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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:48:08 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:48:08 -0700 |
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diff --git a/16092-h/16092-h.htm b/16092-h/16092-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..60316a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/16092-h/16092-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8667 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Wharf by the Docks, by Florence Warden</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 16092 ***</div> + +<h1>THE WHARF BY THE DOCKS</h1> + +<h3>A NOVEL</h3> + +<h2>By FLORENCE WARDEN</h2> + +<h3><i>Author of "The Mystery of the Inn by the Shore," etc.</i></h3> + +<h3>1896</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.--SOMETHING AMISS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.--MAX MAKES A DISCOVERY.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.--DUDLEY EXPLAINS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.--A PARAGRAPH IN "THE STANDARD."</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.--ONE MAN'S LOSS is ANOTHER MAN'S GAIN.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.--THE LITTLE STONE PASSAGE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.--A QUESTIONABLE GUIDE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.--FOREWARNED, BUT NOT FOREARMED.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.--THE MAN WHO HESITATES.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.--GRANNY.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.--A TRAP.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.--ESCAPE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.--THE SEQUEL TO A TRAGEDY.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.--IS IT BLACKMAIL?</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.--MR. WEDMORE'S SECOND FREAK.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.--A MESSAGE FROM THE WHARF.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.--A SORCERESS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.--THE SWORD FALLS.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.--A STRANGE PAIR.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.--THE PREY OF THE RIVER.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.--A DUBIOUS REFUGE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.--TWO WOMEN.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.--THE BLUE-EYED NURSE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.--MAX MAKES A STAND AND A DISCOVERY.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.--THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.--BACK TO LOVE AND LIFE.</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>SOMETHING AMISS.</h3> + + +<p>Everybody knows Canterbury, with its Old-World charms and its +ostentatious air of being content to be rather behind the times, of +looking down upon the hurrying Americans who dash through its cathedral +and take snap-shots at its slums, and at all those busy moderns who +cannot afford to take life at its own jog-trot pace.</p> + +<p>But everybody does not know the charming old halls and comfortable, +old-fashioned mansions which are dotted about the neighboring country, +either nestling in secluded nooks of the Kentish valleys or holding a +stately stand on the wooded hills.</p> + +<p>Of this latter category was The Beeches, a pretty house of warm, red +brick, with a dignified Jacobean front, which stood upon the highest +ground of a prettily wooded park, and commanded one of those soft, +undulating, sleepy landscapes which are so characteristically English, +and of which grazing sheep and ruminating cows form so important a +feature. A little tame, perhaps, but very pleasant, very homely, very +sweet to look upon by the tired eyes that have seen enough of the +active, bustling world.</p> + +<p>Mr. George Wedmore, of the firm of Wedmore, Parkinson and Bishop, +merchants of the city of London, had bought back the place, which had +formerly belonged to his family, from the Jews into whose hands it had +fallen, and had settled there to spend in retirement the latter end of +his life, surrounded by a family who were not too well pleased to +exchange busy Bayswater for what they were flippant enough to call a +wilderness.</p> + +<p>Dinner was over; and Mr. Wedmore, in a snug easy-chair by the +dining-room fire, was waiting for Doctor Haselden, who often looked in +for a smoke and a game of chess with the owner of The Beeches.</p> + +<p>A lean, fidgety man, with thin hair and grayish whiskers, Mr. Wedmore +looked less at home in the velveteen suit and gaiters which he persisted +in wearing even in the evening, less like the country gentleman it was +his ambition to be, than like the care-laden city merchant he at heart +still was.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the table sat his better half, in whom it was easy +to see he must have found all the charm of contrast to his own +personality. A cheery, buxom woman, still handsome, full of life and +fun, she had held for the whole of her married life a sway over her lord +and master all the greater that neither of them was conscious of the +fact. A most devoted and submissive wife, a most indulgent and +affectionate mother, Mrs. Wedmore occupied the not unenviable position +of being half slave, half idol in her own household.</p> + +<p>The clock struck eight, and the bell rang.</p> + +<p>"There he is! There's the doctor!" cried Mrs. Wedmore, with a beaming +nod. Her husband sat up in his chair, and the troubled frown which he +had worn all the evening grew a little deeper.</p> + +<p>"I should like you, my dear, to leave us together this evening," said +he.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wedmore jumped up at once, gathering her balls of wool and big +knitting-needles together with one quick sweep of the arm.</p> + +<p>"All right, dear," said she, with another nod, giving him an anxious +look.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore perceived the look and smiled. He stretched out his hand to +lay it gently on his wife's arm as she passed him.</p> + +<p>"Nothing about me. Nothing for you to be alarmed about," said he.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wedmore hesitated a moment. She had her suspicions, and she would +dearly have liked to know more. But she was the best trained of wives; +and after a moment's pause, seeing that she was to hear nothing further, +she said, good-humoredly: "All right, dear," and left the room, just in +time to shake hands with Doctor Haselden as she went out.</p> + +<p>Now, while the host found it impossible to shake off the signs of his +old calling, the doctor was a man who had never been able to assume +them. From head to foot there was no trace of the doctor in his +appearance; he looked all over what at heart he was—the burly, +good-humored, home-loving, land-loving country gentleman, who looked +upon Great Datton, where his home was, as the pivot of the world.</p> + +<p>However he was dressed, he always looked shabby, and he could never have +been mistaken for anything but an English gentleman.</p> + +<p>He shook hands with Mr. Wedmore, with a smile. These poor Londoners, +trying to acclimatize themselves, amused him greatly. He looked upon +them much as the Londoner looks upon the Polish Jew immigrants—with +pity, a little jealousy, and no little scorn.</p> + +<p>"Where's Carlo?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Carlo was a nuisance, so I've sent him to the stable," said Mr. +Wedmore, with the slightly colder manner which he instantly assumed if +any grievance of his, however small, was touched upon.</p> + +<p>Carlo was a young retriever, which Mr. Wedmore, in the stern belief that +it was the proper thing in a country house, had encouraged about the +house until his habits of getting between everybody's legs and helping +himself to the contents of everybody's plate had so roused the ire of +the rest of the household that Mr. Wedmore had had to give way to the +universal prejudice against him.</p> + +<p>The doctor shook his head. Lack of capacity for managing a dog was just +what one might have expected from these new-comers.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore turned his chair to face that of the doctor, and spoke in +the sharp, incisive tones of a man who has serious business on hand.</p> + +<p>"I've been hoping you would drop in every night for the last fortnight," +said he, "and as you didn't come, I was at last obliged to send for you. +I have a very important matter to consult you about. You've brought your +pipe?" The doctor produced it from his pocket. "Well, fill it, and +listen. It's about young Horne—Dudley Horne—that I want to speak to +you, to consult you, in fact."</p> + +<p>The doctor nodded as he filled his pipe.</p> + +<p>"The young barrister I've met here, who's engaged to your elder +daughter?"</p> + +<p>"Well, she was all but engaged to him," admitted Mr. Wedmore, in a +grudging tone. "But I'm going to put a stop to it, and I'll tell you +why." Here he got up, as if unable to keep still in the state of +excitement into which he was falling, and stood with his hands behind +him and his back to the fire. "I have a strong suspicion that the young +man's not quite right here." And lowering his voice, Mr. Wedmore touched +his forehead.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious! You surprise me!" cried the doctor. "He always seemed to +me such a clever young fellow. Indeed, you said so to me yourself."</p> + +<p>"So he is. Very clever," said Mr. Wedmore, shortly. "I don't suppose +there are many young chaps of his age—for he's barely thirty—at the +Bar whose prospects are as good as his. But, for all that, I have a +strong suspicion that he's got a tile loose, and that's why I wanted to +speak to you. Now his father was in a lunatic asylum no less than three +times, and was in one when he died."</p> + +<p>The doctor looked grave.</p> + +<p>"That's a bad history, certainly. Do you know how the father's malady +started?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes. It was the effect of a wound in the head received when he was +a young man out in America, in the war with Mexico in '46."</p> + +<p>"That isn't the sort of mania that is likely to come down from father to +son," said the doctor, "if his brain was perfectly sound before, and the +recurrent mania the result of an accident."</p> + +<p>"Well, so I've understood. And the matter has never troubled me at all +until lately, when I have begun to detect certain morbid tendencies in +Dudley, and a general change which makes me hesitate to trust him with +the happiness of my daughter."</p> + +<p>"Can you give me instances?" asked the doctor, although he began to feel +sure that whatever opinion he might express on the matter, Mr. Wedmore +would pay little attention to any but his own.</p> + +<p>"Well, for you to understand the case, I must tell you a little more +about the lad's father. He and I were very old friends—chums from +boyhood, in fact. When he came back from America—where he went from a +lad's love of adventure—he made a good marriage from a monetary point +of view; married a wharf on the Thames, in fact, somewhere Limehouse +way, and settled down as a wharfinger. He was a steady fellow, and did +very well, until one fine morning he was found trying to cut his throat, +and had to be locked up. Well, he was soon out again that time, and +things went on straight enough for eight or nine years, by which time he +had done very well—made a lot of money by speculation—and was thinking +of retiring from business altogether. Then, perhaps it was the extra +pressure of his increased business, but, at any rate, he broke out +again, tried to murder his wife that time, and did, in fact, injure her +so much that she died shortly afterward. Of course, he had to be shut up +again; and a man named Edward Jacobs, a shrewd Jew, who was his +confidential clerk, carried on the business in his absence. Now, both +Horne and his wife had had the fullest confidence in this Jacobs, but he +turned out all wrong. As soon as he learned, at the end of about twelve +months, that Horne was coming out again, he decamped with everything he +could lay his hands on; and from the position of affairs you may guess +that he made a very good haul. Well, poor Horne found himself in a maze +of difficulties; in fact, his clerk's fraud ruined him. Everything that +could be sold or mortgaged had to go to the settlement, and when his +affairs had been finally put straight, there was only a little bit left, +that had been so settled upon his wife that no one could touch it. He +made a good fight of it for a little while, with the help of a few old +friends, but, in the end, he broke down again for the third time. But he +escaped out of the asylum and went abroad, without seeing his friends or +his child, and a few months afterward the announcement of his death in +an American asylum was sent by a correspondent out there. Happily there +were no difficulties about securing the mother's money for the son, and +it was enough to educate the boy and to give him a start; but, of +course, he had to begin the world as a poor man instead of a rich one. +Perhaps that was all the better for him—or so I thought until lately."</p> + +<p>"And what are these signs of a morbid tendency that you spoke of?" asked +the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Well, in the first place, after being almost extravagant in his +devotion to my daughter, Doreen, he now neglects her outrageously—comes +down very seldom, writes short letters or none. Now, my daughter is not +the sort of girl that a sane man would neglect," added Doctor Wedmore, +proudly.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," assented the doctor, inwardly thinking that it was much +less surprising than it would have been in the case of one of his own +girls.</p> + +<p>"In the second place, he is always harping upon the subject of Jacobs +and his peculations—an old subject, which he might well let rest. And, +in the third place, he has become moody, morose and absent-minded; and +my son, Max, who often visits him at his chambers in Lincoln's Inn, has +noticed the change even more than I, who have fewer opportunities of +seeing him."</p> + +<p>The doctor was puffing stolidly at his pipe and looking at the fire.</p> + +<p>"It is very difficult to form an opinion upon report only," said he. +"Frankly, I can see nothing in what you have told me about the young man +which could not be explained in other and likelier ways. He may have got +entangled, for instance, with some woman in London."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore took fire at this suggestion.</p> + +<p>"In that case, the sooner Doreen forgets all about him the better."</p> + +<p>"Mind, I'm only suggesting!" put in the doctor, hastily. "There may be a +dozen more reasons—"</p> + +<p>"I shall not wait to find them out," said Mr. Wedmore, decisively. "He +and Max are coming down together this evening. My wife would have them +to help in organizing some affair they're getting up for Christmas. I'll +send him to the right-about without any more nonsense."</p> + +<p>"But surely that is hardly—"</p> + +<p>"Hardly what?" snapped out Mr. Wedmore, as he poked the fire viciously.</p> + +<p>"Well, hardly fair to either of the young people. Put a few questions to +him yourself, or better still, let your wife do it. It may be only a +storm in a teacup, after all. Remember, he is the son of your old +friend. And you wouldn't like to have it on your conscience that you had +treated him harshly."</p> + +<p>The doctor's advice was sane and sound enough, but Mr. Wedmore was not +in the mood to listen to it. That notion of an entanglement with another +woman rankled in his proud mind, and made him still less inclined to be +patient and forbearing.</p> + +<p>"I shall give Doreen warning of what I am going to do at once," said he, +"before Horne turns up."</p> + +<p>The doctor shrugged his shoulders. He was obstinate himself.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore crossed the long room to the door, and opened it sharply.</p> + +<p>The hall was full of people and of great bales of goods, which were +piled upon the center-table and heaped up all around it.</p> + +<p>"Doreen!" he called, sharply.</p> + +<p>Out of the crowd there rushed a girl—such a girl! One of those radiant +creatures who explain the cult of womanhood; who make it difficult even +for sober-minded, middle-aged men and matrons to realize that this is +nothing but flesh and blood like themselves; one of those beautiful +creatures who claim worship as a right and who repay it with kindness +and brightness and sweetness and laughter.</p> + +<p>No house was ever dull that held Doreen Wedmore.</p> + +<p>She was a tall girl, brown-haired, brown-eyed, made to laugh and to live +in the sunshine. Nobody could resist her, and nobody ever tried to.</p> + +<p>She sprang across the hall to her father and whirled him back into the +dining-room, and put her back against it.</p> + +<p>"Dudley's come!" said she. "He's in the hall—among the blankets!"</p> + +<p>"Blankets!"</p> + +<p>"Yes." She was crossing the room by this time to the doctor, whom she +had quickly perceived, and was holding out her hand to him. "You must +know, doctor, that we are up to our eyes in blankets just now, and in +bundles of red flannel, and in soup and coals. Papa has been reading up +Christmas in the country in the olden time, and he finds that to be +correct you must deluge the neighborhood with those articles. They are +not at all what the people want, as far as I can make out. But that +doesn't matter. It pleases papa to demoralize the neighborhood; so we're +doing it. And mamma helps him. She dates from the prehistoric period +when a wife <i>really</i> swore to obey her husband; so she does it through +thick and thin. Of course, she knows better all the time. She could +always set papa right if she chose. Whatever happens, papa must be +obeyed. So when he wants to run his dear old head into a noose, she +dutifully holds it open for him, when all the time she knows how +uncomfortable he'll be till he gets out."</p> + +<p>"You're a saucy puss, Miss!" cried her father, trying to frown, but +betraying his delight in his daughter's merry tongue by the twinkle in +his eyes.</p> + +<p>"And that's the right sort of woman for a wife," said the old doctor, +enthusiastically. "I must say I think it's a bad sign when young girls +think they can improve upon their own mothers."</p> + +<p>"She doesn't mean half she says," said her father, indulgently.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, she does," retorted Doreen. "And she wants to know, please, +what it is you have to say to Dudley."</p> + +<p>The doctor rose from his chair, and Mr. Wedmore frowned.</p> + +<p>"And it's no use putting me off by telling me not to ask questions. I'm +not mamma, you know."</p> + +<p>"I intend to ask him—something about you."</p> + +<p>It was the girl's turn to frown now.</p> + +<p>"Please don't, papa," said she, in a lower voice. "I know you're going +to worry him, and to put your hands behind your back and ask him +conundrums, and to make all sorts of mischief, under the impression that +you are putting things right. And if you only just wouldn't, everything +would soon be as right as possible. While if you persist—"</p> + +<p>But Mr. Wedmore interrupted her, not harshly, as he would have done +anybody else, but with decision.</p> + +<p>"You must trust me to know best, my dear. It is better for you both that +we should come to some understanding. Haselden, you'll excuse me for +half an hour, won't you? And you, Doreen," and he turned again to his +daughter, "stay with the doctor here, and try to talk sense till I come +back again."</p> + +<p>And Mr. Wedmore went quickly out of the room, without giving the girl a +chance of saying anything more.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>MAX MAKES A DISCOVERY.</h3> + + +<p>Doreen's bright face lost a little of its color and much of its gayety +as her father disappeared. The doctor felt sorry for her.</p> + +<p>"Come, come; cheer up, my dear," he said. "If he loves you honestly, and +I don't know how he can fail to do so, a few words with your father will +put matters all right. There is nothing to look so sad about, I think."</p> + +<p>But Doreen gave him one earnest, questioning look, and then her eyelids +fell again.</p> + +<p>"You don't know," she said, in a low voice. "Papa doesn't understand +Dudley; but I think I do. He is very sensitive and rather reserved about +himself. If papa interferes now, he will offend him, and Dudley may very +likely go off at once, and perhaps never come near me again. He is +proud—very proud."</p> + +<p>"But if he could behave like that," replied the doctor, quickly, "if he +could throw over such a nice girl as you for no reason worth speaking +of, I should call him a nasty-tempered fellow, whom you ought to be glad +to be rid of."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but you would be wrong," retorted Doreen, with a little flush in +her face. "It is quite true that he has neglected me a little lately, +written short letters, and not been down to see me so often. But I am +sure there was some better reason for his conduct than papa thinks. And +if I feel so sure, and if I am ready to trust him, why shouldn't papa +be?"</p> + +<p>The doctor smiled at her ingenuousness.</p> + +<p>"Your father is right in claiming that he ought to be made acquainted +with the young man's reason for conduct which looks quite unwarrantable +on the face of it," said he.</p> + +<p>But Doreen gave a little sigh.</p> + +<p>"I don't think that a man has a right to turn inquisitor over another +man, just because the second man is ready to marry the first man's +daughter," said she. "And I'm sure papa wouldn't have stood it when +<i>he</i> was young."</p> + +<p>The doctor laughed.</p> + +<p>"He ought to put up with any amount of questioning rather than lose the +girl of his choice," said he decisively. "And if he has the stuff of a +man in him he will do so."</p> + +<p>"But he is unhappy. I know it," said Doreen.</p> + +<p>"Unhappy!" cried the doctor, indignantly. "And what's he got to be +unhappy about, I should like to know? He ought to be thanking Heaven on +his knees all day long for getting such a nice girl to promise to marry +him. That's the attitude a young man used to take when I was young."</p> + +<p>"Did you go down on your knees all day long when Mrs. Haselden promised +to marry you?" asked Doreen, recovering her sauciness at the notion. +"And why should he do it till he knows what sort of a wife I am going to +make? And why should he go down on his knees more than I on mine? When +there are more women in the world than men, too!"</p> + +<p>The doctor shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Ah, there is no arguing with you saucy girls," said he. "But I know +that I, for my part, don't know of a man in the whole world who is +worthy to marry one of my daughters."</p> + +<p>As the doctor finished speaking, the door was opened quickly, and Mr. +Wedmore came in, looking white and worried.</p> + +<p>Doreen ran to him with an anxious face.</p> + +<p>"What have you done, papa, what have you done? Did you see him? What did +you say? What did you say?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore put his arm around his daughter, and kissed her tenderly.</p> + +<p>"Don't trouble your head about him any more, my dear child," said he in +a husky voice. "He isn't worth it. He isn't worthy of you."</p> + +<p>Doreen drew away from her father, looking into his face with searching +eyes and with an expression full of fear.</p> + +<p>"Papa, what do you mean? You have sent him away?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore answered in a loud and angry voice; but it was clear enough +that the anger was not directed against his daughter.</p> + +<p>"I did not send him away. He took himself off. I had hardly begun to +speak to him—and I began quite quietly, mind—when he made the excuse +of a letter which he found waiting for him, to go back to town. Without +any ceremony, he rushed out of the study into the hall, and snatched up +his hat and coat to go."</p> + +<p>"And is he gone?" asked Doreen, in a low voice, as she staggered back a +step.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I suppose so. And a good riddance, too. There was no letter at +all for him, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there was a letter!" faltered Doreen.</p> + +<p>She gave a glance round her; seemed to remember suddenly the presence of +a third person, for she blushed deeply on meeting the doctor's eyes; +then, without another word, she sprang across the room to the door.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" cried her father, as he followed her into the +hall.</p> + +<p>But she did not answer. The hall-door was closing with a loud clang.</p> + +<p>Doreen was not the girl to lose her lover for want of a little energy. +She was fonder of Dudley than people imagined. There is always an +inclination in the general mind to consider that a person of lively +temperament is incapable of a deep feeling. And Mr. Wedmore had only +shown a common tendency in believing that his beautiful and brilliant +daughter would easily give up the lover whom he considered unworthy of +her. But he was wrong. Much too high-spirited and too happy in her +temperament and surroundings to brood over her lover's late negligence, +she was perhaps too vain to believe that she had lost her hold upon his +heart. At any rate, she liked him too well to give him up in this +off-hand fashion without making an effort to discover the reason of his +present mysterious conduct.</p> + +<p>That letter which he had used as an excuse for his sudden departure had +arrived at The Beeches by the afternoon post. Doreen had seen it with +her own eyes; had noted with some natural curiosity that the direction +was ill-spelled, ill-written; that the chirography was that of an almost +illiterate female correspondent; and that the post-mark showed that it +came from the East End of London. Rather a strange letter for the smart +young barrister to receive, perhaps. And the thought of it made Doreen +pause when she had got outside the door on the broad drive between the +lawns.</p> + +<p>Only for the moment. The next she was flying across the rougher grass +outside the garden among the oaks and the beeches of the park. She saw +no one in front of her, and for a few seconds her heart beat very fast. +She thought she had missed him.</p> + +<p>There was no lodge at the park entrance; only a modest wooden gate in +the middle of the fence. Doreen was hesitating whether to go through or +to go back, when she saw the figure of Dudley Horne coming toward the +gate from the stables.</p> + +<p>So she waited.</p> + +<p>As he came nearer, she, hidden from his sight by the trunk of an old +oak-tree, grew uneasy and shy. Dark though it was, dimly as she could +see him, Doreen felt convinced, from the rapid, steady pace at which he +walked, that he was intent upon some set purpose, that he was not driven +by pique at her father's words.</p> + +<p>He came quite close to her, so that she saw his face. A +dark-complexioned, strong face it was, clean-shaven, not handsome at +all. But, on the other hand, it was just such a face as women admire; +full of character, of ambition, of virility. Doreen had been debating +with herself whether she dared speak to him; but the moment she got a +full look at his face, her courage died away.</p> + +<p>It was plain to her that, whatever might be the subject of the thoughts +which were agitating his mind, she had no share in them.</p> + +<p>So she let him pass out, and then crept back, downcast, shocked, +ashamed, up the slope to the house.</p> + +<p>She got in by the billiard-room, at the window of which she knocked. +Max, her brother, who was playing a game with Queenie, his younger +sister, let her in, and cried out at sight of her white face:</p> + +<p>"Hello! Doreen, what's up? Had a row with Dudley? Or what?"</p> + +<p>"I have had no 'row' with any one," answered the girl, very quietly. +"But—you must all know all about it presently, so you may as well hear +it at once—Dudley has gone away."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>Max stopped in the act of trying for a carom, and stared at his sister.</p> + +<p>"Why, he only came when I did, ten minutes ago!"</p> + +<p>"He's gone, I tell you!" repeated Doreen, stamping her foot. "And—and +listen, Max, I'm frightened about him! He's got something on his mind. +When he went away, I saw him; I was standing by the gate; he looked +so—so <i>dreadful</i> that I didn't dare to speak to him. <i>I!</i> +Think of that!"</p> + +<p>"Had papa been speaking to him?" put in the shrewd younger sister, who +was chalking her cue at the other end of the room.</p> + +<p>The younger sister always sees most of the game.</p> + +<p>"Ye—es, but—I don't know—I hardly think it was that," answered Doreen +quickly. "At any rate, Max, I want you to do this for me; I want you to +go up to town to-morrow and see him. I shan't rest until I know +he's—he's all right—after what I saw of his face and the look on it. +Now, you will do this, won't you, won't you? Without saying anything to +anybody, mind. Queenie, you can hold your tongue, too. Now, Max, there's +a dear, you'll do it, won't you?"</p> + +<p>Max told her that she was "off her head," that he could do no good, and +so on. But he ended in giving way to the will of his handsome sister, +whom he adored.</p> + +<p>Max Wedmore was a good-looking fellow of five-and-twenty, with a +reputation as a ne'er-do-weel, which, perhaps, he hardly deserved. His +father had a great idea of bringing the young man up to some useful +calling to keep him out of mischief. Not very terrible mischief, for the +most part: only the result of too much leisure and too much money in +inexperienced hands. The upshot of this difference of opinion between +father and son was that while Mr. Wedmore was always finding mercantile +situations for his son, Max was always taking care to be thrown out of +them after a few weeks, and taking a rest which was by no means well +earned.</p> + +<p>This errand of his sister's was by no means unwelcome to him, since it +took him back to town, where he could amuse himself better than he could +in the country.</p> + +<p>So, on the following morning, he found some sort of excuse to take him +up, and started on his journey with the blessings of Doreen, and with +very little opposition from his father, who was subdued and thankful to +have got rid of Dudley with so little trouble.</p> + +<p>It was soon after three when Max arrived at Dudley Horne's chambers in +Lincoln's Inn. Of course, Dudley was out; so Max scribbled a note for +his friend and left it on the table while he went to the Law Courts to +look for him. Not finding him anywhere about, Max filled up the day in +his own fashion, and returned to Dudley's room at about seven o'clock, +when he supposed that his friend would either return to dinner or look +in on his way to dine elsewhere.</p> + +<p>He waited an hour, then went away and filled up his time at a +music-hall, and returned once more at a quarter to eleven. Dudley, so he +was told by the old woman who gave him the information, had not, as far +as she knew, been in his rooms since the morning.</p> + +<p>Max, who was a great friend of Dudley's, and could take any liberty he +pleased in his precincts, lit the gas and the sitting-room fire, and +installed himself in an arm-chair with a book. He could not read, +however, for he was oppressed by some of Doreen's own fears. He was well +acquainted with all his friend's ways, and he knew that for him to be +away both from his chambers and from the neighborhood of the Courts for +a whole day was most unusual with that particularly steady, plodding +young man. He began to worry himself with the remembrance that Dudley +had not been himself of late, that he had been moody, restless and +unsettled without apparent cause.</p> + +<p>Finally, Max worked himself into such a state of anxiety about his +friend that when he at last heard the key turned in the lock of the +outer door, he jumped up excitedly and made a rush for the door.</p> + +<p>Before he reached it, however, he heard footsteps in the adjoining +bedroom, the heavy tread of a man stumbling about in the dark, the +overthrowing of some of the furniture.</p> + +<p>Surely that could not be Dudley!</p> + +<p>Max stood still at the door, listening. He thought it might be a thief +who had got hold of the key of the chambers.</p> + +<p>As he stood still, close by the wall, the door which led from the one +room to the other was thrown open from the bedroom, almost touching him +as it fell back; and there staggered into the sitting-room, into the +light thrown by the gas and the fire, a figure which Max could scarcely +recognize as Dudley Horne. His face was the grayish white of the dead; +his eyes were glassy; his lips were parted; while the grime of a London +fog had left its black marks round his mouth and eyes, giving him an +appearance altogether diabolical. He was shaking like a leaf as he +stumbled against a chair and suddenly wheeled round to the light.</p> + +<p>Then, unbuttoning his overcoat quickly, he looked down at his clothes +underneath. He passed his hand over them and held it in the light, with +a shudder.</p> + +<p>Max uttered a sharp cry.</p> + +<p>The stain on Dudley's hand, the wet patches which glistened on his dark +clothes, were stains of blood.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>DUDLEY EXPLAINS.</h3> + + +<p>As the cry of horror escaped the lips of Max, Dudley wheeled quickly +round and met his eyes.</p> + +<p>For a moment the two men stood staring at each other without uttering a +word. It seemed to Max that his friend did not recognize him; that he +looked like a hunted man brought to bay by his pursuer, with the furtive +expression in his eyes of a creature trying to devise some means of +escape.</p> + +<p>It was the most shocking experience that Max had ever known, and the +blood seemed to freeze in his veins as he stood by the table watching +his friend, trying to conjure back a smile to his own face and look of +welcome into his own eyes.</p> + +<p>He found his voice at last.</p> + +<p>"Why, Horne," cried he, and he was angry with himself as he noted that +his voice was hoarse and tremulous, and that he could not manage to +bring out his natural tones, "what have you been doing with yourself? +I—I've been backward and forward here all day long, and now I've been +waiting for you ever so long!"</p> + +<p>There was a pause. Dudley was still staring at him, but there was +gradually coming over his face a change which showed recognition, +followed by annoyance. He drew himself up, and, after a pause, asked, +stiffly:</p> + +<p>"What did you want with me?"</p> + +<p>He spoke more naturally than Max had managed to do, and as the latter +replied, he took out his pocket-handkerchief very calmly and began to +wipe the stain off his right hand.</p> + +<p>Max shuddered.</p> + +<p>"Why, is it such a very unusual thing for me to drop in upon you and to +want to see you?" he asked, with another attempt at his ordinary manner, +which failed almost as completely as the first had done.</p> + +<p>There was another short pause. Dudley, without looking again at his +friend, examined his hand, saw that it was now clean, and replaced the +soiled handkerchief in his pocket. He seemed by this time to be +thoroughly at his ease, but Max was not deceived.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said Dudley, quickly. "I only meant +that—considering"—he paused, and seemed to be trying to recollect +something—"considering what took place down at Datton yesterday and how +anxious your father seemed to be rid of me—"</p> + +<p>"But what has my father got to do with me, as far as you are concerned, +Dudley, eh?" said Max.</p> + +<p>There had come upon him suddenly such a strong impression that his +friend was in some awful difficulty, some scrape so terrible as to make +him lonely beyond the reach of help, that Max, who was a good-hearted +fellow and a stanch friend, spoke with something which might almost be +called tenderness:</p> + +<p>"We've always been chums, now, haven't we? And a row between you and +Doreen, or between you and my father, wouldn't make any difference to +me. I—I suppose you don't mean to give me the cold shoulder for the +future, eh?"</p> + +<p>Dudley had turned his back upon him, and was standing on the hearth-rug, +looking down at the fire, in an attitude which betrayed to his friend +the uneasiness from which he was suffering. It was an attitude of +constraint, as different as possible from any in which Max had ever seen +him.</p> + +<p>Another pause. Dudley seemed unable on this occasion to give a simple +answer to a simple question without taking thought first. At last he +laughed awkwardly and half turned toward Max.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course not," said he, but without heartiness. "Of course not. +Though it will be rather awkward, mind, for us to see much of each other +just at first, after my having got kicked out like that, won't it?"</p> + +<p>The tone in which Max answered betrayed considerable surprise and +perplexity.</p> + +<p>"Kicked out!" he exclaimed. "My father said he hardly got a word out +before you took yourself off in a huff."</p> + +<p>Dudley turned round quickly and faced him this time, with a sullen look +of defiance on his dark face.</p> + +<p>"Well, the wise man doesn't wait to be kicked out," said he. "He removes +himself upon the slightest hint that such a proceeding on his part would +be well received."</p> + +<p>"You were a little too quick on this occasion," replied Max, dryly, "for +my father has got himself into hot water, and mother had a fit of +crying, while Doreen—"</p> + +<p>Something made Max hesitate to tell his friend how Doreen had taken his +desertion. Max himself was ready to stand by his friend, whatever +difficulties the latter might be in. But Doreen, his lovely sister, must +have a lover without reproach.</p> + +<p>At the mention of the girl's name there came a slight change over +Dudley's face—a change which struck the sensitive Max and touched him +deeply. Dudley took a step in the direction of his bedroom, and pulled +out his watch. As he did so a railroad ticket jerked out of his pocket +with the watch and fell to the ground.</p> + +<p>Max saw it fall, but before he could pick it up or draw attention to it +his ideas were diverted by Dudley's next words:</p> + +<p>"Well, you 'll excuse me, old chap. I've got to see a friend off by the +midnight train to Liverpool."</p> + +<p>As he spoke Dudley turned, with his hand on the door, to cast a glance +at Max. He seemed to be asking himself what he should tell the other. +And then he took a step toward his friend and began an explanation, +which, as his shrewd eyes told him, Max required.</p> + +<p>"The fact is that I got into the way of a beastly accident at Charing +Cross just now. Woman run over—badly hurt. Got myself covered with +blood. Ugh!"</p> + +<p>Max was convinced that the shudder was genuine, although he had +doubts—of which he was ashamed—about the tale itself.</p> + +<p>And how did that explain the proposed journey?</p> + +<p>Dudley went on:</p> + +<p>"I've only just got time to change my clothes and make myself decent. +See you in a day or two. Sorry I can't stay and have a pipe with you and +one of our 'hard-times' suppers."</p> + +<p>He was on the point of disappearing into the inner room, when Max +stopped him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you can," said he. "I have something particular to say to you, +and I can wait till you come back, if it's two o'clock, and I can bring +in the supper myself."</p> + +<p>Dudley frowned impatiently, and again he cast at Max the horrible, +furtive look which had been his first greeting.</p> + +<p>"That's impossible," said he, quickly. "I may have to go on to Liverpool +myself. Good-night."</p> + +<p>And he shut himself into the bedroom.</p> + +<p>Max felt cold all over. After a few minutes' hesitation, he went out of +the chambers, down the stairs and out of the house.</p> + +<p>At the door a cab was waiting. The driver spoke to him the moment he +stepped out on the pavement. Evidently he took him for Dudley, his late +fare.</p> + +<p>"The lady's got out an' gone off, sir. I hollered after her, but she +wouldn't wait. Oh, beg pardon, sir," and the man touched his hat, +perceiving his mistake; "I took you for the gentleman I brought here +with the lady."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he'll be down in a minute or two," answered Max.</p> + +<p>And then he thought he would wait and see what new developments the +disappearance of the lady would lead to. He was getting sick with alarm +about his friend. These instances of the blood-stained clothes, the +possible journey to Liverpool, and the flight of the mysterious lady, +were so suspicious, taken in conjunction with each other, that Max found +it impossible to rest until he knew more. He walked a little way along +the pavement, and then returned slowly in the middle of the road. He had +done this for the third time when Dudley dashed out of the house with +rapid steps, and had reached the step of the hansom before he discovered +that the vehicle was empty.</p> + +<p>An exclamation of dismay escaped his lips, and to the cabman's statement +of the lady's disappearance he replied by asking sharply in which +direction she had gone. On receiving the information he wanted, he gave +the man his fare, and walked rapidly away in the direction the cabman +had indicated.</p> + +<p>Max followed.</p> + +<p>Every moment increased his belief that some appalling circumstance had +occurred by which Dudley's mind had for the time lost its balance. Every +word, look and movement on the part of his friend betrayed the fact. Now +he was evidently setting off in feverish haste in pursuit of this woman +whom he had left in the cab; and Max, who believed that his friend was +on the brink of an attack of the insanity which old Mr. Wedmore feared, +resolved to dog his footsteps, and not to let his friend go out of his +sight until the latter got safely back to his chambers.</p> + +<p>Dudley went at a great pace into Holborn, and then he stopped. The +traffic had dwindled down to an occasional hansom and to a thin line of +foot-passengers on the pavements. He looked to right, to left, and then +he turned suddenly and came face to face with Max.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" cried he. "Where are you going to? Where are you putting up?"</p> + +<p>"At the Arundel," answered Max, taken aback, and stammering a little.</p> + +<p>Dudley had recovered his usual tones.</p> + +<p>"Come to my club," said he. "We can get some supper there and have that +pipe."</p> + +<p>"But how about Liverpool and the friend you had to see off?" asked Max.</p> + +<p>Dudley hesitated ever so slightly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's given me the slip," he answered, in a tone which sounded +careless enough. "Gone off without waiting for me. So my conscience is +free on his score."</p> + +<p>Max said nothing for a moment. Then he thought himself justified in +setting a trap for his friend.</p> + +<p>"Who is he?" asked he. "Anybody I know?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Dudley. "A man I met in the country, who showed me a good +deal of kindness. From Yorkshire. Man named Browning. Very good fellow, +but erratic. Said he'd wait for me in the cab, and disappeared before I +could come down. Had an idea I should make him lose his train, I +suppose. Well, never mind him. Come along."</p> + +<p>Max went with him in silence. Dudley had not only got back his usual +spirits, but seemed to be in a mood of loquacity and liveliness unusual +with him. When they got to the club, he ordered oysters and a bottle of +champagne, and drank much more freely than was his custom.</p> + +<p>It was Max, the ne'er-do-weel, the extravagant one, who drank little and +did the listening. Dudley had cast off altogether the gravity and +taciturnity which sometimes got him looked upon as a bit of a prig, and +chatted and told his friend stories, with a tone and manner of +irresponsible gayety which became him ill.</p> + +<p>And Max, who was usually the talker, listened as badly as the other told +his stories. For all the time he was weighed down with the fear, so +strong that it seemed to amount to absolute knowledge, of some horrible +danger hanging over his friend.</p> + +<p>Abruptly, before he made the expected comment on the last of Dudley's +stories, Max rose from his chair and said he must go home.</p> + +<p>"I'll see you as far as your diggings first," said he. "It's not much +out of way, you know."</p> + +<p>At these words Dudley's high spirits suddenly left him, and the furtive +look came again into his face.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said he, "oh, very well. And on the way I can tell you the whole +story of the accident that I saw at Charing Cross, this evening, just +before I met you."</p> + +<p>So they went out together, and Dudley, as he had suggested, gave his +friend a long and extremely circumstantial account of the way in which +the wheel went over the woman, and of the difficulty he and the +policeman had experienced in getting her from between the wheels of the +van by which she had been crushed.</p> + +<p>Max heard him in silence, but did not believe a word. Whatever had +reduced Dudley to the plight in which he had returned to his chambers, +Max was convinced that it differed in some important details from the +version of the affair which he chose to give.</p> + +<p>"We won't talk any more about it," he went on, without seeming to remark +his friend's silence. "It's a thing I want to forget. It has quite upset +me for a time; you could see that yourself when you met me. I—I don't +know quite what to do to get the thing out of my mind. I think I shall +run down to Datton with you, and see what that will do. What do you +think?"</p> + +<p>Now, although he had drunk more wine than usual, Dudley knew perfectly +well what he was saying, and Max stared at him in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"What?" he exclaimed. "After what you told me? About my father?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, yes. But I can explain everything. I can, and I will," +returned Dudley, quickly. "I have not been myself lately. I have had +certain business worries. But they are all settled now, and I feel more +like myself than I have done for weeks."</p> + +<p>Max stopped short and stared at his friend by the light of a gas-lamp.</p> + +<p>"Well, you don't look it," said he, shortly.</p> + +<p>Dudley laughed loudly, but rather uneasily.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think I could give an explanation which would satisfy your +father, if I wished?" he asked, with a sudden relapse into gravity.</p> + +<p>"I'm hanged if I know," retorted Max, energetically. "You haven't given +any explanation which would satisfy <i>me</i>."</p> + +<p>Dudley stared into his face for a few seconds inquiringly, and then +quietly hooked his arm and led him along the Strand.</p> + +<p>"You don't want to be satisfied, old chap," said he, in a low voice. +"You know me."</p> + +<p>Again Max was deeply touched. This was a sudden and unexpected peep +under the surface of deception into the real heart of his old chum. He +replied only by a slight twitching of the arm Dudley had taken.</p> + +<p>They walked on at a quicker pace, and ran up the stairs to the door of +Dudley's rooms in silence.</p> + +<p>Dudley went first into the sitting-room and turned up the gas. It did +not escape Max that he shot a hurried glance around the room, taking in +every corner, as he entered. Talking all the time about the cold and the +fog, Dudley went into the adjoining room, and Max saw him pull aside the +bed-curtains and look behind them.</p> + +<p>Then Max, not wishing to play the spy on his friend, turned his back; +and as he did so he caught sight of the railway ticket which had fallen +to the floor from Dudley's pocket before they went out.</p> + +<p>Max picked it up, and noted that it was the return half of a first-class +return ticket from Fenchurch Street to Limehouse, and that it was dated +that very day.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely noted this, mechanically rather than with any set +purpose, when he was startled to find Dudley at his elbow.</p> + +<p>Max turned round quickly, but Dudley's eyes were fixed upon the railway +ticket.</p> + +<p>"You dropped this when you—" began Max, handing it to his friend.</p> + +<p>It was not until then, when Dudley took the ticket from him and tossed +it into the fireplace with a careless nod, that it flashed into the mind +of Max that the incident had some significance.</p> + +<p>What on earth had Dudley been doing at Limehouse? His parents had had +property there, certainly, many years ago. But not a square foot of the +grimy, slimy, auriferous Thames-side land, not a brick or a beam of the +warehouses and sheds which had been theirs in the old days, had +descended to Dudley. Owing to the fraudulent action of Edward Jacobs, +all had had to go.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>A PARAGRAPH IN "THE STANDARD."</h3> + + +<p>Max did not stay long with his friend, but made the excuse that he was +half asleep, after a few minutes' rather desultory conversation, to go +back to his hotel.</p> + +<p>It was with the greatest reluctance that he left his friend alone; but +Dudley had given him intimations, in every look and tone and movement, +that he wished to be by himself; and this fact increased the heaviness +of heart with which Max, full of forebodings on his friend's account, +had gone reluctantly down the creaking stairs.