Island in the Dawn Read Online Free

glare of the sun, when you first appeared, but my dark glasses must have misled you. I’m afraid you thought I was quite blind, and that Bruno was my guide-dog — that is what he was, as a matter of fact, while I needed him to guide me.”
    Felicity felt as if the rush of color to her cheeks was actually burning her skin, although at the same time she was conscious of an extraordinary rush of relief because this slender dark man could see. The horror that had enveloped her when she was certain he was quite blind, was something that she was to puzzle over for weeks afterwards.
    “Come here, Bruno,” the man said, extending an inviting hand to the dog. “Come and be introduced to Miss Hardin g , and in future I shall not expect you to growl at her — ever, do you understand?”
    His voice was quiet but incisive, and the handsome Alsatian stood absolutely still for a moment, and then moved to a position midway between the two humans.
    “First I will introduce myself,” the slim man said. “I am Paul Halloran.” He stood up and restored his glasses, so that the amazing blue eyes were no longer looking directly at her, which was in some curious way a relief. “And this is Bruno, who has served me faithfully for two years! Bruno,” he commanded, “put up your paw, and let Miss Harding shake it!”
    Felicity had never had any fear of anim als, and she had already forgotten that Bruno had growled at her more than once. Without hesitation she extended her own hand and grasped the guide-dog’s paw.
    Paul Ha l loran nodded in a satisfied way.
    “Now you can consider yourselves acquainted!”
    There was the sound of footsteps outside on the veranda — the quick tap of very high heels. Cassandra swept through the open french windows and looked very pettishly at Felicity. It was quite plain that her wait on the jetty had not improved her temper. Although she had never looked more beautiful, with her red hair flaming under her straw hat, and the thickly pleated skirt of her white silk suit swinging with every graceful movement she made—even in a state of vexation she was as graceful as a willow-wand—she also looked as if it wanted little more for her patience to disintegrate.
    “What’s this I hear about Uncle James?” she demanded, when she caught sight of the man who was once more standing with his hand resting on the neck of the big Alsatian. His dark-glasses, and perhaps more than anything his motionless attitude—instantly impressed upon her the fact that this was a man who could not see.
    “Oh!” she exclaimed, as if she was actually engulfed by horror. She even retreated a little. “Your servant didn’t warn me, but he should have done so! You’re blind, aren't you? Oh, you must forgive me, but I’ve always been terrified of blind people!”
    And she looked as if she was about to flee from the room.
    Felicity stood up instantly.
    “Cassandra!” she protested.
    Cassandra looked as if this was the last straw.
    “This heat is impossible,” she gasped, “and Uncle James isn’t here, and I don’t kn ow that I want to stay! ... Felicity, we’ll have to get back to the mainland somehow! You’ll have to do something..
    Paul Halloran removed his glasses and stepped forward.
    “There is no need for Miss Harding to act instantly,” he remarked, with so much dryness in his voice now that it actually grated a little. “I’m not blind, Miss Wood, although as the result of an accident I was deprived of my sight for many months. The habit of wearing these glasses clings ... but you need not allow it to frighten you away!”
    Cassandra stood staring at him as if hypnotized. His eyes were like blue water—the bluest water she had ever seen in her life—and she had the queer feeling that it reached out and engulfed her, so that she was s wimming about in it helplessly. All at once she knew that he no longer terrified her — that far from terrifying her, he fascinated her!
    He was the handsomest man she had