so much improved that you could even take her as a patient at the clinic and she would not be upset by the strangeness. And I do not
w
ish Mr. Trenchard to be at the expense of retaining me unnecessarily.
”

“
Believe me,
”
he assured her,
“
there is nothing unnecessary about your retention by Mr. Trenchard as a companion for Miss Noel. Without you she might slip backwards alarmingly, and in any case we are quite full up at the clinic,
”
decidedly.

Melanie sighed inwardly. Zindenbourg was wonderful, she loved being with Noel, and Trudi
’
s cooking was a dream
...
But her heart was at Murchester, in the neighborhood of the Wold House, and if she could not actually be near Richard she could work once more for his sister.

...
And he might come there sometimes!

But as it happened there was no necessity for Dr. Muller to write the next morning to Dr. Crofts, and for Dr. Crofts to get in touch with Mr. Trenchard. After a leisurely lunch and a further equally leisurely drive amongst some of the beauties of the countryside Melanie was deposited outside the door of the chalet just at the hour when Trudi began to think about getting English afternoon tea for her and Noel. And as she waved goodbye to the doctor, backing away down the road, a voice addressed her from the open doorway behind her and caused her to become transfixed for a moment.

“
So you
’
ve returned, Miss Brooks!
”
said Richard Trenchard, the drip of ice in his voice.

Melanie managed to propel herself round to face him at last. She was clutching an armful of wildflowers, and her hair was in considerable disorder, after being blown about by all the winds of heaven since the dawn, and she looked tanned, and flushed-cheeked, and rather brilliant-eyed, in her clear blue linen shirt, which somehow seemed to emphasize the brilliance. But she could only stare in a kind of fascinated way at her employer.

“
Well?
”
he demanded, in that crushingly cold tone.
“
I hope you
’
ve had a good day?
”

“
Yes, very,
”
she found herself answering meekly.

He stood aside for her to pass up the steps and join him on the balcony in front of the chalet, and Noel emerged from the living-room-dining-room and looked with dancing eyes at Melanie.

“
You look as if you
’
ve had a marvellous day,
”
she observed, and relieved her of the flowers, inhaling their perfume with relish.
“
And all these from the top of the mountain? Uncle Richard must go with you one day and watch the sunrise!
”

“
I hope I
’
ve more sense than to waste my time doing anything so fruitless,
”
Richard responded at once tartly.
“
But no doubt Miss Brooks enjoyed the companionship of Dr. Muller, who is probably an excellent guide, philosopher and friend, and that of course makes a difference. How much of Zindenbourg have you explored in the company of Dr. Muller, Miss Brooks? And have you any plans for tomorrow?
”

Melanie realized that although he was being sarcastic he was really icily angry with her. His face had a bleak look which actually almost frightened her a little, and the expression in his eyes was withering. She wanted to escape from that look in his eyes, but at the same time something like rebellion began to stir in her, and a dull sensation of anger made her decide that here and now she must stand up to him, or ever afterwards be a kind of slave to his dictatorial temperament. It was no concern of his what she did with her leisure hours—and surely she was entitled to leisure hours?—and her friends were no concern of his, either. In particular she resented his slighting reference to Dr. Muller, who had already done so much for Noel.

“
I have no plans for tomorrow,
”
she answered him, in a tone which for sheer brittle unfriendliness matched his own,
“
and I should not have been absent today had I been aware of your coming. But you have only to look at your niece to feel quite satisfied that she has not been neglected, and in any case it is not my practice to make daily excursions in the district. Neither I nor Dr
.
Muller are in the habit of behaving like tourists—for one thing he would never be able to find the time!
”

She was standing with her slender blue-dad back against a dark oak dresser on which were willow-pattern plates, and the peach-like color in her cheeks was higher than ever. Her little white chin was suddenly high in the air, and her brown eyes were no longer wistful and fawn-like but resentful and unmistakably sparkling.

“
If only you had warned us of your intention of arriving like this I would have been here to receive you,
”
she added.
“
But you do not normally let us know when to expect you, do you?
”
with the recollection of his habit of taking them unawares—no doubt in the vague hope of being able to pounce and find fault!

“
Is there any reason why I should?
”
he asked, his eyebrows going upwards a little, and obviously mildly surprised by her attitude, which was rather like that of a cornered stag unexpectedly turning at bay.

“
No reason at all,
”
very
cl
early and coldly.
“
But i
t
would be a little more considerate, wouldn
’
t it?
”

“
My dear child,
”
with a sudden, amused gleam in his eyes,
“
have you ever known me to reveal symptoms of overwhelming consideration for anyone?
”

“
No,
”
she answered truthfully,
“
I don
’
t think I have.
”

“
Well, that at least is perfect candor on your part!
”
He took out his cigarette-case and selected and lighted a cigarette without offering the case to her. Then he studied her thoughtfully through the haze of tobacco smoke.
“
You
’
re looking well,
”
he remarked.
“
Zindenbourg obviously suits you. And Noel is looking remarkably well.
”

“
Then I
’
m rather amazed to find you so critical,
”
she told him, through stiff lips.