</p> + +<p>Again and again Max asked himself, during his short walk from Lincoln's +Inn to Arundel Street, why he had not had the courage to put a question +or two straightforwardly to Dudley. As a matter of fact, however, the +reason was simple enough. The relative positions of the two men had been +suddenly reversed, and neither of them, as yet, felt easy under the new +conditions.</p> + +<p>Dudley, the hard-working student, the rising barrister, the abstemious, +thoughtful, rather silent man to whom Max had looked up with respect and +affection, had suddenly sunk, during the last few hours, by some +unaccountable and mysterious means, to far below Max's own modest level. +It was he, the careless fellow whom Dudley had formerly admonished, who +had that evening been the sober, the temperate, the taciturn one; it was +he who had watched the other, been solicitous for him, trembled for him.</p> + +<p>Max could not understand. He lay awake worrying himself about his +friend, feeling Dudley's fall more acutely than he would have felt his +own, and did not fall asleep until it was nearly daylight.</p> + +<p>In these circumstances he overslept himself, and it was eleven o'clock +before he found himself in the hotel coffee-room, waiting for his +breakfast.</p> + +<p>He was in the act of pouring out his coffee, when his name, uttered +behind him in a familiar voice, made him start. The next moment Dudley +Horne stood by his side, and holding out his hand with a smile, seated +himself on the chair beside him.</p> + +<p>"I—I—I overslept myself this morning," stammered Max.</p> + +<p>He was in a state of absolute bewilderment. Not only had the new Dudley +of the previous night disappeared, with his alternate depression and +feverish high spirits, his furtive glances, his hoarse and altered +voice, but the old Dudley, who had returned, seemed happier and livelier +than usual.</p> + +<p>"Town and its wicked ways don't agree with you, my boy, nor do they with +me. If I were in your shoes, I shouldn't tread the streets of Babylon +more than once a twelvemonth."</p> + +<p>"You think that now," returned Max, "because you see more than enough of +town."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not going to see much more of it at present," retorted +Dudley. "This afternoon I'm off again down to Datton, and I came to ask +whether you were coming down with me."</p> + +<p>"I thought you had had a row, at least a misunderstanding of some sort, +with—with my father?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, so I had," replied Dudley, serenely, as he took a newspaper +out of his pocket and folded it for reading. "But I've written to him +already this morning, explaining things, and telling him that I propose +to come down to The Beeches this evening. He'll get it before I turn up, +I should think, for I posted it at six o'clock this morning."</p> + +<p>"Why, what were you doing at six o'clock in the morning?" said Max, in a +tone of bewilderment, as before. "Didn't you go to bed at all last +night?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Dudley, calmly. "I had some worrying things to think +about, and so I took the night to do it in."</p> + +<p>A slight frown passed over his face as he spoke, but it disappeared +quickly, leaving him as placid as before.</p> + +<p>"About one of the things I can consult you, Max. You know something +about it, I suppose. Do you think I have any chance with Doreen?"</p> + +<p>Max stared at him again.</p> + +<p>"You must be blind if you haven't seen that you have," he said, at last, +in a sort of muffled voice, grudgingly. He moved uneasily in his seat, +and added, in a hurried manner: "But, I say, you know, Dudley, after +last night, I—I want to ask you something myself. I'm Doreen's brother, +though I'm not much of a brother for such a nice girl as she is. +And—and—what on earth did you think of going to Liverpool for <i>with a +woman</i>? I've a right to ask that now, haven't I?"</p> + +<p>Max blurted out these words in a dogged tone, not deterred from +finishing his sentence by the fact that Dudley's face had grown white +and hard, and that over his whole attitude there had come a rapid +change.</p> + +<p>There was a pause when the younger man had finished. Dudley kept his +eyes down, and traced a pattern on the table-cloth with a fork, while +Max looked at him furtively. At last Dudley looked up quickly and asked, +in a tone which admitted of no prevarication in the answer he demanded:</p> + +<p>"You have been playing the spy upon me, I see. Tell me just how much you +saw."</p> + +<p>It was such a straightforward way of coming to the point that Max, taken +aback, but rather thankful that the ground was to be cleared a little, +answered at once without reserve:</p> + +<p>"I did play the spy. It was enough to make me. I saw the hansom waiting +outside your door last night; the cabman mistook me for you, and told me +the lady had walked away. I couldn't help putting that together with +what you had told me about seeing a friend off to Liverpool, and, +perhaps, going there yourself. Now, who could have helped it?"</p> + +<p>Dudley did not at once answer. He just glanced inquiringly at the face +of Max while he went on tracing the pattern on the cloth.</p> + +<p>"You didn't see the lady," he said at last, not in a questioning tone, +but with conviction.</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you had seen her you would have been satisfied that it was not +her charms which were leading me astray," said he, with a faint smile. +"Are you satisfied now, or do you still consider," he went on with a +slight tone of mockery in his voice, "that my character requires further +investigation before you can accept me for a brother-in-law?"</p> + +<p>Max moved uneasily again.</p> + +<p>"What rot, Horne!" said he, impatiently. "You know very well I've always +wanted you to marry Doreen. I've said so, lots of times. I still say it +was natural I should want to understand your queer goings-on last night. +And now—and now—"</p> + +<p>"And now that you don't understand them any better than before, you are +ready to take it for granted it's all right?" broke in Dudley, with the +same scoffing tone as before.</p> + +<p>Max grew very red, began to speak, glanced at Dudley, and got up.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose that's about the size of it," said he, stiffly.</p> + +<p>"And are you going down with me to-night? I can catch the seven o'clock +train."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I suppose so. I'll meet you at Charing Cross."</p> + +<p>Max's enthusiasm on his friend's behalf had been much damped by his +behavior, and he gave him a nod, turned on his heel and left him without +another word. He gave up trying to understand the mystery which hung +about Dudley, and left it to Doreen and to his father to unravel.</p> + +<p>The two young men did not meet again, therefore, until seven that +evening, when they took their seats in the same smoking-carriage. Max +felt quite glad that the presence of a couple of strangers prevented any +talk of a confidential sort between himself and Dudley, who on his side +seemed perfectly contented to puff at his pipe in silence.</p> + +<p>Dudley's letter had evidently been received, and well received, for at +the station the two friends found the dog-cart waiting to take them the +mile and a half which lay between the station and The Beeches.</p> + +<p>At the house itself, too, the front door flew open at their approach, +and Mr. Wedmore himself stood in the hall to welcome them.</p> + +<p>Queenie was there. Mr. Wedmore was there. But there was never a glimpse +of Doreen.</p> + +<p>"I got your letter, my dear boy," began Mr. Wedmore, holding out his +hand with so much heartiness that it was plain he was delighted to be +able to forgive his old friend's son, "and I am very glad, indeed, that +you have found your way back to us so soon. I am heartily glad to hear +that the worries which have been making you depressed lately are +over—heartily glad. And so, I am sure," added he, with a significant +smile, "Doreen will be."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," said Dudley. "You are very kind, very indulgent. I am +not ungrateful, I assure you."</p> + +<p>Max, behind them, was listening with attentive ears. He did not feel so +sure as his father seemed to be that all was now well with Dudley.</p> + +<p>"Where's Doreen?" he asked his younger sister.</p> + +<p>"Don't know, I'm sure. She's taken herself off somewhere. Probably +somebody else will find her quicker than you will."</p> + +<p>The younger sister was right. The younger sister always is on these +occasions.</p> + +<p>Within five minutes of his arrival, Dudley found his way into the +breakfast room, where Doreen, a pug dog and a raven were sitting +together on the floor, surrounded by a frightful litter of paper and +shavings and string, wooden boxes, hampers, and odds and ends of cotton +wool.</p> + +<p>She just looked up when Dudley came in, gave him a glance and a little +cool nod, and then, as he attempted to advance, uttered a shrill little +scream.</p> + +<p>"One step farther, and my wax cupids will be ruined!"</p> + +<p>"Wax cupids!" repeated Dudley, feebly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, for my Christmas tree. It's to be the greatest success ever known +in these parts, or the greatest failure. Nothing between. That's what I +must always have—something sensational—something to make people howl +at me, or to make them want to light bonfires in my honor. That's +characteristic, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>And Doreen, who was dressed in a black skirt, with a scarlet velvet +bodice which did justice to her brilliant complexion and soft, dark +hair, paused in the act of turning out a number of glittering glass +balls into her lap.</p> + +<p>"Very," said Dudley, as he made his way carefully to the nearest chair +and sat down to look at her.</p> + +<p>He was up to his knees in brown-paper parcels, over which barricade he +stretched out his hand.</p> + +<p>Doreen affected not to see it. She began to tie bits of fancy string +into the little rings in the glass balls, cutting off the ends with a +pair of scissors.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you going to shake hands with me?" asked Dudley, impatiently.</p> + +<p>Doreen answered without looking tip.</p> + +<p>"No. Not yet."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter now?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am offended."</p> + +<p>"What have I done now?"</p> + +<p>Doreen threw up her head.</p> + +<p>"What have you <i>not</i> done? We have all of us—I among the +others—had a good deal to put up with from you, lately, in the matter +of what I will call general neglect. And you put a climax to it the day +before yesterday by rushing out of the house without a word of good-bye +to anybody."</p> + +<p>"There was a reason for it," interrupted Dudley, quickly.</p> + +<p>"I suppose so. But I'm not going to take the reason on trust, Mr. +Horne."</p> + +<p>"Not if you're satisfied that you will meet with no more neglect in the +future? That my conduct shall be in every respect what you—and the +others—can desire?"</p> + +<p>"Not even then," replied Doreen decisively.</p> + +<p>"But if your father is satisfied?"</p> + +<p>"Then go and talk to my father."</p> + +<p>There was a pause and their eyes met. Dudley, who had acknowledged to +himself the patience with which Doreen had put up with his recent +neglect, was astonished by the resolution which he saw in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"What is it you want to know?" he asked, in a condescending and +indulgent tone.</p> + +<p>"A great deal more than you will tell me," answered Doreen, promptly.</p> + +<p>Whereat there was another pause. Dudley took up one of the brown-paper +parcels and turned it over in his hands. Perhaps it was to hide the fact +that an irrepressible tremor was running through his limbs.</p> + +<p>If he had looked at her at that moment he would have seen in her eyes a +touching look of sympathy and distress. The girl knew that something had +been amiss with him—that something was amiss still. She cared for him. +She wanted his confidence, or at least so much of it as would allow her +to pour out upon him the tender sympathy with which her innocent heart +was overflowing. And he would have none of it. He wanted to treat her +like a beautiful doll, to be left in its cotton wool when his spirits +were too low for playthings, and to be taken out and admired when things +went better with him.</p> + +<p>This was what Doreen mutinously thought and what her lips were on the +point of uttering, when the door was opened by Mr. Wedmore, who came +into the room with a copy of the <i>Evening Standard</i> in his hand.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Horne, did you see this?" said he, as he folded the paper +and handed it to Dudley. "Here's an odd thing. Of course it may be only +a coincidence. But doesn't it seem to refer to the rascal who ruined +your prospects—Edward Jacobs?"</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A middle-aged Jewish woman, who found some difficulty in making +herself understood, from an impediment in her speech, applied to +Mr. ——, of —— Street Police Court, for advice in the following +circumstances: She and her husband had returned to England in +reduced circumstances, after a long residence abroad, and her +husband was in search of employment. He had received a letter from +Limehouse, offering him employment and giving him an appointment +for yesterday afternoon, which he started to keep. He had not +returned; she had been to Limehouse police station to make +inquiries, but could learn nothing of her husband. She seemed to be +under the impression that he had met with foul play, and made a +rambling statement to the effect that he had 'enemies.' It was only +after much persuasion, and the assurance that the press could not +help her without the knowledge, that she gave her name as Jacobs, +and her husband's first name as Edward. She described him as of the +middle height, thin, with gray hair and a short gray beard. The +magistrate said he had no doubt the press would do what they could +to help her, and the woman withdrew.</p></div> + +<p>Dudley Horne read this account, and gave the paper back to Mr. Wedmore.</p> + +<p>He tried to speak as he did so, but, though his mouth opened, the voice +refused to come.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>ONE MAN'S LOSS is ANOTHER MAN'S GAIN.</h3> + + +<p>"Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over +a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the +insertion of sweets.</p> + +<p>"Oh, papa, you'll be saying 'Confound Christmas' next!"</p> + +<p>And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane +through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to +a chair.</p> + +<p>By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to +answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of that, Horne?"</p> + +<p>"I think, sir, that it must be more than a coincidence; that Mrs. Jacobs +must be the wife of the man who was my father's manager."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think so, too. I know Jacobs's wife had an impediment in her +speech. The odd part of the business is that he should have disappeared +at Limehouse, the very place where one would have thought he would have +an objection to turning up at all, connected as it was with his old +peculations. I suppose he thought they were forgotten by this time."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so."</p> + +<p>Dudley still looked very white. He took up the paper again, as if to +re-read the paragraph. But Doreen, from her post of vantage on the +floor, saw that he held it before him with eyes fixed. Mr. Wedmore, +after a little hesitation, and after vainly trying to get another look +at the face of the younger man, went on again:</p> + +<p>"I thought you would be struck by this; the subject turning up again in +this odd way, just when you've been interesting yourself so much in the +old story!"</p> + +<p>Down went the paper, and Dudley looked into the face of Mr. Wedmore.</p> + +<p>"Interesting myself in it! Have I? How do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you've asked a good many questions about this Jacobs, and +wondered what had become of him. I fancy you have the answer in that +paragraph."</p> + +<p>There was a pause, and Dudley seemed to recollect something. Then he +said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I think I have. The man has fallen upon bad times, evidently. +I—I—I'm sorry for his wife."</p> + +<p>"And the man himself—haven't you forgiven him yet?"</p> + +<p>Dudley started, and glanced quickly round, as if the simple words had +been an accusation.</p> + +<p>"Forgiven him? Oh, yes, long ago. At least—" He paused a moment, and +then added, inquiringly: "What had I to forgive?"</p> + +<p>"Well, to tell the truth, Horne, that's just what I have often asked +myself, when you have insisted upon raking up all the details of poor +Jacobs's misdeeds! Why, your poor father, who was ruined by his +dishonesty, never showed half the animosity you do. I could have +understood it if you had suffered by his frauds. But have you? You have +been well educated; you have started well in life. And on the whole, no +man who has arrived at your age can honestly say that it would have been +better for him to start life with a fortune at his back, eh?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>Dudley got up from his chair. He seemed agitated and uneasy, and soon +took advantage of Mr. Wedmore's suggestion, somewhat dryly made, that he +was tired after his journey and would like to go to bed.</p> + +<p>When he had left the room, Mr. Wedmore turned angrily to his daughter.</p> + +<p>"Now, Doreen, I will have no more of this nonsense. Dudley is beginning +all the old tricks over again—absence of mind, indifference to you—did +he even look at you as he said good night?—and morbid interest in this +old, forgotten business of Jacobs and his misdoings. I won't have any +more of it, and I shall tell him plainly that we don't care to have him +down here until he can bring a livelier face and manner with him!"</p> + +<p>Doreen had risen from her humble seat on the floor and had crawled on +her knees to the side of his chair, where she slid a coaxing, caressing +hand under his arm and put her pretty head gently down on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"No, you won't, papa dear. You won't do anything of the kind," she +whispered in his ear very softly, very humbly. "You would not do +anything to give pain to your old friend's son if you could help it, and +you would not do anything to hurt your own child, your little Doreen, +for a hundred thousand pounds, now would you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I would, if it was for her good," replied Mr. Wedmore, in a very +loud and determined voice, which was supposed to have the effect of +frightening her into submission. "And it's all rubbish to think to get +around me by calling yourself 'little Doreen,' when you're a great, big, +overgrown lamp-post of a girl, who can take her own part against the +whole county."</p> + +<p>Doreen laughed, but still clung persistently to the arm which he +pretended to try to release from her clutches.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know about the county, but I think I can persuade my old +father into doing what I want," she purred into his ear with gentle +conviction. "You see, papa, it isn't as if Dudley and I were engaged. +We—"</p> + +<p>"Why, what else have you been but engaged ever since last Christmas?" +said her father, irritably. "Everybody has looked upon it as an +engagement, and Dudley was devoted enough until a couple of months ago; +but now something has gone wrong with the lad, I'm certain, and it would +be much better for you both to make an end of this."</p> + +<p>"Why, there's nothing to make an end of," pleaded Doreen. "Just 'let +things slide,' as Max says, and let Dudley come down or stay away as he +likes, and the matter will come quite right one way or the other, and +you will find there was really nothing for you to trouble your dear old +head about, after all."</p> + +<p>There was really some excellence in the girl's suggestion; and her +father, after much grumbling, gave a half consent to it. He was forced +to admit to himself that there was some grounds for Dudley's agitation +on reading the paragraph concerning the disappearance of Edward Jacobs, +since he had been interesting himself of late in that person's history. +But it was the degree of the young man's agitation which had seemed +morbid. Mr. Wedmore found it difficult to understand why a mere +suggestion of the man's disappearance—if it were indeed <i>the</i> +man—should affect Dudley so deeply. And the idea of incipient insanity +in young Horne grew stronger than ever in Mr. Wedmore's mind.</p> + +<p>Now, Doreen was by no means so sanguine as she pretended to be. She was +one of those high-spirited, lively girls who find it easy to hide from +others any troubles which may be gnawing at their heart. Such a nature +has an elasticity which enables it to throw off its cares for a time, +when in the society of others, only to brood over them in hours of +loneliness.</p> + +<p>Nobody in the house knew—what, however, shrewd Queenie half guessed +that Doreen had many an anxious hour, many a secret fit of crying, on +account of the change in Dudley's manner toward her. The brilliant, +proud-hearted girl was more deeply attached to him than anybody +suspected. If any remark was made by outsiders as to the comparative +rarity of the young barrister's visits during the past two months, it +was always accompanied by the comment that Miss Wedmore would not be +long in consoling herself.</p> + +<p>And everybody knew that the curate, the Rev. Lisle Lindsay, was +hungering to step into Dudley's shoes.</p> + +<p>He was not quite to be despised as a rival, this "snowy-banded, +dilettant, delicate-handed priest." In the first place, he was a really +nice, honorable young fellow, with no much worse faults than a +pedantically correct pronunciation of the unaccented vowels; in the +second place, he was considerably taller than the race of curates +usually runs; and in the third place, he had a handsome allowance from +his mother, and "expectations" on a very grand scale indeed. Miss +Wedmore, if she were to decide in his favor, might well aspire to be the +wife of a bishop some day. And what could woman wish for more?</p> + +<p>He was no laggard in love either. On the very morning after the arrival +of Max and Dudley, Mr. Lindsay called soon after breakfast to make +inquiries about the amount of holly and evergreens which would be +available for the decoration of the church, and was shown into the +morning-room, where most of the great work of preparation for Christmas +was taking place.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wedmore and all the young people were there, Max and Dudley having +been pressed into the service of filling cardboard drums with sweets for +what Max called "the everlasting tree." The tree itself stood in a +corner of the room, a colossal but lop-sided plant with a lamentable +tendency to straggle about the lower branches, and an inclination to run +to weedy and unnecessary length about the top.</p> + +<p>Max was a hopeless failure as an assistant. He was always possessed with +a passionate desire to do something different from what he was asked to +do; and when they gave way and indulged his fancy, the fancy +disappeared, and he found that he wanted to do something else.</p> + +<p>"It's always the way with a man!" was Queenie's scornful comment on her +brother's failing.</p> + +<p>Queenie herself looked upon the whole business of the tree as a piece of +useless frivolity unworthy the time and attention of grown-up people. +And she went about the share in it which she had been persuaded to +undertake with a stolid and supercilious manner which went far to spoil +the enjoyment of the rest.</p> + +<p>Dudley entered, into the affair with some zest, but it was noticeable +that he devoted himself to Queenie, and exchanged very few remarks with +Doreen. There was a certain barrier of constraint springing up between +him and Doreen which had risen to an uncomfortable height by the time +the curate entered.</p> + +<p>Doreen, whose cheeks were much flushed and whose eyes were unusually +bright, was extremely gracious. She offered to take Mr. Lindsay into the +grounds to interview the gardener, so that they might come to an +understanding about the evergreens to be used. She glanced at Dudley as +she made this proposal. He glanced back at her; and in his black eyes +she fancied for a moment that she saw a mute protest, a plea.</p> + +<p>For a moment she hesitated. Standing still in the middle of the room, +not far from where he was busy helping Queenie to tie up a particularly +limp and fragile box of chocolates, she seemed to wait for a single +word, or even for another look, to turn her from her purpose.</p> + +<p>But Dudley turned away, and either did not see or did not choose to +notice the pause. Then the tears sprang to the girl's eyes, and she ran +quickly to the door.</p> + +<p>"Come, Mr. Lindsay," said she, "we must make haste. At this stage of +things, every minute has to be weighed out like gold, I assure you."</p> + +<p>She went quickly out into the large hall, and the curate followed with +alacrity. Max and his mother were engaged in a wrangle over some soup +and coal tickets which somebody had mislaid, and in the search for which +the whole room, with its parcels and bundles, had to be overturned.</p> + +<p>Queenie, who was at work at the end of the room, near the window, +uttered a short laugh. Dudley, who was standing a little way off, drew +nearer, and asked what she was laughing at.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that misguided youth who has just gone out!"</p> + +<p>"Misguided?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Queenie, shortly. "If he hadn't been misguided, he would +have devoted his attention to me, not to Doreen. By all the laws of +society, curates' wives should be plain. They should also be simple in +their dress, and devoted to good works. Doreen says so herself. Why, +then, didn't he see that I was the wife for him and not the beauty?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you think she will have him, then?" asked Dudley, very stiffly, +after a short pause. "She seems to like him. There was no need, surely, +for her to have been in such a hurry to take him into the grounds, if +she had felt no particular pleasure in his society."</p> + +<p>Queenie looked up rather slyly out of her little light eyes. She was +distressed on account of her sister's trouble about this apparently +vacillating lover, and irritated herself by his strange conduct. But at +the bottom of her heart she believed in him and in his affection for +Doreen, just as her sister herself did, and she would have given the +world to make things right between two people whom she chose to believe +intended by nature for each other.</p> + +<p>"I think there are other people in the world whose society Doreen likes +better," she said at last, below her breath.</p> + +<p>The wrangle at the other end of the room was still going on, and nobody +heard her but Dudley. He flushed slightly and looked as if he +understood. But he instantly turned the talk to another subject.</p> + +<p>"Would you have liked that sleek curate yourself, really?"</p> + +<p>"Sleek? What do you mean by sleek? You wouldn't have a minister of the +church go about with long hair and a velveteen coat and a pipe in his +mouth, would you?"</p> + +<p>"Not for worlds, I assure you. He is a most beautiful creature, and I +admire him very much, though he is perhaps hardly the sort of man I +should have expected both you girls to rave about. And as for you, I +thought you were too good to rave about anybody! You are unlike yourself +this morning, and more like Doreen."</p> + +<p>Queenie laughed again that satirical little laugh which made a man +wonder what her thoughts exactly were.</p> + +<p>"You say that because you don't know anything about me. I don't talk +when Doreen is talking, because then nobody would listen to me. I could +talk, too, if anybody ever talked to me."</p> + +<p>"But one sees so little of you," pleaded Dudley. "You are generally out +district-visiting, or busy for Mrs. Wedmore, so that one hasn't a chance +of knowing you well. And one has got an idea that you are too good to +waste your time in idle conversation with a mere man!"</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Queenie contemptuously. "There's nothing good about my +district-visiting. I like it, Doreen goes about telling people it is +good of me. But that's only because she wouldn't care about it herself. +I like fussing about and thinking I am making myself useful. It's like +mamma's knitting, which gets her the reputation of being very +industrious, while all the time she enjoys it very much."</p> + +<p>"But you yourself said you were 'devoted to good works,' I quote your +very words."</p> + +<p>"That was only in fun. It's what Doreen says of me. You must have heard +her. She is much better than I am—really much, more unselfish—much +more amiable. Only because she's always bright and full of fun, she +doesn't get the credit of any of her good qualities. People think she's +only indulging her own inclination when she keeps us all amused and +happy all day long. But they don't know that she can suffer just as much +as anybody else, and that it costs her an effort to be lively for our +sakes when she feels miserable."</p> + +<p>Queenie spoke with a little feeling in her usually hard, dry voice. +Dudley was silent for a long time when she had finished speaking. At +last they looked up at the same moment and met each other's eyes. And +the reserved, harassed man felt his heart go out to the girl, with her +quiet shrewdness and undemonstrative affection for her brilliant sister.</p> + +<p>"Your quiet eyes see a great deal more than one would think, Queenie," +he said at last. "I suppose they have seen that there is +something—something wrong—with—"</p> + +<p>He spoke very slowly, and finally he stopped without finishing the +sentence.</p> + +<p>Queenie gravely took it up for him.</p> + +<p>"Something wrong with you? Of course I have. Well?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know why I am telling you this. I didn't mean to tell any one. +But—but—well, I've begun; I may as well finish. You're not a person +who would talk about anybody else's secrets more than about your own."</p> + +<p>"A secret? Are you going to tell me a secret?"</p> + +<p>Dudley smiled very faintly, and then his expression suddenly changed. +Something like a spasm of fear and of pain shot quickly across his face, +frightening her a little. Then he shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No," said he. "I hardly think you will consider it a secret, after what +you have just told me. I am only going to tell you this: I have had a +great trouble, a great affliction, hanging over me for some time now. +Sometimes I have thought it was going to clear away and leave me as I +was before. Sometimes I have felt myself quite free from it, and able to +go on in the old way. But with this consciousness, this knowledge +hanging over me always, I have behaved in all sorts of strange ways, +have hurt the feelings of my friends, have not been myself at all. You +know that, Queenie."</p> + +<p>Queenie slowly bowed her head. Mrs. Wedmore and Max, still occupied in +their search for the missing soup tickets, had now extended their +operations to the hall, and left the room in possession of the other +two. Dudley went on with his confession.</p> + +<p>"And now something has happened which has cut me off from my old self, +as it were. I don't know how else to express what I mean. I came down +last night with the intention of speaking to—to Doreen for the last +time, of trying to explain myself, if not to—to justify myself to her. +You know what I mean, don't you?"</p> + +<p>Again Queenie bowed her head. Her father's suspicions as to Dudley's +perfect sanity had, of course, reached her ears, and she felt so much +pity for the poor fellow whose confession she was then hearing that she +dared not even raise her eyes to his face again. He went on, hurrying +his words, as if anxious to get his confession over:</p> + +<p>"But I thought it all over last night, and I decided to say nothing to +her, after all. I don't think I could, without making a fool of myself. +For you know—you know my feelings about her; everybody knows. I had +hoped—Oh, well, you know what I hoped—"</p> + +<p>There was a pause. Dudley was afraid of breaking down.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dudley, is it really all over, then, between you? Oh, it is +dreadful! For, you know, she cares, too!"</p> + +<p>"Not as I do. I hope and think that is impossible," said Dudley, +hoarsely.</p> + +<p>There was another pause, a longer one. Then Queenie gave utterance to a +little sob. Dudley, who was sitting on the table at which she was at +work, got upon his feet with an impatient movement. His dark face looked +hard and angry. As he paced once or twice up and down the small space +available in the disordered room, the inward fight which was going on +between his passion and his sense of right convulsed his face, and +Queenie shuddered as, glancing at him, she fancied she could see in the +glare of his black eyes the haunting madness at which he seemed so +plainly to have hinted.</p> + +<p>She rose in her turn.</p> + +<p>"But, Dudley—" she began.</p> + +<p>And then, unable to express what she felt, what she thought, any better +than he had done, she turned abruptly away and sat down again.</p> + +<p>There was silence for a few moments, and then she heard the door close. +Looking round, she saw that he had left the room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE STONE PASSAGE.</h3> + + +<p>Queenie kept Dudley's half-confessed secret to herself for the whole of +that day. She was hoping against hope that he would change his mind +again and speak to Doreen himself. Since there must be a definite and +final breach, she thought it would be better for the principals +themselves to come to an understanding, without the intervention of +outsiders. She would have told him so, but she got no further +opportunity of speaking to him alone.</p> + +<p>The day passed uncomfortably for everybody, although the only person who +gave vent to his feelings by open ill-temper was Mr. Wedmore, who was +waiting for the promised explanation which Dudley never attempted to +give. And before dinner-time that evening the young barrister returned +to town.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore, who had been out shooting with Doctor Haselden, was +furious, on returning home, to learn of Dudley's departure.</p> + +<p>"He has left a note for you, papa, in the study," said Doreen, who was, +perhaps, a little paler than usual, but who gave no other outward sign +of her feelings.</p> + +<p>Her father went into the study, after a glance at his daughter, and read +the letter. It was not a very long one. Following the lines of his +guarded confession to Queenie, Dudley expressed the sorrow he felt at +having to give up the hopes he had had of being something more than the +mere old friend he had been for so many years. He had thought it better, +at the last, to say this on paper instead of by word of mouth, and he +ended by expressing the deep gratitude he should always feel for the +kindness shown to him by Mr. Wedmore and all his family during the +happiest period of his life.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore read this letter with little astonishment. It was, in fact, +what he had been prepared to hear. He read it to his wife, who cried a +great deal, but acquiesced in her husband's desire that Dudley should +drop not only out of the ranks of their intimate friends, but even, as +much as possible, out of their conversation.</p> + +<p>"Let us do our best," said he, "to make Doreen forget him."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore showed the letter also to Doctor Haselden, who, perhaps, +from pure love of contradiction, persisted in maintaining that the +letter confessed nothing, and that the cause of the young man's +withdrawal was, in all probability, quite different from what Mr. +Wedmore supposed. The two gentlemen had quite a wrangle over the matter, +at the end of which each was settled more firmly in his own opinion than +before.</p> + +<p>When they went upstairs for the night, Doreen came to Queenie's room and +demanded to know what her younger sister and Dudley had been talking +about so earnestly in the breakfast-room that morning.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by talking earnestly?" said Queenie, in the calm, dry +manner which would have made any one but her sister think she was really +surprised.</p> + +<p>"Max told me," said Doreen, "and I mean to stay here until I know."</p> + +<p>It needed very little reflection to tell Queenie that it was better for +her sister to hear the truth at once. So she told her.</p> + +<p>Doreen listened very quietly, and then got up and wished her sister good +night.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Queenie, "you take it very quietly. What do you think about +it?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you—when I know myself," answered Doreen, briefly, as she +left the room. The first result of the talks, however, was a +conversation, not with Queenie, but with her brother, Max. Doreen ran +after him next morning as he was on his way to the stables and made him +take a walk through the park with her instead of going for a ride.</p> + +<p>"Max," she said, coaxingly, when they had gone out of sight of the +house, "you have been my confidant about this unhappy affair of +Dudley's—"</p> + +<p>But her brother interrupted her, and tried to draw away the arm she had +taken.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Doreen," said he earnestly, "you'd better not think any more +about him—much better not. I do really think the poor fellow's right in +what he hinted to my father, and that he's going off his head; or, +rather, I <i>know</i> enough to be sure that he's not always perfectly +sane. Surely you must see that, in the circumstances, the less you think +about him the better."</p> + +<p>"There I disagree with you altogether," said Doreen, firmly. "Max, papa +and mamma can't understand; they've forgotten how they felt when they +were first fond of each other. Queenie's not old enough, and she's too +good besides. Now, you do know, you do understand what it is to be head +over ears in love."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, Doreen, don't talk like that! You mustn't, you know!"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk nonsense," interrupted his sister, sharply. "I tell you I +love Dudley, and ever so much more since I've found out he is in great +trouble; as any decent woman would do. Now I don't feel nearly so sure +as everybody else as to what his trouble is, but I want you to find out, +and to help me if you can."</p> + +<p>"What, play detective—spy? Not me. It's ridiculous, unheard of. I've +done it once on your account, and I never felt such a sneak in my life. +I won't do it again, even for you, and that's flat."</p> + +<p>And Max thrust his hands deep into his pockets.</p> + +<p>"Won't you?" said Doreen, with a quiet smile. "Then I must, and I will."</p> + +<p>Her brother started and stared at her.</p> + +<p>"You! <i>You!</i> What nonsense!"</p> + +<p>"It's not nonsense, as you will find when you hear me get permission to +go up to town to stay with Aunt Betty."</p> + +<p>Max grew sincerely alarmed.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Doreen, be reasonable," said he. "You can do no good to +Dudley, believe me. He has got into some dreadful mess or other; but +it's nothing that you or I or any earthly creature can help him out of. +I confess I didn't tell you all I found out when I went up to town. I +couldn't. I can't now. But if you will persist, and if nothing else will +keep you quietly here, I—well, I promise to go up again. And I'll +warrant if I do I shall learn something which will convince even +<i>you</i> that you must give up every thought of him."</p> + +<p>"Will you promise," said Doreen, solemnly, "to tell me all you find +out?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Max, promptly, "I won't promise that. I can't. But I think +you can trust me to tell you as much as you ought to know."</p> + +<p>With this promise Doreen was obliged to be content. And when, at +luncheon time, it was discovered that certain things were wanted from +town, and Max offered to go up for them, Doreen and her brother +exchanged a look from which she gathered that he would not forget her +errand.</p> + +<p>Max had plenty of time, while he was being jolted from Datton to Cannon +Street, to decide on the best means of carrying out his promise. He +decided that a visit to Limehouse, to the neighborhood where the +property of the late Mr. Horne had been situated, would be better than +another visit to Dudley.</p> + +<p>Plumtree Wharf was, he knew, the name of the most important part of the +property which had belonged to Dudley's father. Putting together the two +facts of the discovery of a ticket for Limehouse in Dudley's possession, +and of the disappearance of Edward Jacobs after a visit to that locality +on the same day, Max saw that there was something to be gleaned in that +neighborhood, if he should have the luck to light upon it.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon, and already dark, before he got out of the +train at Limehouse station, and began the exploration of the unsavory +district which fringes the docks.</p> + +<p>Through street after street of dingy, squalid houses he passed; some +broken up by dirty little shops, some presenting the dull uniformity of +row after row of mean, stunted brick buildings, the broken windows of +many of which were mended with brown paper, or else not mended at all. +Here and there a grimy public house, each with its group of loafers +about the doors, made, with the lights in its windows, a spot of +comparative brightness.</p> + +<p>Many of the streets were narrow and tortuous, roughly paved, and both +difficult and dangerous to traverse by the unaccustomed foot passenger, +who found himself now slipping on a piece of orange peel, the pale color +of which was disguised by mud, now risking the soundness of his ankles +among the uneven and slimy stones of the road.</p> + +<p>Max had to ask his way more than once before he reached the Plumtree +Wharf, the entrance to which was through a door in a high wooden fence. +Rather to his surprise, he found the door unfastened and unguarded. And +when he had got through he looked round and asked himself what on earth +he had expected to find there.</p> + +<p>There was nothing going on at this late hour, and Max was able to take +stock of the place and of the outlook generally. Piles of timber to the +right of him, the dead wall at the side of a warehouse on the left, gave +him but a narrow space in which to pursue his investigations. And these +only amounted to the discovery that the troubled waters of the Thames +looked very dark and very cold from this spot; that the opposite bank, +with little specks of light, offered a gloomy and depressing prospect, +and that the lapping of the water among the black barges which were +moored at his feet in a dense mass was the dreariest sound he had ever +heard. He turned away with a shudder, and walked quickly up the narrow +lane left by the timber, calling himself a fool for his journey.</p> + +<p>And just as he was reaching the narrow street by which he had come he +was startled to find a girl's face peering down at him from the top of a +pile of timber.</p> + +<p>Max stopped, with an exclamation. In an instant the girl withdrew the +head, which was all he had seen of her, and he heard her crawling back +quickly over the timber, out of his sight.</p> + +<p>Although he had seen her for a moment only, Max had been chilled to the +bone by the expression of the girl's face. Ghastly white it had looked +in the feeble light of a solitary gas lamp some distance away, and +wearing an expression of fear and horror such as he had never seen on +any countenance before. He felt that he must find out where she had +gone, his first belief being that she was a lunatic. Else why should she +have disappeared in that stealthy manner, with the look of fear stamped +upon her face? There was nothing in the look or manner of Max himself to +alarm her; and if she had been in need of help, why had she not called +to him?</p> + +<p>He got a footing upon the timber and looked over it. But he could see +nothing more of the girl. Beyond the stacks were some low-roofed +outbuildings and the back of a shut-up warehouse. Reluctantly he got +down, and passed into the narrow street. Not willing to leave at once a +neighborhood which he had come so far to investigate, he turned, after +going some dozen yards down the street, into a narrow passage on his +left hand which led back to the river.</p> + +<p>The width between the high walls and the warehouses on either side was +only some five feet. It was flagged with stone, very dark. About ten +yards from the entrance there was a small warehouse, on the left hand, +on which hung an old board, announcing that the building was "To Let." +And next door to this was a dingy shop, with grimy and broken windows, +the door of which was boarded up. This shop, also, was "To Be Let," and +the board in this case had been up so long that the announcement had to +be divined rather than read.</p> + +<p>Rather struck by the dilapidated appearance of these two buildings in a +place where he supposed land must be valuable, Max paused for an +instant. And as he did so, he became aware that there was some one by +his side.</p> + +<p>Looking down quickly, he saw the young girl of whom he had caught a +glimpse a few minutes before.</p> + +<p>He started.</p> + +<p>She looked up at him, and, still with the same look of stereotyped +horror on her thin, white face, whispered, in a hoarse voice, as she +pointed to the boarded-up shop-door with a shaking forefinger:</p> + +<p>"You daren't go in there, do you? There's a dead man in there!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>A QUESTIONABLE GUIDE.</h3> + + +<p>Max started violently at the girl's voice.</p> + +<p>"A dead man? In there? How do you know?"</p> + +<p>In a hoarse voice the girl answered:</p> + +<p>"How do I know? The best way possible. <i>I saw it done!</i>"</p> + +<p>There was an awful silence. Max was so deeply impressed by the girl's +words, her looks, her manner, by the gloom of the cold, dark passage, by +the desolate appearance of the two deserted buildings before which they +stood, that his first impulse was an overpowering desire to run away. +Acting upon it he even took a couple of rapid steps in the direction of +the street he had left, passing the girl and getting clear of the +uncanny boarded-up front of the shop.</p> + +<p>A moan from the girl made him stop and look around at her. Emboldened by +this, she came close to him again and whispered:</p> + +<p>"You're a man; you ought to have more pluck than I've got. It's two days +since it happened—"</p> + +<p>"Two days!" muttered Max, remembering that it was two days ago that he +had surprised Dudley with his blood-stained hands.</p> + +<p>"And for those two days I've been outside here waiting for somebody to +come because I daren't go inside by myself. Two days! Two days!" she +repeated, her teeth chattering.</p> + +<p>Max looked at her with mixed feelings of doubt, pity and astonishment. +It was too dark in the ill-lighted passage for him to see all the +details of her appearance. She was young, quite young; so much was +certain. She looked white and pinched and miserably cold. Her dress was +respectable, very plain, and bore marks of her climbing and crawling +over the timber on the wharf.</p> + +<p>"Won't you go in with me?" she asked again, more eagerly, more +tremulously than before. "I can show you the road—round at the back. +You will have a little climbing to do, but you won't mind that."</p> + +<p>"But what do you want me to do if I do get inside?" said Max. "It's the +police you ought to send for, if a man has died in there. Go to the +police station and give information."</p> + +<p>The girl shook her head.</p> + +<p>"I can't do that," she whispered. Then, after a shuddering pause, she +came a step nearer and said, in a lower whisper than ever: "He didn't +die—of his own accord. He was murdered."</p> + +<p>Max grew hot, and cold. He heartily wished he had never come.</p> + +<p>"All the more reason," he went on in a blustering voice, "why you should +inform the police. You had better lose no time about it."</p> + +<p>"I can't do that," said the girl, "because he—the man who did it—was +kind to us—kind to Granny and me. If I tell the police, they will go +after him, and perhaps find him, and—and hang him. Oh, no," and she +shook her head again with decision, "I could not do that."</p> + +<p>Max was silent for a few moments, looking at her for the first few +seconds with pity and then with suspicion.</p> + +<p>"Why do you tell all this to me, then—a stranger—if you're so afraid +of the police finding out anything about it?"</p> + +<p>The girl did not answer for a moment. She seemed puzzled to answer the +question. At last she said:</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to. When I saw you first, at the wharf, at the back +there, I just looked at you and hid myself again. And then I thought to +myself that as you were a gentleman perhaps I might dare to ask you what +I did."</p> + +<p>Max, not unnaturally, grew more doubtful still. This apparently deserted +building, which he was asked to enter by the back way, might be a +thievish den of the worst possible character, and this girl, innocent as +she certainly looked, might be a thieves' decoy. Something in his face +or in his manner must have betrayed his thoughts to the shrewd Londoner; +for she suddenly drew back, uttering a little cry of horror. Without +another word she turned and slunk back along the passage and into the +street.</p> + +<p>Now, if Max had been a little older, or a little more prudent, if he had +indeed been anything but a reckless young rascal with a taste for +exciting adventure, he would have taken this opportunity of getting away +from such a very questionable neighborhood. But, in the first place, he +was struck by the girl's story, which seemed to fit in only too well +with what he knew; and in the second place, he was interested in the +girl herself, the refinement of whose face and manner, in these dubious +surroundings, had impressed him as much as the expression of horror on +her face and the agony of cold which had caused her teeth to chatter and +her limbs to tremble.</p> + +<p>Surely, he thought, the suspicions he had for a moment entertained about +her were incorrect. He began to feel that he could not go away without +making an effort to ascertain if there were any truth in her story.</p> + +<p>He went along the passage and got back to the wharf by the same means as +before. Making his way round the pile of timber upon which he had first +seen the girl, he discovered a little lane, partly between and partly +over the planks, which he promptly followed in the hope of coming in +sight of her again.</p> + +<p>And, crouching under the wall of a ruinous outhouse, in an attitude +expressive of the dejection of utter abandonment, was the white-faced +girl.</p> + +<p>The discovery was enough for Max. All considerations of prudence, of +caution, crumbled away under the influence of the intense pity he felt +for the forlorn creature.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said he, "I'll go in, if you like. Have you got a light?"</p> + +<p>"No—o," answered the girl, in a voice which was thick with sobs. "But I +can show you where to get one when you get inside."</p> + +<p>Max had by this time reached the ground, which was slimy and damp under +the eaves; and he pushed his way, with an air of recklessness which hid +some natural trepidation, into the outhouse, the door of which was not +even fastened.</p> + +<p>"Why," said he, turning to the girl, who was close behind him, "you +could have got in yourself easily enough. At least you would have been +warmer in here than outside."</p> + +<p>His suspicions were starting up again, and they grew stronger as he +perceived that she was paying little attention to him, that she seemed +to be listening for some expected sound. The place in which they now +stood was quite dark, and Max, impatient and somewhat alarmed by the +position in which he found himself, struck a match and looked round him.</p> + +<p>"Now," said he, "find me a candle, if you can."</p> + +<p>Even by the feeble light of the match he could see that he was in a sort +of a scullery, which bore traces of recent occupation. A bit of yellow +soap, some blacking and a couple of brooms in one corner, a pail and a +wooden chair in another, were evidently not "tenant's fixtures."</p> + +<p>And then Max noted a strange circumstance—the two small windows were +boarded up on the inside.</p> + +<p>By the time he had taken note of this, the girl had brought him a candle +in a tin candlestick, which she had taken from a shelf by the door.</p> + +<p>"That's the way," she said, in a voice as low a before, pointing to an +inner door. "Through the back room, and into the front one. He lies in +there."</p> + +<p>Max shuddered.</p> + +<p>"I can't say that I particularly want to see him," said he, as he took +stock of her in the candle-light, and was struck by the peculiar beauty +of her large blue eyes.</p> + +<p>He felt a strong reluctance to venturing farther into this very +questionable and mysterious dwelling; and he took care to stand where he +could see both doors, the one which led farther into the house and the +one by which he had entered.</p> + +<p>The girl heaved a little sigh, of relief apparently. And she remained +standing before him in the same attitude of listening expectancy as he +had remarked in her already.</p> + +<p>"What are you waiting for—listening for?" asked Max sharply.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," she answered with a start. "I'm nervous, that's all. Wouldn't +you be, if you'd been waiting two days outside an empty house with a +dead man inside it?"</p> + +<p>Her tone was sharp and querulous. Max looked at her in bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"Empty house!" he repeated. "What were you doing in it, then?"</p> + +<p>And he glanced round him, assuring himself afresh by this second +scrutiny of the fact that the brick floor and the bare walls of this +scullery had been kept scrupulously clean.</p> + +<p>The girl's white face, pale with the curious opaque pallor of the +Londoner born and bred, flushed a very little. She dropped her eyelids +guiltily.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she said, at last, rather +sulkily. "I was living here. Is that enough?"</p> + +<p>It was not. And her visitor's looks told her so.</p> + +<p>"I was living here with my grandmother," she went on hurriedly, as she +saw Max glance at the outer door and take a step toward it. "We're very +poor, and it's cheaper to live here in a house supposed to be empty than +to pay rent."</p> + +<p>"But hardly fair to the landlord," suggested Max.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Granny doesn't think much of landlords, and, besides, this is part +of the property which used to belong to her old master, Mr. Horne—"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" ejaculated Max, with new interest.</p> + +<p>The girl looked at him inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"What do you know about him?" she asked, with eagerness.</p> + +<p>"I have heard of him," said Max.</p> + +<p>But the astute young Londoner was not to be put off so easily.</p> + +<p>"You know something of the whole family, perhaps? Did you know the old +gentleman himself?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Do you know—his son?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" She assumed the attitude of an inquisitor immediately. "Perhaps it +was he who sent you here to-day?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>She looked long and scrutinizingly in his face, suspicious in her turn. +"Then what made you come?"</p> + +<p>Max paused a moment, and then evaded her question very neatly.</p> + +<p>"What made me come in here? Why, I came by the invitation of a young +lady, who told me she was afraid to go in alone."</p> + +<p>The girl drew back a little.</p> + +<p>"Yes, so I did. And I am very much obliged to you. I—I wanted to ask +you to go into that room, the front room, and to fetch some things of +mine—things I have left there. I daren't go in by myself."</p> + +<p>Max hesitated. Beside his old suspicions, a new one had just started +into his mind.</p> + +<p>"Did you," he asked, suddenly, "know of some letters which were written +to Mr. Dudley Horne?"</p> + +<p>A change came over the girl's face; the expression of deadly terror +which he had first seen upon it seemed to be returning gradually. The +blue eyes seemed to grow wider, the lines in her cheek and mouth to +become deeper. After a short pause, during which he noticed that her +breath was coming in labored gasps, she whispered:</p> + +<p>"Well, what if I do? Mind, I don't say that I do. But what if I do?"</p> + +<p>Her manner had grown fiercely defiant by the time she came to the last +word. Max found the desire to escape becoming even stronger than his +curiosity. The half-guilty look with which his companion had made her +last admission caused a new light to flash into his mind. This "Granny" +of whom the girl spoke, and who was alleged to have disappeared, was a +woman who had known something of the Horne family. Either she or this +girl might have been the writer of the letter Dudley had received while +at The Beeches, which had summoned him so hastily back to town. What if +this old woman had accomplices—had attempted to rob Dudley? And what if +Dudley, in resisting their attempts, had, in self-defence, struck a blow +which had caused the death of one of his assailants? Dudley would +naturally have been silent on the subject of his visit to this +questionable haunt, especially to the brother of Doreen.</p> + +<p>"I think," cried Max, as he strode quickly to the door by which he had +come in, "that the best thing you can do is to sacrifice your things, +whatever they are, and to get out of the place yourself as fast as you +can."</p> + +<p>As he spoke he lifted the latch and tried to open the door. But although +the latch went up, the door remained shut.</p> + +<p>Max pulled and shook it, and finally put his knee against the side-post +and gave the handle of the latch a terrific tug.</p> + +<p>It broke in his hand, but the door remained closed.</p> + +<p>He turned round quickly, and saw the girl, with one hand on her hip and +with the candle held in the other, leaning against the whitewashed wall, +with a smile of amusement on her thin face.</p> + +<p>What a face it was! Expressive as no other face he had ever seen, and +wearing now a look of what seemed to Max diabolical intelligence and +malice. She nodded at him mockingly.</p> + +<p>"I can't get out!" thundered he, threateningly, with another thump at +the door.</p> + +<p>The girl answered in the low voice she always used; by contrast with his +menacing tones it seemed lower than ever:</p> + +<p>"I don't mean you to—yet. I guessed you'd want to go pretty soon, so I +locked the door."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>FOREWARNED, BUT NOT FOREARMED.</h3> + + +<p>"By Jove!" muttered Max. Then, with a sudden outburst of energy, +inspired by indignation at the trap in which he found himself, he dashed +across the floor to the zinc pail he had previously noticed, and +swinging it round his head, was about to make such an attack upon the +door as its old timbers could scarcely have resisted, when the girl +suddenly shot between him and the door, placing herself with her back to +it and her arms spread out, so quickly that he only missed by a hair's +breadth dealing her such a blow as would undoubtedly have split her +skull.</p> + +<p>In the effort to avoid this, Max, checking himself, staggered and +slipped, falling on the brick floor, pail and all.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am sorry! So sorry!"</p> + +<p>Again the oddly expressive face had changed completely. Her scarlet +lips—those vividly red lips which go with an opaque white skin—were +instantly parted with genuine terror. Her eyes looked soft and shining, +full of tender feminine kindness and sympathy. Down she went on her +knees beside him, asking anxiously:</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt? Oh, I know your wrist is hurt!"</p> + +<p>Max gave her a glance, the result of which was that he began to feel +more afraid of her than of the locked door. About this strange, almost +uncannily beautiful child of the riverside slum there was a fascination +which appealed to him more and more. The longer he looked at the wide, +light-blue eyes, listened to the hoarse but moving voice, the more +valiantly he had to struggle against the spell which he felt her to be +casting upon him.</p> + +<p>"I've strained my wrist a little, I think. Nothing to matter," said he.</p> + +<p>But as he moved he found that the wrist gave him pain. He got up from +the floor, and stood with his left hand clasping the injured right +wrist, not so eager as before to make his escape.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you let me out?" he asked at last, sharply, with an effort.</p> + +<p>The girl looked at him with yet a new expression on her mobile face—an +expression of desperation.</p> + +<p>"Because I couldn't bear it any longer," she whispered. And as she spoke +her eyes wandered round the bare walls and rested for a moment on the +inner door. "Because when you've been all alone in the cold, without any +food, without any one to speak to for two days and two nights, you feel +you must speak to some one, whatever comes of it. If I'd had to wait out +there, listening, listening, for another night, I should have been mad, +raving mad in the morning."</p> + +<p>"But I don't understand it at all," said Max, again inclining to belief +in the girl's story, impressed by her passionate earnestness. "Where has +your grandmother gone to? Why didn't she take you with her? Can't you +tell me the whole story?"</p> + +<p>The girl looked at him curiously.</p> + +<p>"Just now you only thought of getting away."</p> + +<p>"I don't care to be detained by lock and key, certainly," said Max. "But +if you will unlock the door, I am quite ready to wait here until you +have unburdened your mind, if you want to do that."</p> + +<p>She looked at him doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"That's a promise, mind," said she at last. "And it's a promise you +wouldn't mind giving, I think, if you believed in half I've gone +through."</p> + +<p>She took a key from her pocket, unlocked the outer door and set it ajar.</p> + +<p>"Will that do for you?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's all right."</p> + +<p>She took up the candle, which she had put on a shelf while she knelt to +find out whether he was hurt, and crossing the brick floor with rapid, +rather stealthy steps, she put her fingers on the latch of the inner +door.</p> + +<p>"Keep close!" whispered she.</p> + +<p>Max obeyed. He kept so close that the girl's soft hair, which was of the +ash-fair color so common in English blondes who have been flaxen-headed +in their childhood, almost touched his face. She opened the door and +entered what was evidently the back room of the deserted shop.</p> + +<p>A dark room it must have been, even in broadest daylight. Opposite to +the door by which they had entered was one which was glazed in the upper +half; this evidently led into the shop itself, although the old red +curtain which hung over the glass panes hid the view of what was beyond. +There was a little fireplace, in which were the burnt-out ashes of a +recent fire. There was a deal table in the middle of the room, and a +cloth of a common pattern of blue and red check lay in a heap on the +floor. A couple of plain Windsor chairs, and a third with arms and a +cushion, a hearth-rug, a fender and fire-irons, completed the furniture +of the room.</p> + +<p>And the one window, a small one, which looked out upon the wharf, in a +corner formed by the outhouse on the one side and a shed on the other, +was carefully boarded up.</p> + +<p>Grimly desolate the dark, bare room looked, small as it was; and a +couple of rats, which scurried over the floor as Max entered, added a +suggestion of other horrors to the deserted room. The girl had managed +to get behind Max, and he turned sharply with a suspicion that she meant +to shut him into the room by himself.</p> + +<p>"It's all right—it's all right," whispered she, reassuringly. "He isn't +in here. But he's there."</p> + +<p>And she pointed to the door with the red curtain.</p> + +<p>Max stopped. The farther he advanced into this mysterious house the less +he liked the prospect presented to his view. And the girl herself seemed +to have forgotten her pretext of wanting something fetched out of that +mysterious third room. She remained leaning against the wall, close by +the door by which she and Max had entered, still holding the candlestick +and staring at the red curtain with eyes full of terror. Max found his +own eyes fascinated by the steady gaze, and he looked in the same +direction.</p> + +<p>Staring intently at the bit of faded stuff, he was almost ready to +imagine, in the silence and gloom of the place, that he saw it move. His +breath came fast. Overcome by the uncanny influences of the dreary place +itself, of the hideous story he had heard, of the girl's white face, Max +began to feel as if the close, cold air of the unused room was like the +touch of clammy fingers on his face.</p> + +<p>Even as this consciousness seized upon him, he heard a moan, a sliding +sound, a thud, and the light went suddenly out.</p> + +<p>In the first impulse of horror at his position Max uttered a sharp +exclamation, but remained immovable. Indeed, in the darkness, in this +unknown place, to take a step in any direction was impossible. He stood +listening, waiting for some sound, some ray of light, to guide him.</p> + +<p>All he heard was the scurrying of the rats as they ran, disturbed by the +noise, across the room and behind the wainscot in the darkness.</p> + +<p>At last he turned and tried to find the door by which he had come in. He +found it, and had his hand upon the latch, when his right foot touched +something soft, yielding. He opened the door, which was not locked, as +he had feared, and was about to make his way as fast as he could into +the open air, when another moan, fainter than before, reached his ears.</p> + +<p>No light came into the room through the open door; so he struck a wax +match. His nerves were not at their best, and it was some time before he +could get a light. When he did so, he discovered that the thing his foot +had touched was the body of the girl, lying in a heap on the floor close +to the wainscot.</p> + +<p>Now Max was divided between his doubts and his pity; but it was not +possible that doubt should carry the day in the face of this discovery. +Whether she had fainted, or whether this was only a ruse on her part to +detain him, to interest him, he could not leave her lying there.</p> + +<p>The tin candlestick had rolled away on the floor, and the candle had +fallen out of it. The first thing Max had to do was to replace the one +in the other, and to get a serviceable light. By the time he had done so +he saw a movement in the girl's body. She was lying with her head on the +floor. He put his arm under her head to raise it, when she started up, +so suddenly as to alarm him, leaned back against the wall, still in her +cramped, sitting position, and glared into his face.</p> + +<p>"Look here," she said faintly, "I couldn't help it. You know—I +think—I'm almost—starving."</p> + +<p>"Heavens! Why didn't I think of it! Poor child! Get up; let me help you. +Come to this chair. Wait here, only a few minutes. I'll get you +something to eat and drink."</p> + +<p>He was helping her up; had got her on her feet, indeed, when she +suddenly swung round in his arms, clinging to his sleeve and staring +again with the fixed, almost vacant look which made him begin to doubt +whether her reason had not suffered.</p> + +<p>"No, no, no," cried she, gasping for breath; "I can't stay here. I know, +I know you wouldn't come back. If you once got out, got outside in the +air, you would go back to your home, and I should be left +here—alone—with the rats—and—<i>that</i>!"</p> + +<p>And again she pointed to the curtained door.</p> + +<p>Max felt his teeth chattering as he tried to reassure her.</p> + +<p>"Come, won't you trust me? I'll only be a minute. I want to get you some +brandy."</p> + +<p>"Brandy? No. I dare not."</p> + +<p>And she shook her head. But Max persisted.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense—you must have it. There's a public-house at the corner, of +course. Come out on to the wharf, if you like and wait for me."</p> + +<p>It was pitiful to see the expression of her eyes as she looked in his +face without a word. She was leaning back in the wooden arm-chair, one +hand lying in her lap, the other hanging limply over the side of the +chair. Her hair, which had been fastened in a coil at the back of her +head, had been loosened in the fall, and now drooped about her head and +face in disorder, which increased her pathetic beauty. And it was at +this point that Max noticed, with astonishment, that her hands, though +not specially beautiful or small or in any way remarkable, were not +those of a woman used to the roughest work.</p> + +<p>She made an attempt to rise, apparently doubting his good faith and +afraid to lose sight of him, as he retreated toward the door. But she +fell back again, and only stared at him dumbly.</p> + +<p>The mute appeal touched Max to the quick. He was always rather +susceptible, but it seemed to him that he had never felt, at the hands +of any girl, such a variety of emotions as this forlorn creature roused +in him with every movement, every look, every word.</p> + +<p>He hesitated, came back a step and leaned over the table, looking at +her.</p> + +<p>"I'll come back," said he, in a voice hardly above a whisper. "Of course +I'll come back. You don't think I'd leave you like this, do you?"</p> + +<p>For a moment she stared at him with doubt in her eyes; then, as if +reassured, her lips parted in a very faint smile, and she made a slight +motion with her head which he was fain to take as a sign of her trust.</p> + +<p>He had reached the door, when by a weak gesture she called him back +again.</p> + +<p>"If—if you should meet anybody—I'm expecting Granny all the time—I'm +sure she wouldn't leave me altogether like this—you will come back all +the same, won't you?"</p> + +<p>Her earnestness over this matter had given her back a little strength. +She leaned forward over one arm of the chair, impressing her words upon +him with a bend of the head.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I shan't mind Granny," replied Max, confidently.</p> + +<p>"Well, you wouldn't mind her if she was in a good humor," went on the +girl, doubtfully, "but when she's in a bad one, oh, well, then," in a +lowered voice of deep confidence, "<i>I'm afraid of her myself!</i>"</p> + +<p>"That's all right. It would take more than an old woman to frighten me! +Tell me what she's like and what her name is, and I can present myself +to her as a morning caller."</p> + +<p>The girl seemed to have recovered altogether from her attack of +faintness, since she was able to detain him thus from his proposed +errand on her behalf. She smiled again, less faintly than before, and +shook her head.</p> + +<p>"I don't think there's much to describe about Granny. She was a +housekeeper at old Mr. Horne's house in the city, you know, and she +looks just as old housekeepers always look. Her name's Mrs. Higgs. But," +and the girl looked frightened again, "don't tell her you've come to see +<i>me</i>. She's very particular. At least—I mean—"</p> + +<p>A pretty confusion, a touch of hesitancy, the first sign of anything +girlish which Max had seen in this strange creature, made her stop and +turn her head away. And, the effort of speaking over, she drooped again.</p> + +<p>"I won't be long."</p> + +<p>And Max, puzzled himself by the feelings he had toward this strange +little white-bodied being, went through the outhouse into the open air.</p> + +<p>Outside, he found himself staggering, he didn't know why—whether from +the emotions he had experienced or from the clammy, close hair of the +shut-up room; all he knew was that by the time he reached the +public-house, which he had correctly foreseen was to be found at the +corner, he felt quite as much in want of the brandy as his patient +herself.</p> + +<p>It occurred to him, as he stood in the bar, swallowing some fiery liquid +of dubious origin which the landlord had sold to him as brandy, to make +a casual inquiry about Mrs. Higgs.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the landlord, "I do know a Mrs. Higgs. She comes in here +sometimes; she likes her glass. But they know more about her at The +Admiral's Arms, Commercial Road way," and he gave a nod of the head to +indicate the direction of that neighborhood.</p> + +<p>"Do you know her address?" asked Max.</p> + +<p>The landlord smiled.</p> + +<p>"It 'ud take a clever head to keep the addresses of all the chance +customers as comes in here. For the matter of that, very few of 'em have +any addresses in particular; it's one court one week, and t'other the +next."</p> + +<p>"But she's a very respectable woman, the Mrs. Higgs I mean," said Max, +tentatively.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir; I've nothin' to say ag'inst her," and the landlord, with +a look which showed that he objected to be "pumped," turned to another +customer.</p> + +<p>Max took the brandy he had bought for the girl and hurried back to the +place where he had left her. As he went, an instinct of curiosity, +natural enough, considering his recently acquired knowledge, made him go +down the passage and try to look in through the grim, dusty window of +the shop. But this also was boarded up on the inner side, so that no +view could be obtained of what was within.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Max, however, as he stood there, with his eyes fixed on the +planks, trying to discover an aperture, that between the cracks of the +boards there glimmered a faint light. It seemed to flicker, then it died +out.</p> + +<p>Surely, he thought, the girl has not summoned enough courage to go into +the room by herself?</p> + +<p>He hurried back down the passage, and made his way as before to the +wharf. Stumbling round the piles of timber, he found the lane by which +he had entered and left the house. It seemed to him, though he told +himself it must be only fancy, that some of the loose planks had been +disturbed since his last journey over them. Reaching the door of +outhouse, which he had left ajar, he found it shut.</p> + +<p>He was now sure that some one had gone in, or come out, since he left; +and for a moment the circumstance seemed to him sufficiently suspicious +to make him pause. The next moment, however, the remembrance of the +girl's white face, of the pleading blue eyes, returned to him vividly, +calling to him, drawing him back by an irresistible spell. He pushed +open the door boldly, crossed the brick floor and reentered the inner +room. The candle was still burning on the table, but the girl was not +there.</p> + +<p>Max looked round the room. He was puzzled, suspicious. As he stood by +the table staring at the wall opposite the fireplace, wondering whether +to go out or to explore further, he found his eyes attracted to a spot +in the wall-paper where, in the feeble light, something like two +glittering beads shone out uncannily in the middle of the pattern. With +a curious sensation down his spine, Max took a hasty step back to the +door, and the beads moved slowly.</p> + +<p>It was a pair of eyes watching him as he moved.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE MAN WHO HESITATES.</h3> + + +<p>Max had become accustomed, in the course of this adventurous visit, to +surprises and alarms. Every step in the enterprise he had undertaken had +brought a fresh excitement, a fresh horror. But nothing that he had so +far heard or seen had given him such a sick feeling of indefinable +terror as the sight of these two eyes, turning to watch his every +movement. For a moment he watched them, then he made a bold dash for the +place where he had seen them, and aimed a blow with his fist at the +wall.</p> + +<p>He heard the loose plaster rattle down; but when he looked for the +result of his blow, he saw nothing but the old-fashioned, dirty paper on +the wall, apparently without a hole or tear in it.</p> + +<p>The discovery made him feel sick.</p> + +<p>He turned to make his escape from the house, to which he felt that he +was a fool to have returned at all, when the door by which he had +entered opened slowly, and the girl came in.</p> + +<p>A little flash, as of pleased surprise, passed over her white face. Then +she said, under her breath:</p> + +<p>"So you have come back. I didn't think you would. I—I am sorry you +did."</p> + +<p>Max looked rather blank. The girl's attraction for him had increased +during the short period he had been absent from her. He had had time to +think over his feelings, to find his interest stimulated by the process. +Imagination, which does so much for a woman with a man, and for a man +with a woman, had begun to have play. He had come back determined to +find out more about the girl, to probe to the bottom of the mystery in +which, perhaps, consisted so much of the charm she had for him.</p> + +<p>Even now, upon her entrance, the first sight of her face had made his +heart leap up.</p> + +<p>There was a pause when she finished speaking. Max, who was usually +fluent enough with her sex, hesitated, stammered and at last said:</p> + +<p>"You are sorry I came back? Yet you seemed anxious enough to make me +promise to come back!"</p> + +<p>He observed that a great change had come over her. Instead of being +nerveless and lifeless, as he had left her, with dull eyes and weak, +helpless limbs, she was now agitated, excited; she glanced nervously +about her while he spoke, and tapped the finger-tips of one hand +restlessly with those of the other as she listened.</p> + +<p>"I know," she replied, rapidly, "I know I was. But—Granny has come +back. She came in while you were gone."</p> + +<p>Max glanced at the wall, where he had fancied he saw the pair of +watching eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said he, "that explains what I saw, perhaps. Where is your +grandmother?"</p> + +<p>"She has gone upstairs to her room under the roof."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Are you sure she is upstairs? That she is not in the next room, for +instance, watching me through some secret peep-hole of hers?"</p> + +<p>The girl stared at him in silence as he pointed to the wall, and as he +ran his hand over its surface.</p> + +<p>"I saw a pair of eyes watching me just now," he went on, "from the +middle of this wall. I could swear to it!"</p> + +<p>The girl looked incredulous, and passed her hand over the wall in her +turn. Then she shook her head.</p> + +<p>"I can feel nothing," said she. "It must be your fancy. There is no room +there. It is the ground-floor of an old warehouse next door which has +been to let for years and years—longer than this."</p> + +<p>He still looked doubtful, and she added, sharply:</p> + +<p>"You can see for yourself if you like."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, she was turning to go back into the outhouse, with a sign +to him to follow her. But even as she did so, another thought must have +struck her, for she shut the door and turned back again.</p> + +<p>"No," she said, decisively, "of course you don't want to see anything so +much as the outside of this gloomy old house. Don't think me ungrateful; +I am not, but"—she came a little nearer to Max, so that she could +whisper very close to his ear—"if Granny knew that I'd let a stranger +into the place while she was away, I should never hear the last of it; +and—and—when she's angry I'm afraid of her."</p> + +<p>Max felt a pang of compassion for the girl.</p> + +<p>"If you are afraid of her being angry," said he, "you had better let her +see me and hear my explanation. I can make things right with her. I have +great powers of persuasion—with old ladies—I assure you; and you don't +look as if you were equal to a strife of tongues with her or with +anybody just now; and I'd forgotten; I've brought something for you."</p> + +<p>Max took from the pocket of his overcoat the little flat bottle filled +with brandy with which he had provided himself; but the girl pushed it +away with alarm.</p> + +<p>"Don't let Granny see it!" she whispered.</p> + +<p>"All right. But I want you to taste it; it will do you good."</p> + +<p>She shook her head astutely.</p> + +<p>"I am not ill," she said, shortly, "and I don't know that I should take +it if I were. I see too much of those things not to be afraid of them. +And, now, sir, will you go?" After a short pause she added, in an +ominous tone—"while you have the chance."</p> + +<p>Max still lingered. He had forgotten his curiosity, he had almost +forgotten what had brought him to the house in the first instance. He +did not want to leave this girl, with the great, light-blue eyes and the +scarlet lips, the modest manner and the moving voice.</p> + +<p>When the silence which followed her words had lasted some seconds, she +turned from him impatiently, and leaving him by the door, crossed the +little room quickly, opened one of the two wooden doors which stood one +on each side of the fireplace, revealing a cupboard with rows of +shelves, and took from the bottom a few chips of dry wood, evidently +gleaned from the wharf outside, a box of matches and part of a +newspaper, and dropping down on her knees on the hearth, began briskly +to rake out the ashes and to prepare a fire.</p> + +<p>Max stood watching her, divided between prudence, which urged him to go, +and inclination, which prompted him to stay.</p> + +<p>She went on with her work steadily for some minutes, without so much as +a look behind. Yet Max felt that she was aware of his presence, and he +knew also, without being sure how the knowledge came to him, that the +girl's feeling toward himself had changed now that she was no longer +alone in the house with him. The constraint which might have been +expected toward a person of the opposite sex in the strange +circumstances, which had been so entirely absent from her manner on +their first meeting, had now stolen into her attitude toward him.</p> + +<p>Yet, although the former absence of this constraint had been a most +effective part of her attraction for him, Max began to think that the +new and slight self-consciousness which caused her to affect to ignore +him was a fresh charm. Before, while she implored him to come into the +house with her, it was to a fellow-creature only that the frightened +girl had made her appeal. Now that her grandmother had returned, and she +was lonely and unprotected no longer, she remembered that he was a man.</p> + +<p>This change in her attitude toward him was strikingly exemplified when, +having lit the fire, she rose from her knees, and taking a kettle from +the hob, turned toward the door.</p> + +<p>"You haven't gone then?" said she.</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>She came forward, taking the lid off the kettle as she walked.</p> + +<p>"You won't be advised?"</p> + +<p>She was passing him swiftly, with the manner of a busy housewife, when +Max, encouraged by her new reserve, and a demure side-look, which was +not without coquetry, seized the hand which held the kettle, and asked +her if he was to get no thanks for coming to her assistance as he had +done.</p> + +<p>"I did thank you," said she, not attempting to withdrew her hand, but +standing, grave and with downcast eyes, between him and the door.</p> + +<p>"Well, in a way, you did. But you didn't thank me enough. You yourself +admit it was a bold thing for a stranger to do!"</p> + +<p>The girl looked suddenly up into his face, and again he saw in her +expressive eyes a look which was altogether new. Like flashes of +lightning the changes passed over her small, mobile features, to which +the absence of even a tinge of healthy pink color gave, perhaps, an +added power of portraying the emotions which might be agitating her. +There was now something like defiance in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"What was your boldness compared to mine?" said she. "You are a man; you +have strong arms, at any rate, I suppose. I am only a girl, and you are +a gentleman, and gentlemen are not chivalrous. Who dared the most then, +you or I?"</p> + +<p>"So gentlemen are not chivalrous?" said Max, ignoring the last part of +her speech. "All gentlemen are not, I suppose you mean? Or rather, all +the men who ought to be gentlemen?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered the girl, stubbornly. "I mean what I said. You with the +rest. You'd act rightly toward a man, I suppose, as a matter of course. +You can't act rightly toward a woman, a girl, without expecting to be +paid for it."</p> + +<p>Max was taken aback. Here was a change, indeed, from the poor, clinging, +pleading, imploring creature of twenty minutes before. He reddened a +little and let her hand slip from his grasp.</p> + +<p>"I believe you are right," he said, at last, "though you are rather +severe. But let me tell you that the word 'chivalry' is misleading +altogether. It is applied to those middle-aged Johnnies—no, I mean +those Johnnies of the Middle Ages—who were supposed to go about +rescuing damsels in distress, isn't it? Well, you don't know what +happened after the rescue was effected; but I like to suppose, myself, +that the girl didn't just say 'Thanks—awfully' and cut him dead forever +afterward."</p> + +<p>"You think the knight expected payment, just as you do, for his +services?"</p> + +<p>"I think so. A very small payment, but one which he would appreciate +highly."</p> + +<p>The girl leaned against the wall by the door and looked at him with +something like contempt for a moment. Then she smiled, not +encouragingly, but with mockery in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"You have a tariff, I suppose," said she, cuttingly, "a regular scale of +charges, as, perhaps, you will say the knights had. Pray, what is your +charge in the present instance? A kiss, perhaps, or two?"</p> + +<p>Now, Max had, indeed, indulged the hope that she would bestow upon him +this small mark of gratitude. It came upon him with a shock of surprise +that a girl who had been so bold as to summon him should make so much +fuss about the reward he had certainly earned. He had expected to get it +with a laugh and a blush, as a matter of course. For his modest +suggestion to be taken so seriously was a disconcerting occurrence. He +drew himself up a little.</p> + +<p>"I don't pretend I should have been generous enough to refuse such a +payment if you had shown the slightest willingness to make it," said he. +"But as it's the sort of coin that has no value unless given +voluntarily, we will consider the debt settled without it."</p> + +<p>He made a pretense of leaving her at this point, without the slightest +intention of persisting in it. This curious conference had all the zest +of a most novel kind of flirtation, which was none the less piquant for +the girl's haughty airs.</p> + +<p>There are feminine eyes which allure as much while they seem to repel as +they do when they consciously attract; and the light-blue ones which +shone in the white face of this East End enchantress were of the number.</p> + +<p>Max opened the door and slowly stepped into the outhouse. At the moment +of glancing back—an inevitable thing—he saw that she looked sorry, +dismayed. He took his gloves out of his pocket and began to draw them +on, to fill up the time. By the time the second finger of the first +glove was in its place, for he was deliberate, the girl had come into +the outhouse, passed him, and was drawing water from the tap into her +kettle. He watched her. She knew it, but pretended not to notice. The +circumstance of the water flowing freely in the house which was supposed +to be deserted made an excuse for another remark, and a safe one.</p> + +<p>"I thought they cut the water off from empty houses; that is, houses +supposed to be empty."</p> + +<p>She turned round with so much alacrity as to suggest that she was glad +of the pretext for reopening communications. And this time there was a +bright look of arch amusement on her face instead of her former +expression of outraged dignity.</p> + +<p>"So they do. But—the people who know how to live without paying rent +know a few other things, too."</p> + +<p>Max laughed a little, but he was rather shocked. This pretty and in some +respects fastidiously correct young person ought not surely to find +amusement in defrauding even a water company.</p> + +<p>The fact reminded him of that which the intoxication caused by a pretty +face had made him forget—that he was in a house of dubious character, +from which he would be wise in escaping without further delay. But then, +again, it was the very oddness of the contrast between the character of +the house and the behavior of the girl which made the piquancy of the +situation.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; of course; I'd forgotten that," assented Max, limply.</p> + +<p>And then he fell into silence, and the girl stood quietly by the tap, +which ran slowly, till the kettle was full.</p> + +<p>And then it began to run over.</p> + +<p>Now this incident was a provocation. Max was artful enough to know that +no girl who ever fills a kettle lets it run over unless she is much +preoccupied. He chose to think she was preoccupied with him. So he +laughed, and she looked quickly round and blushed, and turned her back +upon him with ferocity.</p> + +<p>He came boldly up to her.</p> + +<p>"I'm so sorry," said he, in a coaxing, confidential, persuasive tone, +such as she had given him no proper encouragement to use, "that we've +had a sort of quarrel just at the last, and spoiled the impression of +you I wanted to carry away."</p> + +<p>He was evidently in no hurry to carry anything away, though he went on +with the glove-buttoning with much energy.</p> + +<p>She listened, with her eyes down, making, kettle and all, the prettiest +picture possible. There was no light in the outhouse except that which +came from a little four-penny brass hand-lamp, which the girl must have +lit just before her last entrance into the inner room. It was behind +her, on a shelf against the wall; and the light shone through the loose +threads of her fair hair, making an aureole round the side view of her +little head.</p> + +<p>She was bewitching like that, so the susceptible Max thought, while he +debated with himself whether he now dared to try again for that small +reward. And he reluctantly decided that he did not dare. And again there +was something piquant in the fact of his not daring.</p> + +<p>The girl, after a short pause, looked up; perhaps, though not so +susceptible as he, she was not insensible to the fact that Max was young +and handsome, well dressed, a little in love with her, and altogether +different from the types of male humanity most common to Limehouse.</p> + +<p>"If," she suggested at last, with some hesitation, "you really think it +better to see my grandmother, she will be down very soon. I'm going to +make some tea; and you could wait, if you liked, in the next room."</p> + +<p>"I should be delighted," said Max.</p> + +<p>Off came the gloves; and as the girl tripped quickly into the adjoining +room, he followed with alacrity.</p> + +<p>"Mind," cried she suddenly, as she turned from the fireplace and stood +by the table in an attitude of warning, "it is at your own risk, you +know, that you stay. You can guess that the people who belong to a +hole-and-corner place like this are not the sort you're accustomed to +meet at West-End dinner tables, nor yet at an archbishop's garden-party. +But as you've stayed so long, it will be better for me if you stay till +you have seen Granny, as she must have heard me talking to you by this +time."</p> + +<p>Now Max, in the interest of his conversation with the girl, had +forgotten all about less pleasant subjects. Now that they were suddenly +recalled to his mind, he felt uneasy at the idea of the unseen but +ever-watchful "Granny," who might be listening to every word he uttered, +noting every glance he threw at the girl.</p> + +<p>And then the natural suspicion flashed into his mind: Was there a +"Granny" after all? or was the invisible one some person more to be +dreaded than any old woman?</p> + +<p>Another glance at the girl, and the fascinated, bewildered Max resolved +to risk everything for a little more of her society.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>GRANNY.</h3> + + +<p>There was some constraint upon them both at first; and Max had had time +to feel a momentary regret that he had been foolish enough to stay, when +he was surprised to find the girl's eyes staring fixedly at a small +parcel which he had taken from his coat-tail pocket and placed upon the +table.</p> + +<p>It was a paper of biscuits which he had brought from the public-house. +He had forgotten them till that moment.</p> + +<p>"I brought these for you—" he began.</p> + +<p>And then, before he could add more, he was shocked by the avidity with +which she almost snatched them from his hand.</p> + +<p>"I—I'd forgotten!" stammered he.</p> + +<p>It was an awful sight. The girl was hungry, ravenously hungry, and he +had been chatting to her and talking about kisses when she was starving!</p> + +<p>There was again a faint spot of color in her cheeks, as she turned her +back to him and crouched on the hearth with the food.</p> + +<p>"Don't look at me," she said, half laughing, half ashamed. "I suppose +you've never been without food for two days!"</p> + +<p>Max could not at first answer. He sat in one of the wooden chairs, with +his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped, calling himself, +mentally, all sorts of things for his idiotic forgetfulness.</p> + +<p>"And to think," said he, at last, in a hoarse and not over-steady-voice, +"that I dared to compare myself to a knight-errant!"</p> + +<p>The biscuits were disappearing rapidly. Presently she turned and let him +see her face again.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," suggested she, still with her mouth full, "as you say, one +didn't hear quite all about those gentlemen. Perhaps they forgot things +sometimes. And perhaps," she added, with a most gracious change to +gratitude and kindness, "they weren't half so sorry when they forgot as +you are."</p> + +<p>Max listened in fresh amazement. Where on earth had this child of the +slums, in the cheap-stuff frock and clumsy shoes, got her education, her +refinement? Her talk was not so very different from that of the West-End +dinner-tables she had laughed at. What did it mean?</p> + +<p>"Do you really feel so grateful for the little I have done?" he asked +suddenly.</p> + +<p>The girl drew a long breath.</p> + +<p>"I don't dare to tell you <i>how</i> grateful."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, will you tell me all about yourself? I'm getting more +puzzled every moment. I hope it isn't rude to say so, but—you and this +place don't <i>fit</i>."</p> + +<p>For a moment the girl did not answer. Then she put the paper which had +held the biscuits carefully into the cupboard by the fireplace, and as +she did so he saw her raise her shoulders with an involuntary and +expressive shrug.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is rather surprising," she said at last, as she folded her +hands in her lap and kept her eyes fixed upon the red heart of the fire. +"It surprises me sometimes."</p> + +<p>There was a pause, but Max would not interrupt her, for he thought from +her manner that an explanation of some sort was coming. At last she went +on, raising her head a little, but without looking at him:</p> + +<p>"And very likely it will astonish you still more to hear that in coming +to this place I made a change for the better."</p> + +<p>Max was too much surprised to make any comment.</p> + +<p>"If you want to know my name, date of birth, parentage and the rest of +it," went on the girl, in a tone of half-playful recklessness, "why, I +have no details to give you. I don't know anything about myself, and +nobody I know seems to know any more. Granny says she does, but I don't +believe her."</p> + +<p>She paused.</p> + +<p>"Why, surely," began Max, "your own grandmother—"</p> + +<p>"But I don't even know that she is my own grandmother," interrupted the +girl, sharply. "If she were, wouldn't she know my name?"</p> + +<p>"That seems probable, certainly."</p> + +<p>"Well, she doesn't, or she says she doesn't. She pretends she has +forgotten, or puts me off when I ask questions, though any one can +understand my asking them."</p> + +<p>This was puzzling, certainly. Max had no satisfactory explanation to +offer, so he shook his head and tried to look wise. As long as she would +go on talking, and about herself, too, he didn't care what she said.</p> + +<p>"What does she call you?" asked he, after a silence.</p> + +<p>"Carrie—Carrie Rivers. But the 'Rivers' is not my name, I know. It was +given me by Miss Aldridge, who brought me up, and she told me it wasn't +my real name, but that she gave it to me because it was 'proper to have +one.' So how can I believe Granny when she says that it is not my name? +Or at least that she has forgotten whether I had any other? If she had +really forgotten all that, wouldn't she have forgotten my existence +altogether, and not have taken the trouble to hunt me out, and to take +me away from the place where she found me?"</p> + +<p>"Where was that?" asked Max.</p> + +<p>The girl hung her head, and answered in a lower voice, as if her reply +were a distasteful, discreditable admission:</p> + +<p>"I was bookkeeper at a hotel—a wretched place, where I was miserable, +very miserable."</p> + +<p>Max was more puzzled than ever.</p> + +<p>Every fresh detail about herself and her life made him wonder the more +why she was refined, educated. Presently she looked up, and caught the +expression on his face.</p> + +<p>"That was after Miss Aldridge died," she said, with a sigh. "I had lived +with her ever since I was a little girl. I can hardly remember anything +before that—except—some things, little things, which I would rather +forget." And her face clouded again. "She was a very old lady, who had +been rich once, and poor after that. She had kept a school before she +had me; and after that, I was the school. I had to do all the learning +of a schoolful. Do you see?"</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Max, "<i>now</i> I understand! And didn't she ever let you know +who placed you with her?"</p> + +<p>"She said it was my grandmother," answered Carrie, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"This grandmother? The one you call Granny?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. You see, Mrs. Higgs never turned up till about ten months +ago, long after Miss Aldridge had died. She died the Christmas before +last."</p> + +<p>"And how did you get to the hotel?"</p> + +<p>"I had to do something. Miss Aldridge had only her annuity. I had done +everything for her, except the very hardest work, that she wouldn't let +me do; and when she died, suddenly, I had to find some way of living. +And somebody knew of the hotel. So I went."</p> + +<p>"Where was it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, not so very far from here. It was a dreadful place. They treated me +fairly well because I am quick at accounts, so I was useful. But, oh, it +wasn't a place for a girl at all."</p> + +<p>"But why didn't you get a better one? Anything would have been better, +surely, than coming here, to live like this!"</p> + +<p>Max was earnest, impassioned even. The girl smiled mournfully as she +just caught his eyes for a moment, and then looked at the fire again.</p> + +<p>"You don't understand," she said, simply. "How should you? I should have +had no reference to give if I had wanted another situation. The name of +the place where I had been living would have been worse than none."</p> + +<p>"But there are lots of places where you could have gone, religious and +philanthropic institutions I think they call themselves, where they +would have listened to what you had to say, and done their best to help +you."</p> + +<p>Carrie looked dubious.</p> + +<p>"Are there?" said she. "Well, there may be, of course. But I think not. +Plenty of institutions of one sort and another there are, of course. But +those for women are generally for one class—a class I don't belong to."</p> + +<p>Max shuddered. This matter-of-fact tone jarred upon him. It was not +immodest, but it revealed a mind accustomed to view the facts of life, +not one nourished on pretty fancies, like those of his sisters.</p> + +<p>"And even if," she went on, "there were a home, an institution, a girl +like me could go to and obtain employment, it wouldn't be a life one +would care for; it would be a sort of workhouse at the best, wouldn't +it?"</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be better than—this?"</p> + +<p>"I don't even know that. Granny's fond of me in her way. That's the one +thing no sort of institution can give you, the feeling that you belong +to some one, that you're not just a number."</p> + +<p>"Well, but you're well educated—and—"</p> + +<p>He was going to say "pretty," but her look stopped him.</p> + +<p>It was almost a look of reproach.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I'm the only fairly-educated girl in London who doesn't +know how to get a living? Haven't you ever found, in poor, wretched +little shops, girls who speak well, look different from the others? +Don't you know that there are lots of girls like me who are provided +for, well provided for at the outset, and then forgotten, or neglected, +and left to starve, to drift, to get on the best way they can? Oh, +surely you must know that! Only people like you don't care to think +about these things. And you are quite right, quite right. Why should +you?"</p> + +<p>Suddenly the girl sprang up and made a gesture with her hands as if to +dismiss the subject. Max, watching her with eager interest, saw pass +quickly over her face a look which set him wondering on whose +countenance he had seen it before. In an instant it was gone, leaving a +look of weariness behind. But it set him wondering. Who was she? Who +were the mysterious parents of whom she knew nothing?</p> + +<p>Carrie glanced at the door which led into the outhouse. The tapping of a +stick on the stone-flagged floor announced the approach of "Granny" at +last. The girl ran to open the door.</p> + +<p>Max had sprung up from his chair, full of curiosity to see the old lady +of whom Carrie seemed to be somewhat in awe.</p> + +<p>He was rather disappointed. There was nothing at all formidable or +dignified about Mrs. Higgs, who was a round-shouldered, infirm old woman +in a brown dress, a black-and-white check shawl, and a rusty black +bonnet.</p> + +<p>She stopped short on seeing Max, and proceeded, still standing in the +doorway, to scrutinize with candid interest every detail of his +appearance. When she had satisfied herself, she waved her stick as an +intimation to him that he could sit down again, and, leaning on the arm +of the young girl, crossed the room, still without a word, and took her +seat in the one arm-chair.</p> + +<p>As Carrie had said, there was nothing singular or marked about her face +or figure by which one could have distinguished her from the general run +of old women of her modest but apparently respectable class. A little +thin, whitish hair, parted in the middle, showed under her bonnet; her +eyes, of the faded no-color of the old, stared unintelligently out of +her hard, wrinkled face; her long, straight, hairy chin, rather hooked +nose and thin-lipped mouth made an <i>ensemble</i> which suggested a +harmless, tedious old lady who could "nag" when she was not pleased.</p> + +<p>Conversation was not her strong point, evidently, or, perhaps, the +presence of a stranger made her shy. For, to all Carrie's remarks and +inquiries, she vouchsafed only nods in reply, or the shortest of answers +in a gruff voice and an ungracious tone.</p> + +<p>"Who is he?" she asked at last, when she had begun to sip her cup of +tea.</p> + +<p>She did not even condescend to look at Max as she made the inquiry.</p> + +<p>"A gentleman, Granny—the gentleman I told you of, who came in with me +because I was afraid to come in by myself."</p> + +<p>"But what's he doing here now? You're not by yourself now."</p> + +<p>Max himself could hardly help laughing at this question and comment.</p> + +<p>"I thought I ought to explain to you my appearance here," said he, +modestly.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then; you can go as soon as you like."</p> + +<p>"Granny!" protested the girl in a whisper; "don't be rude to him, +Granny. He's been very kind."</p> + +<p>"Kind! I dare say!"</p> + +<p>Max thought it was time to go, and he rose and stood ready to make a +little speech. At that moment there was a noise in the outhouse, and +both Mrs. Higgs and Carrie seemed suddenly to lose their interest in +him, and to direct their attention to the door.</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Higgs made a sign to Carrie, who went out of the room and into +the outhouse. As Max turned to watch her, the light went out.</p> + +<p>By this time Carrie had shut the door behind her, and Max was, as he +supposed, alone with the old woman. He was startled, and he made an +attempt to find the door leading into the outhouse and to follow the +girl; but this was not so easy.</p> + +<p>While he was fumbling for the door, he found himself suddenly seized in +a strong grip, and, taken unawares, he was unable to cope with an +assailant so dexterous, so rapid in his movements, that, before Max had +time to do more than realize that he was attacked, he was forced through +an open doorway and flung violently to the ground.</p> + +<p>Then a door was slammed, and there was silence.</p> + +<p>As Max scrambled to his feet his hand, touched something clammy and +cold.</p> + +<p>It was a hand—a dead hand.</p> + +<p>Max uttered a cry of horror. He remembered all that he had forgotten. He +knew now that the girl's story was true, and that he was shut in the +front room with the body of the murdered man.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>A TRAP.</h3> + + +<p>Max tried to find the door by which he had been thrown into the room. +The upper portion was of glass, he supposed, remembering the red curtain +which hung on the other side of it. But although he felt with his hands +in the place where he supposed the door to be, he found nothing but +wooden shelves, such as are usually found lining the walls of shops, and +planks of rough wood.</p> + +<p>He paused, looked around him, hoping that when his eyes got used to the +darkness some faint ray of light coming either through the boarded-up +front or through the glass upper half of the door, would enable him to +take his bearings, or, at any rate, to help him avoid that uncanny +"something" in the middle of the floor.</p> + +<p>But the blackness was absolute. Strain his eyes as he might, there was +no glimmer of light in any direction to guide him, and he had used up +his last match. So he went to work again with his hands. These rough +planks were placed perpendicularly against the wall to a width of about +three feet—the width of the door. Passing his fingers slowly all round +them, he ascertained that they reached to the floor, and to a height of +about seven feet above it. Evidently, thought he, it was the door itself +which opened into the shop which had been carefully boarded up. As soon +as he felt sure of this, he dealt at the planks a tremendous blow with +his fist. He hurt his hand, but did no apparent injury to the door, +which scarcely shook. Then he tried to tear one of the boards away from +the framework to which it was attached, but without result. The nails +which had been used to fasten it were of the strongest make, and had +been well driven in.</p> + +<p>Foiled in his attempt to get out of the room by the way he had come, Max +moved slowly to the left, and at the distance of only a couple of feet +from the door found the angle of the wall, and began to creep along, +still feeling with hands and feet most carefully, in the direction of +the front of the shop.</p> + +<p>This side of the room presented no obstacles. The wall-paper was torn +here and there; the plaster fell down in some places at his touch. A +board shook a little under his tread when he had taken a few paces, but +at the next step he made the floor seemed firm enough.</p> + +<p>On turning the next angle in the wall he came to the shop door—the one +leading into the stone passage outside. Here he made another attempt to +force an exit, but it was boarded up as securely as the inner one, and +the window, which was beside it, was in the same condition.</p> + +<p>It by no means increased the confidence of Max as to his own safety to +observe what elaborate precautions had been used by the occupants of the +house to secure themselves from observation. He could no longer doubt +that he was in a house which was the resort of persons of the worst +possible character, and in a position of the gravest danger.</p> + +<p>While opposite the window, he listened eagerly for some sound in the +passage outside. If a foot-passenger should pass, he would risk +everything and shout for help with all the force of his lungs.</p> + +<p>Even while he indulged this hope, he felt that it was a vain one. It was +now late; traffic on the river had almost ceased; there was no +attraction for idlers on the landing-stage in the cold and the darkness.</p> + +<p>He continued his investigations.</p> + +<p>At the next angle in the wall he came to more shelves, decayed, broken, +left by the last tenant as not worth carrying away. And presently his +feet came upon something harder, colder than the boards; it was a +hearthstone, and it marked the place where, before the room was turned +into a shop, there had been a small fireplace. And on the other side of +this, near the wall, was a collection of rubbish, over the musty items +of which Max stumbled as he went. Old boxes, bits of carpet, broken +bricks; every sort of worthless lumber.</p> + +<p>And so, without accident, without incident, without hearing a sound but +the faint noise of his own movements, Max got back to the point where he +had started.</p> + +<p>Then he paused and listened at the inner door.</p> + +<p>In spite of everything, he refused to yield to the suggestion that +Carrie had anything to do with his incarceration. Would she not, on +finding that he had disappeared, make an effort to get him out?</p> + +<p>While he was standing between doubt and hope, on the alert for any sound +on the other side which should suggest the presence of the girl herself +and give him the cue to knock at the door again, his attention was +attracted by a slight noise which thrilled him to the marrow; for it +came, not from outside, but from some part of the room itself, in which +he had supposed himself to be alone with the dead body of a man.</p> + +<p>Instantly he put his back to the door and prepared to stand on the +defensive against the expected attack of an invisible assailant.</p> + +<p>That was the awful part of it, that he could not see. For a moment he +thought of creeping back to the rubbish heap in the corner and trying to +find, amongst the odds and ends lying there, some sort of weapon of +defense. But a moment's reflection told him that the act of stooping, of +searching, would put him more at the mercy of an assailant than ever. +There was absolutely nothing to do but to wait and to listen.</p> + +<p>And the noise he heard was like the drawing of a log of wood slowly +along the floor. This was followed by a dull sound, like the falling of +a log to the earth.</p> + +<p>And then there followed two sounds which made his flesh creep: The first +was the creaking, and cracking of wooden boards, and the second was a +slow, sliding noise, which lasted, intermittently for what seemed an +hour.</p> + +<p>When the latter noise ceased something fell heavily to the ground. That +was a sound there was no mistaking, and then the creaking went on for +what seemed a long time, and ceased suddenly in its turn.</p> + +<p>And then, again, there was dead silence, dead stillness.</p> + +<p>By this time Max was as cold as ice, and wet from head to foot with the +sweat of a sick terror. What the sounds meant, whence they proceeded, he +could not tell, but the horror they produced in him was unspeakable, +never to be forgotten.</p> + +<p>He did not move for a long time after the sounds had ceased. He wanted +to shout, to batter with his fists on the doors, the window. But a +hideous paralysis of fear seemed to have taken possession of him and +benumbed his limbs and his tongue.</p> + +<p>Max was no coward. He was a daring rider, handy with his fists, a young +man full of spirit and courage to the verge of recklessness, as this +adventure had proved. But courage must have something to attack, or at +least to resist, before it can make itself manifest; and in this +sickening waiting, listening, watching, without the use of one's eyes, +there was something which smacked of the supernatural, something to damp +the spirits of the bravest man.</p> + +<p>There was nothing to be gained, there was, perhaps, much to be risked, +by a movement, a step. So Max felt, showing thereby that he possessed an +instinct of sane prudence which was, in the circumstances, better than +bravery.</p> + +<p>And presently he discerned a little patch of faint light on the floor, +which gradually increased in size until he was able to make out that it +was thrown from above, and from the corner above the rubbish heap.</p> + +<p>Max kept quite still. The relief he felt was exquisite. If once he could +have a chance of seeing the man who was in the room with him, and who he +could not doubt was the person who had thrown him in, Max felt he should +be all right. In a tussle with another man he knew that he could hold +his own, and a sight of the ruffian would enable him to judge whether +bribery or force would be the better weapon with him.</p> + +<p>In the meantime he watched the light with anxious eyes, determined not +to move and risk its extinction until he had been able to examine every +corner of the little shop.</p> + +<p>And as he looked, his eyes grew round, and his breath came fast.</p> + +<p>There was no counter left, no furniture at all behind which a man could +hide. And the room, except for the rubbish in the corner, a small, +straggling heap, was absolutely bare.</p> + +<p>There was no other creature in it, dead or alive, but himself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>ESCAPE.</h3> + + +<p>An exclamation, impossible to repress, burst from the lips of Max.</p> + +<p>At the same moment he made a spring to the left, which brought him under +the spot in the floor above through which the light was streaming.</p> + +<p>And he saw through a raised trap-door in the flooring above the shrewish +face of old Mrs. Higgs, and the very same candle in the very same tin +candlestick that he had seen in use in the adjoining room.</p> + +<p>The old woman and the young man stared at each other for a moment in +silence. It seemed to Max that there was genuine surprise on her face as +she looked at him.</p> + +<p>"Well, I never!" exclaimed she, as she lowered the candle through the +hole, and looked, not only at him, but into every corner of the shop. +"Well, I never! How did you get in there, eh?"</p> + +<p>Max was angry and sullen. How could he doubt that she knew more about it +than he did! On the other hand, he was not in a position to be as rude +as he felt inclined to be.</p> + +<p>"You know all about that, I expect," said he, shortly.</p> + +<p>"I? How should I know anything about it? I only know that I lost sight +of you very quickly, and couldn't make out where you'd got to."</p> + +<p>"Well, you know now," said Max, shortly, "and perhaps you'll be kind +enough to let me out."</p> + +<p>In spite of himself his voice shook. As the old woman still hesitated, +he measured with his eye the distance between the floor where he stood +and the open trap-door above. It was too far for a spring. Mrs. Higgs +seemed to divine his thoughts, and she laughed grimly.</p> + +<p>"All right," said she. "All right. I'll come down. I wonder who can have +put you in there now! It's one of those young rascals from over the way, +I expect. They are always up to something. Don't you worry yourself; I'm +coming!"</p> + +<p>Her tone had become so reassuring that Max began to wonder whether the +old woman might not be more innocent of the trick which had been played +upon him than he had supposed. This impression increased when Mrs. Higgs +went on:</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you holloa out when you found yourself inside?"</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't have been of much use," retorted Max. "I thumped on the +door and made noise enough to wake the city."</p> + +<p>"Well, I thought I heard a knock, some time ago," said Mrs. Higgs, who +seemed still in no hurry to fulfill her promise of coming down. "But I +thought it was nothing of any consequence, as I didn't hear it again."</p> + +<p>"Where were you then?" To himself he added: "You old fool!"</p> + +<p>"Eh?" said Mrs. Higgs.</p> + +<p>Max repeated the question.</p> + +<p>"Well, first I was downstairs, and then I came up here."</p> + +<p>At last Max saw in the old woman's lackluster eyes a spark of malice.</p> + +<p>"You're coming to open the door now?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"All right," said she.</p> + +<p>Down went the trap-door, and the light and the old woman disappeared +together. Max wished he had asked for a candle, although he doubted +whether his request would have been complied with.</p> + +<p>And at the end of another five minutes, which seemed like hours, he +began to have other and graver doubts. He had gone back to his former +place near the door, and he stood waiting, with more and more eagerness, +more and more anxiety, for the promised appearance of Mrs. Higgs.</p> + +<p>Surely, slow as her steps might be, she could have got down by this +time.</p> + +<p>He grew restless, uneasy. The old suspicions—which her appearance and +the artful simplicity of her manner had allayed—rose up in his mind +with fresh vigor. And, to add to his anxiety, he suddenly remembered the +pretext Carrie had given to try to get him into the front room.</p> + +<p>She had told him there were things of hers in there which she wanted. He +had believed her, at least, implicitly. But now he knew that her pretext +was a lie. She also, therefore, had been an accomplice in the plot to +get him into this room.</p> + +<p>As this thought came into his mind, he heard again the creaking of the +boards, and this time it was accompanied by another sound, faint, +intermittent, but unmistakable—the sound of the splashing of water +close to his feet.</p> + +<p>Turning quickly to the door, he raised his fist and brought it upon the +boards with a sounding crash; at the same time he shouted for "Help!" +with all the strength of his lungs. He repeated the blow, the cry.</p> + +<p>Again he heard, when he paused to listen, the faint splashing of the +water, the creaking of the boards behind him. Then, just as he raised +his hand for one more blow on the door, he felt it open a very little, +pushing him back.</p> + +<p>And at the same moment a voice whispered:</p> + +<p>"Sh-sh!"</p> + +<p>Very gradually the door was opened a little farther. A hand caught the +sleeve of his coat. It was quite dark outside the door—as dark as in +the front room.</p> + +<p>"Sh-sh!" was whispered again in his ear, as he felt himself drawn +through the narrow aperture.</p> + +<p>He made no attempt to resist, for he knew, he felt, that the hand was +Carrie's, and that this was rescue.</p> + +<p>When he had passed into the second room, Max was stopped by a warning +pressure of the hand upon his arm, and then he felt the touch of +Carrie's lips upon his ear, so close did she come before she uttered +these words:</p> + +<p>"Don't make a sound. Come slowly, very quietly, very carefully. You're +all right."</p> + +<p>He heard her close the door through which he had just come, and then he +let her lead him, in silence and in the darkness, until they reached +another door. This she opened with the same caution, and Max, passing +through with her, found himself, as he knew by the little step down onto +the brick floor, in the outhouse.</p> + +<p>"Who's that?" said a man's voice, startling Max, and confirming in an +instant the suspicions he had had that the outrage to which he had been +subjected was the work of a gang.</p> + +<p>"It's me—Carrie," said the girl.</p> + +<p>And opening the outer door, she drove Max out with a gentle push, and +closed it between herself and him.</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" was his first muttered exclamation, as he felt the welcome +rush of cold night air and felt himself free again.</p> + +<p>But the very next moment he turned back instinctively to the door and +attempted to push it open. The latch was gone; he had broken it himself. +But the door was now locked against him.</p> + +<p>Of course, this circumstance greatly increased the desire he had for one +more interview, however short, with Carrie. He wanted to understand her +position. Too much interested in the girl to wish to doubt her, grateful +to her for contriving his escape, Max yet found it difficult to +reconcile her actions with the honesty her words had caused him to +believe in.</p> + +<p>However, finding that the door was inexorably closed upon him, he saw +that there was nothing for it but to take himself off into safer if less +interesting regions as quickly as possible. So he got out on the wharf, +through and over the timber, and was on the point of crossing to the +door in the fence, when he saw a man come quickly through, lock the door +behind him and make his way through the piles of timber with the easy, +stealthy step of a man accustomed to do this sort of thing, and to do it +at night.</p> + +<p>Before the man got near him, Max, who had stepped back a little under +the wall of one of the outhouses, was sure that the newcomer was of +doubtful character. When the latter got out into the light thrown by the +street-lamp outside the wharf, this impression was confirmed.</p> + +<p>A little man, young, of slight and active build, with a fair mustache, +blue eyes and curly, light hair, he was undoubtedly good-looking, +although there was something mean and sinister about the expression of +his face. Max could scarcely see all these details; but, as it was, he +made out enough for him to experience an idiotic pang of something like +jealousy, as he made up his mind on the instant that the object of the +young man's visit was to see Carrie.</p> + +<p>The visitor wore a light overcoat, and had a certain look of being well +off, or, at least, well dressed.</p> + +<p>And, suspicion getting the upper hand again, the thought darted through +the mind of Max that it was strange to find so many persons—this was +the third of whom he had knowledge—hovering about the shut-up house, +when Carrie had represented herself to have been alone for two whole +days.</p> + +<p>Against his better judgment, Max followed the newcomer, step by step, at +a safe distance, and raised himself on the timber in such a way as to be +able to watch what followed.</p> + +<p>The man in the light coat made his way with surprising neatness and +celerity over the timber to the door of the outhouse, at which he gave +two short knocks, a pause, and then two more.</p> + +<p>After waiting for a few moments, the man repeated this signal, more +loudly than before.</p> + +<p>And then the door opened, and Max heard the voice of Carrie, though it +was too dark for him to see her at that distance.</p> + +<p>"You, Dick? Come in."</p> + +<p>And the young man, without answering, availed himself of the invitation; +and the door was shut.</p> + +<p>Max stared down at the closed door in perplexity and dismay. In spite of +all his adventures in that very doubtful house, or, perhaps, because of +them, his interest in Carrie, of the blue eyes and the wonderful voice, +was as strong as ever. Hovering between trust and mistrust, he told +himself at this point that she was nothing in the world but the thieves' +decoy he had at first suspected. But in that case, why had he himself +not been robbed? He wore a valuable watch; he had gold and notes in his +purse. And no attempt had been made to relieve him of either the one or +the other.</p> + +<p>And the foolish fellow began to consider and to weigh one thing with the +other, and to become more and more eager to see the girl again if it +were only to upbraid her for her deceit, until he ended by slipping down +to the ground, going boldly to the door of the outhouse, and giving two +knocks, a pause, and two knocks more.</p> + +<p>As he had expected, Carrie herself, after an interval of only a few +seconds, opened the door.</p> + +<p>There was a little light in the outhouse, and none outside; and Max, +having taken a couple of steps to the left, she at first saw nobody. So +she made a step forward. Max instantly put himself between her and the +door.</p> + +<p>On recognizing him, Carrie started, but uttered no sound, no word.</p> + +<p>"I want to speak to you," said Max, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>But all her boldness of their first interview, her coquetry of the +second, her quiet caution of the third had disappeared. She was now +frightened, shy, anxious to get away.</p> + +<p>"Oh, why did you come back? Why did you come back? Go away at once and +never come here again. Haven't you got a lesson?"</p> + +<p>Her voice broke; her anxiety was visible. Max was touched, more +interested than ever.</p> + +<p>"I can't go away," he whispered back, "until I have spoken to you about +something which is very serious. Can't you come out on the wharf, +somewhere where we can talk without anybody over-hearing?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, oh, no. I must go in. And you must go. Are you a <i>fool</i>," +and she stamped her foot with sudden impatience, "to be so persistent?"</p> + +<p>"A fool?" echoed Max, half to himself. "By Jove, I think I am. Look +here," and he bent down so that he might whisper very close to her ear; +"I must set the police on this place, you know; but I want you to get +away out of it first."</p> + +<p>She listened in silence. She waited for him to say more. But he was +waiting on his side for the protests he expected. At last she laughed to +herself derisively.</p> + +<p>"All right," said she. "Set the police on us by all means. Oh, do—do! +But—just mention first to your friend, Mr. Horne, that that's what +you're going to do. Just mention it to him, and see the thanks you'll +get for your trouble!"</p> + +<p>These words came upon Max with a great shock. In the excitement of his +own adventures in this place, he had quite forgotten his friend, Dudley +Horne, and the errand which had first brought him into the neighborhood. +He had forgotten, also, what he had from the first only half +believed—the girl's words connecting Dudley with a murder committed +within those walls.</p> + +<p>Now that the remembrance was thus abruptly brought back to him, he felt +as if he wanted to gasp for breath. Carrie watched him, and presently +made a sign to him to follow her. Scrambling out to the open space on +the wharf, she made for the spot close to the water where Max had stood +to watch the man whom Carrie had called "Dick."</p> + +<p>When Max came up to her, the girl was standing close under the eaves of +the outhouse on the bank, leaning against the wall. He could scarcely +see anything of her face in the darkness, but he was struck by something +strangely moving in the tones of her voice as she broke the silence.</p> + +<p>"Look here," she said, "I want you to make me a promise. Come, it ought +not to be difficult; for I got you out of a nice mess; remember that. +You've got to give me your word that you will say nothing about your +adventures to-day, either to the police or to anybody else."</p> + +<p>"I can't promise that. And why on earth do you want me to do so? Surely +you can have no real sympathy with the people who do the things that are +done in there—"</p> + +<p>Carrie interrupted him, breaking in upon him abruptly:</p> + +<p>"What things?"</p> + +<p>"Murders, and—"</p> + +<p>"The murder was done by your friend, not by us."</p> + +<p>"'Us?' Surely you don't identify yourself with these people?"</p> + +<p>"I do. They are my friends—the only friends I have."</p> + +<p>"But they are thieves, blackmailers!" said Max, saying not what he knew +but what he guessed.</p> + +<p>"What have they stolen from you? What harm have they done to you or +anybody that you know of? All this is because my Granny didn't approve +of my having a stranger in, and had you shut into a dark room to give +you a fright."</p> + +<p>"But you forget you said just now you had got me out of a nice mess."</p> + +<p>"I—I meant that you were frightened."</p> + +<p>"And with good reason. After what I saw and heard in that room, I should +be worse than a criminal myself if I didn't inform the police about the +existence of the place. I believe it's one of the vilest dens in +London."</p> + +<p>Carrie was silent. She did not attempt to ask him what it was that he +had heard and seen while in that room. And Max felt his heart sink +within him. He would have had her question, protest, deny. And instead +she seemed tacitly to take the truth of all his accusations for granted.</p> + +<p>"Don't you see," he presently went on, almost in a coaxing tone, "that +it's for your own good that you should have to go away? I won't +believe—I can't—that you like this underground, hole-and-corner +existence, this life that is dishonest all through. Come, now, confess +that you don't like it—that you only live like this because you can't +help it, or because you think you can't help it—and I'll forgive you."</p> + +<p>There was a long pause. Then he heard a little, hard, cynical laugh. He +tried hard to see her face; but although he caught now and then a gleam +of the great eyes, the wonderful eyes that had fascinated him, he could +not distinguish the expression, hardly even the outline of her features.</p> + +<p>When she at last spoke, it was in a reckless, willful tone.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me! What have you to forgive, except that I was fool enough to +ask you into the house? And if you've suffered for that, it seems I +shall have to, too, in the long run; and I'm not going to say I don't +like the life, for I like it better than any I've lived before."</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I tell you. I'm not a heroine, ready to drudge away my life +in any round of dull work that'll keep body and soul together. I'd +rather have the excitement of living what you call a hole-and-corner +life than spend my days stitch—stitch—stitching—dust—dust—dusting, +as I used to have to do with Miss Aldridge, as I should have to do if I +went away from here."</p> + +<p>"Well, but there are other things you could do," pleaded Max, with vague +thoughts of setting his own sisters to work to find this erratic child +of the riverside some more seemly mode of life than her present one.</p> + +<p>"What other things?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you could—you could teach in a school or in a family."</p> + +<p>"No, I couldn't. I don't know enough. And I wouldn't like it, either. +And I should have to leave Granny, who wants me, and is fond of me—"</p> + +<p>"And Dick!" burst out Max, spitefully. "You would have to give up the +society of Dick."</p> + +<p>It was possible, even in the darkness, to perceive that this remark +startled Carrie. She said, in astonishment which she could not hide:</p> + +<p>"And what do you know about Dick?"</p> + +<p>"I know that you wouldn't care for a life that is repugnant to every +notion of decency, if it were not for Dick," retorted Max, with rash +warmth.</p> + +<p>Carrie laughed again.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you got your information from the wrong quarter," said she, +quietly. "Not from Dick himself, that's certain."</p> + +<p>There was some relief to Max in this confident assertion, but not much. +Judging Dick by his own feelings, he was sure that person had not +reached the stage of intimacy at which Carrie called him by his +Christian name without hankering after further marks of her favor.</p> + +<p>"He is fond of you, of course!" said Max, feeling that he had no right +to say this, but justifying into himself on the ground of his wish to +help her out of her wretched position.</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose he is."</p> + +<p>"Are you—of course I've no right to ask—but are you fond of him?"</p> + +<p>Carrie shook her head with indifference.</p> + +<p>"I like him in my way," said she. "Not in his way. There's a great +difference."</p> + +<p>"And do you like any man—in his way?"</p> + +<p>The girl replied with a significant gesture of disgust, which had in it +nothing of coquetry, nothing of affectation.</p> + +<p>"No," said she, shortly.</p> + +<p>"Why do you answer like that?"</p> + +<p>"Why? Oh, well, if you knew all that I've seen, you wouldn't wonder, you +wouldn't want to ask."</p> + +<p>"You won't always feel like that. You won't, when you have got away from +this hole, and are living among decent people."</p> + +<p>"The 'decent people' are those who leave me alone," said Carrie, +shortly, "as they do here."</p> + +<p>"As who do here? Who are the people who live in that shut-up house, +besides you and your Granny, as you call her?"</p> + +<p>"I—mustn't tell you. They don't belong to any county families. Is that +enough?"</p> + +<p>"Why are you so different now from what you were when we were sitting by +the fire in there? You are not like the same girl! Are you the same +girl?"</p> + +<p>And Max affected to feel, or, perhaps, really felt, a doubt which +necessitated his coming a little closer to Carrie, without, however, +being able to see much more of her face than before.</p> + +<p>"I'm the same girl," replied Carrie, shortly, "whom you threatened with +the police."</p> + +<p>"Come, is that fair? Did I threaten <i>you</i> with the police?"</p> + +<p>"You threatened <i>us</i>. It's the same thing. Well, it doesn't matter. +They won't find out anything more than we choose!"</p> + +<p>She said this defiantly, ostentatiously throwing in her lot with the +dubious characters from whom Max would fain have dissociated her.</p> + +<p>"Do you forget," he asked, suddenly, "that these precious friends of +yours left you, forgot you, for two whole days—left you to the company +of a dead man, to a chance stranger? Is that what you call +kindness—friendship—affection?"</p> + +<p>She made no answer.</p> + +<p>A moment later a voice was heard calling softly: "Carrie?"</p> + +<p>The girl came out of the shelter of the eaves, and Max at last caught +sight of her face. It was sad, pale, altogether different from what the +reckless, defiant, rather hard tones of her latest words would have led +him to expect. A haunting face, Max thought.</p> + +<p>"I must go," said she. "Good-bye."</p> + +<p>"Carrie!" repeated the voice, calling again, impatiently.</p> + +<p>Max knew, although he could not see the owner of the voice, that it was +"Dick." It was, he thought, a coarse voice, full of intimations of the +swaggering self-assertion of the low-class Londoner, who thinks himself +the whole world's superior.</p> + +<p>Carrie called out:</p> + +<p>"All right; I'm coming!" And then she turned to Max. "You are to forget +this place, and me," said she, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>The next moment Max found himself alone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE SEQUEL TO A TRAGEDY.</h3> + + +<p>It was on the evening after that of his expedition to Limehouse that Max +Wedmore found himself back again at the modest iron gate of the park at +The Beeches. He had not sent word what time he should arrive, preferring +not to have to meet Doreen by herself, with her inevitable questions, +sooner than he could help.</p> + +<p>As he shut the gate behind him, and hurried up the drive toward the +house, he felt a new significance in the words "Home, Sweet Home," and +shuddered at the recollection that he had, in the thirty odd hours since +he left it, given up the hope of ever seeing it again.</p> + +<p>It was a little difficult, though, on this prosaic home-coming, to +realize all he had passed through since he last saw the red house, with +its long, dignified front, its triangular pediment rising up against the +dark-blue night sky, and the group of rambling outbuildings, stables, +laundries, barns, all built with a magnificent disregard of the value of +space, which straggled away indefinitely to the right, in a grove of big +trees and a tangle of brush-wood.</p> + +<p>Lines of bright light streaming between drawn window curtains showed +bright patches on the lawn and the shrubs near the house. As Max passed +through the iron gate which shut in the garden from the park, a group of +men and boys, shouting, encouraging one another with uncouth cries, +rushed out from the stable yard toward the front of the house.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Max of a stable boy, whom he seized by the +shoulders and stopped in the act of uttering a wild whoop.</p> + +<p>"It's the log, sir," replied the lad, sobered by the sudden appearance +of the young master, who seemed in no hilarious mood.</p> + +<p>"The log! What log?"</p> + +<p>"Master has ordered one for Christmas, sir, the biggest as could be +got," answered the boy, who then escaped, to rush back and join the +shouting throng.</p> + +<p>And Max remembered that his father, in his passionate determination to +have a real old English Christmas, with everything done in the proper +manner, had given this order to the head gardener a few days before.</p> + +<p>By this time the group had become a crowd. A swarm of men and boys, +conspicuous among whom were all the idlers and vagabonds of the +neighborhood, came along through the yard in one great, overwhelming +wave, hooting, yelling, trampling down the flower-beds with, their +winter covering of cocoanut fiber, breaking down the shrubs, tearing +away the ivy, and spreading devastation as they went.</p> + +<p>Poor Mr. Wedmore had instructed his servants not to prevent the +villagers from joining in the procession. There was something +reminiscent of feudal times, a pleasant suggestion of the cordial +relation between the lord of the manor of the Middle Ages and his +tenants and dependents, in this procession of the Yule log up to the +great house. And Mr. Wedmore, full of his fancy for the grand old +medieval Christmas festivities, hugged to his heart the thought of +holding such revels as should make Christmas at The Beeches an +institution in the countryside.</p> + +<p>But, alas! the London merchant had become a country gentleman too late +in life to appreciate the great gulf which lies between the +sixteenth-century peasant (of the modern imagination) and the +nineteenth-century villager of actual fact. His own small army from the +stable and the garden were powerless to cope with the disorderly mob +they had been encouraged to invite in this interesting celebration. And +those most mischievous and conspicuous roughs whom the coachman had +driven off with the whip on the way up, revenged themselves for this +drastic treatment by coming in through the front gate of the park, +breaking down the fence between park and garden, and every obstacle to +their barbaric progress.</p> + +<p>It was "Poaching Wilson" who pulled the bell, after some difficulty in +finding the handle, owing to the liberality with which he had "treated +himself" as a preparation for the journey.</p> + +<p>Max, alarmed at the invasion, had made his way round to the +billiard-room door at the back, bolted it on the inside, and hastened to +give directions to the servants to lock all the other doors, and to +secure the ground-floor windows.</p> + +<p>Then he rushed into the hall, just as his father had come out from the +dining-room, serviette in hand, to learn the cause of the noise outside.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Max! Is it you back again? And have you brought down half the +population of London with you?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, they didn't come with me. They are guests of yours, I +understand. And they expect to be treated to unlimited beer, so I gather +from their remarks. They've brought some firewood, I believe."</p> + +<p>At this moment the clanging of the front-door bell resounded through the +house for the second time. The frightened butler, who was a young man +and rather nervous, stood by the door, not daring to open it. The ladies +of the household had by this time come out of the dining-room; Mrs. +Wedmore looked flush and frightened; the girls were tittering. Smothered +explosions of laughter came from time to time to the ears of the master +of the house, from the closed door which led to the servants' hall.</p> + +<p>"Shall—shall I see who it is, sir?" asked the butler, who could hear +the epithets applied to him on the other side of the door.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" cried Doreen. "Not on any account! Tell them to put the thing +down and go away."</p> + +<p>There was a pause, during which the bell rang again, and there was a +violent lunge at the door.</p> + +<p>"They won't—they won't go away, Miss, without they get something +first," said the butler, who was as white as a sheet.</p> + +<p>"Tell them," began Mr. Wedmore, in a loud tone of easy confidence, "to +take it round to the back door, and—and to send a—deputation to me in +the morning; when—er—they shall be properly rewarded for their +trouble."</p> + +<p>"They ought to reward us for <i>our</i> trouble, papa, don't you think?" +suggested Doreen.</p> + +<p>"There! They've begun to reward themselves," said Queenie, as a stone +came through one of the windows.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore was furious. He saw the mistake he had made, but he would +not own it. Putting strong constraint upon himself, he assumed a gay +geniality of manner which his looks belied, and boldly advanced to the +door. But Mrs. Wedmore flung her arms round her husband in a capacious +embrace, dragging him backward with an energy there was no use +resisting.</p> + +<p>"No, no, no, George! I won't have you expose yourself to those horrid +roughs! Don't open the door, Bartram! Put up the bolt!"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! Nonsense, my dear!" retorted Mr. Wedmore, who was, perhaps, +not so unwilling to be saved from the howling mob as he wished to +appear. "It's only good-humored fun—of a rough sort, perhaps, but quite +harmless. It's some mischievous boy who threw the stone. But, of course, +they must go round to the back."</p> + +<p>"Cook won't dare to open the door to 'em, sir," said the butler.</p> + +<p>The situation was becoming serious. There was no denying that the house +was besieged. Mrs. Wedmore began to feel like a châtelaine of the +Cavalier party, with the Roundhead army at the doors clamoring for her +husband's blood. The cries of the villagers were becoming more derisive.</p> + +<p>As a happy thought, Mrs. Wedmore suggested haranguing the mob from an +upper window. This course seemed rather ignominious, but prudence +decided in its favor.</p> + +<p>There was a rush upstairs, and Mr. Wedmore, followed by all the ladies, +flung himself into the bathroom and threw up the window.</p> + +<p>It was not at all the sort of thing that merry squire of the olden times +might have been expected to do. In fact, as Doreen remarked, there were +no bathrooms in the olden time to harangue a mob from. But Mr. Wedmore's +medieval ardor being damped, he submitted to circumstances with +fortitude.</p> + +<p>"Yah! There 'e is at last!" "'Ow are you, old un?" "Don't put your nose +out too fur this cold night!"</p> + +<p>These and similar ribald remarks greeted Mr. Wedmore as he appeared at +the window, telling him only too plainly that the merry days of old were +gone, never to be restored, and that the feudal feeling which bound (or +is supposed to have bound) rich and poor, gentle and simple, in one +great tie of brotherhood had disappeared forever.</p> + +<p>Doreen and Queenie were secretly enjoying the fun, though they had the +sense to be very quiet; but Mrs. Wedmore was in an agony of sympathy +with her husband, and of fear for the results of his enterprise. He +began a speech of thanks, but the noise below was too great for him to +be heard. Indeed, it was his own servants who did the most toward +drowning his voice by their well-meant endeavors to shout down the +interrupting cries.</p> + +<p>"They're most of them tipsy, I think," whispered Doreen to her mother, +who said, "Sh-sh!" in shocked remonstrance, but secretly agreed with her +daughter's verdict.</p> + +<p>"Throw them some coppers, papa," suggested the sage and practical +Queenie.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore turned out his pockets, taking care to disperse his largesse +as widely as possible. The girls helped him, hunting high and low for +coins, among which, urged by the crowd in no subdued voice to "come down +handsome," sixpences and shillings presently made their welcome +appearance.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the hollies!" whispered Doreen to her sister.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness, the look of the garden to-morrow morning will be an +object-lesson to papa!"</p> + +<p>For the invaders, well aware of the value of such wares at Christmas +time, filled out the pauses by slashing at the berry-bearing trees with +their pocket-knives, secure in the safety of numbers.</p> + +<p>By the time the shower of money ceased the crowd had begun to thin; +those members of it who had been lucky enough to secure silver coins had +made off in the direction of the nearest public-house, and those who had +cut down the holly had taken themselves off with their booty.</p> + +<p>There remained in front of the door, when this clearance had been +effected, the Yule log itself, the laborers who had drawn it along and a +group of manageable size.</p> + +<p>Max, who had been watching the proceedings from the study, after turning +out the light, judged that the moment had come for negotiations to +commence. So he told the butler to throw open the front door, and he +himself invited the unwelcome guests to enter. He had taken the +precaution to have all portable articles removed from the hall and all +the doors locked except that which led to the servants' hall and the +staircases.</p> + +<p>In they came, a little subdued, and with their first disastrous energy +sufficiently exhausted for them to be able to listen and to do as they +were told.</p> + +<p>The oaken center-table had been pushed on one side, and there was a +clear space, wide, carpetless, from the front door to the big stone +fireplace opposite.</p> + +<p>"This way with the log! Now, boys, pull with a will!" cried Max, not +insensible to the novelty and picturesqueness of the situation, as a +motley crowd, some in smock-frocks, some in corduroy and some in gaiters +and great-coats, pressed into the great hall dragging the log after them +with many a "Whoop!" and shout and cry.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Wedmore and the two girls hurried downstairs on hearing the +door open, and stood by the fireplace, with a little glow of +satisfaction and pleasure at the turn affairs had taken.</p> + +<p>It <i>was</i> a log! Or, rather, it was more than a log; for it was half +a tree. Slowly the huge thing came in, scraping the nicely polished +floor, rolling a little from side to side, and threatening all those +within a yard of it. And then, when its appearance had spread +consternation through the household, the inevitable question came: What +was to be done with it?</p> + +<p>The fire-basket had been taken out of the hearth on purpose for its +reception, but it was evident that, even after this careful preparation, +to think of burning it whole was out of the question. There was nothing +for it but to send for a saw and to reduce the log then and there to a +manageable size.</p> + +<p>This was done, amid considerable noise and excitement, drinking of the +health of the family by villagers who had been drinking too much +already, and much scraping of the polished floor by muddy, hob-nailed +boots.</p> + +<p>Finally the deputation was got rid of, and the interrupted dinner was +allowed to proceed, much to the comfort of Max, who had eaten nothing +since breakfast, and much to the dismay of Mrs. Wedmore, who was then +able to ascertain the extent of the damage done by the invaders.</p> + +<p>It was lucky for Max that he had arrived at such an opportune moment. +His father had been grumbling at the number of visits he had made to +town lately, and the young man would have found him in no very good +humor if he had not discovered to his hand the opportunity of making +himself conspicuously useful.</p> + +<p>It is scarcely necessary to say that Max did not tell anyone about the +adventures he had met with. He knew that he should have to go through +the ordeal of an interview with his sister, Doreen, who would want to +know a great deal more than he was willing to tell her; but he was +tired, and he made up his mind that he would not be interrogated that +evening. So he gave her no opportunity for the confidential talk she was +dying to have with him, but spent the remainder of the evening in +dutiful attendance upon his mother.</p> + +<p>The following day was Christmas Eve. Max came down late to breakfast, +and he had scarcely entered the morning-room when his father handed him +the <i>Standard</i>, pointing to a certain paragraph without any comment +but a glance at the girls, as a hint to his son not to make any remark +which would recall Dudley and his affairs to their minds.</p> + +<p>The paragraph was as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>SHOCKING DISCOVERY!</p> + +<p>The body of a man was found floating in the river close to +Limehouse Pier late yesterday evening. Medical evidence points to +death by violence, and the police are making inquiries. It is +thought that the description of the body, which is that of a man of +a Jewish type of countenance, rather under than over the middle +height, aged between fifty and fifty-five, gray hair and short, +gray beard, tallies with that given a few days ago by a woman who +applied at the —— Street Police Court, alleging that her husband +had disappeared in the above neighborhood. The police are extremely +reticent, but at the present they have no clue to the authors of +the outrage. The body awaits identification at the mortuary, and an +inquest will be held to-day.</p></div> + +<p>"I wonder whether Dudley will see that?" said Mr. Wedmore, in a low +voice, as soon as his daughters were engaged in talk together. "It looks +like the sequel to the other paragraph which upset him so the other +evening, doesn't it? I shall watch the papers for the result of the +inquest. It seems to me pretty certain that it was Edward Jacobs. +Curious affair, isn't it, that he should be murdered in a slum, after +making a fortune at other people's expense? Retribution—just +retribution! Curious, isn't it!"</p> + +<p>To Max it was so much more than merely "curious," knowing what he did, +that he felt sick with horror. Surely this body, found floating near +Limehouse Pier, was the one he had touched in the dark!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>IS IT BLACKMAIL?</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Wedmore repeated his comment: "Curious, isn't it?" before Max could +reply. At last he nodded, and handed back the paper to his father. Then +he turned his chair toward the fire, and stared at the blazing coals. He +had lost his appetite; he felt cold, miserable.</p> + +<p>His father could not help noticing that something was wrong with him; +and, after watching him furtively for a few minutes, he said, with an +abruptness which made Max start:</p> + +<p>"Did you see anything of Dudley when you were in town?"</p> + +<p>Max changed color, and glanced apprehensively at his father, as if +fearing some suspicion in the unexpected question.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," he answered, after a moment's hesitation. "I called at his +chambers; but they told me he had gone away for the holidays and had +left no address. All letters were to be kept for him till his return."</p> + +<p>Both question and answer had been uttered very softly, but Max saw, by +the look on Doreen's face, as she glanced over from the other side of +the table, that she guessed what they were talking about, if she had not +heard their words.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you going to have any breakfast, Max?" asked she, as she came +round to him. "We've kept everything about for you, and we want the +table."</p> + +<p>"Well, you can have it," said he, jumping up, quickly, and making for +the door. "I don't want any breakfast this morning."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense. You will not be allowed to leave the room until you have had +some," retorted his sister, as she sprang at him and attempted to pinion +his arms. "We allow no ill-temper on Christmas Eve, especially as we've +got a surprise for you—a beautiful, real surprise. Guess who is coming +this morning to stay till New Year!"</p> + +<p>Queenie had come up by this time, and the two girls between them brought +their brother back to the table, where the younger sister began to pour +out his coffee.</p> + +<p>But Max refused to show the slightest interest in the coming guest, and +would not attempt to guess who it was. So they had to tell him.</p> + +<p>"It was all on your account that we asked her," said Doreen, hurt by his +indifference. "You took such a fancy to her, and she to you, apparently, +at the Hutchinsons' dance, that we thought you'd be delighted. +<i>Now</i>, don't you know who it is?"</p> + +<p>To their great disappointment, both girls saw that he didn't. Mr. +Wedmore, from the other end of the room, was observing this little +incident with considerable annoyance. The young lady in question, Miss +Mildred Appleby, was very pretty, and would be well dowered, and Mr. +Wedmore had entered heartily into the plan of inviting her to spend +Christmas with them, in the hope that Max would propose, be accepted, +and that he would then make up his mind to settle.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Mildred Appleby," said Doreen, impatiently, when her +brother's blank look had given her the wrong answer. "Surely, you don't +mean to say you've forgotten all about her?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I remember her," answered Max, indifferently. "Tall girl with a +fashion-plate face, waltzes pretty well and can't talk. Yes, I remember +her, of course."</p> + +<p>"Is that all you have to say about her?" cried Doreen, betraying her +disappointment. "Why, a month ago she was the nicest and the jolliest +and the everythingest girl you had ever met."</p> + +<p>"He's seen somebody else since then," remarked the observant Queenie, in +her dry, little voice. "When he was in town yesterday, perhaps."</p> + +<p>Max looked at his sister with a curious expression. Was she right? Had +he, in that adventurous thirty-six hours in London, seen somebody who +took the color out of all the other girls he had ever met? He asked +himself this question when Queenie's shrewd eyes met his, and he +remembered the strange sensation he had felt at the touch of Carrie's +hand, at the sound of her voice.</p> + +<p>Before he could answer his sister, Mr. Wedmore spoke impatiently:</p> + +<p>"Rubbish!" cried he, testily. "Every young man thinks it the proper +thing to talk like that, as if no girl was good enough for him. Miss +Appleby is a charming girl, and she will find plenty of admirers without +waiting for Max's valuable adoration."</p> + +<p>He had much better not have spoken, blundering old papa that he was. And +both daughters thought so, as they saw Max raise his eyebrows and gather +in all the details of the little plot in one sweeping glance at the +faces around him. He drank his coffee, but he could not eat. Doreen sat +watching him, ready to spring upon him at the first possible moment, and +to carry him off for the <i>tête-à-tête</i> he was so anxious to put off.</p> + +<p>What should he tell his sister of that adventure of his in the slums of +the East End? Would she be satisfied if he told a white lie, if he said +he had found out nothing?</p> + +<p>Max felt that Doreen would not be satisfied if he got himself out of the +difficulty like that. In the first place, she would not believe him. He +saw that her quick eyes had been watching him since his return, and he +felt that he had been unable to hide the fact that something of greater +significance had occurred during that brief stay in town. What then +should he tell her? Perfect frankness, perfect confidence was out of the +question. To look back now, in the handsome, spacious house of his +parents, from the snug depths of an easy-chair, on the time he had +passed on and about the wharf by the docks, was so strange that Max +could hardly believe in his own experiences.</p> + +<p>Who would believe the story of his adventures, if he himself could +scarcely do so? Would Doreen, would anybody give credence to the story +of the dead body that he touched, but never saw, the eyes that looked at +him from an unbroken wall, the girl who lured him into the shut-up +house, and then let him out again with an air of secrecy and mystery?</p> + +<p>The transition had been so abrupt from the gloomy wharf, with its +suspicious surroundings and the heavy, fog-laden air of the riverside, +back to the warmth and light and brightness of home, that already his +adventures had receded into a sort of dreamland, and he began to ask +himself whether Carrie, with her fair hair and moving blue eyes, her +vibrating voice and changeful expression, were not a creature of his +imagination only.</p> + +<p>He was still under the influence of the feelings roused by this dreamy +remembrance, when he snatched the opportunity afforded by Doreen's being +called away by Mrs. Wedmore, to go out into the grounds, on his way to +the stables. A ride through the lanes in the frosty air would, he +thought, be the best preparation for the trying ordeal of that +inevitable talk with Doreen, whose wistful eyes haunted him as she +waited for a chance of speaking to him alone.</p> + +<p>In the garden a scene of desolation met his eye.</p> + +<p>The lawns were torn up and trodden down; the gravel path from the +stables looked like a freshly plowed field; every tree and every bush +bore the marks of the marauder.</p> + +<p>The head gardener was in a condition of unapproachable ferocity, and it +was generally understood that he had given notice to leave. The +under-gardeners kept out of the way, but could be heard at intervals +checking outbursts of derisive laughter behind the shrubberies. The +story of the Yule log and its adventures was the best joke the country +had had for a long time, and it was bound to lose nothing as it passed +from mouth to mouth. And poor Mr. Wedmore began to dread the ordeal of +congratulations he would have to go through when he next went to church.</p> + +<p>Max felt sorry for his father. As he entered the stable-yard, which was +a wide expanse of flagged ground at the back of the house, round which +were many outbuildings, he came upon a group of snickering servants, all +enjoying the story of the master's freak.</p> + +<p>The group broke up guiltily on the appearance of Max, the laundry-maids +taking flight in one direction, while the stablemen became suddenly busy +with yard-broom and leather.</p> + +<p>Max put a question or two to the groom who saddled his horse for him.</p> + +<p>"There was no great harm done last night, was there, except in the +garden? You have not heard of anything being stolen, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no, sir. But it brought a lot of people up as had no business +here. There was a person come up as we couldn't get rid of, asking +questions about the family, sir; and about Mr. Horne, too, sir. She +wouldn't believe as he wasn't here, an' she frightened some of the +women, I believe, sir. They didn't know where she'd got to, an' nobody +saw her go out of the place, so they've got an idea she's hiding about. +A fortune-telling tramp, most likely, sir," added the man, who wished he +had held his tongue about the intruder when he saw how strongly the +young master was affected by this story.</p> + +<p>The fact was that Max instantly connected this apparition of a woman +"who asked questions about Mr. Horne" with the ugly story told him at +the house by the wharf, and he was glad that Dudley was not spending +Christmas at The Beeches.</p> + +<p>He was oppressed during the whole of his ride by this suggestion that +the questionable characters of the wharfside were pursuing Dudley; it +gave color to Carrie's statement that it was Dudley who killed the man +whom Max believed to have been Edward Jacobs; and it looked as if the +object of the woman's visit was to levy blackmail.</p> + +<p>Or was it—could it be that the woman was Carrie, and that her object +was to warn Dudley? To associate Carrie herself with the levying of +blackmail was not possible to the susceptible Max in the present state +of his feelings toward her.</p> + +<p>And, just as he was meditating upon this mystery, all unprepared for a +meeting with his sister, Doreen waylaid him. He was entering the house +by the back way, muddy from his ride, when she sprang upon him from an +ambush on the stairs.</p> + +<p>"I've been waiting all the morning to catch you alone," said she, as she +ran out from behind the tall clock and seized his arm. "You've been +trying to avoid me. Don't deny it. I say you have. As if it was any use! +No, you shall not go upstairs and take off your boots first. You will +just come into the study, mud and all, and tell me—tell me what you +<i>know</i>, not what you have been making up, mind! I'm going to have +the truth."</p> + +<p>"Well, you can't," returned her brother, shortly, as he allowed himself +to be dragged across the hall, which looked cheerless enough without a +fire, and with the great, clumsy, hideous, maimed old Yule log filling +up the fireplace and reminding everybody of all that it had cost.</p> + +<p>Doreen pushed him into the study and shut the door.</p> + +<p>"Why can't I know the truth?" asked she, eying him steadily. "Do you +mean that you have found out Dudley doesn't care for me."</p> + +<p>Max glanced at his sister's face, and then looked away. He had not known +till that moment, when he caught the tender look of anxiety in her big +brown eyes, how strong her love of Dudley was. An impulse of anger +against the man seized him, and he frowned.</p> + +<p>"Why, surely you know already that he doesn't care for you, in the way +he ought to care, or he would never have neglected you, never have given +you up!" said he, ferociously.</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure about that. At any rate I want to know what you found +out. Don't think I'm not strong enough to bear it, whatever it is!"</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I'll tell you. He <i>is</i> off his head. He has got mixed +up in some way with a set of people no sane man would trust himself with +for half an hour, and—and—and—well, they say—the people say he's done +something that would hang him. There! Is that enough for you?"</p> + +<p>He felt that he was a brute to tell her, but he could see no other way +out of the difficulty in which her own persistency had placed him. She +stared at him for a few seconds with blanched cheeks, clasping her +hands. Then she said in a whisper:</p> + +<p>"You don't mean—murder?"</p> + +<p>Her brother's silence gave her the answer.</p> + +<p>There was a long pause. Then she spoke in a changed voice, under her +breath:</p> + +<p>"Poor Dudley!"</p> + +<p>Max was astonished to see her take the announcement so quietly.</p> + +<p>"Well, now you see that it is impossible to do anything for him, don't +you?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I do not!" retorted Doreen, with spirit. "We don't know the +story yet. We don't know whether there is any truth in it at all; or, if +there is, what the difficulties were that he was in. Look, Max. You must +remember how worried he has been lately. I have heard him make excuses +for people who did rash things, and I have always agreed with him. You +see, I knew how good-hearted he was, and I know that he would never have +done anything mean or underhand or unworthy."</p> + +<p>"Don't you call murder, manslaughter—whatever it is—unworthy?" asked +Max, irritably.</p> + +<p>"Not without knowing something about it," answered she. "And I think +there's generally more to be said for the man who commits murder than +for any other criminal. And—and"—her voice gave way and began to shake +with tears—"I don't care what he's done, I'm sorry for him. I—I want +to help him, or—or, at least, I want to see him to tell him so!"</p> + +<p>Max was alarmed. Knowing the spirit and courage of his brilliant sister, +he was afraid lest she should conceive the idea of starting off herself +on some mad enterprise; so he said hastily:</p> + +<p>"He's away now, you know. He's gone without leaving any address. Perhaps +I was wrong, after all. Perhaps when he comes back he will be himself +again, and—and everything will be cleared up. We can only wait and +see."</p> + +<p>But this lame attempt at comfort met with no warm response from his +sister. She looked at him with a poor little attempt at a contemptuous +smile, and then, afraid of breaking down altogether, sprang up from the +arm-chair in which she had been sitting and left him to himself.</p> + +<p>Max did not recover his usual spirits at luncheon, where everybody else +was full of mirthful anticipation of the household dance, another idea +of Mr. Wedmore's, which was to be a feature of the evening. And after +that meal, instead of offering to drive to the station to meet Miss +Appleby, as everybody had expected, Max took himself off, nobody knew +where, and did not return home until dusk.</p> + +<p>Coming through a little side gate in the park, he got into the great +yard behind the house, where the stables stood on one side and a huge +barn, which was only used as a storage place for lumber, on the other. +And it occurred to him that if the woman of whom the groom told him were +still hanging about the premises, as the servants seemed to think, this +was the very place she might be expected to choose as a hiding-place.</p> + +<p>So he pushed open the great, creaking door of the barn and went in. It +was very dark in there, and the air was cold and damp. A musty smell +from old sacks, rotting wood and mildewed straw came to his nostrils, as +he made his way carefully over the boards with which the middle part of +the barn had, for some forgotten purpose or other, been floored.</p> + +<p>Little chinks of light from above showed great beams, some with ropes +hanging from them, and stacks of huge lumber of fantastic shapes to +right and left.</p> + +<p>Max stood still in the middle of the floor and listened for a sound. But +he heard nothing. Suddenly he thought of the signal by the use of which +he had summoned Carrie to the door of the house by the wharf.</p> + +<p>Getting close to one of the piles of lumber, he gave two taps on the +panel of a broken wooden chest, waited a couple of seconds, and then +gave two taps more.</p> + +<p>There was a shuffling noise along the boards on the other side of the +stack, followed by the striking of a match.</p> + +<p>Max was around the obstacle in a moment. Holding a piece of candle in +her bony hand was Mrs. Higgs.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" said he.</p> + +<p>She said nothing. But the candle shook in her hand, and by the glassy +look of dull yet fierce surprise in her colorless eyes Max saw that this +woman, who had connived at his imprisonment in the room with the dead +man, had never expected to see him again—alive.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>MR. WEDMORE'S SECOND FREAK.</h3> + + +<p>Even if Max had not had such an ugly experience of the ways of Mrs. +Higgs, even if this meeting with her in the barn had been his first, his +sensations would hardly have been agreeable ones. There was something +uncanny about the old woman, something which her quiet, shuffling +movements and her apparent lack of interest in what went on around her +only served to accentuate. Even now, while suffering the shock of a +great surprise, Max could feel rather than see the effect which the +unexpected meeting had upon her.</p> + +<p>For she uttered no cry, no word; her eyes scarcely opened wider than +before. Her jaw dropped a little, and then began to move rapidly up and +down; that was all. And yet, as Max looked at her—at this helpless, +infirm old creature with the palsied hands and the lackluster eyes—he +shivered.</p> + +<p>"You vile old hag!" thought he to himself. And then his thoughts flew to +Carrie, and he asked himself what the attraction could be which bound +her to this wicked old woman.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Higgs, after staring at him in dead silence for what seemed a long +time, asked, as composedly as if their meeting had been the most natural +thing in the world:</p> + +<p>"Where's your friend, young man?"</p> + +<p>"W—what friend?" stammered Max.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you don't know, I suppose!" retorted Mrs. Higgs, derisively. "No +more than you know what you wanted to come spying about Plumtree Wharf +for, eh?"</p> + +<p>Max made no answer. There came a vixenish gleam into the old woman's +faded eyes.</p> + +<p>"What did you come for, eh?" pursued she, sharply. "Who sent you? Not +he, I know! When he's got anything to do at the wharf he comes himself."</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Higgs gave an ugly, mirthless chuckle.</p> + +<p>As Max stared at the withered, lined face, which was growing each moment +more repulsive in his eyes, a feeling of horror and of intense pity for +Dudley seized him. To be pursued, as his friend evidently was pursued, +by this vicious old hag, was a fate hideous enough to expiate every +crime in the Decalogue.</p> + +<p>A little rapid reflection made him decide that a bold course of defiance +was the best to be taken. Whatever Dudley might have done, and whatever +terrors Mrs. Higgs might hold over his head, it was very certain, after +all, that the evidence of such a creature, living in such an underground +fashion, could never be a serious danger to a man in his position. +Dudley himself seemed rather to have lost sight of this fact, certainly; +but it could not be less than a fact for all that.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Horne is not likely to trouble you or the rest of the thieves at +the wharf again," said Max, with decision. "He's gone abroad for a +holiday. And if you don't take yourself off at once, or if you turn up +here again, or if you attempt to annoy us or Mr. Horne, in any way +whatever, you'll find the police at your heels before you know where you +are."</p> + +<p>Then into her dull eyes there came a look of malignity which made Max +doubt whether he had done well to be so bold.</p> + +<p>"Thieves, eh? Tell your friend we're thieves, and see what he says to +that! Police, eh? Tell your friend <i>that</i>, tell your friend +<i>that</i>, and see whether he'll thank you for your interference!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Horne is away, as I told you."</p> + +<p>"Away, is he? But he won't be away long. Oh, no; he'll come back—he'll +come back. Or if he doesn't," added Mrs. Higgs, with complacency, "I'll +fetch him."</p> + +<p>"Well, you've got to leave this place at once," said Max, with decision. +"We don't allow strangers in the barn, and if you don't go quietly at +once, I must send somebody to turn you out."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Higgs kept her eyes fixed upon him with her usual blank stare while +he said this in a very loud and decided tone. When he had finished she +suddenly blew out the light with so much unnecessary force that Max felt +something like a gust of wind upon his face.</p> + +<p>"Turn me out!" and she laughed harshly. "Turn me out! Send for the +police to do it, if you like."</p> + +<p>Max went out of the barn, listening to her cackling laugh, and not +feeling comfortable until he had found his way into the open air. He at +once gave orders to the stablemen and gardeners to search the barn and +to turn out the strangers they might find there.</p> + +<p>But though they hunted in every corner, they found no one, and Max was +only too glad to come to the conclusion that Mrs. Higgs had taken his +advice, and got away with as little delay as possible.</p> + +<p>This incident, however, following so closely on the heels of his +experiences at the wharf, took away all the zest with which Max should +have entered into the programme which, by Mr. Wedmore's special wish, +had been prepared for that evening; and while Doreen and Queenie and +Mildred Appleby and two young nephews of Mr. Wedmore's chattered and +laughed, and made dinner a very lively affair, Max was quiet and what +his cousins called "grumpy," and threatened to be a wet blanket on the +evening's entertainment.</p> + +<p>"Going to have all the servants in to dance Sir Roger!" cried he, in +dismay, when Doreen told him the news. "Good heavens! Hasn't he had a +lesson in yesterday's tomfoolery and what came of it? How do the +servants like the idea?"</p> + +<p>"Of course they hate it," answered Doreen, "and mamma has been all day +trying to coax the cook to indulge him, and not to walk off and leave us +to cook the Christmas dinner. And, of course, this assurance that the +notion was distasteful to everybody had made papa more obstinate than +ever. Oh, we shall have a merry time."</p> + +<p>Now, down in the depths of his heart Mr. Wedmore had begun to feel some +misgivings about his plans for keeping Christmas in the good old +fashion. But the first failure, the colossal mistake of the Yule Log, +had made him obstinate instead of yielding, and he had set his teeth and +made up his mind that they should all be merry in the way he chose, or +they should not be merry at all.</p> + +<p>The fact was that this prosaic middle-aged gentleman, who had passed the +greater part of his life immersed in day-books and ledgers and the +details of a busy city man's life, found time hang heavy on his hands in +these prosperous days of his retirement, and in this condition he had +had his mind inflamed by pictures of the life that was led in The +Beeches by his forerunners, easy-going, hard-riding, hard-drinking +country gentlemen, with whom, if the truth were known, he had nothing in +common.</p> + +<p>Fired by the desire to live the life they led, to enjoy it in the +pleasant old fashion, it had seemed to him an especially happy custom to +give a dance at which masters and servants should join hands and make +merry together. He had never assisted at one of these balls, and he +refused to listen to his wife's suggestion that it should take place in +the servants' hall, that the servants should be allowed to invite their +own friends, and that the family should limit itself to one brief dance +with their dependants and then leave them to enjoy themselves in their +own way.</p> + +<p>No, it was his will that the dance should be held in the hall of the +house, and that the pictures of the Illustrated Christmas Numbers should +be realized to the utmost.</p> + +<p>Dinner, therefore, was scrambled over in a hurry, and the family with +their guests went upstairs to the drawing-room or out to the +billiard-room, while preparations were made for the great event of the +evening, the lighting of the Yule Log and Sir Roger de Coverley.</p> + +<p>Then the first mishap occurred in the inopportune arrival of the Rev. +Lisle Lindsay, whose rather sedate and solemn appearance cast a slight +gloom upon everybody's spirits, which deepened when Queenie whispered to +Mildred that he looked upon dancing as a frivolous and worldly amusement +scarcely to be tolerated and never to be encouraged.</p> + +<p>He soon made an opportunity of devoting himself to Doreen, who was +playing the lightest of light music at the piano in the corner of the +room.</p> + +<p>It had been a fancy of Mr. Wedmore's, who had his own way in everything +with his wife, to have this drawing-room, which was large and square and +lighted by five windows, three at the front and two at the side, +furnished entirely with old things of the style of eighty years back, +with Empire chairs, sofas and cabinets, as little renovated as possible. +The effect was quaint and not unpleasing; a little cold, perhaps, but +picturesque and graceful.</p> + +<p>The grand piano had a case specially made for it, painted a dull +sage-green and finished in a manner to give it a look of the less +massive harpsichord.</p> + +<p>It was at this instrument that Doreen sat, making a very pretty picture +in her white silk, square-necked frock, with bands of beaver fur on the +bodice and sleeves and an edging of the same fur round the bottom of the +skirt.</p> + +<p>"My purpose in coming here to-night, Miss Wedmore," said Mr. Lindsay, +when he had delivered an unimportant message from the vicar's wife about +the church decorations, "was really to bring you my good wishes for this +blessed season. I am afraid I shall have no opportunity of speaking to +you to-morrow, though, of course, I shall see you in the church."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, we shall all be at church," said Doreen, quickly.</p> + +<p>She noted something rather unusual in the curate's manner—a nervous +excitement which presaged danger; and she dashed into an air from "The +Shop-Girl" with an energy which was meant to have the effect of checking +his solemn ardor.</p> + +<p>But the curate had the stuff of a man in him, and did not mean to be put +off. This opportunity was really a good one, for the talk in the room, +which his arrival had checked for an instant, was now going on merrily. +Mrs. Wedmore did her best to keep up the conversation. Nothing would +have pleased her better than to see Doreen transfer her tender feeling +for the discredited Dudley to such a suitable and irreproachable person +as Lisle Lindsay. She kept a hopeful eye on the pair at the piano while +she went on talking to her husband's old friend, Mrs. Hutchinson, who +was staying with them for Christmas.</p> + +<p>"And at the same time," went on Mr. Lindsay, as he moved his chair a +little nearer, so that, under cover of the music, he could speak without +being overheard, "to speak to you on a subject which is—is—in fact, +very near my heart."</p> + +<p>This was worse than Doreen had expected. She glanced round at him with +rather a frightened expression. "Oh, don't let us talk about +anything—anything serious now," said she. "Just when we shall be going +downstairs to—to dance—in a few minutes."</p> + +<p>It was a very inconsequent objection to make, and Mr. Lindsay simply +ignored it.</p> + +<p>"It is, in fact, about myself that I wish to speak, Miss Wedmore," he +pursued relentlessly. "You cannot have failed to notice what a—what a +deep interest I take in all that concerns you. And latterly I have +flattered myself that—"</p> + +<p>"But people should never flatter themselves about anything!" cried +Doreen, desperately, as she suddenly laid her hands in her lap and +turned from the piano to face the worst. "Now I'll give you an example. +I flattered myself a little while ago that a man cared a great deal +about me—a man I cared a great deal for myself. And all the while he +didn't; or, at least, I am afraid he didn't. And yet, you know, I can't +help hoping that perhaps I didn't only flatter myself, after all; that +perhaps he will come back some day and tell me I was right."</p> + +<p>Mr. Lindsay heard her in silence, with his mild eyes fixed on the +carpet. But when she had finished he looked up again, and she was +shocked to find that the gentle obstinacy which had been in his face +before was there still.</p> + +<p>"I am, indeed, sorry for your disappointment," he said sweetly. "Or +rather I should be if it were such a one that you could not hope +to—to—in fact, to get over it. But—but these are trials which may be, +perhaps, only sent to show that you, even you, happily placed as you are +and gifted of the Almighty, are human, after all, and not beyond +suffering. And—and it may give you an opportunity of seeing that there +are others who can appreciate you better, and who would only be too glad +to—to—to—"</p> + +<p>"To step into his shoes!" finished Doreen for him, with a sigh. "I know +what you were going to say, and if you won't be stopped, I suppose I +must hear you out. But, oh, dear, I do wish you wouldn't!"</p> + +<p>He was not to be put off like that. In fact, he was not to be put off by +any available means. He sighed a little, and persisted.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you have guessed what I was going to say, Miss Wedmore, +though I should not have put it quite in that way. And why should you +not want to hear it? I should have thought that even you must be not +quite indifferent to any man's honest feelings of esteem and admiration +toward you!"</p> + +<p>Doreen was looking at him helplessly, with wide-open eyes. Did he really +think any girl was ever moved by this sort of address, deliberately +uttered, with the words well chosen, well considered? As different as +possible from the abrupt, staccato method used by Dudley in the dear old +days!</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not indifferent at all!" said she, quickly. "I'm never +indifferent to anything or anybody. But I'm sorry, very sorry that—that +you should feel—"</p> + +<p>She stopped short, looked at him for a moment curiously, and asked with +great abruptness:</p> + +<p>"<i>Do</i> you feel anything in the matter? <i>Really</i> feel, I mean? +I don't think you do; I don't think you can. You couldn't speak so +<i>nicely</i>, if you did."</p> + +<p>He looked at her with gentle reproach. His was not a very tempestuous +feeling, perhaps, but it was genuine, honest, sincere. He thought her +the most splendid specimen of handsome, healthy well-brought-up +womanhood he had ever met, and he thought also that the beneficent +influence of the Church, exercised through the unworthy medium of +himself, would mold her into a creature as near perfection as was +humanly possible.</p> + +<p>Her way of receiving his advances was perplexing. He was not easily +disconcerted, but he did not answer her immediately. Then he said +softly:</p> + +<p>"How could I speak in any way but what you call 'nicely' to <i>you</i>? To +the lady whom I am asking to be my wife?"</p> + +<p>Doreen looked startled.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't, please! You don't know what a mistake you're making. I'm not +at all the sort of wife for you, really! Indeed, I couldn't recommend +myself as a wife to anybody, but especially to you."</p> + +<p>"Why—especially to me?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not good enough."</p> + +<p>"That sounds rather flattering. And yet, somehow, I don't fancy you mean +it to be so."</p> + +<p>"Well, no, I don't," said Doreen, frankly; "for I mean by 'good' a lot +of qualities that I don't think highly of myself, such as getting up in +the middle of the night to go to early service, and being civil to +people I hate, and—and a lot of things like that. Don't you know that +I'm eminently deficient in all the Christian virtues?"</p> + +<p>This was a question the curate had never asked himself; but it came upon +him at this moment with disconcerting force that she was right. Luckily +for his self-esteem, it did not occur to him at the same time that it +was this very lack of the conventional virtues, a certain freshness and +originality born of her defiant neglect of them, which formed the +stronger part of her attractiveness in his eyes.</p> + +<p>After a short pause he answered, with his usual deliberation:</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I am quite sure that you do yourself injustice."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I'm equally sure that I don't. I not only leave undone the +things which you would say I ought to do, and do the things which I +ought not to do, but I'm rather proud of it."</p> + +<p>Still, Mr. Lindsay would not accept the repulse. He persisted in making +excuses for her and in believing them.</p> + +<p>"Well, you fulfill your most important duty; you are the happiness and +the brightness of the house. Your father's face softens whenever you +come near him. Now, as that is your chief duty, and you fulfill it so +well, I am quite sure that if you entered another state of life where +your duties would be different, you would accommodate yourself, you +would fulfill your new duties as well as you did the old."</p> + +<p>Doreen rewarded him for this speech with a humorous look, in which there +was something of gratitude, but more of rebellion.</p> + +<p>"Accommodate myself? No, I couldn't. I think, do you know, that if I +were ever foolish enough to marry—and it would be foolishness in a +spoiled creature like me—I should want a husband who could accommodate +himself to me. Now, you couldn't. Clergymen never accommodate themselves +to anything or anybody."</p> + +<p>The Reverend Lisle Lindsay did at last look rather disconcerted. +Mischievous Doreen saw her triumph and made the most of it.</p> + +<p>"So that settles the matter, doesn't it? I can't accommodate myself; you +can't either. What could possibly come of a union like that?"</p> + +<p>"The greatest happiness this world is capable of affording, and the hope +of a happiness more abiding hereafter," said he; "all the happiness that +a true woman can bring to the man she loves."</p> + +<p>Doreen threw up her head quickly.</p> + +<p>"Ah! that's just it," cried she. "'To the man she loves!' But you are +not the man I love, Mr. Lindsay. I suppose it's one of the things I +ought not to do—one of the unconventional and so unchristian things—to +own that I love a man who doesn't love me. But I do. Now, you know who +it is, and everybody knows; but, for all that, you mustn't tell; you +must keep it as a secret that Doreen Wedmore—proud, stuck-up Doreen—is +breaking her heart for the sake of a man who—who—" Her voice broke and +she paused for a moment to recover herself; then she said, in a lighter +tone: "Ah, well, we mustn't be hard upon him, either, for we don't +know—it's so difficult to know."</p> + +<p>She sprang up from her seat; and the curate rose too. By her tactful +mention of her own unlucky love she had softened the blow of her +rejection of him. She had been rather too kind indeed, considering the +tenacity of the person she had to deal with; for the curate considered +his case by no means so hopeless as it was; and instead of taking +himself off forlornly, as she would have wished, he stayed on until the +young men swarmed up from the billiard-room and bore the whole party +down to the hall.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore, in great glee at having carried his point in the face of +the family resistance, led Mrs. Hutchinson down stairs, and then handed +her over to Max, while he himself threw open the door leading to the +servants' quarters, and invited the group of neat maids and stalwart +young men from the garden and stable to enter.</p> + +<p>But here there was a hitch in the arrangements. The cook, in a bad +temper, smarting with disapproval of the whole business, had refused to +join the others, and, as nothing could be done without her, Mr. Wedmore +had to penetrate into the servants' hall, where he found her sitting in +state, and, luckily, dressed for the occasion.</p> + +<p>Never in his life had Mr. Wedmore exerted himself so much to please any +woman as he now did to soften the outraged feelings of the cook, who was +a stout, red-faced woman, whose days of comeliness and charm were long +since gone by. He at last succeeded in inducing her to accompany him to +the hall, where he arrived in triumph, with a flushed face and nervous +manner, after an interval which had been put to great advantage by the +younger gentlemen of the party, who were all anxious to dance with the +prettiest housemaid.</p> + +<p>Their eagerness had the effect of annoying the rest of the maids, and +effectually spoiling whatever enjoyment they might have got out of the +dance in the circumstances, while it by no means pleased the ladies of +the family and their friends, who stood a little apart and whispered to +each other that this sort of thing was bound to be a failure, and why +couldn't papa, dear old, stupid papa, leave <i>them</i> out of the affair, +and let the boys have a romp in the servants' hall without their +assistance?</p> + +<p>The pause had made the ladies so frigid and the men-servants so shy, the +pretty housemaid so merry and the plain ones so solemn, that disaster +threatened the gathering, when Mr. Wedmore and the cook made their +opportune appearance.</p> + +<p>Max, his cousins and young Hutchinson gave three cheers, in the midst of +which demonstration the Rev. Lisle Lindsay endeavored to make his escape +by the front door.</p> + +<p>Unhappily, Mr. Wedmore, elated by his victory over the cook, espied him, +and straightway forbade him to leave the house until after "Sir Roger." +In vain the curate protested; pleaded the privileges and exemptions of +his sacred calling.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore was obdurate; and, to the disgust of everybody, including +himself, the Rev. Lisle Lindsay found himself told off to dance with the +pretty housemaid, being the only man in the room who was not anxious for +the honor.</p> + +<p>This mishap cast a gloom over the proceedings. The rest of the gentlemen +found it hard to extract a word from the other maids, who all considered +themselves slighted. And Mr. Wedmore had great difficulty in persuading +the men-servants to come forward and take their places by the partners +he chose for them. To get them to choose for themselves was out of the +question, after one young gardener had availed himself of the invitation +by darting across the floor and asking Miss Queenie, in a hoarse voice +and with many blushes, if she would dance with him.</p> + +<p>Of course, this piece of daring made a sensation so great that to get +another man follow the bold example was impossible.</p> + +<p>In the end, Mrs. Wedmore found a partner in the coachman, who was a +portly and solemn person, with no talents in the way of dancing or of +conversation. Doreen danced with the butler, who, between nervousness +and gloom, found it impossible to conceal his opinion that master was +making a fool of himself; and the rest of the company being quite as ill +matched, "Sir Roger" was performed with little grace and less +liveliness, while the Yule Log, after emitting a great deal of smoke, +sputtered out into blackness, to everybody's relief.</p> + +<p>The end of it was, however, a little better than the beginning. As the +dancers warmed to their work, their latent enthusiasm for the exercise +was awakened; and "Sir Roger" was kept up until the fingers of the +organist, who had been engaged to play for them on a piano placed in a +corner of one of the passages, ached with the cold and with the hard +work.</p> + +<p>When the dance was over and the party had broken up, Doreen, who had +done her best to keep up the spirits of the rest, broke down. Max met +her on her way to her room, and saw that the tears were very near her +eyes.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter now?" said he, crossly. "You seemed all right +downstairs. I thought you and Lindsay seemed to be getting on very well +together."</p> + +<p>"Did you? Well, you were wrong," said she, briefly, as she shut herself +into the room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>A MESSAGE FROM THE WHARF.</h3> + + +<p>Christmas was over, and The Beeches had subsided into its normal state +of prosperous tranquility. Max had had a fresh situation discovered for +him, and he was now wasting his time on a stool in a merchant's office, +as he had wasted it in other offices many times before. His father's +chronic state of exasperation with his laziness was growing acute, and +he had informed Max that unless he chose to stick to his work this time +he would have to be shipped off to the Cape. No entreaties on the part +of Mrs. Wedmore or the girls were of any avail against this fixed +resolution on Mr. Wedmore's part, or against the inflexible laziness of +Max himself. He detested office work, and he confessed that if he was +not to be allowed to lead the country life he loved, he would prefer +enlistment in the Cape Mounted Police to drudgery in a dark corner of a +city office.</p> + +<p>It was on a foggy evening in January that Max, for the first time in +three weeks (an unprecedented interval), knocked at the door of Dudley +Horne's chambers.</p> + +<p>There was a long delay, and Max, after a second knock, was going to +withdraw, in the belief that Dudley was not in, after all, when he heard +slow steps within, and paused.</p> + +<p>The door was opened a very little way, and Dudley looked out.</p> + +<p>Max stared at him for a moment without speaking. For over his friend +there had passed some great change. Dudley had never been florid of +complexion, but now he looked ghastly. His face had always been grave +and strong rather than cheerful, but now the expression of his +countenance was forbidding.</p> + +<p>He looked at Max, glanced down the stairs, and nodded without a smile.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" said he, with the letter of familiarity, but without its +spirit. "Haven't seen anything of you for a century. Up in town again, +eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Can't I come in?" said Max.</p> + +<p>Dudley had come outside instead of inviting his friend in. At these +words, however, he turned abruptly, and himself led the way into the +little ante-chamber.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, oh, yes, come in, of course. Come in."</p> + +<p>Max accepted the cool invitation in silence, shut the door behind him, +and followed his friend into the sitting-room, where the table was laid +for a solitary dinner.</p> + +<p>But it was the writing-table which caught the eye of Max and riveted his +attention. For a photograph lay there, a woman's photograph, and as it +was just in front of the chair Dudley had been using, as if he had been +occupied in looking at it, it was not unnatural that the brother of +Doreen should be curious to know whose picture it was.</p> + +<p>So Max got around the table quickly by the opposite way to that which +Dudley took, and threw himself into a chair by the writing-table in such +a position that he could see what was on it. And he saw two things: One +was that the photograph was that of Doreen; the other that a postal +order for one pound, which lay beside the photograph, and upon which the +ink was not yet dry, was made out to "Mrs. Edward Jacobs."</p> + +<p>Max felt himself blushing as Dudley snatched up the postal orders—there +were two of them—and slip them into an envelope. Then the eyes of the +two men met. And Dudley knew what Max had seen.</p> + +<p>He seemed to hesitate a moment, then glanced at Max again, sat down to +the writing-table, and took up a pen. As he directed the letter, he said +quietly:</p> + +<p>"Do you know whom I'm sending this money to?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I did catch sight of the name," stammered Max, unable to hide the +fact that the question was an embarrassing one to him.</p> + +<p>"Yes," went on Dudley, as he showed him the directed letter, "it is to +the widow of the poor devil who was found in the Thames the other +day—man who was once in my late father's employment—Edward Jacobs."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I've heard," stammered Max again.</p> + +<p>The incident of Dudley sending money to the woman would have seemed to +him trivial and even natural enough, if it had not been for the curious +look of hard defiance which Dudley gave him out of his black eyes. It +was like a challenge; it set his friend wondering again, asking himself +again all those tormenting questions about Edward Jacobs's death which +he had allowed to slip into a back place in his thoughts.</p> + +<p>As he looked down at the end of the white table-cloth which touched the +floor a loud laugh from Dudley startled him and made him look up. And +when he did so the conviction that his friend was mad, or, at least, +subject to attacks of insanity, flashed into his mind more strongly than +ever. Dudley was leaning back, tilting his chair till it touched the +dinner table, distending his jaws in a hard, mocking laugh as unlike +mirth as possible.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, so I've heard—so I've heard!" repeated he, mockingly. "And, +of course, that's all you've heard, isn't it? And you've never taken the +trouble to make any personal inquiries in the matter? Or thought of +taking a journey, say, as far as Plumtree Wharf to make any private +investigations?"</p> + +<p>Max was startled. He saw clearly enough that which he would fain have +denied—that Dudley was in communication with the people at the wharf, +from whom he must have obtained this information. For a moment he was +silent. It was not until Dudley's harsh laughter had died away, and he, +rather surprised to see how quietly Max took his accusation, had wheeled +round in his chair to look at his friend, that Max said:</p> + +<p>"Well, I did go to the wharf. And I'll tell you why. Doreen is breaking +her heart about you, and she would have me find out what was wrong with +you."</p> + +<p>Then there was silence.</p> + +<p>"God bless her!" said Dudley at last, in a hoarse whisper.</p> + +<p>Another silence.</p> + +<p>"What did you tell her?" whispered Dudley.</p> + +<p>"What could I tell her? I said you were mad."</p> + +<p>"And what did you—<i>think</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I hardly know myself."</p> + +<p>"That's right! That's the proper attitude!" cried Dudley.</p> + +<p>And then he laughed again uproariously.</p> + +<p>And in the midst of his laughter there was a knock at the door.</p> + +<p>For a moment neither man moved. Then Dudley got up slowly and walked out +of the room, closing the door behind him. Max heard him open the outer +door, and then he heard a voice he knew—a young girl's voice—say:</p> + +<p>"This is Mr. Dudley Horne's place, and you are Mr. Dudley Horne?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then let me come in. I've come from—"</p> + +<p>The voice dropped, and Max did not catch the rest.</p> + +<p>"Stop! I'll speak to you here," said Dudley, trying to keep her in the +little ante-room.</p> + +<p>But the girl came straight in. It was Carrie.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>A SORCERESS.</h3> + + +<p>Max was standing on the other side of the lamp, and Carrie did not see +him. She announced her errand at once in a straightforward and +matter-of-fact manner.</p> + +<p>"Dick Barker's been nabbed for stealing a watch. You've got to get him +off."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean? I've got to get him off?" cried Dudley, indignantly.</p> + +<p>Carrie laughed.</p> + +<p>"It's the message I was told to give you; that's all."</p> + +<p>"Well, take this message back: that I refuse to have anything to do with +your pickpocket."</p> + +<p>Carrie turned to the door.</p> + +<p>"All right. I'm to say that to Mrs. Higgs?"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" thundered Dudley.</p> + +<p>Carrie paused, with her hand on the door.</p> + +<p>"Did Mrs. Higgs send you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then wait a minute."</p> + +<p>All the indignation, all the defiance, had gone from his tone. He looked +anxious, haggard.</p> + +<p>Carrie sat down like an automaton in the chair nearest to the door.</p> + +<p>There was a silence of some minutes' duration when Carrie announced +herself as a messenger from Mrs. Higgs.</p> + +<p>Dudley, who had either forgotten the presence of Max or was past caring +how much his friend learned, since he already knew so much, walked up +and down between the fireplace and the bookcase on the opposite wall, +evidently debating what he should do. Carrie never once raised her eyes +from the carpet, but sat like a statue beside the door, apparently as +indifferent as possible as to the message she should take back.</p> + +<p>Max had risen from his seat and was standing where he could get a full +view of her over the lamp on the dinner-table between them. Perhaps it +was the yellow paper shade around the light which made the young girl's +face look so ghastly, or the rusty black clothes she wore. A plain +skirt, the same that she had worn when he saw her first, a black stuff +cape of home-made pattern, and a big black straw hat which had evidently +done duty throughout the summer; all were neatly brushed and clean, but +well-worn and lusterless, and they heightened the appearance of deadly +pallor which, struck Max so much.</p> + +<p>Her eyes he could not see; her scarlet lips were tightly closed, and her +face seemed to him to wear an air of dogged determination which helped +him to understand how it was that she had escaped the perils of her +unprotected girlhood. Certainly it would have taken a good deal of +courage, impudence or alcoholic excitement to make a man address to this +statuesque and cold-faced creature a flippant word.</p> + +<p>She did not see Max, who kept so quiet that it was easy for her to +overlook the presence of a third person in the room. He watched her +intently, taking even more interest in her under these new conditions +than he had done before. Would she retain her cold look and manner when +he made his presence known to her, as he intended presently to do? The +question was full of interest to him.</p> + +<p>Presently Dudley stopped short in his walk, right in front of Carrie, +who seemed, however, unconscious of or indifferent to the fact.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he asked, abruptly.</p> + +<p>Carrie looked up and surveyed him as if from a great distance.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she answered, rather quaintly, but evidently unconscious +of the oddity of her own answer. There was a moment's pause, and then +she asked, briskly:</p> + +<p>"However, that doesn't matter to you, does it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, it does. You come here as a messenger. Now, I want to know +your credentials."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean. I live with Mrs. Higgs. She makes me call +her 'Granny.'"</p> + +<p>Dudley at once became strongly interested.</p> + +<p>"Live with her, do you, and call her Granny? I've never seen you when I +have visited Mrs. Higgs."</p> + +<p>"I've seen you, though. I've seen—"</p> + +<p>She stopped.</p> + +<p>Dudley's hand, the one Max could see from where he stood, moved +convulsively. After another short pause, Carrie raised her head, and +their eyes met. Each evidently saw something oddly interesting in the +face of the other.</p> + +<p>"I shall have to make some inquiries about you," said he at last.</p> + +<p>"Very well. You can go and make them."</p> + +<p>Her tone was matter-of-fact, but neither impudent nor defiant. She did +not seem to care.</p> + +<p>"This Dick Barker, who has been nabbed, as you elegantly express it, is +some sweetheart of yours, I suppose? And you have persuaded Mrs. Higgs +to send me this absurd message, asking me to appear for him?"</p> + +<p>"No. He's nothing to me. Mrs. Higgs wants him got off, because if he's +convicted he'll tell all he knows, or at least enough to set the police +on."</p> + +<p>"And what is that to me?"</p> + +<p>Another pause, during which she looked down. Then Carrie raised her eyes +again, and looked at him steadily.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, you know best."</p> + +<p>Dudley turned away, muttering something under his breath. But the next +moment he faced her again.</p> + +<p>"And you are waiting to take my answer back?"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Higgs said there would be no answer."</p> + +<p>"Then what are you waiting for?"</p> + +<p>"To see whether there is one or not."</p> + +<p>"And you're going straight back with it to your granny, whatever it is?" +asked Dudley, with the same sharp tone of cross-examination.</p> + +<p>"No. I am not going back to her. But I shall give the message to some +one who is."</p> + +<p>There was another pause, longer than any of the previous ones. Then +Dudley said, shortly:</p> + +<p>"You need not wait here any longer. I am going to see her myself."</p> + +<p>Carrie had got upon her feet in the automatic manner she had maintained +throughout the interview.</p> + +<p>"Going to the wharf, are you?" she said, with the first sign of human +interest she had shown. "Oh, very well."</p> + +<p>There was something noticeable in her tone, something which made Max +suspicious and anxious on his friend's account. He came round the table +with rapid steps, touched Dudley's shoulder, and said, in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"I'll go with you!"</p> + +<p>At the sound of his voice Carrie started violently, and looked up at +Max, staring with eyes full of wonder and something very like delight. +The rigidity with which she had held herself, the automatic manner, the +hard, off-hand tone, all disappeared at once; and it was a new, a +transformed Carrie, the fascinating, wayward, irresistible girl he had +remembered, who gave him a smile and a nod, as she said, in a voice full +of the old charm he remembered:</p> + +<p>"You! Is it you?" Then, breathlessly, with a change to anxiety in her +voice: "And are you going, too?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I'm going with my friend," said Max, as he came forward and held +out a hand, into which she put hers very shyly; "from what I remember of +my visit to your place, I think two visitors are better than one."</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether granny will think so," said Carrie, still in the +same altered voice.</p> + +<p>She was shy, modest, charming. All her femininity had returned, and both +the young men felt the influence of the change.</p> + +<p>Dudley, who had instinctively stepped back to make way for his friend, +was watching them both with surprise and uneasiness.</p> + +<p>"We must risk Mrs. Higgs's displeasure," said Max, dryly, "unless, +indeed, Dudley," and he turned to his friend, "you will give up this +expedition altogether, as I strongly advise."</p> + +<p>But Dudley had made up his mind. He did not want Max to go with him, but +he was resolved to go to the wharf. And his friend's heart failed within +him at the news.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think it would be advisable to get a policeman to accompany +you?" he hazarded in a low voice.</p> + +<p>But Dudley started violently at the suggestion.</p> + +<p>"Policeman!" repeated he in a louder tone than Max had used. "Good +heavens, no!"</p> + +<p>Max, looking round, saw that Carrie had overheard; but she betrayed no +emotion at the suggestion, even if she felt any.</p> + +<p>Dudley pulled out his watch.</p> + +<p>"I have an appointment for this evening," said he; "I must get out of +it. Max, if you persist in going with me to the wharf, you're a fool. +When your friends are doing well, you should stick to them; when they +have got into a mess, you should have appointments elsewhere." Although +he spoke cynically, there was underneath his scoffing tone a strain of +tenderness. He turned quickly to the girl at this point, as if afraid of +betraying more feeling than he had intended to do. "You've delivered +your message," said he, sharply, "now you can go."</p> + +<p>But Carrie lingered. Looking shyly at Max, she said in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"Have you made up your mind that you will go with him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Max.</p> + +<p>"All right," nodded Carrie. "Then I'll go, too."</p> + +<p>Dudley looked down at the girl with an impatient frown on his face.</p> + +<p>"Supposing we don't want you?" said he, dryly.</p> + +<p>"You will," she answered briefly, without even looking at him.</p> + +<p>Dudley considered for a moment, and then said shortly:</p> + +<p>"All right. We may as well keep an eye on you."</p> + +<p>Carrie laughed, and then remained silent. As for Max, he was struck with +an odd likeness between the girl's dry, short manner of speaking to +Dudley and Dudley's manner of speaking to her.</p> + +<p>At that moment there was an interruption in the shape of the waiter from +a neighboring restaurant, who came in with the dinner Dudley had ordered +for himself.</p> + +<p>"I shan't want it now," said Dudley, as the man put down the covered +dishes on the table.</p> + +<p>"Why, surely you're not in such a hurry that you haven't time to dine?" +said Max.</p> + +<p>Dudley made an impatient gesture.</p> + +<p>"I can get a biscuit somewhere, if I want it. I can't eat just now."</p> + +<p>"Let me eat your dinner for you, then," said Max. "I've had none. And if +I'm to go rambling all over the town to look after you, I shall want +something to keep me going."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Dudley. "I'm to come back here for you, then?"</p> + +<p>And he took up his overcoat. Max began to help him on with it.</p> + +<p>"Come in here a moment," said Dudley, in the same dry, abrupt manner as +before; "I want to speak to you."</p> + +<p>Max followed him into the ante-room, and Dudley shut the sitting-room +door.</p> + +<p>"That girl," said he, with, a frown—"where did you pick her up? At the +wharf?"</p> + +<p>"I met her there. She was walking about outside, afraid to go in. The +old woman had left her there alone, with a—a—dead body in the place."</p> + +<p>At these words a change came over Dudley's face.</p> + +<p>"You had better have left her alone," said he, sharply. "I wonder you +hadn't more sense than to take up with a girl like that."</p> + +<p>Max fired up indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Like what? There's nothing wrong with the girl—nothing whatever. +Surely her behavior to-night showed you that."</p> + +<p>"Her behavior!" said Dudley, mockingly. "Do you mean her behavior to me, +or to you?"</p> + +<p>"Both. It was that of a modest, straightforward girl."</p> + +<p>"Very straightforward—to me. Very modest to you. But I would not waste +too much time over her virtues if I were you."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to waste any," replied Max, shortly. "I don't see how we +can shake her off, since she has offered to go back to the wharf with +us. But I shall only be alone with her for the few minutes you leave us +here. Or, better still, I'll go with you, and wait while you see your +friend."</p> + +<p>"What friend?"</p> + +<p>"I thought you said you had an appointment with some one, and were going +to put him off."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. Well, let us go to him now."</p> + +<p>And Dudley softly opened the outer door.</p> + +<p>Max perceived that what he proposed was to give Carrie the slip. He drew +back a step.</p> + +<p>"We can't go without telling her, at least <i>I</i> can't. The girl's +quite right. It would be safer for her to go with us. For it's an awful +place, not fit to trust oneself in."</p> + +<p>"And you think it would be the safer for the presence with us of one of +the gang?"</p> + +<p>"She is not one of the gang!" cried Max, involuntarily raising his +voice. "I'd stake my life on there being no harm in her!"</p> + +<p>The door of the sitting-room was opened behind them, and Carrie came +out.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't help hearing what you said," she said, quietly. "But you +needn't quarrel about me. One of you says there's no harm in me; the +other says there is. I dare say you're both right. If you don't want me +to go to the wharf with you, Mr. Horne, why, I won't go, of course. Good +evening."</p> + +<p>She wanted to go out, but Dudley stood in the way, preventing her.</p> + +<p>"You're quite wrong, I assure you," said he, quickly. "There has been a +little discussion about it, certainly; but I think you and my friend are +quite right, and it would be much better if you would go with us—much +better. Pray don't be annoyed at anything I've said. Remember, I have +never seen you before, while my friend, who knows you better, naturally +appreciates you more."</p> + +<p>Carrie maintained an attitude of cold stolidity while Dudley spoke.</p> + +<p>"Am I to go with you now, then?" she asked, coldly, when he had finished +speaking.</p> + +<p>"Well, no, I think not. It will only take me ten minutes to go down into +the Strand and put off the fellow I was going to the theatre with. I'll +come back here, and we'll all go on together."</p> + +<p>Carrie looked at him steadfastly while he spoke, and he returned her +gaze. For a few moments there was silence, and then it was broken by an +exclamation from Max. He was staring first at one and then at the other +with a face full of perplexity.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," cried he at last, "that when you both look like that, and +I turn from one to the other, it is as if I were looking all the time +<i>at the same face</i>?"</p> + +<p>Both Dudley and Carrie looked startled as they withdrew their eyes from +each other's face. Then each sought the eyes of the other again as if it +were furtively. Dudley seemed, of the two, the more impressed by his +friend's words. He laughed with some constraint.</p> + +<p>"Fanciful, very fanciful," said he, mockingly. "What likeness can there +be between a girl with a white face, fair hair and blue eyes," and he +gave a glance at Carrie which had in it something of fear, "and a man of +my type?"</p> + +<p>Max looked at him, and then said slowly:</p> + +<p>"It's not in the features, I know; it's not in the coloring; but it is +there, for all that."</p> + +<p>"The young lady will not feel flattered," said Dudley, ironically. "I +will leave you to make your peace with her, and when I come back, in ten +minutes, I expect to find you both ready to start."</p> + +<p>He had his hand on the door, when some thought seemed to strike him, and +he hesitated and turned to put his hand on the shoulder of Max. Then he +swung the young man round in such a way that his own back was turned to +Carrie. Looking steadily and with a certain look of affectionate regard +into his friend's face, he formed with his lips and eyes a final warning +against the girl. Then, with a nod, he went out, closing the door behind +him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE SWORD FALLS.</h3> + + +<p>When Max turned, he found that Carrie had retreated within the door of +the sitting-room. He followed her into the room.</p> + +<p>"I hope he'll give us the full ten minutes," said he, "for I had no +luncheon to-day, and when I'm hungry I always get very cross. Is that +your experience?"</p> + +<p>Carrie looked at the table with a strange smile.</p> + +<p>"You ought to know," said she.</p> + +<p>His face showed that he had not forgotten.</p> + +<p>"Those biscuits!" said he. "I remember. Does your granny treat you +better now?"</p> + +<p>Carrie's face grew gloomy and cold. And Max noticed that, thin as she +had been when he saw her last, she was much thinner now. The outline of +her cheek was pathetically pinched, almost sunken.</p> + +<p>"No. Worse," she said at last, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean that she—<i>starves</i> you?"</p> + +<p>To his dismay, he saw the tears welling up in the girl's blue eyes, +which looked preternaturally large in her wasted face.</p> + +<p>"Pretty nearly," said she.</p> + +<p>Max stared at her for about the space of a second; then he went behind +her, put his hands lightly on her shoulders and inducted her into the +chair Dudley had placed for himself at the dinner-table.</p> + +<p>"It is evident," said he, gravely, "that Providence has appointed me +purveyor of food to you, for this is the second time, within a +comparatively short acquaintance, that I have had the honor of providing +you with a repast. This time it's quite in the manner of 'The Arabian +Nights,' isn't it?"</p> + +<p>It was indeed a fairy-tale banquet, this dinner of steak and chip +potatoes, followed by <i>méringues à la crême</i>, and finishing up with +bread and butter and cheese and celery.</p> + +<p>There was enough for two, the only drawback being a deficiency of +plates, which Max put right, in homely fashion, by eating his share from +the dish. Such a tragedy it was to him to find a beautiful girl who was +hungry, actually hungry from want of food, that the appetite he had +talked so much about failed him, and he found it difficult to eat his +share and to keep up the light tone of talk which he judged to be +necessary to the situation.</p> + +<p>He wanted to ask her a hundred questions about the people at the wharf +and the awful thing which had happened there; but none of these subjects +seemed appropriate to the dinner-table, and Max decided to leave them to +another and a better opportunity.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile he was getting more forgetful of Dudley's warning every +moment. Carrie seemed to guess his feelings, and to be grateful for +them. She said very little, but she listened and she laughed, and gave +him such pretty, touching glances, such half-mournful, half-merry looks +when she thought he was not looking, that by the time they came to the +cheese he was in a state of infatuation, in which he forgot to notice +what a very long ten minutes Dudley was giving them.</p> + +<p>He thought, as he watched Carrie in the lamplight, that he had greatly +underrated her attractions on the occasion of their first meeting. She +had been so deadly white, so pinched about the cheeks; while now there +was a little trace of pink color under the skin; and her blue eyes were +bright and sparkling with enjoyment.</p> + +<p>And it struck him with a pang that she looked so lovely, so bewitching, +because of the change from cold and hunger which, as he knew, and as she +had acknowledged, were her usual portion.</p> + +<p>"Shall we sit by the fire?" asked he suddenly.</p> + +<p>And he jumped up from the table, and turned Dudley's biggest and coziest +arm-chair round toward the warmth and the glow.</p> + +<p>Carrie hesitated. She rose slowly from her chair, and took up from the +side-table, on which Max had placed it, the shabby black cape.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't be in such a hurry," said Max. "I dare say he'll be a +great deal more than the ten minutes he said he should take."</p> + +<p>It was her action which had recalled Dudley to his mind. And, for the +first time, as he uttered these words, a doubt sprang up as to his +friend's good faith. What if Dudley meant to give them both the slip, +and to go off to the wharf by himself, after all?</p> + +<p>Carrie's eyes met his; perhaps she guessed what was passing in his mind.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, he is sure to be longer than that," said she at once; and, +putting her cape down again, she took the chair Max had placed for her, +while he sat in the opposite one.</p> + +<p>"It's beautiful to be warm!" cried she, softly, as she held out her +hands to the blaze which Max had made.</p> + +<p>Then there was a long pause. Max had so much to say to her that he +didn't know where to begin. And in the meantime to sit near her and to +watch the play of the firelight on her happy face was pleasant enough. +But presently perceiving that she threw another uneasy glance in the +direction of her cape, he broke the silence hastily.</p> + +<p>"You said," began he, abruptly, "that you were not going back to the +wharf. Where were you going, then?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Carrie, after a pause.</p> + +<p>Her face had clouded again. Her manner had changed a little also; it had +become colder, more reserved.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that—really? Or do you only mean that you don't mean to +tell me, that I have no business to ask?"</p> + +<p>"I mean just what I said—that I didn't know."</p> + +<p>"You are going to leave Mrs. Higgs and her friends, then?" asked Max, in +a tone between doubt and hope.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>She made this answer rather by a motion of the head than by her voice.</p> + +<p>"Well, I am very glad to hear it—very glad."</p> + +<p>"Are you? I'm not. Oh, it is dreadful, dreadful to lose one's home, any +sort of home."</p> + +<p>"But could you call that a home? A hole like that? Among people like +this Mrs. Higgs and this Dick!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor Dick! If they had all been like him it would not have +mattered."</p> + +<p>"What! A pickpocket!" cried Max in disgust.</p> + +<p>"What difference did that make? Do you suppose the wives and daughters +of the men in the city, financiers and the rest, love them the less +because they pass their lives trying to get the better of other people? +Isn't it just as dishonest to issue a false prospectus to get people to +put their money into worthless companies as to steal a watch? It's +nonsense to pretend it isn't."</p> + +<p>Carrie spoke sharply. She had grown warm in defense of her felonious +friend.</p> + +<p>Max thought a little before he answered.</p> + +<p>"But you're not this man's wife or his daughter."</p> + +<p>"Well, no. But he wanted to marry me; and if he hadn't been caught +yesterday, perhaps I should have let him."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Don't look so disgusted. He would have been kind to me."</p> + +<p>"And <i>do</i> you think you couldn't find a better husband than a—than +a pickpocket?"</p> + +<p>"He would have been honest if I'd married him," said Carrie, quietly.</p> + +<p>"He <i>says</i> so, of course; but he wouldn't. A man says anything to +get the girl he's fond of to promise to marry him. Do you think it's +possible to change the habits of years, of all a man's life, perhaps, +like that?"</p> + +<p>"I know it would have been possible," persisted she, obstinately. "I +know I could have worried him, and nagged at him, and worked for him, +till I made him do what I wanted."</p> + +<p>And Max saw in her face, as she looked solemnly at the fire, that +dogged, steady resolution of the blue-eyed races.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he crossly, "then I'm very glad he's been caught."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" cried she, quickly, "you don't know what it will lead to, though. +He knows something, and if your friend, Mr. Horne, won't try to get him +off, why, he'll be sorry."</p> + +<p>Max looked worried and thoughtful at this threat.</p> + +<p>"I won't believe," said he, stoutly, "that my friend had anything to do +with—with what happened at the place. It's monstrous!—impossible!"</p> + +<p>Carrie said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Who would believe this pack of thieves against a man like Dudley +Horne?"</p> + +<p>Carrie laughed cynically.</p> + +<p>"Then why is he afraid?"</p> + +<p>This indeed was the question which made the mystery inexplicable. What +reason could Dudley have for wishing to hush up the matter unless he +himself had brought about Edward Jacobs's violent death This was the +old, old difficulty in which any discussion of the subject or any +meditation on it always landed him.</p> + +<p>He got up from his chair and began to walk about the room.</p> + +<p>"Why are you leaving Mrs. Higgs?" asked he at last, suddenly.</p> + +<p>Max was not without hope that the answer might give him a clue to +something more.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't bear it any longer. She has been different lately. She has +left me alone for days together, and besides—besides—she has been +changed, unkind, since Christmas."</p> + +<p>Now Max remembered that it was on Christmas Eve that he had met Mrs. +Higgs in the barn at The Beeches; and he wondered whether that amiable +lady had visited upon Carrie her displeasure on finding that he had +escaped alive from the wharf by the docks.</p> + +<p>"I believe," said he, suddenly, "that it was your precious Mrs. Higgs +that murdered the man. I'm quite sure she's capable of it, or of any +other villainy."</p> + +<p>Carrie leaned forward and looked at him earnestly.</p> + +<p>"But what should he want to shelter Mrs. Higgs for, if <i>she</i> had +done it?"</p> + +<p>And to this Max could find no answer.</p> + +<p>"And why, if he had nothing to do with the murder, should he be so much +afraid of Mrs. Higgs that he steals away by himself to see her when she +sends him a message?"</p> + +<p>Max sprang up.</p> + +<p>"Steals away! By himself!" faltered he.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes. Did you really think he would come back? Didn't you know that +the ten minutes he spoke of were only a blind, so that he could shake +you off, and not make Mrs. Higgs angry by taking another man with him? +Surely, surely, you guessed that! Surely, you knew that if the ten +minutes had not been an excuse, he would have been back here long ago."</p> + +<p>Max felt the blood surging to his head. The girl was right, of course. +He leaned against the bookcase, breathing heavily.</p> + +<p>"You knew! You guessed! Why didn't you—why didn't you tell me?"</p> + +<p>Carrie stood up, as much excited as he was. Her blue eyes flashed, her +lips trembled as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"What do I care—for him?" she said under her breath. "A man must take +the risk of the things he does, mustn't he? But you—you had done +nothing; and—and you have been kind to me. I didn't want you to go. I +couldn't let you go. So I tried to keep you. I didn't want you to +remember. And it was easy enough."</p> + +<p>Max felt a pang of keen self-reproach. Yes, it had been easy enough for +a girl with a pretty face to make him forget his friend. He turned +quickly toward the door. But Carrie moved even more rapidly, and by the +time he reached it she was there before him.</p> + +<p>"It's too late now," she said in that deep voice of hers, which, when +she was herself moved, was capable of imparting her own emotion to her +hearers. "He's been gone an hour. He'll be there by this time. What good +could you do him by going? There's an understanding between her and him. +He'll be all right. Now <i>you</i> would not."</p> + +<p>Max stared at the girl in perplexity. She spoke with confidence, with +knowledge. A great dread on his friend's account began to creep over +him. Why should Dudley be safe where he himself was not, unless he were +in league with the old hag? Or, again, was it possible that +Carrie—pretty, sweet-faced Carrie—was acting in concert with the gang, +detaining him so that Dudley might be an easier prey to her accomplices?</p> + +<p>As this suspicion crossed his mind, he, knowing his own weakness, +resolved to act without the hesitation which would be fatal to his +purpose.</p> + +<p>Seizing her by the arm, he drew her almost roughly out of the way, and, +opening the door, went out into the ante-room.</p> + +<p>But before he could open the outer door, Carrie had overtaken him and +seized him by the arm in her turn.</p> + +<p>"No, no," said she, passionately. "I will not let you go. You don't know +what you are rushing into; you don't know what I do."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"That if you were to go into that house again, you wouldn't leave it +alive!"</p> + +<p>"All the more reason," said Max, struggling to free himself from the +tenacious grasp of her fingers, which were a good deal stronger than he +had supposed, "why I should not let him go into such a place alone."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you go, you will take me," said Carrie, almost fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Come along, then."</p> + +<p>He had his hand on the door, when he noticed that she had left her cape +in the room.</p> + +<p>"Fetch your cloak," said he, shortly.</p> + +<p>She hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Give me your honor that you won't go without me."</p> + +<p>"All right. I'll wait for you."</p> + +<p>She disappeared into the sitting-room, leaving the door open, however. +While she was gone, Max, still with his fingers on the handle of the +door, heard the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. It was not +Dudley's tread, and, the sound being a common one enough, Max did not +pay particular attention to it, and he was surprised when Carrie +suddenly thrust forth her head through the sitting-room doorway, with a +look of excitement and terror on her face.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" said she, in a very low whisper.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's only some one going up the stairs," said he, in a reassuring +tone.</p> + +<p>Carrie shook her head emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Coming, not going," said she. "And it's a policeman's tread. Don't you +know that?"</p> + +<p>Max grew rather cold.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense!" said he, quickly. "What should—"</p> + +<p>She stopped him by a rapid gesture, and at the same moment there was a +ring at the bell. For a moment, Max, alarmed by the girl's words, +hesitated to open it. Carrie made a rapid gesture to him to do so, at +the same time disappearing herself into the sitting-room.</p> + +<p>Max opened the door.</p> + +<p>A man in plain clothes stood outside, and at the head of the stairs +behind him was a policeman in uniform.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Dudley Horne?" said the man.</p> + +<p>"These are his rooms, but Mr. Horne is not here."</p> + +<p>"You are a friend of his, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. My name is Wedmore."</p> + +<p>If the man had had a momentary doubt about him, it was by this time +dispelled. He stepped inside the door.</p> + +<p>"I must have a look round, if you please, sir." Max held his ground. "I +have a warrant for Mr. Horne's arrest."</p> + +<p>Max staggered back. And the man passed him and went in.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>A STRANGE PAIR.</h3> + + +<p>As Carrie, with her feminine acuteness, had guessed, Dudley Horne had +never had any intention of returning to his chambers for her and Max.</p> + +<p>On the contrary, he was delighted to have the opportunity of slipping +quietly away, and of evading the solicitude of his friend, as well as +the society of Carrie herself, of whom he had a strong but not unnatural +mistrust.</p> + +<p>No sooner did he reach the street than he hailed a hansom and directed +the driver to take him to Limehouse, and to lose no time. Then he sat +back in the cab, staring at the reins, while the haggard look on his +face grew more intense and the eager expression of expectancy and dread +of something impending became deeper every moment.</p> + +<p>During the last fortnight, Max, having had his thoughts occupied with +his own affairs, had not had so much time for the consideration of those +of his friend; and he had lost sight altogether of the theory that +Dudley was mad. But if he could have seen Dudley now, with the wild look +in his eyes, could have noted the restless movements of his hands, the +twitching of his face, the impatience with which he now leaned forward, +now back, as if alternately urging the horse forward and holding him +back, Max would have felt bound to admit that the case for the young +barrister's insanity was very strong.</p> + +<p>As soon as the hansom began to thread the narrow streets which lie +between Commercial Road and the riverside, Dudley sprang out, paid the +man his fare, and walked off at a rapid pace. It was a frosty night, and +the ill-clad women who shuffled past him looked pinched and miserable. +Even they, with cares enough of their own on their shoulders, turned to +look at him as he passed. There was a glare in his black eyes, an +uncanny something in his walk, in his look, which made them watch him +and wonder who he was, and where he was going to.</p> + +<p>But by the time he had reached the riverside street to which his steps +were directed, even a chance passer-by was a rarity; and the gas-lamps +had become so few and far between that no notice would have been taken +of him if the traffic had been greater.</p> + +<p>His footsteps echoed in the silent street until he reached the wooden +door which was the entrance by night to Plumtree Wharf.</p> + +<p>The door was shut, and Dudley, apparently surprised by the circumstance, +gave it an impatient shake. Then he heard a slight sound within which +told him of the approach of some living creature, and the next moment +the door was opened a few inches, and the face of Mrs. Higgs appeared at +the aperture.</p> + +<p>She uttered a little mocking laugh when she saw who her visitor was and +let him in without any other comment.</p> + +<p>Dudley strode in, with a frown of displeasure on his face, and waited +under the piles of timber while Mrs. Higgs relocked the door. There was +a lamp just outside the wooden boarding which shut the wharf in, and by +the light of it Dudley got a good look at the old woman's face before +she rejoined him; and it seemed to him that the placid expression she +usually wore had given place to a look more sinister, more repellent. +She passed him, still without a word, but with a nod which he took for +an invitation to him to follow her. They passed through the little +wash-house into the inner room, and Mrs. Higgs seated herself by the +fire, and gave her visitor another nod to imply that he might be seated +also.</p> + +<p>But Dudley was not in a friendly mood. He would not even come near the +hearth, but remained close to the door by which he had entered, and gave +searching look round the room.</p> + +<p>The apartment was so small and so bare that it was not difficult to take +stock of its contents, and Mrs. Higgs laughed ironically.</p> + +<p>"Isn't the place furnished to your liking?" she asked in a mocking tone. +"Are you looking for the sofas and the sideboards and the silver and the +plate?"</p> + +<p>Dudley cast at the old woman a look which was more eloquent than he knew +of hatred and disgust.</p> + +<p>"No," said he, shortly. "I was looking to see whether any of your +precious pals were about."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Higgs drew her chair nearer to the deal table, and leaning on it +with her head resting in her hands, stared at him malignantly.</p> + +<p>"My precious pals! My precious pals!" muttered she to herself in an +angry tone. "That's the way he talks to me! To me, he owes so much to! +Ah! Ah! Ah!"</p> + +<p>These three last ejaculations were uttered with so much suppressed +passion, and there gleamed in her dull eyes such a dull look of stupid +ferocity, that Dudley withdrew his attention from the cupboard and walls +and transferred it wholly to her. After a pause, during which the two +seemed to measure each other with cautious eyes, he said, abruptly:</p> + +<p>"Do you know why I have come here to-night?"</p> + +<p>"To show me a little gratitude at last, perhaps," suggested Mrs. Higgs, +sharply. "To do your duty—yes, it's no more than your duty, you know, +to do what I tell you—and to help yourself in helping me. That's true, +isn't it?"</p> + +<p>Dudley stared at her in silence for a few moments before he answered:</p> + +<p>"Duty is an odd word to use—a very odd word. But we won't waste time +discussing that. You sent a message to me by a girl this evening?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Higgs nodded.</p> + +<p>"You want me to defend one of the rascals who make this place their +hole, their den?"</p> + +<p>Again Mrs. Higgs signified assent.</p> + +<p>"Well, I shall do nothing of the kind. I have done more than enough for +you already. I have offered you the means of taking yourself off and of +living like a decent creature. I have done everything you could expect, +and more. But I will not be mixed up with you and the gang you choose to +make your friends; and I will not lift a finger to save your friend the +pickpocket from the punishment he deserves."</p> + +<p>Dudley spoke with decision, but he made no impression worth speaking of +upon his hearer. She continued to look at him with the same expression +of dull malignity; and when she spoke, it was without vehemence.</p> + +<p>"Well," she began, leaning forward a little more and keeping her eyes +fixed upon him, "perhaps you won't have the chance of defending anybody +long. There's been a woman about here lately, making inquiries and +hunting about, and one of these fine days she may light upon something +that'll put her upon your track."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean? Whom do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Edward Jacobs's widow, of course. She had an idea where to look, +you see."</p> + +<p>Dudley could not hide the fact that he was much disturbed by this +intelligence.</p> + +<p>"Poor woman! Poor woman! Who can blame her?" said he at last, more to +himself than to Mrs. Higgs, "I've done what I could for her, sent her +money every week since—"</p> + +<p>To his amazement, Mrs. Higgs suddenly interrupted him, bringing her fist +down upon the table with a sounding thump.</p> + +<p>"You fool!" screamed she. "You—fool! You've given yourself away! You +deserve all you'll certainly get! Do you suppose a Jewess wouldn't have +wits enough to trace you by that? By the fact that you sent her money?"</p> + +<p>"But I sent it anonymously," said Dudley.</p> + +<p>"That doesn't matter. Money? Postal-orders, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, they can be traced. Oh, you fool, you wooden-headed fool!"</p> + +<p>There was a pause. Mrs. Higgs appeared to have exhausted herself in +vituperation, while Dudley considered this new aspect of the affair in +silence.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he at last, "if she does trace me, who will be the +sufferer, do you suppose—you or I?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you, you, you, of course!" retorted the old woman with heat. "You +will be hanged, while I can bury myself like a mole in the ground and be +forgotten, lost sight of altogether."</p> + +<p>She said this with unctuous satisfaction, and Dudley gave her a glance +of horror.</p> + +<p>"And what particular pleasure will it give you, even supposing such an +outcome possible, to see me hanged?"</p> + +<p>The old woman's indecent delight faded gradually from her face as she +looked at him. Then she rose slowly from her chair and came a step +nearer to Dudley, who instinctively recoiled from the threatened touch. +She noticed this movement, and resented it fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Why do you go back? Why do you want to get away? Always to get away?" +she asked, angrily. "That's what makes me so mad! Why do you try to get +out of the business in the way you do? Sneaking out of it, as if it had +nothing to do with you? Why don't you throw in your lot with me and go +away with me, as I wished you to, as you once were ready to do?"</p> + +<p>Dudley looked searchingly into the wrinkled face.</p> + +<p>"I was never ready to go," said he. "I did affect to be ready. I was +ready to go as far as Liverpool with you, to get you safely out of the +country, out of danger to me and to yourself. But I should never have +gone farther than that. I never meant to. I would run any risk rather +than that."</p> + +<p>Mr. Higgs never blinked. Staring steadily up into his face, with a +malignity more pronounced than ever, she asked, in a mocking tone:</p> + +<p>"Why? Why?"</p> + +<p>Dudley was silent.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Higgs laughed, and shook her head with a look of unspeakable +cunning.</p> + +<p>"You needn't answer," said she, dryly, "for I know the reason. You won't +leave England because of a girl."</p> + +<p>Dudley did not start, but the quiver which passed over his features +betrayed him.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha!" laughed Mrs. Higgs. "It's not much use telling me a fib when I +want to know anything. You wouldn't own up, so I went ferreting on my +own account, and I found out what I wanted. You're in love with a girl +named Wedmore—Doreen Wedmore—and it's on her account that you won't +leave England, and throw in your lot with me, like a man!"</p> + +<p>Dudley's face had grown gray with fear. When he spoke it was in a +changed tone. He had lost his confidence, his defiant robustness. He +almost seemed to be begging for mercy, as he answered:</p> + +<p>"I don't deny it. I don't deny anything. I did care for a girl; I do +now. But I have given her up. I was bound to, with this ghastly business +hanging to my heels. I shall never see her again."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Higgs cut in with decision:</p> + +<p>"No, that you won't. I'll answer for it!"</p> + +<p>Dudley looked at her, but did not dare to speak. There was something in +the spiteful tones of her voice, when she mentioned Doreen, which filled +him with vague dread. It was in a subdued and conciliatory voice that he +presently tried to turn the conversation to another subject.</p> + +<p>"Who was the girl you sent this evening, the girl who brought your +message?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody of any consequence," answered Mrs. Higgs, as if the subject was +not to her taste. "A girl who lives here. We call her Carrie."</p> + +<p>"And her other name?"</p> + +<p>His tone betrayed his suspicions. Mrs. Higgs shrugged her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"What does that matter to you? She is your half-sister, but I don't +suppose you wish to claim relationship?"</p> + +<p>"Does she know—anything?"</p> + +<p>"Something, perhaps. Not too much, I think. But it doesn't matter. She +is a weak, namby-pamby creature, and I'm sick of the sight of her white +face. So I've got rid of her."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"I've given her notice to quit. I don't expect her back again."</p> + +<p>"And aren't you afraid that she may give information?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! Your solicitude is for yourself, eh? No, she'll hold her tongue for +her own sake." And Mrs. Higgs's features relaxed into a menacing grin. +"She's seen enough of me to know she must be careful!"</p> + +<p>Dudley moved restlessly.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it rough on the girl to bring her up like this? In this hole, +among these human vermin? She seems to have some decent instincts."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Higgs frowned.</p> + +<p>"She was brought up as well as she had any right to expect," said she, +shortly; "educated fairly well into the bargain. She has not had much to +complain of."</p> + +<p>Dudley made no answer to this for some minutes, and during this time +Mrs. Higgs kept him steadily under observation, not a movement of his +hands, a change of his expression, escaping her. At last he looked at +her, and seemed to be struck by something in her face. He put his +fingers upon the handle of the door as he turned to go.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he—his voice sounded hollow, cold—"I have said what I +came to say. I need not stay here any longer. I don't wish to meet any +of your friends."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Higgs got slowly to her feet.</p> + +<p>"My friends!" cried she, angrily. "My friends! They've done you no harm, +at any rate; while your friends come spying round the place, poking +their noses into business which is none of theirs."</p> + +<p>Dudley's hand dropped to his side.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean Max Wedmore?" said he, earnestly. "Why, he is the son of +the man who has been a father to me, who brought me up, who saved me +from becoming the outcast that poor girl is—"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Higgs interrupted him fiercely.</p> + +<p>"That'll do. I'm sick of the very name of Wedmore. They've had their own +interests to serve, whatever they've done, depend upon it. And if he +comes fooling round here again, I'll treat him as you—"</p> + +<p>Dudley broke in sharply, stopping her as her voice was growing loud and +her gestures threatening. After a short pause, during which she watched +him as keenly as ever, he asked, in a hoarse whisper:</p> + +<p>"What did you do with—<i>him</i>? Did anybody help you—any of your +friends here? Or did you—"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Higgs cut him short with an ugly laugh. At the mention of the dead +man her face had changed, and a strange gleam of mingled cunning and +ferocity came into her small, light eyes.</p> + +<p>"Come and see—come and see," mumbled she, as she took up the +candlestick from the table and shuffled across the room to the door +which opened into the disused shop.</p> + +<p>Dudley hesitated a moment; indeed, he glanced at the door by which he +stood as if he felt inclined to make his escape without further delay. +But Mrs. Higgs, slow as she seemed, turned quickly enough to divine his +purpose.</p> + +<p>"No," said she, sharply, "not that way. This!"</p> + +<p>Seizing him by the arm, she thrust a key into the lock of the door with +her other hand, and half led, half pushed him into the dark front room.</p> + +<p>Dudley was seized with a nervous tremor when he found himself inside the +room. By the light of the candle the woman held, he could see at a +glance into every corner of the bare, squalid apartment—could see the +stains on the dirty walls, the cracks and defects in the dilapidated +ceiling, even the thick clusters of cobwebs that hung in the corners. +Having taken in all these details in a very rapid survey, he looked down +at the floor, at the very center of the bare, grimy boards, with a fixed +stare of horror which the old woman, by passing the candle rapidly +backward and forward before his eyes, tried vainly to divert.</p> + +<p>Even she, however, seemed to be impressed by the hideous memory the room +called up in her, for she spoke, not in her usual gruffly indifferent +tones, but in a husky whisper.</p> + +<p>"Tst—tst!" she began, testily. "Haven't you got over that yet? One Jew +the less in the world! What is it to trouble about? Be a man—come, be a +man! See, this is how I got rid of him."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, Mrs. Higgs suddenly dropped Dudley's arm, which she had +been clutching tenaciously, and hobbling away from him at an unusual +rate of speed for her, she went back to the door, turned the key in the +lock, and then withdrew it and dropped it into her pocket. This action +Dudley was too much absorbed to notice.</p> + +<p>Then she made her way at her usual pace, leaning heavily on the stout +stick she was never without, toward the corner where the heap of lumber +lay, on the left-hand side of what had once been the fireplace. Here she +stooped, lifted a couple of bricks and a broken box-lid from the floor, +and then easily raised the board on which they had stood, and beckoned +to Dudley to come nearer. He did so, slowly, and with evident +reluctance.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said she, pointing down to the space where the board had +been. "Look down. Don't be afraid," she added, in a jeering tone. +"There's nothing there to frighten you. See for yourself."</p> + +<p>Dudley stooped, and looking through the small opening available, saw +that there was a space hollowed out underneath.</p> + +<p>"And you put him there—under the boards?" said Dudley, in a low voice. +"But it was in the water that the body was found—in the river outside."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, so it was," said the old woman, slowly, as she lifted the +board out of its place altogether, and displacing also the one next to +it, descended through the opening she had made.</p> + +<p>Dudley watched her with fascinated eyes. Apparently the space below was +not very deep, for she had only disappeared as far as the knees +down-ward, and then knelt down, and for a moment was lost to sight +altogether. She appeared to be struggling with something, and Dudley, +consumed with horror, took a step back as he watched.</p> + +<p>Presently she looked up. Her face was in shadow, but he could see that +she was panting, as if with some great exertion.</p> + +<p>"Get back! Stand in the middle of the room there, if you're afraid," +said she, mockingly. "Right out of my reach, mind, where I can't get at +you."</p> + +<p>Instinctively Dudley obeyed, stepping back into the little patch of +light thrown by the candle.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely reached the middle of the room when he felt the boards +under his feet give way. Staggering, he tried to retrace his steps, to +reach the end of the room where the old woman, now again on a level with +him, was watching him in silence.</p> + +<p>But as he moved towards her she made a spring at him, and forcing him +back with so much suddenness that he, quite unprepared, was unable to +resist her attack, she flung him to the ground in the very middle of the +room.</p> + +<p>As he fell he felt the flooring give way under him. The next moment he +was struggling, like a rat in a well, in deep water.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>THE PREY OF THE RIVER.</h3> + + +<p>"Help! Help!" shouted Dudley. "Do you want to drown me?"</p> + +<p>Great as the shock was of finding himself flung suddenly into what he +supposed was a flooded cellar, Dudley did not at first believe that the +old woman had any worse intention than that of playing him an ugly and +malicious trick.</p> + +<p>But as he uttered this question he looked up, and saw her face half a +dozen feet above him, wearing an expression of fiendish malignity which +froze his blood.</p> + +<p>She was holding the candle so that she might see his face, and as he +kept himself afloat in the small space available—for he had no room to +strike out, and no foothold on the slimy earthen sides—he began to +understand that she was in grim, deadly earnest, and that the place +where the dead body of Edward Jacobs had been concealed was to be his +own grave.</p> + +<p>Then he did not cry out. He saw that he would only be wasting his +breath; that there was no mercy in the hard-light eyes, in the lines of +the wicked, wrinkled mouth.</p> + +<p>He made a struggle to climb up one side of the pit in which he found +himself; but the soft earth, slimy with damp, slipped and gave way under +him. He tore out a hole with his fingers, then another, and another +above that. And all the while she watched him without a word, apparently +without a movement.</p> + +<p>But just as he came to a point in his ascent from which he might hope to +make a spring for the top, she raised her thick stick and dealt him a +blow on the head which sent him, with a splash and a gurgling cry, back +into the water.</p> + +<p>He saw strange lights dancing before his eyes. He heard weird noises +thundering in his ears, and above them all a chuckling laugh, like the +merriment of a demon, as the boards of the displaced flooring were drawn +slowly up by a cord from above until they closed over his head, shutting +him down.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the police made their descent upon Dudley's chambers, Max, after +giving his name and address, was allowed to go away without hindrance.</p> + +<p>He wanted Carrie to go with him, but as she persistently held down her +head and refused to look at him, he came to the conclusion that she had +her own reasons for wishing him to go away without her.</p> + +<p>So he went slowly down into the Strand, wondering whether he dared to go +to the wharf to try to warn Dudley, or whether he would be drawing down +danger upon his friend's head by doing so. For although he could not +ascertain that he was himself shadowed, he thought that it might very +possibly be the case.</p> + +<p>He had reached the corner of Arundel Street, when he found that Carrie +was beside him. She was panting, out of breath.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" said he.</p> + +<p>"I've been such a round!" said she. "Just to see whether they were +following me. But they weren't. I guessed you'd come this way, and I +went down by the embankment and up to try to meet you. Are they after +you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think so. Dare we—"</p> + +<p>"Wharf? Yes, I think we may. By the way, I'll show you."</p> + +<p>She took him across Waterloo Bridge, where they took a cab and traversed +southward to a point at which she directed the driver to stop.</p> + +<p>On the way, Max, from his corner of the hansom, watched the girl +furtively. For a long time there was absolute silence between them. Then +he came close to her suddenly, and peered into her face.</p> + +<p>"Carrie," said he, "I want you to marry me."</p> + +<p>Now Max had been some time making up his mind to put this +proposition—some minutes, that is to say. He had been turning the +matter over in his brain, and had imagined the blushing, trembling +astonishment with which the lonely girl would receive his most +unexpected proposal.</p> + +<p>But the astonishment was on his side, not on hers; for Carrie only +turned her head a little, scarcely looking at him and staring out again +in front of her immediately, remarked in the coolest manner in the +world:</p> + +<p>"Marry you! Oh, yes, certainly. Why not?"</p> + +<p>Max was taken aback, and Carrie, at last stealing a glance at him, +perceived this. She gave a pretty little kindly laugh, which made him +expect that she would say something more tender, more encouraging.</p> + +<p>But she didn't.</p> + +<p>Turning her head away again, she went on quietly laughing to herself, +until Max, not unnaturally irritated by this acceptance of his offer, +threw himself back in his corner and tried to laugh also.</p> + +<p>"It's a very good joke, isn't it—an offer of marriage?" said he at +last, in an offended tone.</p> + +<p>"Very," assented Carrie at once. "About the best I ever heard."</p> + +<p>And she went on laughing.</p> + +<p>"And I suppose," went on Max, unable to hide his annoyance, "that if I +were to tell you it was not a joke at all, but that I spoke in downright +earnest, you would laugh still more?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I think I should."</p> + +<p>"Well, laugh away, then. I was in earnest. I meant what I said. I was +idiot enough to suppose you might find marrying me a better alternative +than wandering about without any home. Extraordinary, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Well," answered Carrie, subduing her mirth a little and speaking in +that deep-toned voice she unconsciously used when she was moved—the +voice which Max found in itself so moving—"I should say it was +extraordinary, if I didn't know you."</p> + +<p>"If you didn't know me for an idiot, I suppose you mean," said Max, +coldly, with much irritation.</p> + +<p>"Not quite that," replied she, in the same tone as before. "I meant if I +hadn't known you to be one of those good-natured people who speak before +they think."</p> + +<p>Max sat up angrily.</p> + +<p>"I have not spoken without thinking," said he, quickly. "I have done +nothing but think of you ever since I first saw you; and my asking you +to marry me is the outcome of my thinking."</p> + +<p>"Well, if I were you, I should think to better purpose than that."</p> + +<p>Her tone was rather puzzling to Max. There was mockery in it; but there +was something more. He came to the conclusion, after a moment's +consideration of it, and of the little that he could see of her face, +that she felt more than she chose to show. So he put his arm around her +and caught one of her hands.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Carrie," said he in a whisper. "I understand you. I know how +you feel. I know you think it's neither decent nor wise to ask a girl to +be your wife when you've only seen her twice. But just consider the +circumstances. If I don't get you to say what I want you to say now, I +shall lose sight of you to-night and never see you again. Now, I +couldn't bear that—I couldn't, Carrie. I never saw a girl like you; I +never met one who made me feel as you make me feel. And you like me, +too. You wouldn't have troubled yourself about my going to the wharf if +you hadn't cared. It's no use denying that you like me."</p> + +<p>Carrie turned upon him with energy.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't deny it, if you care to hear that," said she, quickly. "I +do like you. How could I help it? I liked you the moment I first saw +you; I shouldn't have spoken to you if I hadn't; I should have been +afraid. But what difference does that make? Do you think I'm a fool? Do +you think I don't know that this feeling you have—and I believe in it, +mind—is just because I'm a new sensation to you, who are a spoiled +child—nothing more nor less. Oh, don't let's talk about it; it's +silly."</p> + +<p>She had wrenched herself impatiently away from him, and now sat upright, +frowning and looking straight in front of her as before.</p> + +<p>Max, not finally rebuffed, but rather puzzled what to make of this form +of repulse, was silent for a few moments.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you won't let me talk about that," he said at last, "will you +promise to let me know where you are going to, so that I shan't have to +lose sight of you? Come, you like me well enough to agree to that, don't +you?"</p> + +<p>Carrie hesitated.</p> + +<p>"I told you," she said at last, in a low voice, "that I didn't know +myself where I was going. Have you forgotten that?"</p> + +<p>"But it wasn't true. You said it to put me off. You must know!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I shan't tell you. There!"</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because it would be the beginning of what I don't want and won't have. +Because you'd come and see me, and I shouldn't have the heart to say you +mustn't come; and in the end, if you persisted, I shouldn't have the +heart to stop you from making a fool of yourself."</p> + +<p>"How, making a fool of myself?"</p> + +<p>"Why, by marrying me. Now don't pretend you don't know it's true. +Marrying me would be just ruin—ruin! Oh, I know! What would your family +say, and be right in saying? That you'd been got hold of by a girl +nobody knew anything about, without any parents or friends, and who came +from nobody knew where."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but when they knew you—"</p> + +<p>"They'd think less of me than they did before."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! When they saw how beautiful you are and well educated and +refined, they wouldn't believe you came from such a place as Limehouse."</p> + +<p>Carrie smiled.</p> + +<p>"I seem refined to you, because you didn't expect much where you found +me. Put me beside your sisters and their friends, and I should be shy +and awkward enough. No, I will not listen, and I want you to tell the +driver to stop here."</p> + +<p>Whether this was the point she had proposed to reach or whether she +wanted to cut short the subject, Max could not tell. But as the hansom +stopped she sprang out and led the way hurriedly in the direction of the +river. She knew her way about on this side of the river as well as on +the other, for she went straight to the water's edge, got into a boat +which was moored there with a dozen others, and, with a nod to a man +with a pipe in his mouth who was loafing near the spot, she directed Max +to jump in, and seized one oar while he took the other.</p> + +<p>"If we go from this side," she said, "we can make sure we're not +followed, at all events."</p> + +<p>In the darkness they began to row across the river, where the traffic +had practically ceased for the night.</p> + +<p>Threading their way between the barges, the great steam traders, with +their ugly square hulks standing high out of the water, and the lesser +craft that clustered about the larger like a swarm of bees round the +hive, they came out upon the gray stream, slowly leaving behind one dim +shore, with its gloomy wharves and warehouses, and nearing the other. +The London lights looked dim and blurred through the mist.</p> + +<p>As they drew near the wharf, Carrie jerked her head in the direction of +the little ugly cluster of buildings which Max remembered so well.</p> + +<p>"There's a passage under there," she said in a whisper, leaning forward +on her oar, "through which they let the dead body of the man—you +know—out into the river. It's just near here."</p> + +<p>Max shuddered, and at the same moment there burst from the girl's lips a +hoarse cry.</p> + +<p>Max turned sharply, and saw that she was staring down into the water.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look there!" whispered she, gasping, trembling.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" cried he.</p> + +<p>But even as he asked, he knew that the dark object he saw floating in +the water was the body of a man.</p> + +<p>By a dexterous movement of her oar, Carrie had brought the boat +alongside the black mass, and then, with the boat-hook, which she used +with an evidently practiced hand, she drew the body close.</p> + +<p>Max, sick with horror, leaned over just as Carrie's exertion's brought +the face of the man to view.</p> + +<p>"He's dead!" cried he, hoarsely. "It's another murder by those vile +wretches in there!"</p> + +<p>An exclamation burst from the girl's lips.</p> + +<p>"Look at him! Look at his face! Who is he?" whispered she, with +trembling lips.</p> + +<p>Max looked, putting his hand under the head and lifting it out of the +water.</p> + +<p>Then, with a great shout, he tore at the body, clutching it, trying to +drag it into the boat.</p> + +<p>"Great Heaven! It's Dudley!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>A DUBIOUS REFUGE.</h3> + + +<p>The night was clammy and cold. The fog was growing thicker, blacker. And +the water of the Thames, as Max plunged his hand into it, struggling to +raise the body of his friend, was ice-cold to the touch.</p> + +<p>Carrie had seized her oar again, and was bringing the boat's head +rapidly round, right under the stern of a barge which was moored close +to Plumtree Wharf.</p> + +<p>"Hold him; don't let him go!" cried she imperiously. "But don't try to +drag him into the boat until I get her alongside. You can't do it +without help. And if you could you'd pull the boat over."</p> + +<p>The caution was necessary. Max had lost his head, and was making frantic +efforts to raise the body of his friend over the boat's side.</p> + +<p>"But he may be alive still! And if there's a chance—oh, if there's the +least chance—"</p> + +<p>"There'll be none if you don't do as I tell you!" cried Carrie, tartly.</p> + +<p>By this time a lad on board the barge was looking over the side at them, +not seeing much, however, in the gloom. Carrie whistled twice.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" replied he, evidently recognizing a signal he was used to.</p> + +<p>"Is that Bob?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Lower a rope, and hold on like a man, Bob. We've got a man here drowned +or half-drowned; and we want to get him on the wharf in a twinkling."</p> + +<p>"Right you are."</p> + +<p>The next moment the lad had lowered a rope over the side of the barge, +and Carrie directed Max to pass it round the body of his friend. Then, +she giving the orders as before, Bob from the barge above and Max from +the boat below raised the body out of the water. Carrie had brought the +little boat close to the barge, and held it in place with the boat-hook +until the difficult task was safely accomplished, and the body of Dudley +Horne laid upon the deck of the barge.</p> + +<p>"Now," said she to Max, "get up and help Bob to carry him ashore."</p> + +<p>Max, who was speechless with grief and as helpless as a child in these +new and strange circumstances, obeyed her docilely, and climbed to the +deck of the barge.</p> + +<p>"Now, Bob," went on Carrie, as she seized the second oar and prepared to +row away, "carry him into the kitchen—you know your way—as fast as you +can. And lay him down before the fire, if there is a fire; if not, make +one. Sharp's the word, mind!"</p> + +<p>"All right, missus."</p> + +<p>Max looked down. Already she had disappeared in the gloom, and only the +muffled sound of the oars as they dripped on the water told him that she +had not yet gone far away.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he felt a rough pull at his arm.</p> + +<p>"Come on, mister!" cried Bob, briskly. "She said, 'Sharp is the word.' +And when she says a thing she means it, you bet your life."</p> + +<p>Max pulled himself together and turned quickly, ashamed of his own lack +of vigor in the face of Carrie's intelligence and energy. Bob and he +raised the body of Dudley and carried it across the plank to the wharf, +where Bob, who knew his way about there, led the way to the door which +Max remembered so well.</p> + +<p>It was open, and they passed through the outhouse, meeting no one, to +the kitchen, which was also deserted. There they laid Dudley on the +hearth, as Carrie had directed, and Bob proceeded to rake up the fire, +which had died down to a few embers.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Max had taken off some of Dudley's clothes, and began to apply +friction with his hands to the inanimate body. He had scarcely begun, +when Carrie came in with an armful of dry towels and a couple of +pillows.</p> + +<p>"He is dead, quite dead!" cried Max, hoarsely.</p> + +<p>Carrie never even looked at him. Placing herself at once on her knees +behind Dudley's head, she curtly directed Max to raise the upper part of +his body, and slipped the two pillows, one on the top of the other, +under the shoulders of the unconscious man.</p> + +<p>"Now," said she, "go on with your rubbing—rub with all your might; and +you, Bob, bring in a couple of big stone-bottles you'll find in the +wash-house, fill them with hot water from the boiler, wrap them up in +something, and put one to his feet and the other to the side that's away +from the fire."</p> + +<p>While she spoke she was working hard in the endeavor to restore +respiration, alternately drawing Dudley's arms up above his head and +laying them against his sides, with firm and steady movements.</p> + +<p>For a long time all their efforts seemed to be useless. Max, indeed, had +little or no hope from the first. He still worked on, however, +perseveringly, but with despair in his heart, until he heard a sharp +sound, like a deep sigh, from Carrie's lips.</p> + +<p>She had detected a movement, the slightest in the world, but still a +movement, in the senseless body. With straining eyes she now watched, +that her own movements might coincide with the natural ones which Dudley +had begun to make, and that real breathing might gradually take the +place of the artificial.</p> + +<p>"Let me do it. Let me help you," cried Max, who saw the strained look of +utter fatigue which Carrie wore in spite of her excitement.</p> + +<p>"No, no; I dare not. I must go on!" cried the girl, without lifting her +eyes.</p> + +<p>And presently another cry escaped her lips, a cry of joy.</p> + +<p>"He is alive!"</p> + +<p>"Thank God!"</p> + +<p>The tears sprang to the eyes of Max. It was more than he had hoped.</p> + +<p>"A doctor! Shall I fetch a doctor?" said he.</p> + +<p>Carrie shook her head.</p> + +<p>"A doctor could do no more than we've done," said she. "He'll be all +right now—well enough to be got away, at all events. And the wound on +his head isn't much, I think."</p> + +<p>"Wound on his head!"</p> + +<p>"Yes. It saved his life, most likely. Prevented his getting so much +water into his lungs. Stunned him, you see."</p> + +<p>Something like a sigh from the patient stopped her and directed the +attention of them all to him. Bob, who had been standing in the +background, almost as much excited as the others, came a few steps +nearer. There was a moment of intense, eager expectancy, and then Dudley +half opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>Max uttered a deep sob and glanced at Carrie. She was deadly pale, and +the tears were standing in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"You've saved him!" said Max, hoarsely.</p> + +<p>The sound of his voice seemed to rouse Dudley, who looked at him with a +vacant stare, and then let his eyelids drop again.</p> + +<p>"So glad, old chap—so glad to—to see you yourself again!" whispered +Max, huskily.</p> + +<p>But Dudley was not himself. He looked up again, then tried to smile, and +at last turned his head abruptly and seemed to be listening.</p> + +<p>Carrie beckoned to Max and spoke low in his ear.</p> + +<p>"You'd better take him away from here as quickly as you can, for half a +dozen reasons."</p> + +<p>Max nodded, but looked doubtful.</p> + +<p>"He's ill," said he. "How shall I get him away? And where shall I take +him to?"</p> + +<p>"Down to your father's house" answered she at once.</p> + +<p>Max looked rather startled.</p> + +<p>"But—you know—the police!" muttered he, almost inaudibly. "Won't that +be the very first place they'd come to—my home?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind that. You must risk it. He's going to be ill, I think, and +he can't be left here. Surely you know that."</p> + +<p>She gave a glance round which made Max shiver.</p> + +<p>"And how am I to get him all that way to-night? The last train has gone +hours ago."</p> + +<p>"Take him by road, then. We'll get a carriage—a conveyance of some sort +or other—at once. I'll send Bob."</p> + +<p>She turned to the lad and gave him some directions, in obedience to +which he disappeared. Then she turned fiercely to Max.</p> + +<p>"Don't you see," said she, "that if he wakes up and finds himself here, +after what's happened, it'll about settle him?"</p> + +<p>The words sent a shudder through Max.</p> + +<p>"After what's happened!" repeated he, with stammering tongue. "What was +it? Who did it?"</p> + +<p>But, instead of answering, Carrie threw herself down beside Dudley, who +was now rapidly recovering strength, although he hardly seemed to +understand where he was or by whom he was being tended.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel all right now?" she asked, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>He looked at her with dull eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said he. "But I—I don't remember what—"</p> + +<p>"Take a drink of this," interrupted Carrie, quickly, as she put to his +lips a flask of brandy which Bob had fetched. "You've got to take a long +drive, and you want something to warm you first."</p> + +<p>"A drive! A long drive!"</p> + +<p>Dudley repeated the words as if he hardly understood their meaning. But +he was not satisfied, and as he sipped the brandy he looked at her +curiously. His next words, however, were a criticism on the restorative.</p> + +<p>"What vile stuff!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind. It's better than nothing. Try a little more."</p> + +<p>But instead of obeying, he looked her steadily in the face.</p> + +<p>"Where did I see you? I remember your face!" said he. "And who was that +I heard talking just now?"</p> + +<p>Suddenly, without any warning, he disengaged one hand from the hot +towels in which he was swathed and sat up. A hoarse cry broke from his +lips as full recognition of the place in which he found himself forced +itself upon him. With a wild light of terror in his eyes, he looked +searchingly round him.</p> + +<p>"Where is he? Where is he?" cried he, in a thick whisper.</p> + +<p>Carrie's face grew dark.</p> + +<p>"Here is your friend," she cried cheerily, "here is Mr. Wedmore. He's +going with you; he's not going to leave you; be sure of that."</p> + +<p>"Yes, old chap, I'm going with you," said Max, hurrying forward and +trying to shut out the view of the room with his person as he knelt down +by his friend.</p> + +<p>Dudley frowned impatiently.</p> + +<p>"You, Max!" said he. "What are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>But he asked the question without interest, evidently absorbed in +another subject.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take you down to The Beeches," answered Max, promptly.</p> + +<p>To his infinite satisfaction, this reply had the effect of distracting +Dudley's thoughts. Into his pallid face there came a tinge of color, as +he looked intently into his friend's eyes, and repeated:</p> + +<p>"The Beeches! You don't mean that!"</p> + +<p>"I do; the carriage will be here in a minute or two. And in the meantime +we must think upon getting you dressed."</p> + +<p>This question of clothing promised to be a difficult one, as Dudley's +own things were saturated with water. Carrie sprang to her feet.</p> + +<p>"I'll see about that," said she, briskly, as she disappeared from the +room.</p> + +<p>Max, alarmed at being left alone with Dudley, in whose eyes he could see +the dawn of struggling recollection, babbled on about Christmas, his +mother, his sisters, anything he could think of till Carrie came back +again, with her arms full of men's clothes—a motley assortment.</p> + +<p>Max looked at them doubtfully. They were all new—suspiciously new.</p> + +<p>Carrie laughed, with a little blush.</p> + +<p>"Better not ask any questions about them," said she. "Take your choice, +and be quick."</p> + +<p>With his lips Max formed the word: "Stolen?" but Carrie declined to +answer. As there was no help for it, Max dressed his friend in such of +the clothes as were a passable fit for him, while Carrie went out to +watch for the expected carriage. When she returned to the kitchen, +Dudley was ready for the journey. He was lying back in a chair, looking +very white and haggard and exhausted, casting about him glances full of +expectancy and terror, and starting at every sound.</p> + +<p>But he asked no more questions, and he made no mention of Mrs. Higgs.</p> + +<p>Bob had fulfilled his errand well. Outside the wharf they found a +comfortable landau, with two good horses, hired from the nearest +livery-stable.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>TWO WOMEN.</h3> + + +<p>Bob grinned with satisfaction when Max, expressing his gratification, +dropped into his hand a half-sovereign.</p> + +<p>"Thought you'd be pleased, sir," said he, as he helped to get Dudley +into the carriage. "I said it was for a toff, a reg'lar tip-topper; and +so it was, s' help me!"</p> + +<p>Dudley, who was very lame, and who had to be more than half carried, +looked out of the window.</p> + +<p>Max was still outside, trying to get hold of Carrie, who was on the +other side of the carriage.</p> + +<p>"You're coming, Max?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, oh, yes, rather."</p> + +<p>"And—you?"</p> + +<p>Dudley turned to Carrie, who drew back quickly and shook her head.</p> + +<p>"I? No."</p> + +<p>Max ran round at the back of the carriage and caught her by the arm as +she was slinking quietly away.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going? Not back in there? You must come with us."</p> + +<p>"I!—come with you? To your father's house? Catch me!"</p> + +<p>"Well, part of the way, at any rate," urged Max, astutely. "I dare not +go all that way with him alone. See, he wants you to go. You shall get +out just when you please."</p> + +<p>Carrie hesitated. Although she saw through the kindly ruse which would +protect her against her will, she saw, also, that Dudley was indeed in +no fit state to take the long journey which was before him, and at +length she allowed herself to be persuaded to accompany them on at least +the first part of the journey.</p> + +<p>And so, in the fog and the gloom of a January night, they began their +strange drive.</p> + +<p>The road they took was by way of Greenwich and Dartford to Chatham, +where there would be no difficulty in getting fresh horses for the rest +of the journey.</p> + +<p>Dudley, who had been made as comfortable as possible by a sort of bed +which was made up for him in the roomy carriage, seemed, after a short +period of restlessness and excitability, to sink into sleep.</p> + +<p>Max was rejoicing in this, but Carrie looked anxious.</p> + +<p>"It isn't natural, healthy sleep, I'm afraid," said she, in a low voice. +"It's more like stupor. It wasn't the water that did it, it was a blow +on the head. You saw the mark. I'm afraid it's concussion of the brain."</p> + +<p>"Ought he to travel, then?" asked Max, anxiously.</p> + +<p>Carrie, who was sitting beside Dudley, and opposite to Max, hesitated a +little before answering:</p> + +<p>"What else could we do? We couldn't leave him there at the wharf, could +we? And where else could we have taken him? Not back to his chambers, +certainly!"</p> + +<p>There was silence. The carriage jogged on in the darkness through +London's ugly outskirts, and the two watchers listened solicitously to +the heavy breathing of their patient. It was a comfort to Max, a great +one indeed, to have Carrie for a companion on this doleful journey. But +she was not the same girl, now that she had duties to attend to, that +she had been over that <i>tête-à-tête</i> dinner, or even during the +journey in the hansom. He himself felt that he now counted for nothing +with her, that he was merely the individual who happened to occupy the +opposite seat; that her interest, her attentions, were absorbed by the +unconscious man by her side.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you become a hospital nurse?" asked Max, suddenly.</p> + +<p>He heard rather than saw that she started.</p> + +<p>"That's just what I thought of doing," she answered, after a little +pause. "I'm just old enough to enter one of the Children's Hospitals as +a probationer. They take them at twenty."</p> + +<p>"I see. Then you couldn't have tried before."</p> + +<p>"No; they're very strict about age."</p> + +<p>"I should think you were cut out for the work, if only you are strong +enough," said Max, with warmth. "You seem to do just the right thing in +just the right way."</p> + +<p>"I've had plenty of experience," said Carrie, shortly, breaking in upon +rhapsodies which threatened to become tender. "I did a lot of visiting +among poor people who had no one to nurse them when I lived with Miss +Aldridge. Down in these parts, the East End, you get practice enough +like that, I can tell you!"</p> + +<p>"But the treatment of a drowning man—that requires special knowledge, +surely!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but down by the river is just the place to get it. He's the fifth +person I've seen taken out for dead in the time I've lived there. Three +out of the five were dead. The other two, a boy and a woman, were +brought around."</p> + +<p>There was silence again.</p> + +<p>Presently Max whispered:</p> + +<p>"Do you know—can you guess—how he got into the water?"</p> + +<p>Carrie shivered.</p> + +<p>"Wait—wait till he can tell us himself," said she, hurriedly. "It's no +use guessing. Perhaps it was an accident, you know."</p> + +<p>"You don't think so?"</p> + +<p>"Sh—sh!" said Carrie.</p> + +<p>But Max persisted.</p> + +<p>"You know as well as I do that that villainous old Mrs. Higgs is at the +bottom of the affair."</p> + +<p>Carrie bent over Dudley, to assure herself that, if not asleep, he was +at least unconscious of what was passing. Then she turned to Max.</p> + +<p>"You are wrong," said she then, quickly. "Mrs. Higgs was an agent only, +in the hands of some one else. If I tell you what I believe, you will +only laugh at me."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that she was a harmless, good-hearted, kind woman until—until +Mr. Horne came to see her; that she was always good to me till then. And +that, after that awful day when the man was killed—murdered by Mr. +Horne—"</p> + +<p>"It's not true! It can't be true!" burst out Max.</p> + +<p>But Carrie went on, as if he had not spoken:</p> + +<p>"After that day she changed; she was irritable, unkind, neglectful—not +like the same woman. She left me alone sometimes; she gave me no food at +others; she hid herself away from me; she was angry at the least thing. +And then—then," went on the girl, in a frightful whisper, "I found out +something."</p> + +<p>"What was it?"</p> + +<p>"That some one used to get into the place at night—I don't know how; +some one she was afraid of—a man."</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Max, excited by her tone.</p> + +<p>"I have heard him—seen him twice," went on Carrie, in the lowest of +whispers. "And I believe—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; go on!"</p> + +<p>"That it was Mr. Dudley Horne."</p> + +<p>"Oh, rubbish!"</p> + +<p>Carrie was silent. Max went on, indignantly:</p> + +<p>"How could you take such a silly idea into your head? What reason should +Mr. Horne have for creeping about a hole like that at night?"</p> + +<p>"Well, what reason should he have for coming to it at any time? Yet you +know he came in the daytime."</p> + +<p>It was the turn of Max to remain silent. There was a long pause, and +then Carrie went on:</p> + +<p>"I used to sleep in a little attic over the outhouse, just a corner of +the roof it was. And twice at night I have heard a noise underneath, and +looked through the cracks in the boards and seen a man down there, with +a light. And each time, when the light was put out and the noise had +stopped, I have gone downstairs and found the doors bolted still on the +inside."</p> + +<p>"Well, the place seems to be honeycombed with ways in and ways out. The +strange man either went out by some way even you knew nothing about, or +else Mrs. Higgs let him out."</p> + +<p>"No, she didn't. I should have heard or seen her."</p> + +<p>"Well, but what reason can you have for supposing that this man was Mr. +Dudley Horne?"</p> + +<p>"Once I saw his face," answered Carrie.</p> + +<p>"And you think it was the face of this man here beside you?"</p> + +<p>Max struck a light and held it over the face of the unconscious Dudley. +Carrie looked at him steadily.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said at last, "it did look like him, that's all I can say."</p> + +<p>Max frowned uneasily. But after a few moments a new thought struck him, +and he turned to her sharply. The match he had struck had burned itself +out, and they were again in darkness.</p> + +<p>"If Mrs. Higgs was only a tool in his hands, as you suggest, for some +mysterious purposes which nobody can understand or guess at, how do you +account for her trying to drown him?"</p> + +<p>"They must have quarreled," said Carrie, quickly. Then, instantly +perceiving that she had made an admission, she added: "That is, +supposing she had anything to do with it."</p> + +<p>"Amiable old lady!" exclaimed Max.</p> + +<p>The mystery of the whole affair hung over both him and Carrie like a +pall; and the long night-drive seemed never-ending in the death-like +silence. Max tried from time to time to break it, but Carrie grew more +reserved as the hours went by, until her curt answers ceased altogether.</p> + +<p>Then, when dawn came, the dull dawn of a foggy morning, and the carriage +drew up at the hotel in Chatham where they were to change horses, Max +discovered that she was asleep.</p> + +<p>Dudley opened his eyes when the carriage stopped, but shut them again +without a word to Max, who asked him how he felt.</p> + +<p>Max, when the people of the hotel had been roused, succeeded in +borrowing a rug, which he wrapped gently round Carrie, without waking +her. And presently the carriage jogged on again on its journey, and the +morning sun began to pierce the mist as the bare Kentish hop-fields and +orchards were reached.</p> + +<p>Max leaned forward and looked at Carrie's sweet face with infinite +tenderness. Now in her sleep she looked like a child, with her lips +slightly parted and her eyelashes sweeping her thin, white cheeks. The +alert look of the Londoner, which gave an expression of premature +shrewdness to her waking face, had disappeared under the relaxing +influence of slumber. She looked pitifully helpless, sad and weak, as +her tired, worn-out little body leaned back in the corner of the +carriage.</p> + +<p>Max looked at her with yearning in his eyes. This young ne'er-do-weel, +as his father called him, had enjoyed the privilege of his type in being +a great favorite with women. As usual in such cases, he had repaid their +kindness with ingratitude, and had had numerous flirtations without ever +experiencing a feeling either deep or lasting.</p> + +<p>Now, for the first time, in this beautiful waif of the big city he had +found a mixture of warmth and coldness, of straightforward simplicity +and boldness, which opened his eyes as to there being in her sex an +attraction he had previously denied. He felt as he looked at her that he +wanted her; that he could not go away and forget her in the presence of +the next pretty face he happened to see.</p> + +<p>This shabbily dressed girl, with the shiny seams in her black frock and +the rusty hat, inspired him with respect, with something like reverence.</p> + +<p>In his way he had been in love many, many times. Now for the first time +he worshiped a woman.</p> + +<p>When the carriage stopped at the park gate of The Beeches, Max sprang +out, and without waiting to answer the hurried questions of Carrie, who +had awakened with a start, he ran across the grass and up the slope to +the house.</p> + +<p>It was nine o'clock, and, when the door was opened by Bartram, Max came +face to face with Doreen, who was entering the hall on her way to the +breakfast-room.</p> + +<p>"Why, Max, is it you? What a strange time to arrive! And where have you +been? You look as if you'd been up all night!" cried she, and she ran +forward to kiss him, and swinging him round to the light, examined him, +with an expression of amazement and horror.</p> + +<p>"I have been up all night," said he, briefly. "I've driven all the way +from London—"</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"And—and I've brought some one with me—some one who is ill, who is in +trouble. Some one—"</p> + +<p>A cry broke from her lips. She had grown quite white, and her hands had +dropped to her sides.</p> + +<p>She understood.</p> + +<p>"Dudley!" she whispered. "Where is he? Why haven't you brought him in?"</p> + +<p>"He is at the gate. Where is my father? I must speak to him first, or to +mother."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wedmore herself, having been informed by Bartram of the arrival of +her son, now came out of the breakfast-room to meet him. In a few words +he informed her of the circumstances, adding, as he was bound to do, +that there was a possibility that the police might come to make +inquiries, if not to arrest Dudley. But Doreen, who insisted on hearing +everything, overruled the faint objection which Mrs. Wedmore made, and +determined to have him brought in before her father could learn anything +about it.</p> + +<p>Max, therefore, went down to bring the carriage up to the door, and +Dudley, having been roused into a half-conscious condition, was assisted +into the house and up to one of the spare bedrooms—Max on one side and +Bartram on the other.</p> + +<p>By this time Mr. Wedmore had, of course, become aware of what was going +on; but it was now too late to interfere, even if he had wished to do +so. When Dudley had been taken upstairs, Doreen met her brother as he +came down.</p> + +<p>"Who is the girl with the sweet face inside the carriage?"</p> + +<p>Max stammered a little, and then said, by a happy inspiration:</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's the nurse. You see—he was so ill—"</p> + +<p>Doreen looked at him keenly, but did not wait for anymore explanations.</p> + +<p>"Why doesn't she come in, then? Of course she must come in."</p> + +<p>And she ran out to the door of the carriage, with Max not far behind.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you coming in? They've taken your patient upstairs," she said +gently, as poor Carrie, who looked more dead than alive, sat up in the +carriage and tried to put her hat and her cape straight.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shan't be wanted now, shall I?" asked Carrie, with a timid voice +and manner which contrasted strongly with her calm, easy assurance while +she was at work.</p> + +<p>Max threw a glance of gratitude at his sister, as he quickly opened the +door of the carriage and more than half dragged Carrie out.</p> + +<p>As the girl stepped, blinking, into the broad sunlight, Doreen stared at +her intently, and then glanced inquiringly at her brother, who, however, +did not see her questioning look. He led Carrie into the house and +straight up the stairs toward the room where they had put Dudley.</p> + +<p>"Don't make me stay," pleaded she, in a low voice. "They will know I'm +not a regular nurse, and—and I shall be uncomfortable, miserable. You +can do without me now."</p> + +<p>She was trying to shrink away. Max stopped in the middle of the stairs, +and answered her gravely, earnestly:</p> + +<p>"I only ask you to stay until we can get a regular nurse down. He is too +ill to do without a trained attendant; you know that. Will you promise +to wait while we send for one?"</p> + +<p>Carrie could scarcely refuse.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will stay till then, if I am really wanted," assented she.</p> + +<p>"Ask my sister. Here she comes," said Max.</p> + +<p>Doreen was on the stairs behind them.</p> + +<p>"Is it really necessary—do you want me to stay while a nurse is sent +for?" asked Carrie, diffidently.</p> + +<p>Doreen looked up straight in her face.</p> + +<p>"What more natural than that you should stay with him?" returned she, +promptly; "since you are his sister."</p> + +<p>Max and Carrie both started. The likeness between Dudley and Carrie, +which Max had taken time to discover, had struck Doreen at once. Carrie +would have denied the allegation, but Max caught her arm and stopped +her.</p> + +<p>"Quite true," said he quietly. "This is the way, Miss Horne, to your +brother's room."</p> + +<p>Doreen was quick enough to see that there was some little mystery about +the relationship which she had divined, and she went rapidly past her +brother without asking any questions.</p> + +<p>It was about two hours after Dudley's arrival that Carrie, now installed +in the sick-room, came to the door and asked for Max. Her face was rigid +with a great terror. She seemed at first unable to utter the words which +were on her tongue. At last she said, in a voice which sounded hard and +unlike her own:</p> + +<p>"Don't send for a nurse. I must stay with him. He is delirious, and I +have just learned—from him—from his ravings, a secret—a terrible +secret—one that must not be known!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE BLUE-EYED NURSE.</h3> + + +<p>It was at the door of Dudley's sick-room that Carrie informed Max that +she had learned a secret from the lips of the sick man, and Max, by a +natural impulse of curiosity, nay, more, a deep interest, pushed the +door gently open.</p> + +<p>Dudley's voice could be heard muttering below his breath words which Max +could not catch.</p> + +<p>But Carrie pulled the young man sharply back by the arm into the +corridor, and shut the door behind her. Her face was full of +determination.</p> + +<p>"No," said she, "not even you."</p> + +<p>Max drew himself up, offended.</p> + +<p>"I should think you might trust me," he said, stiffly. "The doctor will +have to hear when he comes. And the secret, whatever it is, will be +safer with me than with old Haselden."</p> + +<p>Carrie smiled a little, and shook her head.</p> + +<p>"The doctor," said she, "wouldn't be able to make head or tail of what +he says. Now, you would."</p> + +<p>"And if I did, what of that? Don't I know everything, or almost +everything, already? Didn't I bring him down here, to my father's house, +after I knew that there was a warrant out against him? What better proof +do you want that the secret would be safe with me?"</p> + +<p>But Carrie would not give way. Without entering into an argument, she +stood before him with a set look of obstinacy in her mouth and eyes, +slowly shaking her head once or twice as he went on with his +persuasions.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I should make a wrong use of the secret?" asked Max, +impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it would turn me against him?"</p> + +<p>But at this question she hesitated.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said she, at last.</p> + +<p>"It is something that has given you pain?" Max went on, noting the +traces of tears on her face and the misery in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Yes, oh, yes."</p> + +<p>The answer was given in a very low voice, with such a heart-felt sob +that Max was touched to the quick. He came quite close to her, and, +bending down, so that his mustache almost brushed the soft fair hair on +her forehead, he whispered:</p> + +<p>"I'm so sorry. Poor Carrie! I won't worry you, then; I won't ask any +more questions, if only—if only you'll let me tell you how awfully +sorry I am."</p> + +<p>He ventured to put his hand upon her shoulder, as he bent down to look +into her face.</p> + +<p>And, as luck would have it, Mr. Wedmore at that very moment bounced out +of one of the rooms which opened on the corridor, and caught sight of +this pretty little picture before it broke up.</p> + +<p>Of course, Max withdrew his hand and lifted up his head so swiftly that +he flattered himself he had been too quick for his father, who walked +along the corridor toward the drawing-room as if he had seen nothing.</p> + +<p>But Max was mistaken. Mr. Wedmore, already greatly irritated by his +son's repeated failures to settle down, found in this little incident a +pretext for a fresh outburst of wrath.</p> + +<p>Unluckily for poor Carrie, Mrs. Wedmore was in a state of irritation, in +which she was even readier than usual to agree with her husband. The +arrival of Dudley, with a terrible charge hanging over his head, in such +circumstances as to stir up Doreen's feelings for him to the utmost, was +bad enough. But for him to descend upon them in the company of a young +woman of whom she had never heard, and in whose alleged relationship to +Dudley she entirely disbelieved, had reduced the poor lady to a state +which Queenie succinctly described as "one of mamma's worst."</p> + +<p>As soon as Mr. Wedmore entered the drawing-room, where his wife and +daughters were discussing some invitations to dinner which were to have +been sent out, but about which there was now a doubt, he abruptly +ordered the two girls to leave the room. They obeyed very quietly, but +Doreen threw at her mother one imploring glance, and gently pulling her +father's hair, told him that he was not to be a hard, heartless man.</p> + +<p>When the door was shut, however, Mr. Wedmore addressed his wife in no +very gentle tones.</p> + +<p>"Ellen," said he, curtly, "you must get rid of that baggage they call +the nurse. She's no more a nurse than you are!"</p> + +<p>"And she's no more his sister than I am, either!" chimed in Mrs. +Wedmore, who had risen from her chair in great excitement.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore stared at his wife.</p> + +<p>"Sister!" cried he, in a voice of thunder. "Whose sister? Dudley Horne +never had a sister!"</p> + +<p>"I know that, but that's the story they have made up for us; and the +girls—our girls—are ready to believe it, and I don't want them to know +it isn't true."</p> + +<p>"Well, whatever she is, and whoever she is, I want her to be outside the +house before lunch time," said Mr. Wedmore. "I've just caught Max with +his arm around her, and I haven't the slightest doubt that it was he who +made up the story. Any tale's good enough for the old people! Look at +her face—look at her dress! She is some hussy who ought never to have +been allowed inside the house!"</p> + +<p>"It was Doreen who brought her in. And, to do her justice, George, I +believe the girl didn't want to come," said Mrs. Wedmore. "And it's +about Doreen I wanted to talk to you, George. This coming of Dudley has +upset all the good we did by never mentioning him to her. To-day she's +as much excited, as anxious and as miserable as if they were still +engaged. And—and—oh! if the police come here to the house and take him +awa-a-ay,"—and here the poor lady became almost too hysterical to +articulate—"it will break the child's heart, George; it will indeed. +And, oh! do you think it possible he really did—really did—"</p> + +<p>"Did what?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you know! It's to dreadful to say. Why do you make me say it? They +say something about his having gone out of his mind, and—and—killed +somebody. It isn't true, George, is it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, I'm sure. Who told you?"</p> + +<p>"Max first, and then I learned the rest from the guesses of the girls. +Oh, it is dreadful—shocking! And to think of his having been planted +down upon us like this, just when I was beginning to hope that Doreen +was getting kinder to Mr. Lindsay."</p> + +<p>"It's all the doing of that idiot Max!" said Mr. Wedmore, angrily. "I'll +send him out to the Cape, and make an end of it. He shall go next +month."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't want that," pleaded Mrs. Wedmore, with a sudden change to +tenderness and self-reproach. "Don't do anything in a hurry, George, +anything you will be sorry for afterward."</p> + +<p>"Sorry for! The only thing I'm sorry for is that I didn't send him +before, and saved all this."</p> + +<p>"And as for the girl, no doubt it's her fault, and Dudley's, a great +deal more than Max's," went on the mother of Max, with the usual +feminine excuse for the darling scapegrace. "When she's gone he will +forget all about her, as he always does."</p> + +<p>This speech was an unlucky one.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's just what I complain of, that he always forgets," said he, +turning sharply upon his wife. "If he would stick to anything or to +anybody for so much as a week, or a day, or an hour, I shouldn't mind so +much. But he isn't man enough for that. As soon as this girl's out of +the house, he'll be looking about for another one."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure it wasn't his fault that she came here at all," persisted Mrs. +Wedmore, who never opposed her husband except in the interest of her +son. "And I'm sure you can't blame him for doing what he could for his +friend, even if he does put us to a little inconvenience. After all, +Dudley's been like a son to you for a great many years—"</p> + +<p>"That's just what I complain of—that he's so like a son," interrupted +her husband. "That is to say, he has brought upon us no end of worry and +bother, and a bill for five guineas for this pleasant little drive down +from London."</p> + +<p>"Well, how could we refuse to take him in?"</p> + +<p>"How did he get into the mess?"</p> + +<p>"What mess?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I want to know, too—what mess? I am told he fell into the +water, striking his head against the side of a bridge, or of a church, +or it doesn't matter what, as he fell. They haven't thought it worth +while to make up a good story. But whether he was drunk, or whether he +was escaping from the police, or what he was doing, nobody seems to +know. If I'd been consulted, if I hadn't been treated as a cipher in the +matter, he should have driven straight back to London again with the +girl, and with Max himself."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wedmore thought it better to say nothing to this, but to let her +husband simmer down. These ferocious utterances came from the lips only, +as she very well knew, and might safely be disregarded.</p> + +<p>Fortunately his attention was diverted at this point by the arrival of +the doctor, who had been out on his rounds when they first sent for him.</p> + +<p>Rather relieved to have a fresh person to pour out his complaints to, +Mr. Wedmore hastened to give his old friend a somewhat confused account +of the patient's arrival and condition, in which "cheap, ready-made +clothes," "a bill for five guineas," "a baggage of a girl" and "the +police" were the prominent items.</p> + +<p>But as for any details concerning the patient's state of health and the +reasons for his needing medical care, Doctor Haselden could learn +nothing at all until he had prevailed upon Mr. Wedmore to let him see +Dudley instead of listening to abuse of him.</p> + +<p>Doctor Haselden was a long time in the sick-room, and when he came out +he looked grave. Mr. Wedmore, who met him outside the door, was annoyed.</p> + +<p>"It's nothing, I suppose, that a few days' quiet won't set right?" he +asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, I'm sure," answered the doctor. "It's more serious than I +thought by what you said—a great deal more serious. I don't know, I'm +sure, whether we shall get him round at all."</p> + +<p>A little cry startled both men and made them look round. In a recess of +the corridor above they could distinguish the figure of a woman, and Mr. +Wedmore's heart smote him, for it was Doreen.</p> + +<p>"Go away, child! Go away!" said he, half petulantly, but yet with some +remorse in his tone. "The girl's crazy about him," he added, with +irritation, when his daughter had silently obeyed.</p> + +<p>"Poor child! Poor child!" said Doctor Haselden, sympathetically. "She's +the real old-fashioned sort, with a warm heart under all her little +airs. I hope he'll get round, if only for her sake. But—"</p> + +<p>"She couldn't marry him in any case," said Mr. Wedmore, shortly. "I +thought I told you that affair was broken off—definitely broken +off—weeks ago. And now—"</p> + +<p>He stopped and intimated by a gesture of the hand that the break was +more definite than ever.</p> + +<p>The doctor was curious, but he tried not to show it.</p> + +<p>"I should wire up to town for another nurse, I think," said he. "This +little girl can't do it all."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore pricked up his ears.</p> + +<p>"Then I must wire for two—for two nurses," said he, decidedly. "We're +going to send this girl off. She's not a nurse at all."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but she does very well," objected the doctor, promptly, "and you +will be doing very unwisely if you send her away. It seems she +understands all the circumstances of the case, and that counts for +something in treating a patient who has evidently something on his mind. +She seems to be able to soothe him, and in a case of concussion—"</p> + +<p>"But she's trying to get hold of my fool of a son Max!" protested Mr. +Wedmore.</p> + +<p>"But it isn't a question of your son Max, but of young Horne," said +Doctor Haselden, with decision. "As for Max, he can take care of +himself; and, at any rate, he's got all his family about to take care of +him. You keep the girl. She's got a head on her shoulders. Most uncommon +thing, that—in a girl with such eyes!"</p> + +<p>And the doctor, with a humorous nod to his angry friend, went +downstairs.</p> + +<p>After this warning of the real danger in which Dudley lay, it was, of +course, impossible for Mr. Wedmore to send poor Carrie away, at any rate +until the arrival of some one who could take her place. And as there was +clearly some sense in the doctor's suggestion that her knowledge of the +case was valuable, Mr. Wedmore ended by sending up for one trained nurse +to relieve her, instead of for two, as he had proposed.</p> + +<p>And, after all, there seemed to be less danger in the direction of Max +than he had supposed; for Carrie never once left the sick-room until the +professional nurse arrived at ten o'clock that night. And as Mrs. +Wedmore was then in waiting to mount guard over Carrie, and to carry her +off to her supper and then to her bedroom, the first day's danger to the +susceptible son and heir seemed to have been got through rather well.</p> + +<p>On the following morning, however, the well-watched Carrie escaped from +the supervision of her jailers, and boldly made a direct attack upon Max +under the family's nose.</p> + +<p>Carrie was looking out of one of the back windows of the house to get a +breath of fresh air, before taking her turn of duty in the sick-room, +when she saw Max talking to one of the grooms outside the stables. He +saw her, and his face flushed. Mrs. Wedmore, who was standing on guard a +few paces from Carrie, noted the fact with maternal anxiety. She rather +liked the girl, whose modest manners were as attractive as her pretty +face; but with the fear of "entanglements" before her eyes, she tried to +check her own inclination. Carrie turned to her abruptly.</p> + +<p>"The nurse won't mind waiting a few minutes for me," said she, quickly. +"I must speak a few words to Mr. Max."</p> + +<p>And before Mrs. Wedmore could get breath after this audacious statement, +Carrie was down the stairs and half away across the yard, where Max +hastened to meet her.</p> + +<p>"I have something to say to you," she began at once with a grave face. +"Do you know that—<i>they've come</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Who? Who have come?"</p> + +<p>"The police."</p> + +<p>Max started.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! What makes you think so? I've seen no one."</p> + +<p>"I have, though. I've been expecting them, for one thing, and it's made +me sharp, I suppose. But I've seen in the park, among the trees, this +morning before anybody was up almost, a man walking about, taking his +bearings and looking about him."</p> + +<p>"One of the gardeners," said Max. "There are several."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, it wasn't a gardener. Can't you trust my London eyes? And +listen: Presently another one came up, and they talked together. Then +one went one way and the other another, not like gardeners or +workingmen, but like men on the lookout."</p> + +<p>"What should they be on the lookout for?" asked Max. "If they want +Dudley, why don't they come up to the house? I don't doubt that by this +time they know where he is."</p> + +<p>Carrie said nothing; but there was in her eyes, as she glanced +searchingly round her, a peculiar look of wistful dread which puzzled +Max and made him wonder what fear it was that was in her mind.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>MAX MAKES A STAND AND A DISCOVERY.</h3> + + +<p>There was a pause, and then Carrie, without answering him, turned to go +back into the house. But Max followed and caught her by the arm.</p> + +<p>"Carrie," said he, "they're making a slave of you, without a word of +thanks. You look worn out."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not," said she, briskly. "I've only taken my turns; I should +look all right if it hadn't been for that long, tiring journey +yesterday. I haven't quite got over that yet."</p> + +<p>She was trying to free her hand, which Max was holding in his.</p> + +<p>"You'll never be strong enough for a hospital nurse, Carrie!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, but I shall!" retorted she. And as she spoke, the pink color, +the absence of which made her usually look so delicate, came into her +cheeks. "And you must remember that I shall be better fed, better +clothed then. I am not really weak at all."</p> + +<p>"I repeat—you will never be strong enough for a nurse. Better take my +advice and marry me, Carrie!"</p> + +<p>But at that, a sudden impulse of hot anger gave the girl the necessary +strength to snatch her hand away from him. She faced him fiercely.</p> + +<p>"What! To be looked at always as your father, your mother, look at me +now? As if I were a thief who must be watched, lest she should steal +something? They needn't be afraid either, if only they knew! And before +I go I'll tell them. Yes, I'll tell them what a mistake they make in +thinking I want to take their son, their precious son, away from them! +That for their son!"</p> + +<p>And Carrie, very ungratefully, to be sure, held her right hand close to +the face of Max and snapped her fingers scornfully. She had seen Mrs. +Wedmore's eyes over the half blind of one of the windows, and the minx +thought this little scene would be a wholesome lesson.</p> + +<p>But Max, following the direction of Carrie's eyes, had also seen the +watching face, and a manful spirit of defiance on the one hand, of +passion on the other, moved him to show both Carrie and his mother how +things were going with him.</p> + +<p>Seizing the girl round the waist when her little spurt of defiance was +scarcely over, he held her head with his disengaged hand and pressed +upon her eyes, her cheeks and her lips a dozen hot kisses.</p> + +<p>"There!" said he, when at last he let her go, and she, staggering, +blushing, ran toward the shelter of the house. "That's what you get for +being ungrateful, you little cat. And it's nothing to what you'll get +from my mother, who's sure to say it's all your fault. And so—" roared +he up the stairs after her, as she reached the top, "so it is, of +course!"</p> + +<p>But Carrie found a refuge inside the sick-room, where Dudley, who had +passed a better night than they had even hoped, was now lying with +closed eyes, quiet and apparently calm.</p> + +<p>It was upon Max himself, for a wonder, that the vials of the family +wrath were poured. Mrs. Wedmore, happening to meet her husband while the +last grievance against the girl was fresh, and before she had had the +time to meditate on the result of a premature disclosure, made known to +him the outrage of which she had been a witness, taking care to dwell +upon the audacity of the girl in pursuing and provoking Max.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore listened in silence, and then said, curtly:</p> + +<p>"Where is he now? Send him to me."</p> + +<p>Max, bent upon making himself as conspicuous and, therefore, as +offensive as possible, was whistling in the hall at the moment. And +there was a defiant note in his very whistling which worked his father +up to boiling point. Mr. Wedmore sprang off his chair and dashed open +the door.</p> + +<p>"Max, you fool, come here!" was his unpromising summons.</p> + +<p>Max came at once, rather red in the face and bright of eyes. Mrs. +Wedmore, standing, frightened and anxious, in the background, thought +she had never seen her darling boy look so handsome, so manly. He came +in very quietly, without swaggering, without defiance, as if he had not +noticed the offensive epithet.</p> + +<p>His father, who was by this time on the post of vantage, the hearth-rug, +with his hands behind him and his back to the fire, pointed imperiously +to a chair.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, sir."</p> + +<p>Max sat down very deliberately on a chair other than the one his father +had chosen for him, and looked down on the floor.</p> + +<p>"So you are at your old tricks, your old habits!" began Mr. Wedmore.</p> + +<p>Max looked up. Then he sat up.</p> + +<p>"What old tricks and habits do you mean, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Running after every girl you see, and in defiance of all decency, under +your mother's very nose."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wedmore would have interposed here, but her husband waved his hand +imperially, and she remained silent. Max leaned back in his chair and +met his father's eyes steadily.</p> + +<p>"You have made a mistake, sir, and my mother has made a mistake, too. It +is quite true she may have seen me kissing Miss—Miss—Carrie, in fact. +But I hope to have the right to kiss her. I want to marry her."</p> + +<p>"To marry this—this—"</p> + +<p>"This beautiful young girl, whom nobody has a word to say against," +interrupted Max, in a louder voice. "Come, sir, you can't say I'm at my +old tricks <i>now</i>. I've never wanted to marry any girl before."</p> + +<p>For the moment Mr. Wedmore was stupefied. This was worse, far worse than +he had expected. Mrs. Wedmore, also, was rather shocked. But the +sensation, was tempered, in her case, with admiration of her boy's +spirit in daring to make this avowal.</p> + +<p>"Mind, I only say I <i>want</i> to marry her. Because, so far, she has +refused to have anything to say to me."</p> + +<p>"Not refused to marry you!" broke in Mrs. Wedmore, unable to remain +quiet under such provocation as this.</p> + +<p>"Yes, refused to marry me, mother. I have asked her—begged her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's only artfulness, to make you more persistent," cried Mrs. +Wedmore, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Or perhaps," suggested Mr. Wedmore, in his driest tones, "the girl is +shrewd enough to know that I should cut off a son who was guilty of such +a piece of idiocy and leave him to his own resources."</p> + +<p>Max said nothing for a moment; then he remarked, quietly:</p> + +<p>"You have been threatening to do that already, sir, before there was any +question of my marrying."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wedmore was frightened by the tone Max was using. He was so much +quieter than usual, so much more decided in his tone, that she began to +think there was less chance than usual of his coming to an agreement +with his father.</p> + +<p>"You know, Max," she said, coming over to his chair and putting an +affectionate hand on his head, "that your father has only spoken to you +as he has done because he wanted to rouse up your spirit and make you +ashamed of being lazy."</p> + +<p>Max rose from his chair and turned to her with flashing eyes.</p> + +<p>"And now, when there is a chance of my rousing myself at last, when I am +ready and anxious to prove it, and to set to work, and to settle down, +he is angrier with me than ever. Mother, you know I'm right, and you +know it isn't fair."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wedmore looked with something like terror into her son's handsome, +excited face.</p> + +<p>"But, my dear boy, don't you see that this would be ruin, to tie +yourself to a girl like that? Why, she told me herself that she didn't +belong to anywhere or anybody."</p> + +<p>"And is that any reason why she should never belong to anywhere or to +anybody? If there was anything wrong about the girl herself, I would +listen to you—"</p> + +<p>"Listen to us! You'll have to listen!" interrupted his father.</p> + +<p>Max glanced at him, and went on:</p> + +<p>"But there is not."</p> + +<p>"And how do you know that? How long have you known her?"</p> + +<p>Max was taken aback. It had not occurred to him to think how short his +acquaintance with Carrie had been.</p> + +<p>"Long enough to find out all about her," he answered, soberly; "and to +make up my mind that I'll have her for my wife."</p> + +<p>"Then that settles it," broke in Mr. Wedmore, whose ill-humor had not +been decreased by the fact that Max evidently considered it more +important to conciliate his mother than to try to convince him. "You +will go to the Cape next month; and if you choose to take this baggage +with you, you can do so. It won't much matter to us what sort of a wife +you introduce to your neighbors out there."</p> + +<p>But Max strode across the room and stood face to face with his father, +eye to eye.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," he said, in a dogged tone of voice, thrusting his hands deep +into his pockets and looking at him steadily. "I shall not go to the +Cape. You have a right to turn me out of your house if you please. In +fact, it's quite time I went, I know. It's time I did settle down. It's +time I did try to do something for myself. And I'm going to. I'm going +to try to earn my own living and to make enough to keep a wife—the wife +I want. And I shall do it somehow. But I'm not going to be packed off to +Africa, as if my marrying this girl were a thing to be ashamed of. I'm +going to stay in England. I sha'n't come near you. You needn't be afraid +of that. I shall be too proud of my wife to bring her among people who +would look down upon her. And perhaps you'd better not inquire where I +live or what I'm doing, for we sha'n't be able to live in a fashionable +neighborhood, nor to be too particular about what we turn our hands to."</p> + +<p>While Max made this speech very slowly, very deliberately, his father +listened to him with ever-increasing anger and disgust, and his mother, +not daring to come too close while he was right under the paternal eye, +hung over the table in the background, with yearning, tremulous love in +her eyes, and with her lips parted, ready to utter the tender words of a +pleading peacemaker.</p> + +<p>But the tone Mr. Wedmore chose to take was that of utter contempt, +complete irresponsibility. When his son had finished speaking he waited +as if to hear whether there was any more to come, and then abruptly +turned his back upon him and began to poke the fire.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said he, with an affectation of extreme calmness. "Since +you have made up your mind, the sooner you begin to carry out your plans +the better. I'm very glad to see that you have a mind to make up."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," said Max.</p> + +<p>And he was turning to leave the room, when his mother sprang forward and +stopped him.</p> + +<p>"No, no! Don't go like that! My boy! George! Don't say good-bye yet. +Take a little time. Let him try a little trouble of his own for a +change. He has made up his mind, he says. I'm sure he's old enough. +Leave him alone."</p> + +<p>Max put his arm round his mother, gave her a warm kiss, disengaged +himself, and left the room.</p> + +<p>The poor woman was almost hysterical.</p> + +<p>"He means it, George! He means it this time!" she moaned.</p> + +<p>And her husband, though he laughed at her, and though he said to himself +that he did not care, was inclined to agree with her.</p> + +<p>Max went straight up to his own room, and began to do his packing with +much outward cheerfulness. Indeed he felt no depression over the dashing +step he was taking, although he felt sore over the parting with home and +his mother and sisters.</p> + +<p>He was debating within himself whether he should try to see Carrie +before he went, or whether he should only leave a note to be given to +her after he was gone, when he heard the voice of his sister Doreen +calling him. He threw open the door and shouted back.</p> + +<p>She was in the hall.</p> + +<p>"Max," cried she, in a hissing whisper, "I want to speak to you. Make +haste!"</p> + +<p>He ran downstairs and found her standing with two of the maids, both of +whom looked rather frightened.</p> + +<p>"Max," said Doreen, "there's an old woman hanging about the place—" Max +started. He guessed what was coming. "The same old woman that came at +Christmas time. She jumped up in the well-house at Anne, and sent her +into hysterics. And now they've lost sight of her, just as they did last +time, and we want you to help to ferret her out and send her away."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Max. "We'll pack her off."</p> + +<p>He was at the bottom of the staircase by this time, and was starting on +his way to the yard, when a little scream from one of the two maids, as +she glanced up the stairs, made him look around. Carrie had come down so +lightly and so swiftly that she was upon the group before they had heard +a sound. She beckoned to Max, who came back at once.</p> + +<p>Carrie was shaking like a leaf; her eyes were wide with alarm, with +terror. Max went up a few stairs, to be out of hearing of the others, as +she seemed to wish. Then she whispered:</p> + +<p>"You know who it is. I saw her. Leave her alone. I implore you to leave +her alone! She'll do no harm. Let her rest. Let the poor creature rest. +If—if the police—"</p> + +<p>At that moment there was a shout from the yard outside. Carrie sprang +like a hare up the stairs to the window, and looked out with straining +eyes.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was one of those dull misty winter days, with a leaden sky +and an east wind.</p> + +<p>"I'll see that she isn't hurt!" called out Max, as he bounded down the +stairs and ran into the yard behind the house.</p> + +<p>Here he found a motley group—the stablemen, the laundry-maids and the +gardeners—all hunting in the many corners and crannies of the +outbuildings for the old woman who had alarmed Anne.</p> + +<p>Max spoke sharply to the men.</p> + +<p>"Here, what are you about?" said he. "Hunting a poor old woman as if she +were a wild animal? Go back to your work. She'll never dare to show her +face while you are all about!"</p> + +<p>"She's left the well-house, sir, and, we think, she's got into the big +barn," explained one of the lads, with the feeling that Mr. Max himself +would want to join in the chase when he knew that the game was to hand.</p> + +<p>"Well, leave her there," answered Max, promptly. "She'll come out when +you've all gone, and I'll send her about her business."</p> + +<p>Max saw, as he spoke, that there was a man standing at a little distance +just outside the stable-gate, whom he did not recognize. Before he could +ask who he was, however, the man had disappeared from view. He +remembered what Carrie had said about the presence of a policeman, and +he thought the time was come to take the bull by the horns.</p> + +<p>So he walked rapidly in the direction of the gate, and addressed the man +whom he found there.</p> + +<p>"Are you a policeman?" he asked, abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered the man, touching his hat.</p> + +<p>"What is your business here?"</p> + +<p>"I'm on the lookout for some one I have a warrant for. Charge of murder, +sir."</p> + +<p>"Man or woman?"</p> + +<p>"Man, sir."</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me his name?"</p> + +<p>"Horne, sir."</p> + +<p>Max thought a moment.</p> + +<p>"Why are you pottering about here, instead of going straight up to the +house?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I'm obeying orders."</p> + +<p>"Come with me," said Max suddenly. "There's an old hag hiding in the +barn now, who knows more about this business than Mr. Horne."</p> + +<p>Behind the young gentleman's back the detective smiled, but he professed +to be ready to follow him.</p> + +<p>"There's only one way out of this barn," explained Max, as he approached +the door, beside which a groom was standing. "By this door, which is +never locked. There is a window, but it's too high up for anybody to get +out by."</p> + +<p>Telling the groom to guard the door, Max went into the barn, followed by +the detective. There was still light enough for them to find their way +about among the lumber.</p> + +<p>"Where's the window, sir?" asked the detective.</p> + +<p>Max pointed to a speck of light high in the south wall of the barn.</p> + +<p>"She couldn't get out there," said he, "even if she could climb up to +it. Unless she could swarm a rope."</p> + +<p>And he touched one of the ropes which dangled from a huge beam.</p> + +<p>The detective, however, walked rapidly past him, and stopped short, +pointing to something which was lying on the floor under the window.</p> + +<p>It was the body of a man, lying in a heap.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED.</h3> + + +<p>Max helped the detective raise the man from the ground. He was quite +dead, and from the position in which they had found him, both men +concluded that he had been in the act of climbing up to the high window, +when the rope by which he was holding broke under his weight. It was +evident that he had fallen upon an old millstone which was among the +lumber on the floor beneath, and that the shock of the fall had broken +his neck.</p> + +<p>They had found out all this before Max could form any opinion as to the +identity of the dead man. He was short of stature, and apparently +between fifty and sixty years of age, slightly built, but muscular. The +body was dressed in the clothes of a respectable mechanic.</p> + +<p>There was very little light in the barn by this time, and Max directed +the groom, who had been standing outside, and who had entered, attracted +by Max's shout of discovery, to bring a lantern.</p> + +<p>"I suppose we'd better send for a doctor," said Max, "though the man's +as dead as a doornail. In the meantime, just give a look around and see +whether the woman is anywhere about."</p> + +<p>The detective appeared to follow the suggestion, for he at once +proceeded to a further inspection of the building by the aid of one of +the two lanterns which the groom had by this time brought. And presently +he came back to Max with a bundle in his hand.</p> + +<p>Max, by the light of the lantern which the groom was holding for him, +was looking at the face of the dead man, whom he guessed to be one of +Mrs. Higgs's accomplices, perhaps the mysterious person whose influence +over the old woman, according to Carrie, was so bad.</p> + +<p>While he was staring intently at the dead face, he heard a stifled cry, +and looking up, saw that Carrie had stolen into the barn behind the +groom, and had her eyes fixed upon the body.</p> + +<p>Max sprang up.</p> + +<p>"Do you know him? Is it the man who used to get into the place by +night?" asked he, eagerly.</p> + +<p>Carrie, without answering, looked from the dead man to the detective, +and from him to the bundle he was carrying.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed she.</p> + +<p>Max looked in his turn. The detective was displaying, one by one, a +woman's skirt, bodice, bonnet, shawl and a cap with a "front" of woman's +hair sewn inside it.</p> + +<p>"I think you can guess, sir, what's become of the woman now?" said the +officer, grimly.</p> + +<p>Max started violently, shocked by a surprise which, both for the +detective and for Carrie, had been discounted some time ago.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Higgs" was a man.</p> + +<p>Even with this knowledge to help him, Max, as he stared again at the +dead face, found it difficult to recognize in the still features those +which in life had inspired him with feelings of repulsion.</p> + +<p>Just a quiet, inoffensive, respectable-looking man not coarse or low in +type; this would have been his comment upon the dead man, if he had +known nothing about him. Max shuddered as he withdrew his gaze; and, as +he did so, he met the eyes of Carrie.</p> + +<p>He beckoned to her to come away with him, and she followed him as far as +the door, toward which some members of the household, to whom the news +had penetrated, were now hastening.</p> + +<p>"Carrie!" cried he, as he looked searchingly in her face, "you knew +this? How long have you known it?"</p> + +<p>She could scarcely answer. She was shaking from head to foot, and was +evidently suffering from a great shock.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I knew it, but only since I came here. It was part of what Mr. +Dudley Horne let out in his raving."</p> + +<p>"Only part of it?" cried Max.</p> + +<p>But Carrie would confess nothing more. And, as Mr. Wedmore came across +the yard at this moment, followed by Dr. Haselden, Carrie ran back into +the house as Max met his father.</p> + +<p>"What's all this about a dead man found in the barn?" asked Mr. Wedmore, +with all the arrogance of the country gentleman, who thinks that no one +has a right to die on his premises without his permission.</p> + +<p>Max held his father back for a moment until the doctor had passed on. In +the excitement of this occurrence, Mr. Wedmore was glad to have an +opportunity of appearing to forget that there was any quarrel between +them. On second thoughts, he inclined to think that he had perhaps, on +this occasion, been a little too hard on his son, and he was anxious for +some loop-hole by which he could creep out of the consequences of his +own sternness. This, however, could hardly have been guessed by his +manner, which was at least as arrogant as ever.</p> + +<p>"It's somebody who was mixed up in the death of Edward Jacobs, sir, I +think," said Max, in a low voice. "A man who has been living down at the +East End of London disguised as a woman, and who was, I believe, at the +bottom of all the mischief."</p> + +<p>"Man disguised as a woman?" cried Mr. Wedmore, incredulously. "What an +improbable story! And what should he do down here in my barn?"</p> + +<p>"I think he must have come down to see Dudley, sir. We believe that it +was he who tried to drown Dudley, after he had succeeded in drowning +Edward Jacobs."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore frowned in perplexity.</p> + +<p>"Trying to drown Dudley! What on earth should he do that for? What had +Dudley to do with him?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, we don't quite know. But Dudley was acquainted with this +man, undoubtedly, though we don't know whether he knew him to be a man, +or only as Mrs. Higgs, which was the name the man went by."</p> + +<p>"Let me see the man," said Mr. Wedmore.</p> + +<p>And, pushing past his son, he entered the barn.</p> + +<p>The doctor made way for him.</p> + +<p>"He is quite dead. He must have been killed instantly," said Doctor +Haselden, as his friend came up.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore took the lantern from the man who held it, and looked at the +dead face. As he did so, his first expression of curiosity gave place to +one of perplexity, followed by a stare of intense amazement and horror.</p> + +<p>"What is it? Do you know him?" asked Doctor Haselden, while Max, who had +followed his father in, watched with intense interest and surprise.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore did not seem to hear. He continued to look at the dead face +for some moments with an appearance of utter absorption, and then, +suddenly staggering back, he made for the open air without a word of +explanation.</p> + +<p>Max stared at the doctor, and then followed his father out. But Mr. +Wedmore was already half way to the house, where he shut himself into +the study, and locking the door, refused to be disturbed.</p> + +<p>Max was more bewildered than ever by this new turn of affairs. With a +dogged determination not to be kept any longer out of a secret of which +everybody but himself seemed to know something, he went straight up to +the sick-room in search of Carrie. His knock, however, was answered by +the professional nurse, who opened the door and asked him what he +wanted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it doesn't matter," said Max. "At least—I wanted to know how Mr. +Horne is now."</p> + +<p>"He won't be so well to-night, I expect," answered the nurse, tartly. +"There's been a great noise and disturbance outside, and he's heard +something of it, and it's made him restless and curious. He is asking +questions about it all the time, and he won't be satisfied. He keeps +asking for the other nurse, who is out taking her walk, as I tell him."</p> + +<p>At this point Dudley's voice was heard from the bed. "Who's that at the +door? Who is it?"</p> + +<p>Max, after a moment's hesitation, during which the nurse assumed an air +of washing her hands of the whole matter, answered:</p> + +<p>"Me, old chap—Max. How are you?"</p> + +<p>Dudley sprang up in bed. The nurse folded her arms and frowned.</p> + +<p>"Come in, oh, come in, just one moment! I'll be quiet, nurse, quite +quiet. But I must see him—I must see somebody."</p> + +<p>Max threw an imploring glance at the nurse, who refused to look at him. +Then he went in.</p> + +<p>"Only a minute—I won't stay a minute."</p> + +<p>The nurse shrugged her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"It's against the doctor's orders. I wash my hands of the consequences," +said she.</p> + +<p>And, with her head held very high, she left the room.</p> + +<p>Max stood irresolute. By the look of excitement on Dudley's face, he +judged that anything must be better for him than the eager suspense from +which he was evidently suffering. This news of the death of the odious +inhabitant of the house by the wharf must surely bring relief to him. As +soon as they were alone together, Dudley burst out eagerly:</p> + +<p>"That noise! It's no use deceiving me; I know what it was. They were +after him. Tell me—has he got away? Has my father got away?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>BACK TO LOVE AND LIFE.</h3> + + +<p>Max fell into a chair. He stared at Dudley for a few moments before he +could speak. Dudley's father! The man supposed to have died years and +years ago in an asylum abroad, was the person who had passed as "Mrs. +Higgs!" Even before he had had time to learn any of the details of the +strange story, the outlines of it were at once apparent to the mind of +Max.</p> + +<p>Here was, then, the explanation of the mysterious bond between Dudley +and Mrs. Higgs; here was the meaning of his visits to Limehouse.</p> + +<p>Dudley repeated his question before Max had recovered from the shock of +his surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he at last, "he has got away."</p> + +<p>But Dudley detected some reserve in his manner, or perhaps his own +suspicions were aroused. He looked searchingly at Max, and asked +abruptly:</p> + +<p>"Is he dead?"</p> + +<p>Max looked at him askance.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said at last.</p> + +<p>Dudley lay back in his pillows.</p> + +<p>"Thank God!"</p> + +<p>And Max knew by the look of intense relief on his friend's face that he +had done right in telling him the truth.</p> + +<p>But, indeed, Max could not guess how intense the relief was from the +burden of the secret which Dudley had had to bear for so long; and +undoubtedly the discovery that it was a secret no longer, that the +necessity for concealment was now over, helped his recovery materially.</p> + +<p>Max told him, as briefly as possible, the details of the occurrence; but +he neither asked nor invited any more questions.</p> + +<p>It was not until some time afterward, when Dudley had left the +sick-room, that the whole of the story became known to the family. But, +in the meantime, the inquest on the body brought many facts to light.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Edward Jacobs, the widow of the man who had been found drowned in +the Thames off Limehouse some weeks before, had been, so it was +discovered, the person to give information to the police against Dudley, +as the suspected murderer of her husband. She had traced to him the +weekly postal orders, which she looked upon as blood-money, and she had +then hung about his chambers, and on one occasion followed him to +Limehouse, without, however, penetrating farther than the entrance of +the wharf.</p> + +<p>Upon the information given by her a warrant was issued against Dudley; +but in searching his chambers a number of letters were found, all +addressed to Dudley, which threw a new and lurid light upon the affair. +The letters were written by the father to the son, and contained the +whole story of his return to England a few months before; of his anxiety +to see his son; his morbid fear of being recognized and shut up as a +lunatic, and his equally morbid hankering after information concerning +Edward Jacobs, the man who had ruined him.</p> + +<p>All these letters, which were directed in a feigned handwriting, seemed +sane and sensible enough, although they showed signs of eccentricity of +character.</p> + +<p>The next batch were written after the disappearance of Edward Jacobs, +and in them the signs of morbid eccentricity were more apparent. The +writer owned to having "put Jacobs out of the way," upbraided Dudley for +interfering on behalf of such a wretch, and accused him of ingratitude +in refusing to leave England with his father, who had done mankind in +general and him in particular a service in killing a monster. The writer +went on to accuse Dudley of siding with his father's enemies, of wishing +to have him shut up, and told him that he should never succeed.</p> + +<p>Some of these letters were directed to The Beeches, and some to Dudley's +chambers, showing an intimate knowledge of his whereabouts.</p> + +<p>The latest letters were wilder, more bitter, showing how insanity which +had broken out into violence before was increasing in intensity, and how +the feelings of regard which he had seemed to entertain for his son had +given place to strong resentment against him.</p> + +<p>After the reading of these letters, it was plain that the crime of +murder which Mrs. Jacobs had laid to Dudley's charge had been really the +work of his father; and Mrs. Jacobs herself, on being made acquainted +with these facts, agreed with this conclusion.</p> + +<p>There remained only the question of Dudley's complicity in the crime to +be considered, and that was a matter which could be left until the sick +man's recovery.</p> + +<p>It was on the first day of Dudley's appearance in the family circle that +the subject was broached, clumsily enough, by Mr. Wedmore, who was dying +to know a great deal more than anybody had been willing to tell him.</p> + +<p>Dudley had come into the drawing-room, which had been well warmed for +the occasion with a roaring fire, and it was here that they found him +after luncheon, with the professional nurse beside him.</p> + +<p>The girls greeted him rather shyly, especially Doreen, but Mrs. Wedmore +was motherly and gentle. Mr. Wedmore attacked him at once.</p> + +<p>"I can't understand, Dudley, why you kept it all so dark. Couldn't you +see for yourself that it was better for your father to be under +restraint, as well as safer for other people?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wedmore tried to interpose and to change the conversation to +another subject, but Dudley said:</p> + +<p>"I would rather explain now, once and for all. I shall be going away +to-morrow, and there are several things which I should like to make +clear first." He paused, and Mrs. Wedmore, her daughters and the nurse +took the opportunity to leave the room. "Now, Mr. Wedmore, tell me what +you want to know."</p> + +<p>"Well, you told us nothing about your father's being alive and back in +England, for one thing."</p> + +<p>"It was by his wish that I kept it a secret. He persisted that he was +sane; he seemed to be sane. But he believed that if it were known that +he was in England he would be shut up."</p> + +<p>"But the passing himself off as an old woman, this living in a sort of +underground way, didn't that look like madness?"</p> + +<p>"I took it for eccentricity and nothing more, until—until he sent for +me one day, and brought me suddenly into a room—a little dark, bare +room—where there was a man lying on the ground asleep, as I thought. My +father told me to bring him into the next room, and—when I stooped to +touch him"—Dudley shuddered at the ghastly recollection—"my hands were +covered with blood."</p> + +<p>"Good gracious! He had murdered him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. And from that time he seemed a different man. I saw that he was +mad. I tried to persuade him to give himself up, to let himself be put +under restraint. I laid traps for him, trying to take him to an asylum. +But he was too cunning for me, and all I got by it was to rouse in him a +bitter feeling of hatred of myself."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you give information—to the police, if necessary?"</p> + +<p>"How could I? My own father! I believed he would be hanged if he was +caught. I believe so still. The last time I saw him he seemed sane, +except for a feeling of irritation against me and against Carrie, who, +it seems, is my half-sister. But he attacked me suddenly, knocked me on +the head, and tried to drown me. There, now you know as much as I do. +Can you wonder now that I was obliged to cut myself off from my friends, +with such a burden as that on my mind?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore was silent for a time.</p> + +<p>"Poor lad!" he said at last. "Poor lad! I think you might have found +some better way out of it than holding your tongue and shutting yourself +up from all your friends; but, on the other hand, it was a jolly +difficult position. Jolly difficult! And so you never even told Max?"</p> + +<p>"No, though I more than once felt inclined to. But it was such a ghastly +business altogether that I thought I'd better hold my tongue, especially +as—I was afraid—it might filter through him to—to somebody +else—somebody who couldn't be told a beastly secret like that."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore nodded.</p> + +<p>"And this girl—this Carrie?" said he.</p> + +<p>Dudley's face lighted up.</p> + +<p>"That's my one comfort in all this," said he, "that it has led to my +finding out the girl and doing something for her. I never heard of her +before. But my father told me she was my half-sister, and they say there +is something in our faces which confirms the story. Anyhow, she's a +grand girl, and I'm going to look after her. She's gone away—"</p> + +<p>"Gone away!" repeated Mr. Wedmore, disconcerted.</p> + +<p>There had been a lull in the quarrel between him and his son for the +last few days, during which Carrie had avoided Max and Max had avoided +his father.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Dudley. "She would go, and she thought it best to go without +any fuss, leaving me to say good-bye for her. She's all right. I'm going +to look after her; and she's going into training as a hospital nurse."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, I'm sure I hope she'll get on," said Mr. Wedmore, rather +vaguely.</p> + +<p>He had been getting used, during the last few days, to the thought of +the pretty, blue-eyed girl as a daughter-in-law, and he found himself +now rather hoping than fearing that Max would stick to his choice.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he at last, "I must send the ladies to have a look at you +now, I suppose. I wouldn't let them talk my head off on the first day, +if I were you."</p> + +<p>Dudley sprang to his feet. He seemed restless and excited.</p> + +<p>"I won't talk much. I won't let them talk much," said he, in an unsteady +voice. "But may I see—may I speak to Doreen?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Wedmore nodded good-humoredly.</p> + +<p>"Well, you may speak to her, if she'll let you," said he, cheerfully. +"But, really, she's a thorny young person. She's treated young Lindsay, +the curate, very cruelly, and I'm sure he's a much better looking fellow +than you. However, you can try your luck."</p> + +<p>Dudley did not wait for any more encouragement. No sooner had Mr. +Wedmore left the room than the convalescent followed. He found Doreen in +the hall, putting a handful of letters on the table ready for the post. +She started when she turned and saw him, and, leaning back with her +hands upon the table, she asked him what he meant by leaving the nice, +warm, ox-roasting fire they had built up expressly for him upstairs.</p> + +<p>"I hear you've been treating the curate very badly," said he. "I've come +to ask for an explanation."</p> + +<p>Doreen looked down at the tip of her shoe, and, after a pause, said +demurely:</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose if you don't know the reason, nobody does."</p> + +<p>"Why, was it anything connected with me, then?"</p> + +<p>"So I have been informed," answered Doreen, more primly than ever.</p> + +<p>And then he waited for her to look up; and when she did, he kissed her. +And they didn't exchange a word upon the subject of the long +misunderstanding, but just strolled into the dining-room and saw +pictures in the fire together.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>There was no trial and no scandal; there were rumors, and that was all. +Max remained true to his fancy for Carrie, and gave proof of his +sincerity by settling down to work in a merchant's office, after the +manner so dear to his father's heart. And in return, Mr. Wedmore +consented to Carrie's being invited down to The Beeches in the spring, +to be present at Doreen's wedding.</p> + +<p>And when Carrie came, several details concerning the life led by her and +the supposed Mrs. Higgs in the house by the docks came to light, and the +last remains of the mystery were cleared away.</p> + +<p>She told how her father, passing himself off as Mrs. Higgs, an old +servant in the Horne family, of whom Carrie had heard in the lifetime of +Miss Aldridge, had found her out, had touched her heart by a kindness +evidently genuine, and had prevailed upon her to go and make her home in +the deserted house, which, Mrs. Higgs said, had been intended for her by +her late master.</p> + +<p>In the empty house they found that an entrance had been made into the +adjoining warehouse, which had been used by a gang of thieves as a +hiding-place for stolen goods. In the little front shop these ingenious +persons had fashioned an ingenious hiding-place by hollowing out a +tunnel to the river. Into this tunnel the water flowed at high tide; but +when the tide was low an entrance could be effected from the river, by +which the thieves could pass in and out, and in which they could safely +deposit, in a chest in the slimy earth, property too valuable to be left +above ground.</p> + +<p>Carrie explained how Mrs. Higgs fraternized with the thieves, before she +herself guessed who they were, and how she had got used to them before +she learned their character, though not before she had grown suspicious +about them. How she had seen Dudley with Mrs. Higgs, without knowing who +he was, and how she had set him down as a suspicious character from the +furtive manner of his visits. How she herself posted the two letters, +the one to Edward Jacobs and the other to Dudley, which brought them to +the place on the same day. How she herself was sent out of the way on +that occasion, and returned in time to witness, through the hole in the +floor above, the stooping over the body by Dudley, and his drawing back +covered with blood, which she took for the actual murder. How Mrs. Higgs +and Dudley had then left the house together, while she was too sick with +fright to move. How she had remained outside the house until she saw +Max; and how, when he was gone, and Mrs. Higgs had come back, she found +that the manner of the supposed old woman had changed toward her and +grown unbearably cruel and harsh. How she had been left for days and +nights by herself, until she resolved to bear it no longer. And how, +when Mrs. Higgs had sent her to Dudley's chambers with the message about +Dick Barker, she had told her never to come back again.</p> + +<p>Carrie added that she herself had always been treated with kindness, not +only by the gang, of whom, indeed, they saw little, but by such of the +men and boys on the barges which came to the wharf as knew her, and +"winked" at her unauthorized tenancy of the deserted house.</p> + +<p>In broad daylight, in the company of half a dozen policemen, Max and +Dudley revisited the house together. They found the holes in the wall +through which "Mrs. Higgs" took stock of Max on the occasion of his +first visit; they tested the ingenious device by means of which the +middle boards in the front shop could be made to fall and deposit +anything laid upon them in the tunnel beneath. They found the hole in +which Mrs. Higgs had stepped, and the pole which had been used to +underpin the middle boards. This hole extended under the floor of the +kitchen, so that by creeping under the flooring from the one room to the +other the pole could be withdrawn or replaced without the knowledge of a +person in the front room.</p> + +<p>This final discovery explained to Max the manner in which the body of +Jacobs had been made to disappear while he himself was in the room with +it.</p> + +<p>The gang, of which the illustrious Dick Barker had formed one, had +wisely disappeared, never to return.</p> + +<p>But one day, when Carrie, in her nurse's dress, was walking along Oxford +Street, in the company of Max, to whom, with Mr. Wedmore's permission, +she was now engaged, she felt a hand in her pocket, and turning quickly, +found that she was having her purse stolen, "for auld lang syne," by +Dick Barker.</p> + +<p>Max recognized in the well-dressed young man, with the low type of face, +the man whom he had once supposed to be his rival.</p> + +<p>As Dick promptly disappeared, Carrie and Max looked at each other, and +the girl burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Max, if it hadn't been for you—" whispered she, as she dried her +eyes quickly and hurried on with him.</p> + +<p>"And, oh, Carrie, if it hadn't been for you—" whispered Max back, as he +took her into the shop of the Hungarian Bread Company, and made her have +a cup of tea.</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 16092 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |