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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38181-8.txt b/38181-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5e8cb7 --- /dev/null +++ b/38181-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12179 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Woman Perfected, by Richard Marsh + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Woman Perfected + +Author: Richard Marsh + +Release Date: December 1, 2011 [EBook #38181] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN PERFECTED *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=ezkPAAAAQAAJ + + 2. The dipthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + A Woman Perfected + + + + + + + _By the same Author_ + + + THE ROMANCE OF A MAID OF HONOUR + ADA VERNHAM, ACTRESS + CURIOS: SOME STRANGE ADVENTURES OF TWO BACHELORS + MRS. MUSGRAVE AND HER HUSBAND + MISS ARNOTT'S MARRIAGE + THE MAGNETIC GIRL + CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG LADY + THE GARDEN OF MYSTERY + UNDER ONE FLAG + + + JOHN LONG, Publisher, London + + + + + + + A Woman Perfected + + + + By + + Richard Marsh + + + + "Earth's noblest thing, a woman perfected" + + + + London + John Long + Norris Street, Haymarket + [_All Rights Reserved_] + + + + + + _First published in_ 1907 + + + + + Contents + + + CHAPTER + + I. Stricken. + + II. The Open Window. + + III. Little by Little. + + IV. The Avernian Slope. + + V. Peter Piper's Popular Pills. + + VI. Her Love Story. + + VII. The Puzzle which Donald Lindsay left behind him. + + VIII. A Philanthropist. + + IX. The Butler. + + X. The Earl and the Countess. + + XI. Robert. + + XII. In the Wood. + + XIII. Lovers' Tiffs. + + XIV. The Parting of the Ways. + + XV. 'So Early in the Morning.' + + XVI. GULDENHEIM. + + XVII. Nora goes. + + XVIII. Miss Gibb. + + XIX. A Young Lady in Search of a Living. + + XX. King Solomon. + + XXI. Nora Finds Something to do. + + XXII. Master and Man. + + XXIII. A Jobbing Secretary. + + XXIV. Mr. Morgan's Experiences of the Unexpected. + + XXV. On their Honeymoon. + + XXVI. An Offer of Friendship. + + XXVII. A Royal Road to Fortune. + + XXVIII. To be--or not to be--Postponed. + + XXIX. In Joseph Oldfield's Flat. + + XXX. When Thieves fall out. + + XXXI. Husband and Wife. + + XXXII. A Forgotten Coat. + + XXXIII. The Autograph Album. + + XXXIV. Unto the Light. + + XXXV. Bread upon the Waters. + + + + + + A Woman Perfected + + + + + CHAPTER I + + STRICKEN + + +Donald Lindsay was prostrated by a stroke of apoplexy on Thursday, +April 3. It was surmised that the immediate cause was mental. He +arrived home apparently physically well, but in a state of what, for +him, was a state of unusual agitation. As a rule he was a dour man; +much given to silence; self-contained. At that time there was staying +at Cloverlea, with his daughter Nora, a school-friend, Elaine Harding. +During lunch both girls were struck by his unusual talkativeness. +Often during a meal he would hardly open his lips for any other +purpose except eating and drinking. That morning he talked volubly to +both girls on all sorts of subjects. After lunch Nora said laughingly +to Elaine-- + +"I wonder what's the matter with papa. I don't know when I remember +him so conversational." + +He put in no appearance at tea; but as that was a common occurrence +his absence went unnoticed. When, however, the gong having sounded for +dinner, the girls were waiting for him in the drawing-room, and still +he did not come, Nora sent a servant to his dressing-room to inquire +if he would be long. The man returned to say that his master was +neither in his dressing-room nor his bedroom; that he had spent the +afternoon in his study, from which no one had seen him issue; that the +study door was locked, and knockings went unheeded. Nora, opening a +French window in the drawing-room, went along the terrace towards the +study. + +The study opened on to the terrace. It had two long windows. At +neither of them were the blinds down or the curtains drawn. It was +elicited afterwards that the servant whose duty it was to attend to +such matters had knocked at the door when the shadows lowered. On +turning the handle, he found that it was locked; Mr. Lindsay informed +him from within that he would draw the blinds himself. It seemed that +he had not done so. The room was in darkness, with the exception of +the flicker of the firelight. Nora said to Miss Harding, who had +followed at her heels-- + +"Whatever does papa want with a fire on a day like this?" All that +week the weather had been not only warm, but positively hot. There had +been one of those hot spells which we sometimes get in April; and, as +frequently, have to do without in August. Save in the evenings and +early mornings fires had remained unlit in all the living rooms. That +Thursday had been the hottest day of all. Mr. Lindsay was one of those +persons who seldom felt the cold, but quickly suffered from the heat. +He preferred to be without a fire in his own apartments when the rest +of the establishment was glad enough to be within reach of a cheerful +blaze. That there should be one in his study on such a day as that +struck his daughter as strange. She stood close up to the window, her +friend at her side. "The room seems empty." + +"It is empty," said Miss Harding. Nora knocked, without result. +"What's the use of knocking? There's no one there." Nora tried the +handle first of one window, then of the other; both were fastened. +"What's the use?" asked Miss Harding. "Any one can see that the room +is empty. There's light enough for that." + +At that moment the fire flared up in such a way that all the room +within was lit by its radiance; so clearly lit as to make it plain +that it had no occupant. + +"But," observed Nora, "if it's empty why should the door be locked? +Papa never leaves it locked when he's not inside." + +Two figures approached through the darkness. In front was the +housekeeper, Mrs. Steele. + +"Miss Nora," she began, "you'd better go indoors. I'm afraid there's +something wrong." + +"Why should I go indoors?" the girl demanded. "And what can be wrong? +We can see all over the room; we saw plainly just now, didn't we, +Elaine? There's no one there." + +"Your father's there," said Mrs. Steele. + +Her tone was grim. Before Nora could ask how she knew that, there was +a crash of glass. Looking round with a start she found that Stephen +Morgan, the butler, had broken a pane in the other window. + +"Morgan," she cried, "what are you doing?" + +"This is the shortest way in," he answered. + +He thrust his arm through the broken pane; lifted the hasp; the window +was open. He went through it. Nora was following when she was checked +by Mrs. Steele. + +"Miss Nora," she persisted, "you had better go indoors." + +"I am going indoors; isn't this indoors? If, as you put it, there is +something wrong, who is more concerned than I?" All four entered. +Morgan, who had passed round to the other side of the large +writing-table, which was in the centre of the room, gave a sudden +exclamation. Nora hurried round to where he was. Some one was lying +huddled up on the floor; as if, slipping awkwardly out of his chair, +he had lain helplessly where he had fallen. Nora dropped on her knees +by his side. "Papa!" she cried. "Father!" + +No one answered. Morgan lit the lamp which always stood on Mr. +Lindsay's writing-table. In the days which followed Nora often had +occasion to ask herself what, exactly, happened next. She was +conscious that in the room there was a strong smell of burnt paper; +always, afterwards, when her nostrils were visited by the odour of +charred paper that scene came back to her. The cause of the smell was +not far to seek; the hearth was full of ashes. Evidently Mr. Lindsay +had been burning papers on a wholesale scale; apparently for that +reason he had had a fire; Nora had a vague impression--which recurred +to her, later, again and again--that many of the papers were only +partially consumed. The room was littered with papers; they were all +over the table; on chairs, on the floor; drawers stood open, papers +peeped out of them; which was the more remarkable since Mr. Lindsay +was the soul of neatness. Plainly the finger of God had touched him +when he was still in the midst of the task which he had set himself. +There came a time when Nora had reason to wish that she had retained +her self-possession sufficiently to give instructions that all papers, +both burnt and unburnt, were to be left exactly as they were; and had +taken steps to ensure those instructions being carried out. But at the +moment all she thought of was her father. He was not dead; his +stertorous breathing was proof of that. They carried him up-stairs; +undressed him, put him to bed, who an hour or two before had been the +hale, strong man; who had never known what it was to be sick; who had +so loved to do everything for himself. + +Apoplexy was Dr. Banyard's pronouncement, when he appeared upon the +scene; though there were features about the case which induced him to +fall in readily with Nora's suggestion that a specialist should be +sent for from town. The great man arrived in the middle of the night. +When he saw Nora he was sententious but vague, as great doctors are +apt to be; the girl gathered from his manner that the worst was to be +feared. + +On the following day, the Friday, towards evening, Mr. Lindsay +partially regained consciousness--that is, he opened his eyes, and +when his child leaned over him it was plain he knew her, though he got +no further than the mere recognition. He could neither speak, nor +move, nor do anything for himself at all. That night Nora dreamed + a dream. She dreamed that her father came into her room in his +night-shirt, and leaned over her, and whispered that he had something +to say to her--which he must say to her; but which was for her ear +alone--he was just about to tell her what it was when she woke up. So +strong had the conviction of his actual presence been that for some +moments she could not believe that it was a dream; she started up in +bed fully expecting to find him standing by her side. When she found +that he was not close enough to touch she leaned out of bed, +murmuring-- + +"Father! father!" + +It was only after she had lit a candle that she was constrained to the +belief that it was a dream. Even then she was incredulous. She +actually carried her candle to the door, and looked out into the +passage, half expecting to see him passing along it. When she returned +into her room she was in a curious condition, both mentally and +bodily. She trembled so that she had to sink on to a chair. Then she +did what she had not done for years--she cried. If she had had to say +what prompted her tears, her explanation would have been a curious +one; she would have had to say that she cried because of her father's +grief; that it was his anguish which moved her to tears. Dream or no +dream, what had struck her about him, as he leaned over her as she lay +in bed, was his agony. In all the years she had known him she had +never known him show signs of emotion; yet, as he leant over her she +had felt, even in her sleep, that he was under the stress of some +terrible trouble; that he wished to say to her what he had to say so +much that his anxiety to say it was tearing at the very roots of his +being. It was some minutes before she regained her self-control; when +she did she slipped on a dressing-gown and went to her father's room. +The night nurse answered her unspoken question by informing her that +no change had taken place; that the sick man was just as he had been. +Nora moved to his bed. There he lay, on his back, exactly as before. +She had the feeling strong upon her that he had heard her coming; +that, in some strange fashion, he was glad to see her; though, when +she stood beside him, he looked up at her with such agony in his eyes +that the sight of it brought tears to hers. Again there came to her +that odd conviction which had possessed her when she woke out of +sleep, that there was something which he strenuously wished to say to +her; that he was torn by the desire to relieve himself of a burden +which was on his mind. + +On the Saturday his condition remained the same; he was conscious but +motionless, helpless, and, above all, speechless. So convinced was she +that if he could only speak, if only some means could be found by +which he could convey his thoughts to her, that he would be more at +his ease, that she appealed to Dr. Banyard. + +"Can nothing be done to restore to him the power of speech, if only +for a few minutes?" + +"I believe that I am doing all that medicine can do; you heard Sir +Masterman say that he could do no more." + +"Can you think of no way in which he can convey to us his meaning? +I believe that he has something which he wishes very much to +say--something on his mind; and that if he could only say it--get it +off his mind--he would at least be happier." + +The doctor eyed her shrewdly. + +"Have you any notion what it is?" + +"Not the slightest. If I had I might prompt him, and get at it that +way. But my father has never been very communicative with me; I know +nothing of his private affairs--absolutely nothing; I only know that +he is my father." + +"Have you any other relations?" + +"So far as I know only an aunt, his sister. I have never seen her--I +don't think they have been on good terms; I don't know her address; I +believe she lives abroad." + +"Had your mother no relations?" + +"I cannot tell you; I know nothing of my mother--she died when I was +born. I have been wondering if what he wishes to say is that, if--if +the worst comes, he would like to be buried in her grave. I don't know +where her grave is; he has never spoken of her to me." + +The doctor continued to eye her intently. He had a clever face, with a +whimsical mouth, which seemed to be a little on one side; his eyes +were deep-set, and were surrounded by a thick thatch of iron-grey +hair. + +"How old are you?" + +"I shall be twenty in June." + +"That's a ripe age." + +She sighed. + +"I feel as if I were a hundred." + +"You don't look it; however, that's by the way. At such a time as +this, Miss Lindsay, you ought not to be alone in this great house, +with all the weight upon your shoulders." + +"I'm not alone; Elaine is with me." + +"Yes; and she--is even older than you." + +"Elaine is twenty-four." + +"I don't doubt it. If you're a hundred I should say that she is a +thousand." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Nothing." But she felt that he had meant something; she wondered +what. He went on. "What I intended to remark was that I think you +ought to have some one with you who would give proper attention to +your interests. As it is, you are practically at the mercy of a lot of +servants and--and others. Hasn't your father an old friend, in whom +you yourself have confidence--a business friend? By the way, who is +his man of business--his lawyer?" + +She shook her head. + +"If father has any friends I don't know them. He has never been very +sociable with anybody about here; I can't say what old acquaintances +he may have had elsewhere. As you are probably aware, he was +frequently away." + +"Did you never go with him?" + +"Never--never once. I have never been with my father anywhere out of +this immediate neighbourhood, except when I first went to school, when +he escorted me." + +"But you always knew where he was?" + +"Sometimes; not always." + +"Had he an address in town?" + +"Only his club, so far as I know." + +"Which was his club?" + +"The Carlton." + +"That sounds good enough. Did you use to write to him there?" + +"Not often; he only liked me to write to him when I had something of +importance to say. He cared neither for reading nor for writing +letters. He once told me that there were a lot of women who seemed to +have nothing better to do than waste their own and other people's time +by scribbling a lot of nonsense, which they cut up into lengths, sent +through the post, and called letters. He hoped I should never become +one of them. I remembered what he said, and never troubled him with +one of the 'lengths' called letters if I could help it." + +Both of them smiled; only the doctor's was a whimsical smile, and hers +was hardly suggestive of mirth. + +"You haven't told me who his lawyer is." + +"The only lawyer I ever heard him mention was Mr. Nash." + +"Nash? He only employed him in little local jobs; in no sense was he +his man of business; I've reasons for knowing that his opinion of +Herbert Nash's legal ability is not an unduly high one." + +As before, Nora shook her head. + +"He is the only lawyer I ever heard papa mention." + +"But, my dear Miss Lindsay, your father is a man of affairs--of +wealth; he lives here at the rate of I don't know how many thousand +pounds a year, and has never owed a man a penny; you must know +something of his affairs." + +"All I know is that he has always given me all the money I wanted, and +not seldom more than I wanted; I have never had to ask him for any; +but beyond that I know nothing." + +When Dr. Banyard got home he said to his wife-- + +"Helen, if I had to define a male criminal lunatic, I am inclined to +think that I should say it was a man who brought up his women-folk in +the lap of luxury without giving them the faintest inkling as to where +the wherewithal to pay for that luxury came from." + +His wife said mischievously-- + +"It is at least something for women-folk, as you so gracefully +describe the salt of the earth, to be brought up in the lap of luxury; +please remember that, sir. And pray what prompts this last +illustration of the wisdom of the modern Solomon?" + +"That man Lindsay; you know how he's been a mystery to all the +country-side; the hints which have been dropped; the guesses which +have been made; the clues which the curious have followed, ending in +nothing; the positive libels which have been uttered. It turns out +that he's as much a mystery to his own daughter as he is to anybody +else; I've just had it from her own lips. The man lies dying, leaving +her in complete ignorance of everything she ought to know--at the +mercy, not impossibly, of those who do know. Just as God is calling +him home he wants to tell her; I can see it in his eyes, and so can +she; but he is dumb. Unless a miracle is worked he'll die silent, +longing to tell her what he ought to have told her years ago." + + + + + CHAPTER II + + THE OPEN WINDOW + + +On the Sunday Donald Lindsay died, in the afternoon, about half-past +four; probably about the time, Dr. Banyard said, when he had first +been stricken. Although, apparently, conscious to the last, he died +speechless, without being able to do anything to relieve himself of +the burden which lay upon his mind; a burden which, it seemed not +improbable, had been the first cause of the fate which had so suddenly +overtaken him. To Nora the blow was, of course, a bad one; when she +realized that her father was dead it seemed as if all the light had +gone out of the world for her. And yet, in the nature of things, it +was impossible that she should feel for him the affection which +sometimes associates the parent with the child. He himself had scoffed +at love; sentiment, he had repeatedly told her, was the thing in life +which was to be most avoided; he had illustrated his meaning in his +own practice. He had never been unkind, but he had certainly never +been tender; so far as she was aware he had never kissed her in his +life; on those rare occasions on which she had ventured to kiss him he +had brushed her aside as if she had been guilty of some folly. His +attitude towards her was one of more or less genial indifference. He +had provided her with a beautiful home; he had bought Cloverlea, as he +was careful to inform her, for her, and in it he left her very much +alone. He supplied her liberally with money, and there he seemed to +think his duty towards her ended. She was welcome to have any +companions she chose; he asked no questions about her comings and her +goings; took no sort of interest in the young women of her own age +whom, at rare intervals, she induced to stay with her. He made no +attempt whatever to find for her a place in local, or any other, +society; yet, unaided, she began, by degrees, to occupy a somewhat +prominent place on the local horizon. + +Living in one of the finest places in the neighbourhood, with horses +and carriages at her disposal, and even, latterly, motor cars; +possessed of a sufficiency of ready money, it was hardly likely that +she should remain unnoticed; her father's peculiarities threw her, if +anything, into bolder relief. There was not a house for miles in which +she was not a welcome visitor, and for this she had, largely, to thank +herself. Not only was she good to look at, she was good to be with; +she had that indefinable thing, charm. Not all the pens which ever +wrote could make clear to Us the secret of a young girl's charm. +Whilst she was still the mistress of Cloverlea her father seemed to be +the only living creature who remained impervious to its magic +influence; afterwards--that influence waned. On the Sunday on which +her father died she was left alone with her grief; but on the Monday +morning Dr. Banyard called and insisted on her seeing him. His manner, +while it was brusque, was sympathetic. + +"Now, my dear young lady," he began, almost as soon as she was in the +room, "what you have first of all to remember is that you, at any +rate, are still alive, and likely, in all human probability, to remain +so for some considerable time to come; your first duty therefore, +towards yourself, and towards your father, is to see that your +interests are properly safeguarded." + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"Then I will endeavour to make myself clear. I believe you are engaged +to be married." + +"You know I am." + +"Where, at the present moment, is Mr. Spencer?" + +"He is on his way home from Cairo, where he has been staying with his +aunt, Lady Jane Carruthers, who is ill." + +"Does he know what has happened?" + +"I don't quite know where he is. When he last wrote he told me that he +was going to take what he called an 'after-cure' in Italy "--she +smiled, as if at some thought of her own--"but he entered into no +particulars, and until I hear from him again I don't quite know where +he's to be found; all I do know is that he's to be home before the +first of May." + +"As things stand, that's some distance ahead. I believe that his +father and mother, the Earl and Countess, are also absent." She +nodded. "You say you don't know who was your father's man of business; +then who is there to whom you feel yourself entitled to turn for the +kind of assistance of which you stand in such imperative need, at +once; certainly in the course of to-day?" + +"There's Elaine." + +"You mean Miss Harding?" It was his turn to smile. "I'm afraid she's +not the kind of person I'm thinking of; though I do not for a moment +doubt her cleverness. She suffers from one disqualification; she's not +a man. What you want is a dependable, and thoroughly capable lawyer." + +"There's Mr. Nash." + +"Mr. Nash is, again, hardly the sort of person you're in want of. To +begin with, he's too young, has too little experience; it was only the +other day he qualified--with difficulty." + +"He has been qualified more than three years; he did a good many +things for papa." + +"Yes, but what kind of things? Not the kind which will have to be done +for you; and I happen to know that what he did he bungled." + +"I believe he's coming here to-day." + +"Have you sent for him?" + +"I haven't; but Elaine came into my room this morning and asked if she +should, and I believe she has." + +"Miss Harding sent for him?" The doctor eyed her intently for a +moment; then, turning, he went to the window and looked out; presently +he spoke to her from there. "And do you propose to give Herbert Nash +the run of your father's papers?" + +"I don't know what I propose to do; I haven't thought about it at all; +I want him to do what he can to help me; I don't feel as if I could do +very much to help myself." + +"Is it any use my saying that I can give you the name of a well-known +firm of family lawyers; and that you have only to send them a wire, +and before the day is over you'll have one of the best men in +England--in every sense--on the premises, making your interests his +own?" + +"Elaine seemed to think that Mr. Nash has only to glance through some +of my father's papers to discover who my father's man of business +really was, and that then all we shall have to do will be to +communicate with him." + +"I see; there's something in that--Miss Harding has her wits about +her. Do you know what time Mr. Nash is coming?" + +"I don't--Elaine sent the message, if one was sent, and of that I'm +not certain; anyhow I don't know what arrangements she has made." + +"Would you mind inquiring?" + +"I'll ask her to come here, then you can inquire yourself." + +The bell was rung, and presently Miss Harding appeared. She was short +and slight; with dark hair, big dark eyes, a dainty little mouth, and +very red lips. She made at once for Nora, ignoring the doctor, who was +still standing by the window. + +"They tell me that you want me." + +"It isn't I, it's Dr. Banyard; he wants to know if you have sent to +Mr. Nash; and, if so, at what time he's coming." + +Miss Harding opened her big eyes wider, which was a trick she had. + +"Dr. Banyard wants to know?--why does Dr. Banyard want to know?" + +"That I cannot tell you; you had better ask him; here he is. Is Mr. +Nash coming?" + +"Of course he's coming, but he doesn't seem to know quite when; it +seems he has some sort of case on at the police court." + +"I know; he's defending that young scoundrel, Gus Peters, who's been +robbing his master." + +This was the doctor; Miss Harding turned to him. + +"Is the gentleman you call Gus Peters a scoundrel?" + +"Isn't a fellow who robs his master a scoundrel?" + +"Has it been proved that he robbed his master?" + +"It's a matter of common notoriety." + +"Common notoriety is not infrequently a liar. However, that's not the +point; I suppose Mr. Nash will do his duty to his client in any case, +and he'll come here as soon as he's done it." + +"I'd wait for him if I could, but I have to go my round; I'll look in +afterwards on the off-chance of finding him; there's something I +particularly wish to say to him. I fancy the magistrates, in spite of +Mr. Nash, will make short work of Mr. Peters." + +After the doctor had gone Miss Harding said to Miss Lindsay, + +"Nora, dear, don't you think that Dr. Banyard is inclined to be a +little interfering?" + +"It has never struck me that he was." + +"It has struck me, more than once. But then I think that G.P.s are apt +to be interfering; they hope, by having a finger in everybody's pie, +to get a plum out of each. Dr. Banyard doesn't like Mr. Nash, does +he?" + +"He has never told me that he doesn't." + +"Has he never breathed words to the same effect?" + +"He has certainly hinted that he doesn't think much of Mr. Nash's +legal abilities; but then who does?" + +"I do." + +"Really, Elaine?" + +"Really, Nora. I believe that if he's truly interested in a person he +can do as much for that person as anybody else--perhaps more." + +"Possibly; but is he ever truly interested in anybody but himself?" + +Miss Harding was silent for an instant; then she smiled rather oddly. + +"Entirely between ourselves, Nora, that's what I wonder." + +She had cause to. + +It happened on the Thursday evening on which Mr. Lindsay was taken +ill, that Elaine Harding was left with nothing to do, and no one to do +it with. It is true that, had she insisted, she might have made +herself of use in some way; but, as she herself admitted, she was no +good when there was illness about. Indeed, she was one of those +persons--though this she kept to herself--who shrunk from suffering in +any form with a sort of instinctive physical repugnance. She only +needed half-a-hint to the effect that her services were not required, +and she was ready to give the sick-room as wide a berth as any one +could possibly require. To be plain, she was disposed to regard Mr. +Lindsay's attack almost as if it had been an injury to herself. Had +she been perfectly free, she would have packed up her boxes and left +the house within the hour; it would have been better for her if she +had. The idea of having to remain under the same roof with a man who +was suffering from an apoplectic stroke was horrid; but, at the same +time, there were reasons, of divers sorts, why she should not flee +from the dearest friend she had in the world at the first sign of +trouble. + +Instead of packing up her boxes she dined alone, off food which had +been ruined by being kept waiting. That was another grievance. She did +like good food, perfectly cooked. She was conscious that the servants +were regarding her askance, as if they were surprised that she should +dine at all; that also was annoying. When she rose from table she was +in quite a bad temper--what Mr. Lindsay meant by falling ill when she +was in the house she could not imagine. The solitude of the empty +drawing-room was appalling. The French window still stood open; better +the solitude of the grounds than that great bare chamber. She went out +on to the terrace. It was a lovely night, warmer than many nights in +June. There was not a cloud in the sky. A moon, almost at the full, +lighted the world with her silver glory. She looked about her. +Suddenly she perceived that a light was shining out upon the terrace +from what was evidently an uncurtained window. She remembered; no +doubt it was the lamp in Mr. Lindsay's study, the lamp which Morgan +had lit; in that case the window must still be open. She went to see; +her slight form moved along the terrace with something stealthy in its +movements, as if she was ashamed of what she was doing. She reached +the study; it was as she supposed; the lamp was lit, the window was +open, the room was empty. She was seized by what she would afterwards +have described as a sudden access of curiosity. She glanced over her +shoulder, to left and right; there was no one in sight; not a sound. +She put her dainty head inside the window, to indulge herself with +just one peep; after all, there is very little harm in innocent +peeping; then she passed into the room. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + LITTLE BY LITTLE + + +It was just as it was when its owner had been stricken down; in the +same state of disorder. Cupboards yawned; drawers were open; letters +and papers were everywhere; a fire still smouldered in the grate; the +hearth was littered with the ashes of burned and half-burned papers; +everywhere were indications that Mr. Lindsay had been interrupted, +possibly just as he was setting his house in order. Glancing round her +Elaine perceived that the door which led into the passage was open, +though only an inch or two; probably it had been left unlatched when +they bore the master through it. Moving lightly, on tiptoe, she shut +it, noiselessly; but she made sure she had shut it fast. She even laid +her small fingers about the handle of the key, seeming to hesitate +whether or not to turn it; then, smiling, as if at the absurdity of +the notion, she returned towards the centre of the room; standing for +some seconds glancing about her in all directions, as if in search of +something which it might be worth her while to look at; a pretty, +dainty, girlish figure, herself the one thing in the whole room which +was best worth looking at. + +By degrees her quick, bright eyes, roving hither and thither, reached +the writing-table in the centre, by which its owner had been sitting +when he had slipped from off his chair; instantly they noted something +which gleamed amid the litter of papers with which it was covered. +Moving a little towards it she saw that there were coins on a little +oasis about the centre; quite a heap of them--gold coins. On the top +of them was half-a-sheet of note-paper. Going close to the table she +picked this half-sheet up, gingerly, as if it were dangerous to touch. +As a matter of fact to her, at that moment, a dynamite bomb could not +have been more charged with peril. On the piece of paper were some +figures--"£127"--nothing more. She knew that the writing was Mr. +Lindsay's. Evidently he had been counting the coins, and had made a +note upon that slip of paper of the value they represented; there were +one hundred and twenty-seven pounds in gold. + +Elaine Harding was poor. Her father was the vicar of a parish in the +West of England. His parish was large; his family was large; but his +income was small. His wife had died some three years ago, worn out by +her efforts to make a pound do the work of at least thirty shillings. +Elaine had been sent to an expensive school by a relation; there she +had met Nora Lindsay. Just as the time came for her to be leaving +school the relation died. It had been expected that he would have done +something to establish her in life; had he lived he probably would +have done; as it was he left her nothing. So he had done her harm +instead of good; that expensive school filled her with notions which +might never have got into her head had it not been for him; a +fashionable boarding-school is a bad school for a poor man's daughter. +Ever since she had left it she had been discontented, inwardly if not +outwardly, for nature had made her one of those persons who always, if +they can, show a smiling face to the world. Nora Lindsay had been her +chief solace. She never refused Nora's invitations to pay her a visit, +and when at Cloverlea stayed as long as she could; indeed, she had +been there so much just lately, during Mr. Lindsay's almost continual +absences, that she knew the people round about almost as well as Nora +did herself. She allowed Nora to make her presents; she would have +been hard put to it if Nora had not had promptings in that direction. +And then the girl had such a pretty way of giving, as if she were +receiving a favour instead of bestowing one, that Elaine had no +difficulty in preserving her dignity in face of the most delicate +donations. Yet in spite of Nora's generosity she was always in need of +money; there were special reasons why she was very much in need of it +just now. Only the night before she had spent nearly an hour on her +knees praying to God to show her some way to the cash she stood so +much in want of; and now here were one hundred and twenty-seven pounds +in gold at her finger-tips. + +It could hardly be called an answer to her prayer. It is said that +prayers are heard in two places, in heaven and in hell; Elaine +realized with a sudden, shrinking terror that this answer must have +come from hell. The owner of that money was up-stairs, dying; she +believed that he was dying, speechless; she thought it possible that +he might never be able to speak again, this side the grave. The +chances were that he was the only person living who knew that that +money was where it was. It was hardly likely that he would ever +again be able to refer to its existence; she might, therefore, safely +regard it as--what? Say, treasure-trove; it was a convenient word, +treasure-trove; especially as she was placed. One hundred and +twenty-seven pounds! in gold! no one would ever be able to trace it! +ever! + +Her eyes, which had opened wider and wider, having in them a very +singular look, a look which would have startled her had they suddenly +glared back at her from a mirror, wandered from the heap of gold coins +to a bag, a canvas bag--a good-sized canvas bag, stuffed, apparently, +to repletion, tied round the top with red tape; the kind of bag, she +was aware, which is used by bankers to contain coin. She touched it, +lightly, with her finger-tips; there were coins inside, undoubtedly; +she could see them bulging through the canvas. She picked it up, again +gingerly, as if, if she did not observe great care, it might explode +in her hand; it had been better for her, perhaps, if it had. It was +heavy, heavier than she had expected; wedged full of money. Beneath it +there was another half-sheet of writing-paper; on it, in Donald +Lindsay's writing, was what was probably a statement of what the bag +contained--"£500." Five hundred pounds! obviously again in gold! She +could feel the sovereigns! and the one person who knew of its +existence dumb and dying! + +What was the matter with Elaine? The sheet of paper fell from her +hand. She reeled as if attacked by sudden vertigo; she leaned against +the table as if to save herself from falling; she went quite white; +she stared about her as if afraid. Six hundred and twenty-seven pounds +in gold! ownerless! practically ownerless, for how could it be said to +have an owner when the only creature who knew of its existence was +dumb and dying? Six hundred and twenty-seven pounds! what might not +that money mean to her?--and--and to some one else who had grown of +late to be almost more to her than herself? She turned again to clutch +at it; when she saw that on the writing-table there still was +something else; a roll of notes, enclosed in a rubber band; banknotes, +if she could believe her eyes. She picked them up, to make sure; +heedlessly, fearlessly this time; the other things had proved so +innocuous that, already, she had grown careless. They were bank-notes, +unmistakably; and beneath them, was the inevitable half-sheet of +paper. This time it was covered with quite an array of figures, in +Donald Lindsay's neat handwriting. Seemingly, according to those +figures, the roll of notes contained forty at £5, fifty at £10, +twenty-five at £20, six at £50, ten at £100; in all one hundred and +twenty-one notes of the value of £2500. The numbers were given of +every note of each denomination; Elaine's quick eyes perceived that +the numbers were by no means consecutive, from which she deduced that +they had not been issued from a bank all at one time, but had come +together at different dates, from various quarters. + +She perceived on the instant that the discovery of that roll gave the +situation quite a different character; she herself was conscious of +being surprised at the rapidity with which her brain was working. One +hundred and twenty pounds, even six hundred and twenty pounds in gold, +was one thing; two thousand five hundred pounds in notes was quite +another; the one might provide for her immediate necessities, with +the other she might be secure for life. Properly invested the +whole sum ought to bring her in three pounds a week--for ever; she +believed she knew of an investment in which it might bring her more +than that; much more. The point was, would it be safe to treat that +as--treasure-trove? She was inclined to think it would. Probably the +existence of the entire amount was known only to the dying man, if he +was dying. There was, of course, the risk that he might come back to +life again, in which case it might be awkward. But some ghoul-like +intuition told her that she might dismiss that possibility from her +mind; some dreadful voice within proclaimed that he was as good as +dead already; in some horrible way she was sure of it. It was a +heterogeneous gathering, that roll of notes; probably their owner +himself could not have told how most of them came into his possession. +The only record of their identity was on that sheet of paper; if that +vanished there was nothing by which they could be identified; that +seemed pretty obvious. The devil whispered that it would be just as +safe to take the notes as to take the gold; and she knew that she +would run no risk by taking that. + +There was still one point to be considered; she was clear-sighted and +logical enough to be aware of that. If Donald Lindsay was dying then +this money was, in all human probability, his child's, who was the +dearest friend she had in the world, Nora. She loved Nora, really +loved her; she was always telling herself that she really loved her. +Then Nora had done her nothing but kindnesses; how great some of those +kindnesses were only she and Nora knew. The idea that she would allow +any one to rob Nora was monstrous; that she should rob her herself was +inconceivable. Had any one accused her of being capable of such base +ingratitude even then she would have repudiated the charge with honest +indignation; nothing would ever induce her to do anything which could +injure Nora. She knew herself well enough to be assured of that. And +then she glozed the thing over with one of those patent glosses which +the devil provides when the occasion needs them. + +She argued this way; if her father died then Nora would be a rich +woman, immensely rich; rich, possibly, beyond the dreams of avarice. +She would never miss such a detail as, say, three thousand pounds; +such a sum would be a trifle to her, a nothing; especially if she +never knew that the sum had ever existed. There was that to be borne +in mind; we do not miss what we never had, especially if we do not +know it ever was. And in the case of a rich woman like Nora, with +twenty, thirty, forty, perhaps fifty thousand pounds a year, perhaps +even more, in such an income there were bound to be leakages; through +one of them such a drop in the ocean as three thousand pounds might +easily slip, and no one even be aware of it, least of all would the +knowledge ever come to Nora, or touch her in any way. No; certainly +darling Nora would suffer no injury if what was on the writing-table +was regarded as treasure-trove. + +At the same time far be it from her--Elaine--to do anything which +could be regarded by any one as in the slightest degree unworthy. She +was seized with a sudden access of virtue. Take the money--she! Sully +her fingers by even touching it! who dare hint that she could do a +thing like that! The idea was really too ridiculous; it was not to be +taken seriously. It only showed what notions came to people when money +was left about. She had always maintained that it was wrong to leave +money about. Mr. Lindsay ought to have known better, putting +temptation in some weak-minded person's way; she did not stop to +consider that for that he could hardly be held responsible. What she +had to do was to see that temptation was removed; some servant might +stray into the room, and then what might not happen? The least she +could do was to see that the money was put out of sight, in a drawer, +or anywhere. She glanced about her, and was struck by a rather curious +notion. The door of a bookcase stood wide open. A book had obviously +been taken down from one of the shelves; a large volume, one of a set; +there it lay by her elbow on the table. She looked at it, without +clearly apprehending what the title was; she had a vague idea that in +it was something about law. Here was the very hiding-place she wanted; +no thief would be tempted to take money which was snugly hidden behind +a great book like that, if only for the simple reason that he would +never know that it was there. She slipped the loose gold into a big +blue envelope; then she placed it, and the canvas bag, and the roll of +notes, on that shelf in the bookcase. It so chanced that while the +backs of the set of books were plumb with the front of the shelf they +did not go right against the wall, so that there was space enough +behind them to enable her, after a little manipulation, to do what she +desired. When the volume had been returned to its place there was +nothing whatever to show that behind it were more than three thousand +pounds in notes and gold. She surveyed this result with satisfaction. + +"Now," she told herself, "I've removed temptation from everybody's +way." + +The three half-sheets of paper on which Mr. Lindsay had noted the +several amounts she folded up together and thrust into the bodice of +her dress; possibly she thought that they would be out of harm's way +there. She had just done this, and had shut the bookcase door, when, +in the silence which prevailed, she distinctly heard the footsteps of +some one moving in the grounds without. Instantly she blew the lamp +out, and went fluttering through the open window. So soon as she was +on the terrace she stood still to listen. Her ear had not deceived +her. Some one, not far off, was moving along a gravel path; apparently +the sound proceeded from the other side of the house. Either her +perceptions must have been very keen, or there was something unusual +about the step; though it is strange how quick the ear is to recognize +a step with which one is familiar. + +"I do believe," she told herself, "that it's his step." She ran along +to the end of the terrace; then stopped again. "It is!" she said. With +lifted skirts she tiptoed round the side of the house till she came to +where a path branched off among the trees, then, drawing herself under +their shadow, she stood and waited, smiling. The steps came nearer, +close to where she was. She moved out from under the shadow. +"Herbert!" she said. + +The man--it was a man--was evidently taken by surprise; he stepped +back so quickly that he almost stumbled. + +"By George!" he exclaimed, "what a start you gave me!" + +She laughed, half to herself. + +"Did she frighten him, the poor thing! I heard you coming ever so far +off; I knew it was you. And pray what are you doing here at this time +of night?" + +"I came upon the off-chance of getting a word with you." + +"With me--at this hour!" + +"Well, I've found you, and that's what I wanted." + +"Herbert!" She went still closer, almost as if expecting a caress; but +when he showed no inclination to take advantage of his opportunities, +she saw from his face, in the moonlight, that there was something +wrong. "My lord, what ails you?" + +"Everything; I've come up to tell you that what we were talking about +yesterday is clean off." + +"And of what were we talking--yesterday?" + +"Why, about our marriage, and all that kind of thing. I can't marry; I +don't suppose I ever shall be able to; you'd better give me the mitten +right away. To begin with, I've found out--or, rather, I've had the +fact forced upon me, that I'm in a mess." + +"What kind of mess?" + +"Money, of course; what else counts?" + +"How much?" + +"If I don't get two hundred pounds--and where am I going to get two +hundred pounds? why, I haven't as many shillings--and get it pretty +soon, I shall have to----" + +"What?" + +He had left his sentence unfinished; he gave it a conclusion which one +felt had not been originally intended. + +"Well, I shall be in Queer Street." + +He paused, and she was silent; she was thinking. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + THE AVERNIAN SLOPE + + +When she spoke again a quick observer might have noticed that in her +voice there was a new intonation. + +"Two hundred pounds is not such a very large sum." + +"Isn't it? I'm glad you think so. It's a large sum to me; a lot too +large. I've about as much chance of getting it as I have of getting +the moon. And if I did get it I shouldn't be much forwarder so far as +marriage is concerned. What's the use of my talking of marrying when I +hardly earn enough to buy myself bread and cheese? and it's as certain +as anything can be that in this place I never shall earn enough." + +"Why not?" + +"For one reason, if for no other, because in this place there's only +room for one solicitor; and old Dawson's that one. He's got all the +business that's worth having; and, what's more, he'll keep it. Now if +I could buy old Dawson out--I happen to know that he's made what he +considers pile enough for him, and would be quite willing to retire; +or even if I could buy a share in his business, he might be willing to +sell that; then it might be a case of talking; but as it is, so far as +I'm concerned, marriage is off." + +"How much would be wanted?" + +"If I could lay my hands on a thousand, or fifteen hundred pounds in +cash, then I might go to Dawson and make a proposal; but as I never +shall be able to lay my hands on it, it would be better for both of us +if we talked sense; that's what I've come for, to talk sense." + +"Does all this mean that you've found out that you made a mistake when +you told me that you loved me?" + +"It means the exact opposite; I've found out that I love you a good +deal more than I thought I did. If I didn't love you I might be +disposed to behave like a cad, and marry you out of hand; but as I do +love you I'm not taking any chances." + +"I don't quite follow your reasoning." + +"Don't you? It's clear enough to me. I'm in a hole, and because I love +you I'm not going to drag you in as well." + +"But suppose I should like to be dragged?" + +"You don't understand, or you wouldn't talk like that." + +"Shouldn't I? Don't be too certain. You are sure you love me?" + +"I love you more than I thought I could love any one, and that's the +mischief." + +"Is it? I don't agree; because, you see, I love you." + +"It's no good; I wish you didn't." + +"Do you? Then I don't. If you wanted me to, I'd marry you to-morrow." + +"Elaine!" Then he did take her in his arms, and he kissed her. And she +kissed him. Suddenly he put her from him. "Don't! for God's sake, +don't! Elaine, don't you tempt me! I'm not much of a chap, and I'm +not much of a hand at resisting temptation--there's frankness for +you!--and I want to keep straight where you're concerned. I'll make a +clean breast of it; the only way I can see out of the mess I'm in is +to make a bolt for it, and I'm going to bolt; there you have it. I've +come up here to say good-bye." + +"Good-bye?" + +Her voice was tremulous. + +"If ever I come to any good, which isn't very probable, you'll hear +from me; you'll never hear from me if I don't; so I'm afraid that this +is going to be very near a case of farewell for ever." + +"You say two hundred pounds will get you out of that mess you're in?" + +"About that; I dare say I could manage with less if it was ready +money. But what's the use of talking? I don't propose to rob a bank, +and that's the only way I ever could get it." + +"And if you had fifteen hundred to offer Mr. Dawson, what then?" + +"What then? Elaine, you're hard on me." + +"How hard? I don't mean to be." + +"To dangle before my face the things which I most want when you know +they're not for me! Why, if I had fifteen hundred pounds, and could go +to Dawson with a really serious proposition, the world would become +another place; I should see my way to some sort of a career. I'd begin +by earning a decent living; in no time I'd be getting together a home; +in a year we might be married." + +"A year? That's a long time." + +He laughed. + +"If I were Dawson's partner, with a really substantial share, we might +be married right away." + +"How soon, from now?" + +"Elaine, what are you driving at? what is the use of our deceiving +ourselves? I shall become Dawson's partner when pigs have wings, not +before. What I have to do is bolt, while there still is time." + +There was an interval of silence. They were standing very close +together; but he kept his hands in his jacket pockets, as if he were +resolved that he would not take her in his arms; while she stood, with +downcast eyes, picking at the hem of her dress. When she spoke again +it was almost in a whisper. + +"Suppose I were able to find you the money?" + +He smiled a smile of utter incredulity, as if her words were not worth +considering. + +"Suppose you were able to buy me the earth? Yesterday you told me that +you had not enough money to buy yourself a pair of shoes; in fact, you +said that your whole worldly wealth was represented by less than five +shillings." + +Once more she was still--oddly still. + +"Herbert!" + +The name was rather sighed than spoken. He saw that she was trembling. +The appeal was irresistible. Again he put his arms about her and held +her fast. + +"Little lady, you've troubles enough of your own without worrying +yourself about mine. You'll easily find better men than I am who'll be +glad enough to worship the ground on which you stand, and then you'll +recognize how much you owe me for running away, and leaving you an +open field. The best thing that can happen to you is that I should +go." + +"I don't think so. I--I don't want you to go." + +There was a catching in her breath. + +"I don't want to go, but--I might find it awkward if I stayed." + +"Herbert, I--I want to tell you something." + +"What is it? By the sound of you it must be something very +tremendous." + +Her manner certainly was strange. As a rule she was a most +self-possessed young woman; now she seemed to be able to do nothing +but shiver and stammer. Not only was she hardly audible, but her words +came from her one by one, as if she found it difficult to speak at +all. + +"What I--said to you--yesterday--wasn't true; I--said it to try you." + +"What did you say to try me? Elaine, you're what I never thought you +would be--you're mysterious." + +"Suppose--you had fifteen hundred pounds--are you sure Mr. Dawson +would make you a partner?" + +"Well, I've never asked him, but I'm betting twopence." + +"What would your income be if he did? You're not to laugh--answer my +questions." + +"Oh, I'll answer them; although, as I've already remarked, I've not +the faintest notion what you're driving at; and that particular +question is rather a wide one. If I were to buy a share I should try +to do it on the understanding that some day I was to have the lot. I +should probably commence with an income of between three and four +hundred, which would become more later on; I dare say old Dawson is +making a good thousand a year." + +"A thousand? We might live on that." + +"I should think we might; we might start on three hundred; I should +like to have the chance." + +"I'd be willing. And how much would it cost to furnish a house?" + +"I've a few sticks in those rooms of mine." + +"I know; I also know what kind of sticks they are--we shouldn't want +them." + +"There at last we are agreed. I suppose that to furnish the kind of +house we should want to start with would make a hole in a couple of +hundred--you probably know more about that sort of thing than I do. +But, my dear Elaine, what is the use of our playing at fairy tales? +You haven't five shillings in the world, and I've only just enough to +take me clear away, and to keep the breath in my body while I have one +look round." + +Again there was an interval of silence, which was broken by her in a +scarcely audible whisper. + +"That--that was what I was trying to explain; what--I said to you +yesterday was--to prove you." + +"What particular thing did you say? I haven't a notion what you mean." + +"Every girl likes to be--wooed for herself alone." + +"Of course she does, and it's dead certain you'll never be wooed for +anything but your own sweet self; I've known you, and all about you, +long enough to be aware that you're no heiress." + +"That's--that's where you're wrong." + +"Wrong! Elaine, where's the joke?" + +"I--I am an heiress; of course, in a very moderate way." + +"What do you call an heiress? when yesterday you told me that you +didn't possess five shillings!" + +"That was said to try you." + +Raising her eyes she looked him boldly in the face; there in the +bright moonlight they could see each other almost as clearly as if it +had been high noon. + +"To try me? You're beyond me altogether; Elaine, are you pulling my +leg?" + +"I have about two thousand pounds." + +"Two thousand pounds! Great Scott! where did you get it from? I didn't +know there was so much money in all your family." + +"There, again, you were mistaken. I got it from an aunt who died--not +long ago." + +"When did she die?" + +"Oh, about six months ago." + +"What was her name?" + +"The same as mine--Harding." + +"Was she an aunt by marriage?" + +"She was my father's sister." + +"A spinster? But I thought you told me that none of your father's +relatives had two pennies to rub together." + +"So I thought; but I was wrong. At any rate, when she died she left me +about two thousand pounds." + +"You've kept it pretty dark." + +He was staring at her as if altogether amazed; she smiled at him as if +amused by his surprise. + +"I have; I've told nobody--not even Nora." + +"Doesn't Miss Lindsay know?" + +"She doesn't. Nobody knows--except you; and I shall be obliged by your +respecting my confidence." + +"I'll respect your confidence; but--of all the queer starts! What fibs +you've told!" + +"I know I've told some; in a position like mine, one had to. But I'd +made up my mind that you shouldn't know I had money, and--you didn't +know." + +"I certainly did not; I scarcely realize it now; I wonder if you're +joking." + +"No, I'm not joking." + +She shook her pretty head, with a grave little smile. Her face looked +white in the moonshine. + +"Can you touch the capital? Is it in the hands of trustees? Or do you +only have the income?" + +"It is not in the hands of trustees; it is entirely at my own +disposal; I can get it when I want." + +"All of it?" + +"All of it." + +He drew a long breath, as if moved by some new and sudden strength of +feeling. + +"Can you--can you get two hundred pounds before next Tuesday?" + +"I can, and I will--if you want it. You are sure you want it?" + +"Elaine, if--if you will I'll--I'll never forget it." + +"You shall have it on Monday if you like." He covered his face with +his hands, seeming to be shaken by the stress of a great emotion. She +drew closer to him, as if frightened; her voice trembled. "Herbert, +what--what is wrong?" + +Uncovering his face, clenching his fists, he stared straight in front +of him, resolution in his eyes. + +"Nothing now--nothing!--and there never shall be anything +again!--thank-God. Thank God! Considering what sort of mess it was +that I was in, I didn't dare to ask God to help me out of it; but He's +done it without my asking Him. Elaine, upon my word I believe it's +true that God moves in a mysterious way." Elaine, hiding her face +against his shoulder, burst into tears, which surprised him more than +anything which had gone before. She was not a girl who cries easily, +yet now she was shaken by her sobs. Putting his arms about her, he +strove to comfort her, showering on her endearing epithets. "My sweet, +my dear, my darling, what troubles you? Don't you--don't you want me +to have the money? You have only to say so; I shan't mind." + +"Of course I want you to have it! I only want it for you!--you know I +only want it for you! Herbert, are you--are you sure you love me? Tell +me--tell me quite truly." + +"I am as sure as that there is the moon above us; and now I dare to +tell you so; no man ever loved a woman better than I love you. I know +I am unworthy; I know how, in all essentials, you are infinitely above +me----" + +"I'm not--I'm not!" + +"But it shall be my constant endeavour to raise myself to your +level----" + +"Don't!--you don't know what you're saying! Don't!" + +"I do know what I'm saying, and I mean it; if God gives me strength I +hope, before I've finished, to prove myself worthy of the wife I've +won. You hear? Then make a note of it." + +Then there were divers passages. + +"Herbert, I want you to go to Mr. Dawson tomorrow, and arrange about +that partnership. I'll find the fifteen hundred pounds." + +"Sweetheart, you've turned all my sorrow into joy." + +"And--this, sir, is supposed to be spoken in the faintest +whisper--I--I think I'd like to be married pretty soon." + +"As soon as it is legally possible, madam, you shall be married, if +you choose to say the word." + +"I don't want it in quite such a hurry as that; but--you know what I +mean!--I don't want to have to wait a horrid year." Presently she +asked, "Do you know that Mr. Lindsay's very ill?" + +"I heard it as I came along." + +"I think he's dying. I suppose Nora'll be very rich if he does." + +"Let's hope that he'll not die." + +"Not die?" + +She looked at him with such a strange expression on her face that he +smiled. + +"Why, girlie, you don't want the father to die to make the daughter +rich!" + +"No; of course not." + +But, afterwards, she was not the same; it was as if he had struck some +jarring note. When they parted she went round to the back of the +house, along the terrace, towards the study window, which still stood +open. She paused upon the threshold. + +"Suppose he were not to die? suppose he doesn't?" + +The problem the supposition presented to her mind seemed to cause her +no slight disturbance; still she passed into the room. + +Which explains why, when Nora said she doubted if Mr. Nash was ever +really interested in anybody but himself, Elaine Harding had good +cause to wonder if the thing was true. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + PETER PIPER'S POPULAR PILLS + + +On the Monday, after Dr. Banyard had been gone perhaps a couple of +hours, Mr. Nash drove up to Cloverlea in a dogcart. Miss Harding met +him in the drive. At sight of her the gentleman descended; the cart +went on up to the house, to wait for him. So soon as it was out of +sight the lady, taking a packet from the bodice of her dress, gave it +to her lover. + +"That's the two hundred; put it in your pocket; I want you to promise +that you'll not breathe a word to any one about the money having come +from me." + +"I promise readily." + +"Nor about any other money which--I may find. I want you to keep your +own counsel; I want people to suppose that the money is your own; I +don't want them to think I'm buying a husband." + +"I certainly will neither do nor say anything to make them think so. +All the same, darling, I don't know how to thank you; you don't know +what this means to me. It seems to be all in gold?" + +He was fingering the parcel in his jacket pocket. + +"It is; I thought you might find it more convenient." + +"I think it's possible you're right; I believe you always are." + +As he had been coming along in the dogcart he had not seemed to be in +the best of spirits; now he was unmistakably cheerful; that package +had made a difference. A question, however, which she asked seemed to +annoy him more than, on the surface, it need have done. + +"What became of Mr. Peters?" + +"They gave him six months--confound the idiots?" + +"Why confound them?" + +The smile with which he accompanied his reply seemed forced. + +"A lawyer likes his client to be acquitted." + +"But Dr. Banyard says that he's a scoundrel." + +"Dr. Banyard! You can tell Dr. Banyard, with my compliments, that he's +a Pharisee." + +"I think nothing of the man; I think he's an interfering prig. I don't +like him, and he doesn't like me." + +"Which shows that he must be all kinds of a fool." + +"I don't know about that; but I do know that I don't like him. By the +way, I suppose you understand what you're coming for. Everything here +is at sixes and sevens. Nora knows absolutely nothing about her +father's business affairs; he never told her anything; he kept his own +counsel with a vengeance." + +"So I gathered from your note." + +"She doesn't even know who his man of business was. She wants you to +find out; she thinks that if you look through his papers you will." + +"There should be no difficulty about that. If I have access to his +papers I ought to find that out inside ten minutes." + +"I suppose so. But even if you do find out I don't see why you +shouldn't keep the conduct of her affairs as much as possible in your +hands; I think it might be done; you'll have my influence upon your +side. You needn't say anything about there being an understanding +between us; we can't keep people from guessing; but don't let them +know--till it suits us." + +He saw something in her eyes which caused him to pay her what some +people would have regarded as an ambiguous compliment. + +"By George, you're a clever one; you're the sort of girl I like!" + +"I'm glad of that; because you happen to be the sort of man I like." + +He laughed. + +"I'd like to kiss you!" + +"Quite impossible, here. You see, it might be rather a good thing for +you to have the management of Nora's estate." + +"True, oh queen!" + +"Then why shouldn't you have it?" + +"I know of no reason." + +"There is no reason, if you take proper advantage of the fact that +you're first on the field." They had entered the house and were +standing outside the study door. She produced a key. "Nora's not +appearing; poor dear, she's more distressed than I ever thought she +would have been! so, on this occasion only, I am doing the honours. +We've kept this room locked up since the day on which Mr. Lindsay +was taken ill; no one has crossed the threshold; you'll find +everything in the same condition in which he left it." They entered +the room. So soon as they were in he kissed her, and she kissed him, +though she protested. "Hush! Nora's waiting for me! Remember what I +told you; there's no reason why you shouldn't have the management of +everything--if you like." + +He communed with himself when she had left him. + +"I wonder what she means, exactly; she's careful not to dot her i's. +She's the dearest girl in the world, even dearer than I thought. This +is something like a windfall." He took out the packet, fingering it, +smilingly, with the fingers of both hands. Then, replacing it in his +pocket, glancing round the room, he was struck by the state of +disorder it was in. "It's as well they kept the door locked; +everything seems to have been left about for the first comer to +admire. Lindsay must have been having a regular turn-out when he was +taken ill; I wonder why." On the writing-table the first thing which +caught his eye were some slips of blue paper secured by a rubber band. +He snatched them up. They were four promissory notes, payable at +various dates; they all bore the same signature, Herbert Nash. He +chuckled. "We'll consider those as paid, until they prove the +contrary; which they'll find it hard to do." He slipped them into his +breast pocket. Settling himself on the chair on which Mr. Lindsay had +been seated when death first touched him on the shoulder, he began to +go methodically through the papers which were about him, practically, +on all sides. He came on one, the contents of which seemed to occasion +him profound surprise. "What on earth is this? what the dickens does +it mean?" There was not a great deal on the paper; what there was he +read again and again, as if he found its meaning curiously obscure. +"This is queerish; I'd give a trifle to know what it does mean; it +might be worth one's while to inquire." + +Folding up the paper he placed it in his breast pocket, with the +promissory notes. Hardly had he done so than the door was opened, +without any warning, and Dr. Banyard came into the room. + +"Hallo, Nash! have you found anything? have you found out who his man +of business was?" + +Mr. Nash glanced up from the papers he was studying; if he was a +little startled by the doctor's unheralded appearance he gave no sign +of it. + +"I haven't discovered his man of business; but I have found +something." + +"You haven't come upon anything which shows who it was he generally +employed; I understand you've been here some time." + +Mr. Nash shook his head. + +"I don't know how long I have been here, but I've come on nothing +which shows that he ever employed any one at all." + +"He must have employed some one." + +The other shrugged his shoulders. + +"I've gone through a good many of his papers; I've not hit on one +which suggests it." + +"You said you'd found something; what is it?" + +"His will; or, rather, a will." + +"That is something." + +"Especially as, beyond a shadow of doubt, it's the last will he ever +made. It was drawn up on the third, last Thursday, probably just +before he was taken ill. It's in his own writing, brief, and to the +point, and apparently quite in order, since it was witnessed by +Morgan, the butler here, and Mrs. Steele the housekeeper." + +"Let's have a look at it." + +"Here it is, in the envelope in which I found it." + +The doctor examined the paper which he took out of the envelope; it +seemed that its contents gave him satisfaction. + +"I see that, by this, he's left everything to his daughter +unconditionally." + +"That is so, the intention's unmistakable." + +"Then she's safe; that's all right. It ought to be something handsome; +I wonder how much it is." + +"That's the question." + +"I suppose you've come across something which gives you, at any rate, +some vague notion." + +"I haven't, that's the odd part of it." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Well, I'm glad you've come." + +"Why? what's up? Found the job too big to tackle single-handed? I +thought you would." + +"You're mistaken; that is not what I mean. I've gone +through--hurriedly, but still thoroughly enough to have a pretty good +idea of what it is that they contain--all the available books and +papers; and, as you see, most of them seem available, everything seems +open; and I've not found anything which even hints that he died the +possessor of any property at all; with two exceptions. There is his +pass-book at the local bank, showing a balance of about a hundred +pounds, which may have been drawn on since; and there are the +Cloverlea title-deeds, there, in that deed-box." + +"That only shows that everything essential is in the hands of his +London lawyer." + +"You seem to take the existence of such a person very much for +granted. He told me himself he hadn't one." + +"Told you? when?" + +"Not long ago there was a little difficulty about a right of way; I +don't know if you heard of it. He came to me about it; I then asked +him who acted for him in town; he said no one." + +"You are sure?" + +"I am; for a man in his position it struck me as odd." + +"He must have had a man in town, you misunderstood him. You haven't +gone through all the papers?" + +"Not all." + +"Then we shall come upon it; I'll help you with the rest. There are no +doubt papers elsewhere; probably in his bedroom, or at his rooms in +town. Have you found out what was his London address?" + +"I have found nothing which shows that he had one." + +"But he must have had a London address; why, he spent quite a large +part of the year in town." + +"I happen to know that the only London address Miss Lindsay ever had +was the Carlton Club; they may be able to tell us there." + +"Of course they'll be able to tell us. Found any cash?" + +"Not a penny." + +"Anything which stands for cash?" + +"Nothing; except what I have told you." + +He had said nothing about what was in his breast-pocket. + +"Lindsay was a man of secretive habits; if he could help it he never +let his left hand know what his right hand was doing. When you come to +deal with the affairs of a man like that you're handicapped; but there +can be no sort of doubt that he was a man of considerable means. It +must have cost him something to live here; where did the money to do +that come from? It must have come from somewhere." + +"It seems that there are a good many debts; as you are possibly aware, +there is a good deal owing round here." + +"He was a man who hated paying." + +Suddenly the doctor glanced up from the papers he was examining to +glare at his companion. + +"Look here, Nash, what are you hinting at?" + +"I am merely answering your questions." + +"Yes, but you're answering them in a way I don't like." + +The younger man smiled. + +"I am afraid that I didn't realize that my answers had to be to your +liking, whatever the facts might be." + +The doctor returned to the papers; he looked as if he could have said +something vigorous, but refrained. After a while he had to admit that +his researches, so far, had been without result. + +"Well, there seems to be nothing here, and that's a fact. These papers +seem to contain material for a history of the Cloverlea estate since +it came into Lindsay's possession; and that's all. Now for the safe." + +"I've gone through that." + +"I'll go through it also; though from the look of it, it doesn't seem +as if there were much to go through." He pulled out one of the small +drawers at the bottom. "Hallo, what have we here?" He took out an +oblong wooden box. "What's this on the lid? 'Peter Piper's Popular +Pills.'" + +"What!" + +The exclamation came from Nash. + +"Here it is, large as life, in good bold letters; there ought to be +something valuable in here." He opened the lid. "An envelope with +papers in it; what's this writing on it? 'Analyses of the constituent +parts of Peter Piper's Popular Pills by leading analytical chemists.' +What fools those fellows are! Lindsay's writing; he doesn't seem to +have had a high opinion of some one; let's hope there's nothing +libellous. What's here besides? A bottle purporting to contain Peter +Piper's Popular Pills; the man seems to have had them on the brain. +And--other bottles containing the ingredients of which they're made; +so it says outside them; as I'm alive! and the man kept this stuff +inside his safe! Nash, why are you looking at me like that?" + +Mr. Nash was regarding the doctor with a somewhat singular expression +on his face; when the doctor put the question to him he started, as if +taken by surprise. + +"Looking at you? was I looking at you?" + +"Glaring was the better word." + +"It was unconscious. Are you--are you sure that they are Peter Piper's +Popular Pills in that box?" + +"Sure? As if I could be sure about a thing like that! what do I know +about such filth? look for yourself." + +Mr. Nash examined the box with a show of interest which its contents +scarcely seemed to warrant. + +"How extremely--curious." + +"Fancy a man like Lindsay harbouring such stuff as that! I should +think it was curious!" + +Though both men used the same adjective one felt that each read into +it a different meaning. + +When Mr. Nash started to leave the house he found that the dogcart, +which he supposed was still in waiting, had disappeared. He asked no +questions, but drew his own conclusions. As he passed down the avenue, +and perceived that Miss Harding was strolling among the trees, he +smiled. So soon as the lady saw him she began to ply him with +questions. + +"Well, what's happened?" + +"One thing's happened, you've sent away my dogcart." + +She looked at him with mischief in her eyes. + +"Walking will do you more good than driving; and it will cost you +less. Besides, it will give you an opportunity of exchanging a few +words with me. I hope you don't mind." + +"On the contrary, I'm delighted." + +"What have you found?" + +"I've found his will; he's left his daughter everything." + +"Everything! How splendid! I'm so glad he's left her everything!" + +Miss Harding's face could not have been more radiant had she received +a personal benefit. + +"I shouldn't be over hasty in offering her your congratulations if I +were you; it's quite possible that everything won't amount to very +much." + +She seemed struck by his tone even more than by his words. + +"Herbert! What do you mean?" + +Mr. Nash kicked a pebble with his toe; then he whistled to himself; +then he said, just as her patience was at an end-- + +"It's a bit awkward to explain, but it's this way; Banyard and I have +been going through his books and papers, and everything there was to +go through; and there was a good deal, as you know; and we haven't +come on anything which points to money or money's worth. I've been +putting two and two together, and I rather think I understand the +situation; when all's over and settled I shouldn't be surprised if +Miss Lindsay would be very glad indeed to have your little fortune." + +"My--my little fortune?" + +"I'm alluding to the snug little legacy left you by your venerated +aunt." + +"It's--it's impossible!" + +"More impossible things have happened; and I think I'm almost inclined +to bet twopence that her fortune's nearer two thousand shillings than +two thousand pounds." + +"Herbert! Herbert!" + +"What's the matter? Why, little girl, you mustn't take on like that; +what a sensitive little thing it is! it'll be through no fault of +yours if she's left penniless! She's never been over nice to me, and +I'm sure I shan't worry myself into an early grave if she is." + +"You don't understand!" she wailed. "You don't understand." + +By the domestic hearth that evening Dr. Banyard addressed to his wife +some more or less sententious remarks, as he puffed at his pipe. + +"There's something wrong up at Cloverlea, confoundedly wrong. I don't +understand what it is, and I don't like what I do understand. There's +a riddle somewhere, and I'm half afraid we're not going to find the +answer. Mind you, I've actually no grounds to go upon, but I don't +trust that man, Nash; I've all sorts of doubts about the fellow." + +Mrs. Banyard looked up from her sewing, and smiled; as is the way with +wives of some years' standing she did not always take her husband so +seriously as she might have done. + +"Poor Mr. Nash! you never do like good-looking men." + +"It isn't only that." + +"No; but it's partly that. You funny old man! It doesn't follow +because you're ugly yourself that all good-looking men are necessarily +worthless." + +"Generally speaking, a certain type of good-looking man is worth +nothing." + +"And Mr. Nash represents the type? And do you represent Christian +charity? What do you suspect him of now? of having the answer to that +mysterious riddle?" + +"I don't know; that's just it, I don't know; but I doubt him all the +same." + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + HER LOVE STORY + + +That night Nora dreamed again--the same dream. It was more real even +than before. She was lying in bed--she knew she was in bed, and her +father came in at the door. In some strange fashion she had expected +him; it was not that she heard him moving along the passage, yet, +somehow, she knew that he was there, that he was coming. And, before +he actually appeared, she knew that he was in great trouble; when he +opened the door, so noiselessly, and without a sound came in, and +closed the door again, also without a sound, she knew it even better +than before, and his trouble communicated itself to her. In such +trouble was he that he was even afraid of her. He remained close to +the door, looking timidly towards her as she lay in bed, not daring to +approach. So moved was she by his strange timidity that she sat up, +and held out her arms to him, calling-- + +"Father!" She was sure she called, because she heard her own voice +quite clearly; not as it mostly is in dreams, when one hears nothing. +But yet he came no closer. Then she saw that he was crying. She called +to him again, more eagerly. Then he went, step by step, timidly +towards her; until she had her arms about him, and whispered, "Father, +tell me what it is that troubles you." And he tried to tell her, but +he could not; he was speechless, and to him his speechlessness was +agony. If he only could speak she felt that all might be well with +him--and with her; but he was tongue-tied. She tried to think of what +it could be that he wished to say to her, and to prompt him; +whispering into his ear first this, then that; but it was plain that +none of her hints had anything to do with what was in his mind, though +once she thought that she might not be far off. When she whispered, +"Is it about what I am to do in the future?" his face changed; a sort +of convulsion passed all over him; he drew himself away from her, and +stood up, raising his arms, seeming to make a frenzied effort to +achieve articulation; it even seemed that speech had come to him at +last, when, just as words were already almost issuing from his lips, +he vanished, and she was alone in the darkness. + +Not the least strange part of it was that she was wide awake, having +no consciousness of being roused out of sleep; she was sitting up in +bed, the tears were streaming down her cheeks, her arms were held out, +with about them the oddest feeling of somebody having just been in +them. Indeed for a moment or two she could not believe that there was +not some one in them still. When she did realize that they were empty +she threw herself face downwards in the bed, crying as if her heart +would break, because of her father's woe. + +Donald Lindsay was buried on the Thursday--exactly a week after he had +been stricken with his death. On the Tuesday and Wednesday she had +variations of the same dream, and on the Thursday, the day of the +funeral, it was so terrible a dream that the agony of it remained with +her until the morning. For a long time afterwards some form of that +dream would come to her at intervals. She said nothing of it to any +one, though there was a moment when she was on the point of speaking +of it to Elaine Harding; but she had it sometimes even in her waking +thoughts. The course of events induced in her a kind of dormant +conviction not only that the dream was sent to her for some special +purpose, and that it had a meaning; but, also, that some day both the +purpose and the meaning would be made clear. She knew that it is +written that, of old, God spake to men in dreams; she believed it to +be possible that, in a dream, God might speak to her. The dream always +ended at the same point: just as her father, after an agonizing +effort, seemed to be about to speak. She fancied that, some night, it +might go on further, and that he might speak to her in his dream, and +that with his speaking the purpose and the meaning of it all would be +discovered. + +On the morning of the funeral, among the other letters, Mrs. Steele, +the housekeeper, called her attention to one in particular. No doubt +she was aware that, during the last few days, either letters had been +left unopened, or the task of opening them relegated to Elaine +Harding, who communicated their contents if she pleased. + +"Miss Nora," she said, "this is a letter from Mr. Spencer." + +The girl caught eagerly at it; it was the first sign of eagerness she +had lately shown. So soon as Mrs. Steele had gone she opened it. It +was from her lover, Robert Spencer; a long letter, on three closely +written sheets of foreign note-paper. He was in Sicily; had sent her a +gossipy narrative of his wanderings among its ancient places, and +among its scenes of beauty. It was full of love, and life, and high +spirits; the sort of letter which makes a girl's heart beat happily; +which she cherishes amid her most precious possessions. He told her +how he wished that she was with him; that she at least was close at +hand, that they might see and enjoy, together, what was so much worth +seeing, and enjoying. In mischievous mood he added that when the great +day came, on which the sun would rise in their sky for ever, and they +were married, he humbly ventured to suggest that part of their +honeymoon might be spent where he was then--"that would be to invest +Taormina, which is already nearly all halos, with another, the +brightest and the best." + +To a girl's thinking there could be no pleasanter reading than such a +letter; she could desire nothing better of the future than that its +savour might remain unchanged, and that, throughout the years which +were to come, the love of which it was a sign might walk always by her +side. + +So great was its power that, for a moment, it charmed her to +forgetfulness. She saw in it her lover's face, and looked into his +eyes; his voice spoke to her from the pages, and sounded sweetly in +her ears. When he wrote of honeymooning the blood came to her cheeks; +her lips were parted by a smile; her heart seemed speaking unto his. +Even when she remembered, and recalled what day it was, and what +shortly was about to happen, the light did not quite fade from her +eyes, and the world was not all darkness. The match had been one of +the few things respecting which her father had expressed to her his +audible satisfaction. It was tacitly understood that the marriage was +to take place during the current year. Both lovers were young--Robert +Spencer had only just turned twenty-four. The only thing which could +be said against him was his lack of means. He had done well both at +school and at the university. Without being the least bit of a prig, +he was exempt from those vices which the facile standard of the world +in which he lived associates with youth. He was tall and strong and +handsome; easy-mannered, more than is apt to be the case with the +young Englishman of twenty-four; of fluent speech--he had been, in his +time, one of the stars of the Union; there was no apparent reason why +he should not make for himself, among the men of his own generation, a +great name for good. The chief obstacle with which he would have to +contend might be, as has been said, the eternal question of pence. + +He was the fourth, and youngest, son of the Earl of Mountdennis. +Everybody knows that his lordship had more children than money; four +sons and five daughters is a liberal allowance for any man; the Earl +and the Countess have that number living, and three of their children +are dead. At the period of which we are writing all the five daughters +were married, though by no means, from their mother's point of view, +all satisfactorily married. The Countess never attempted to conceal +the fact that only the first and third had done really well for +themselves. According to the same authority, the boys had not done all +that they might have done; the heir, Lord Cookham, in particular, +had been a bitter disappointment, having been--his mother called +it--wicked enough to marry a girl who had no money, and, practically, +no family, merely because he loved her. He had been perfectly well +aware that, in his case, marriage must mean money; it had been drummed +into his ears from his earliest childhood;--family was of no +consequence; he had family enough of his own. The one thing wanted was +money--sacks full. And the thing was made more cruel by the fact that +he might have had any amount of money, had he chosen. He might have +had an English girl with a hundred thousand a year, to say nothing of +several Americans with a great deal more; instead of which he married +a young woman whom he met, as the Countess put it, at "some horrid +foreign place," whose only qualification was that she was generally +admitted, by some excellent judges, to be delightful. What, as the +Countess pungently inquired, was the use of being delightful if she +and her husband had not enough money between them to pay off the +family debts, to say nothing of keeping up the family seats. And then +they actually started by having three children in less than six +years--all girls. It was too perfectly ridiculously absurd! + +Montagu, the second son, had refused to marry at all, so his mother +said; though it was not known that any girls had ever actually asked +him. It was understood that he had made money in Africa, though he +showed not the slightest inclination to squander it among his +relatives; he had even declined to what his mother termed "lend" her +five thousand pounds to be spent on "doing up" Holtye, which was the +seat the Earl and the Countess principally favoured. Such conduct, she +declared, was inhuman, but "so like Montagu." Arthur, the third son, +had done best for himself from at least a financial point of view. He +had married Mrs. Parkes-Peters, the widow of the contractor who left +three millions. It was true that nasty things had been said of some of +his most successful contracts; but, after all, the man was dead. It +was also true that no one knew who, or what, his widow was before he +married her; it was, if possible, even more true that she was older +than her second husband. She herself admitted that she was his senior +by ten years--the world said it ought to be twenty. But as she proved +to be an ideal wife from the point of view of the man who marries for +money, such trifles could hardly be said to count. Their friends +asserted that she gave him a thousand pounds every time he kissed +her--really no husband could want more. + +And yet both his parents were aware that one need not be hypercritical +to be able to see objections even against Arthur's wife. There +remained, therefore, to them but one hope--their fourth son, Robert. +Theirs must have been a sanguine temperament--when one knew them one +felt as if they had only one between them--because, after all their +disappointments, they still built on him a castle in Spain, of their +own design. It really seemed as if that castle was to be actually +reared. Robert had set his affections on Miss Lindsay, and that +without the least prompting from either of them; as they knew, from +painful experience, in such cases one sometimes had to do such a lot +of prompting. They frankly admitted that, looking at the matter as a +whole, he could hardly have been expected to do better--to begin with. +Cloverlea was quite a nice place, and, as it were, next door to +Holtye; there were only nine miles between them. It was kept up in +excellent style; the Earl, who was supposed to know something about +such things, assured his wife that it probably cost Donald Lindsay at +least ten thousand a-year. It was true that its owner was by way of +being a curiosity; but then his eccentricities--if they could be +called eccentricities--were not of a kind which would be likely to +injure his daughter. And she was his only child. In her capacity of +young woman nothing whatever could be urged against her; the Earl and +Countess were entirely at one in agreeing with Robert that, in that +respect, she was all that there was of the most charming. Obviously, +when her father died, she would be more than comfortably off. The only +thing to be considered was, what would she have until he died--in case +she took unto herself a husband. On this point, also, everything was +as it should be. + +The Earl rode over to Cloverlea one day, when its master happened to +be at home, and had a talk with him--than which nothing could be more +satisfactory. Lindsay told his visitor, in that plain outspoken way of +his, that he was satisfied with the result of inquiries he had been +making about the Hon. Robert, and that, in consequence, five thousand +a year would be settled on Nora if he married her. Besides this, he +would present her, as a wedding gift, with a suitable house in town, +and all the furniture. He added, with one of his rare, grim smiles, +which the earl interpreted in a fashion of his own, that it was +possible that one day she would be much richer than people thought. + +The Earl told the Countess, on his return to Holtye, that he should +not be surprised if the man was a millionaire. Anyhow his offer was +most generous; especially as Robert was the youngest of nine, and had, +literally, nothing but himself and his family to bring his wife. The +Countess wondered vaguely if, on the strength of the matrimonial +alliance which was to unite the two families, Mr. Lindsay might not be +induced to advance what she described as "something decent" in order +that something might be done to Holtye, which was falling to pieces, +and where the furniture was in a scandalous condition. The Earl, who +knew that his wife had been searching for years for some one who would +play the part of fairy prince towards their family domain, merely +remarked that it would be time enough to think of all that kind of +thing when the pair were married. + +Nora had not been actually informed of the arrangements which had been +made for the commercial success of her love-match, but she knew quite +well that it never would have entered the domain of practical politics +if they had not been satisfactory. Robert was perfectly frank upon the +point; he was frank with her about everything; it was his nature to be +frank. He told her that he had not a shilling of his own, and never +had. + +"My aunt paid for me at Eton, and, afterwards, at the 'Varsity; so far +as I know, she's paid for me ever since I was born; I believe she's +even bought my clothes. I don't know why, because we're not a bit in +sympathy; though she's a dear, on lines of her own, which are +peculiar. She's only just on speaking terms with my mother, who's her +own sister; and the things she says of my father are dreadful--he's +really the most inoffensive of men. She has never lived in England +since I can remember; she says she can't afford it. The truth is, +she's never happy except in pursuit of her health; she passes from one +'cure' place to another, in possession of a number of complaints which +nobody understands, but which suit her constitution admirably. She has +about two thousand a year of her own, and spends most of it on +doctors; though she declares, to their faces, that she never met one +yet who knew what he is talking about. Out of what is left after the +doctors are paid she is at present allowing me three hundred pounds a +year, which is very good of her; especially considering two facts, the +one being that I really have no claim on her at all, and the other +that the three hundred is sometimes nearly four; for instance, last +year she gave me fifty pounds as a birthday present, and twenty-five +as a Christmas-box. So you see that I really am a pauper, living upon +charity, and that I never ought to have dared to love you at all; only +I couldn't help it--who could?" + +She had laughed at him. + +"Lots of people. Of course, it's very sad that you should be so poor; +but I dare say, if we are careful, we can manage; and you know there +is such a thing as love in a cottage--would the prospect of such a +fate as that seem to you so very frightful?" + +"Frightful! I wouldn't mind it a bit; would you?" + +"I dare say I could put up with it for a time." + +"It should only be for a time, I promise you. I'm handicapped by being +who I am, but I don't think I'm an utter fool. I've always taken it +for granted that I should have to make my own way, and, to the best of +my ability, I've provided myself with the necessary tools; I believe +that I could make my own way in the world as well as another man. You +have only to say the word, and I'll make it first and woo you +afterwards." + +"Thank you; I'm content with things as they are; I'm sorry you're +not." + +This was said with a twinkle in her eyes which was meant to provoke +him to warmth, and it did. + +"Nora! do you wish me to--shake you?" + +"I don't mind." + +He did do something to her; but she was not shaken. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + THE PUZZLE WHICH DONALD LINDSAY LEFT + BEHIND HIM + + +Donald Lindsay was buried on a glorious afternoon, when all the world +seemed at its best and brightest. Carriages from all parts of the +district represented their absent owners, but only four mourners were +actually present. Nora and Elaine stood together on one side of the +grave, confronting Dr. Banyard and Mr. Nash. Afterwards the four were +again together in the room at Cloverlea which Nora regarded as in an +especial sense her own. The blinds at last were drawn; the windows +stood wide open; the April sun, warm enough for June, came streaming +in, but it brought no brightness to those within. Each of the +quartette seemed to be singularly ill at ease. It was not strange that +such should have been the case with Nora; it was her hour of trial. +But why Elaine Harding should have been unlike her usual self was not +so obvious. An impartial observer, knowing her well, would have said +that she had never appeared to such little advantage. Black never +became her; either because she was physically unwell, or for some more +obscure reason, that afternoon, in her mourning, she looked almost +hideous. Had she been at liberty to choose, she would have been +present neither at the funeral nor afterwards in Nora's room; but she +had not seen her way to refuse compliance with Nora's positive +request. Since Mr. Nash had told her of his, and Dr. Banyard's, +failure to find among the dead man's papers anything to show that he +had left any real provision for his daughter at all, she had been +living in what seemed to her to be a continual nightmare. Day +and night she was haunted by the three thousand one hundred and +twenty-seven pounds which she had regarded as treasure-trove. Had +she not taken it for granted that Nora would be a rich woman she would +not have touched a farthing; of that she was certain. It was the +conviction that such a sum would mean nothing to Nora which had been +the irresistible temptation. Had it been in her power she would have +replaced the money even then, and would have been only too glad to do +it, though it left her penniless. But she had learnt what has to be +learnt by all of us, how much easier it is to do than to undo. Any +attempt in the direction of restitution would mean not only exposure, +but ruin. Herbert Nash had to be considered. He had had two hundred +pounds of the money; what he had done with it he alone knew. Then he +had swallowed the tale of her aunt's legacy; she was perfectly well +aware that if it had not been for that supposititious two thousand +pounds she would never have been his promised wife. Was she to tell +him now that she had lied? What explanation was she to offer him if +she did? Would he not be entitled to regard her as some unspeakable +thing? She did not doubt that his love would turn to scorn; that he +would cast her from him with loathing and disgust. + +No; anything rather than that; for she loved him. + +On the other hand, if it was true that Nora had been left a pauper? +and she had robbed her of her all! Would that fact not be shouted at +her from out of the flaming sky for ever and for aye? would not the +face of God be turned from her through all eternity? And how often, +and how fervently, she had prayed that God might guide and bless her. +She dared not think of the punishment which must inevitably crown so +great a sin. She racked her brain to find some way out of the peril +which threatened her on every hand; if only she could light on some +plausible compromise. And at last she thought--she hoped--that she had +discovered something which would relieve the situation at the point of +its greatest strain. Three thousand one hundred and twenty-seven +pounds she had--found; she had told Mr. Nash that her aunt had left +two thousand. Her idea had been that she would have a good, round sum +in hand, unknown to him, which, in case of need, would be of service +in a tight place. What was to prevent her, should the tale of Nora's +impoverishment turn out to be correct, disclosing the existence of +that balance of over a thousand pounds; her fertile brain would easily +invent some reasonable explanation; though that tale of the legacy +would not do for Nora, who knew too much of her family affairs. Then +she might insist on Nora accepting it as--what should she call it? a +gift? a loan? It did not matter what she called it so long as Nora +took the money; and she would have to take it. In that case Nora would +regard her as her benefactor, instead of--what she was. + +It is wonderful with what ointments we try to salve our consciences. +At intervals Elaine was almost pleased with herself as she thought of +how, if the worst came to the worst, she was going to present Nora +with more than a thousand pounds. Yet that afternoon, in that pleasant +room, in which she and her friend had spent so many happy hours, she +was as one who knew not peace. + +Nor did it seem to be peace with Mr. Nash. If one might judge from his +physiognomy he did not appear to be at all inclined to congratulate +himself on the position which it seemed likely he would occupy, of +administrator of the dead man's estate. Such a position would mean +something for him, if it meant nothing for anybody else; in such a +case a lawyer always esteems himself worthy of his hire; and he sees +that he gets it. Yet he looked as if he would have preferred to have +been almost anywhere else rather than where he was. + +The same remark applied to Dr. Banyard; though even a superficial +observer might have guessed that the two men were troubled because of +different things. A keen judge of human nature might have perceived +that the doctor was troubled because of Nora; Herbert Nash because of +himself. + +The order of the proceedings was singular; it required pressure to +induce Nora to sit down. + +"I would much rather stand," she said. "I don't know what you have to +say to me; but I hope that, whatever it is, it won't take long; I feel +as if I can't sit; I would much sooner listen standing if you don't +mind." + +But the doctor did mind; he would not have it; he made her sit. Then +nothing would satisfy her but that Elaine should sit by her; which was +agony to Miss Harding, who was in the condition which is known as +being all over pins and needles; it would have been a relief to have +been able to scream. + +"Now, Nash," inquired the doctor, when the two young women, looking, +in their several ways, pictures of misery, were seated on adjacent +chairs, "where are those papers? Let's get to business; and be as +brief and as clear as you can." + +Nash, with what was almost a hang-dog air, took some papers out of a +black leather bag. Untying the tape which bound them together he +began. His tale was neither very brief nor very clear; though his +meaning was plain enough when it was ended. The dead man had left +everything to his daughter; but he had nothing to leave; that was what +it came to. There was less than a hundred pounds at the bank; and +there was Cloverlea and the contents of the house. On the debit side +there were debts amounting, so far as could be ascertained, to several +thousand pounds; claims had come in from wholly unexpected quarters +for large sums. If they had to be paid at once that would involve a +forced sale of Cloverlea, and that would probably mean that very +little would be left for Nora. + +The faces of the two girls, as this state of affairs was being +unfolded, were studies. On Miss Harding's face there came, by degrees, +an expression of actual agony, as if her lover was playing the part of +a torturer, whose every word was a fresh turn of the rack, or of the +thumbscrew. Nora's face, on the other hand, as she began to perceive +the point at which Mr. Nash was aiming, suggested anger rather than +pain; the same suggestion was in her voice, as she addressed a +question to him, so soon as he showed signs of having finished. + +"Do you wish me to understand that my father has left no money?" + +Mr. Nash looked down, as if unwilling to meet her eyes. + +"Neither Dr. Banyard nor I have been able to find anything which +points to money, I am sorry to say." + +"You needn't be sorry." She turned to Dr. Banyard; with, as she did +so, something in her manner which was hardly flattering to Mr. Nash. +"If my father has left no money on what have we been living? Does Mr. +Nash mean that my father spent all his money before he died? because, +if he does, I tell him, quite plainly, that I don't believe it." + +The doctor got up. It was a peculiarity of his that, while he was +always anxious that others should sit still, he never could do so +himself when he was moved. Thrusting his hands into his trousers +pockets he began to fidget about the room. + +"That's the point," he exclaimed. "It's a pity, my dear Miss Lindsay, +that your father didn't take you more into his confidence." + +"He was entitled to do as he pleased." + +"Precisely! and he did as he pleased! and this is the result! that you +know nothing; that we know nothing; and, apparently, that we can find +out nothing. We have been in communication with his London club; they +tell us that he was an occasional attendant; that, so far as they +know, this was his only address; that sometimes, but not often, +letters came for him; but there are none awaiting him at present; they +can give us no further information, and we have not the dimmest notion +who can. Let me add a sort of postscript to what Mr. Nash has told +you, which will shed another sidelight on the position. It is now +about five years since your father bought Cloverlea. Ever since he +bought it he has paid three thousand pounds into the local bank four +times each year, always in notes and gold, which, as you are possibly +aware, is not a form in which such payments are usually made. His next +payment, if he intended to follow his usual rule, was due last week, +to be exact, last Friday; for four years in succession he has paid in +three thousand pounds, in notes and gold, on the first Friday in +April. He was taken ill, as you know, on Thursday; if he had intended +to make his usual payment on the following day the money would have +been in his possession; we should have found it; we have found +nothing." + +Although no one seemed to notice it, Miss Harding looked as if she +were trembling on the verge of a serious attack of illness. Her face +was white and drawn, her eyes were half closed, her mouth was tightly +shut, her hand was pressed against her side, as if compelled to that +position by sudden pain. The doctor, oblivious of the fact that it +looked as if his services would presently be required, went +remorselessly on. + +"The only possible alternative is that the money was stolen, and that +after he was taken ill; you know what likelihood there is of that. But +in order to leave no room for doubt we have questioned every one +connected with the household; I am bound to say that we have +discovered nothing in the least suspicious." + +"Of course not; I wish I had known what you were doing, I would have +stopped it. The idea of supposing that any one here would rob me; +there is not a creature about the place I would not trust with my +life." + +This was Nora; her words were like poisoned darts to at least one of +her hearers. The doctor continued. + +"Just so; but allow me to point out, Miss Lindsay, the inference which +may be drawn from what we have been able to learn of your father's +methods. He has paid twelve thousand pounds a year into the local +bank, invariably in notes and gold, never a cheque among the lot; does +not this suggest that he wished to conceal, even from his bankers, the +source from which the money came?" + +"I don't see why you say that." + +"If their ledgers contained the record of his having paid in even so +much as a single cheque we might have been able to trace the history +of that cheque, and in so doing might have lighted upon something +which would have served as the key to the whole puzzle; if, that is, +we could discover some one who ever paid him anything we might find +out why he paid, and so might chance upon a clue which in the end +might show us where his income came from. As it is we have nothing to +go upon; and I can't help thinking that he meant his bankers should +have nothing to go upon; whether he intended that you should be in the +same position is another question. The consequence is, as matters +stand, I am bound to say so, my dear Miss Nora, it is no use blinking +the truth----" + +"Please tell me what you believe to be the truth; pray don't what you +call blink it." + +"It is a perfectly fair deduction to draw that he had come to the end +of his resources, whatever they may have been; quite conceivably the +immediate cause of his illness was the consciousness that it was so; I +am free to confess that, in this connection, the absence of the three +thousand pounds, his usual quarterly payment into the bank, and, +indeed, of any cash, is significant. I can only hope, Miss Nora, that +you know something which will place the matter in quite a different +aspect." + +When the doctor ceased there was silence. Mr. Nash, fidgeting with his +papers, seemed disposed to let his eyes rest anywhere rather than on +the faces of his companions. Miss Harding, judging from her +appearance, continually hovered on the verge of collapse; that no one +noticed her condition showed how the others were preoccupied. Of the +four Nora still bore herself as the one who was most at ease. She sat +up straight; well back on her chair; her hands lying idle on her lap; +a look upon her face which suggested an assurance which nothing they +might say to her could touch; when she spoke she held her head a +little back, with, in her wide-open eyes, what was almost the glint of +a smile. + +"I don't know what you call knowledge. I can only say that I am sure +that you have not yet got to the root of the matter; that there is +still something to be explained; because I am convinced that my father +has left behind him a great deal of money." + +"It is more than probable you are right; nothing will surprise me more +than to learn that he hasn't; all that is wanted is a clue. Tell us on +what you found your conviction." + +"It is not altogether easy, but I'll try." The faintest touch of +colour tinged her cheeks. "You know I am engaged to be married. My +father, in congratulating me, said that the fact that Mr. Spencer had +no money wouldn't matter, because I should have enough for both. I am +sure he would not have said that had it not been true; I know my +father." + +"In other words, he practically told you that, after he was gone, he +would leave you well provided for." + +"That was what it amounted to, yes." + +"He said nothing about the quarter from which the provision was to +come?" + +"He said nothing except what I have told you; but, for me, that is +enough." + +"No doubt, Miss Nora, but what we want is something which will tell us +where the money which he spoke of is to be found." + +"It will be found." + +"Where? how? when? These questions must be answered." + +"They will be answered, in God's good time." + +The doctor gave an impatient gesture. + +"I wish to say nothing in the least impious; but if it is to be in +good time the answer must come now; before Cloverlea is sold, and you +are homeless." + +"Cloverlea--sold?" The notion seemed to startle her. "Who talks of +selling Cloverlea?" + +"My dear young lady, here's a creditor for over four thousand pounds, +who writes to say that if his claim is not settled at once proceedings +will immediately be taken against your father's estate----" + +"Four thousand pounds! To whom did my father owe four thousand +pounds?" + +"That's the worst of it; it's a money-lender." + +"A money-lender?" + +"The fellow holds your father's paper--promissory notes--to the amount +of nearly four thousand five hundred pounds, which is now overdue; and +he says he has other paper, which will mature shortly, to the extent +of another five thousand pounds. And he is not the only one; claims +have been raining in from similar gentry. It actually appears that +your father owed them at least thirty thousand pounds." + +"I don't believe it." + +The doctor shrugged his shoulders. + +"I found it hard to credit; but--there are the bills, accepted by your +father; what do you suggest? that they are forgeries?" + +"At present I suggest nothing; what can I suggest? But I do not +believe that my father ever borrowed money from a usurer." + +"I am afraid that this is not a matter with which we can deal as a +question of belief; do you propose to contest these claims? If so, +notice must be given at once; you must clearly understand what that +would mean; you would have to prove that the signatures upon these +bills, which purport to be your father's, are forgeries; I don't know +in which event the consequences would be more serious, if you proved +it or if you failed to prove it." + +"How do the people who hold these bills pretend they got them?" + +"Guldenheim, who is the chief holder, is, in his way, a perfectly +respectable man, and enormously rich. I called on him yesterday to put +that question. He looked me up and down; and then observed that if +payment was not made this week he should commence proceedings, when he +would supply the Court with all the necessary information; then he +asked his clerk to show me to the door. I am afraid there was +something in the manner in which I asked the question which he +resented, and perhaps was entitled to resent." + +"What will be the result if he does take proceedings?" + +"Probably in a short time you'll have the sheriff's officers in the +house, and, perhaps before you've had time to turn round, you'll be +left without a roof to cover you. Whatever happens we must avoid +that." + +"How are we going to avoid it? How are we going to find money with +which to pay these men?" + +"My proposal is that the creditors should be called together all of +them; we will explain to them exactly how matters stand; and then I +think, for their own sakes, they will join with us in making the best +of what your father has left." + +"As you say that Cloverlea is all that my father has left I presume +that means that, in any case, Cloverlea will have to be sold, that we, +my home and I, are at the mercy of a gang of usurers." + +"I am afraid I don't see what else is to be done." + +"Thank you; that is all I wish to know." She stood up, very erect; on +her face there was still no sign of bitterness, only a quiet calmness, +which was in strange contrast with the conspicuous lack of ease which +marked the bearing of the others. "Do not suppose," she said, in a +voice which was very soft and gentle, "that I am not grateful to you +both for all that you have done for me. I had thought it possible, Mr. +Nash, that the share you were taking in straightening out my small +affairs might be of permanent use to you; I hoped you would allow me +to retain you as my lawyer; but it seems that's not to be, that I'm +not likely to want a lawyer very long. I'm sorry for both our sakes. +For the trouble you have taken, doctor, no words of mine can thank +you; because you--you're my very dear friend, and I fear you'll insist +on making my sorrows your own, and--and that mustn't be." She stopped, +as if, for the moment, she was unable to continue; and then added, +"I'll think over all that you have said." + +Without another word she left the room. The trio neither moved nor +spoke some seconds after she had gone. Then Elaine Harding started to +her feet with what sounded like a sob of passion. + +"It's cruel!" she cried. "Cruel! I don't believe it's so bad as you +make it out to be, I won't believe it! If Mr. Lindsay were still alive +you wouldn't accuse him of the dreadful things you now pretend he's +done, you wouldn't dare to do it!" + +She rushed away in what seemed an agony of tears. The doctor stared at +the door through which she had vanished; then he turned and stared at +Nash; then he laughed queerly. + +"Well! who'd have thought she'd such a temper! I like her better for +it, the little whirlwind! She might as well have accused us of +conspiracy to defraud Miss Lindsay; what do you think of that?" + +"Women," observed Mr. Nash, with downcast eyes, and a wry smile, "are +capable of anything." + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + A PHILANTHROPIST + + +Nora went to her bedroom. It was a pleasant room; as it was then it +was practically her own creation; it represented her ideal of what her +sleeping chamber ought to be. She had even invested it with an air of +romance, as girls, when they are at the most romantic period of their +lives, sometimes will do. There are girls who regard their bedrooms as +if they were parts of themselves. Nora was one of them; she regarded +her bedroom as if it were part of herself. + +As she entered it that afternoon, it seemed to her that there was +something strange about it, as if something had come into the +atmosphere which was not present when she was in it last. It disturbed +her, until she understood that the change was in her; that she had +already unconsciously realized that this room, which had meant to her +so many things, which she supposed would be hers for ever, might, +probably, soon be hers no longer. With that feeling in her mind the +room could never again be to her what it had been before; she felt +almost as if she were a stranger in it then. Seating herself at her +writing-table, she took the Bible which lay on the little shelf in +front, and read in it, trying her hardest to concentrate her attention +on its pages; but it was not easy, even the sacred words came to her +through a mist. But when she closed the book, and went and knelt +beside the bed, pillowing her face on the coverlet, as she had done +again and again, times without number; alike in her infrequent moments +of sorrow--she knew then what pigmy things those sorrows had been! and +in her abounding hours of joy;--it was almost with a sense of terror +that it was borne in upon her what great happiness she in truth had +known--there came to her, as she continued to kneel, that peace which +she so earnestly desired; so that she arose from prayer refreshed, and +with that courage in her heart which refreshment brings. Placing +herself on the armchair which stood by the open window, resting her +arms on the sill, looking at the green world, perhaps without seeing +how green and beautiful it was, so far as she could, she thought it +all out. + +And the more she thought the more clearly she apprehended that life +for her--life as she hitherto had understood it--was at an end +already, before it had scarcely begun, if the things which she had +heard were true. She must depart from Cloverlea, and all that it stood +for, and go out into a world, of which she knew nothing, to earn her +own bread; she wondered, with an odd little smile, how she was going +to set about it; if the picture was as black as it had just been +painted. But was it? In her heart of hearts she doubted. Although she +had been in such slight communion with her father; although his +attitude towards her had been, in many respects, so unfatherlike; she +believed that she had understood him, and that they had had much more +in common than he had chosen to let it appear;--it would require a +great deal to convince her that she was wrong. + +She was fortified in her belief by a curious idea which, almost in +spite of herself, obsessed her more and more; that she understood him +better now that he was dead than she had done when he was living; that +she was closer to him now than she had been then; that she saw more +clearly into his very heart, and knew what manner of man he really +was; and she knew that he was not the kind of man he must have been if +the things which she had heard were true. He was incapable of +falsehood; in small things, as in large, the soul of honour; he had +not lied when he had told her that there would be enough for Robert as +well as for her. Even then she had gathered more from what he said +than his actual words; and she had understood that he had meant that +she should gather more. She believed that he had wished her to know +that in the future she would be a rich woman, and that his brief +speech had been intended to convey that meaning; she was persuaded +that he would not have meant it if it had not been true. + +Yet, how was she to reconcile these things with the facts as they +appeared at present? What explanation would make them harmonize? She +did not know; she admitted to herself that she did not know; still she +was convinced that, when everything was known, her father's truth +would be established. + +While Nora thought and thought; in the pretty bedchamber which had +been assigned to her as an honoured guest, Elaine Harding was +wrestling with troubles of her own, and her troubles were worse than +Nora's. In her dressing-case, under a false bottom, were nearly three +thousand pounds which did not belong to her; the dressing-case itself +had been a gift from Nora, who had shown her the false bottom with +glee, pointing out what a safe hiding-place it would be for any +special treasures she might desire to keep from prying eyes. Almost +the first use she had made of it had been to conceal the huge sum of +which she had robbed the giver. + +How she hated herself for what she had done! how gladly she would have +restored the money to its place upon the dead man's table! She +understood now what it had been doing there; doubtless it was the +amount which it was his custom to pay into the bank each quarter, +which it had been his intention to deliver on the morrow. God had +intervened on the one hand, the devil on the other; she had played the +devil's game;--fool! idiot! wretch that she had been! She realized +quite clearly that that money would never bring any good to her; that +it would lie like some obscene incubus on her whole life; even if she +bought a husband with the proceeds of her stealing, how could she +expect that such a marriage would be blest? The dressing-case itself +had become a sort of monomania; not only did she keep it locked, but +she hid it in her trunk and kept that locked; even then she was +continually haunted by fears that some one was taking liberties with +her property, as she had done with that of others. Suppose, by some +mischance, the secret of that false bottom was discovered, what would +happen then? She did not dare to think. What a fool she had been to +tell Herbert Nash that tale about the legacy. It was not only a +gratuitous, it was a foolish lie; she had seen that for herself almost +as soon as it was told. He had only to make the most superficial +inquiries, the falsehood would be discovered. She felt like biting her +tongue out every time she thought of it. Her only excuse was that she +had done it on the spur of the moment, without thinking; yielding to a +temptation which was stronger than her. If only she did not love him! +with so strange and violent a love that she had been willing to do +what she had done rather than that he should not love her, rather than +that she should not win him for her own! If, now, he were to find her +out--what she had done--for his sake, what would he think of her then? +But he should not find out; she would take care that he did not find +out; rather than he should find out she would continue as she had +begun, at whatever cost to herself, and to others. + +Therefore it seemed to her disordered, tortured, twisted brain, that +there was only one thing to be done, to make amends, to wipe off some +of the blackness from her sin. She had told him that her aunt had left +two thousand pounds. Well, he should have it. He had already had two +hundred; there would be fifteen hundred for a share in Mr. Dawson's +practice; the rest would be required to furnish a house, so that they +might be married at once--on that point she was resolved, that there +should be no delay about their being married; after what had happened +she would be in constant agony till she had become his wife, and, so +far, safe. He could not put his wife from him, even if he did find +out. She was inclined to make it a condition that he should marry her +before she gave him another farthing; in that way she would make sure +of him. Even then, after the whole of the two thousand had been +expended, more than a thousand pounds would still remain. It looked as +if a thousand pounds would be a fortune to Nora Lindsay; a windfall +from the skies; manna from heaven, which would at least preserve her +from starvation. Nora should have the superfluous thousand; she would +insist on it. It was true that such a sum would be most useful to a +young couple, just married; but what did that matter, in face of +Nora's pressing need? It was only too probable that they would be +occasionally pinched; Herbert had explained that his income from a +share of Mr. Dawson's practice would not, at the beginning, be large; +there were eventualities for which they ought to be prepared; but such +considerations were as nothing when one thought of Nora. She must be +considered before anything else; she who had been such a faithful, +such a generous friend; the whole of that thousand pounds should be +hers. + +By the time that Miss Harding had finally decided that this should be +so she had nearly worked herself into a consciousness of virtue. When +you looked facts in the face, from one point of view, it was generous +to give away such a sum as that, especially when you remembered how +much she stood in need of it herself; beyond a doubt that was how it +would appear to Nora. Nora would appreciate her beneficence; would +realize that this was the result of being kind to her humble friend in +the days of her prosperity; the knowledge that the bread which she had +cast upon the waters had returned to her after many days ought to make +her--well, it ought to make her more contented with the measure which +had been meted out to her; Elaine felt that it ought. + +What Miss Harding had to do next was to invent some plausible +explanation of how the money had come into her hands, and she was +aware that that was not easy. So hard, indeed, was it to find that +explanation that, in her despair, she nearly decided, after all, to +relinquish her philanthropic scheme. But she would not do that--she +could not do it; she had said that Nora should have the money, and she +should. The misfortune was that Nora knew so much about her; it would +be impossible to produce an aunt for her; Nora would refuse to swallow +that aunt. Being intimately acquainted with the family history, she +was pretty well aware that all the members of the Harding family would +not be able to produce a thousand pounds between them. And then--there +were other things. Only a short time ago Nora had "obliged" her, as +Elaine phrased it, with the "loan" of a ten-pound note; if Miss +Harding had had a thousand pounds laid by she would hardly have wanted +those ten sovereigns. + +So elusive did that explanation seem, so persistently did it refuse to +come at her bidding, that Elaine brushed back her pretty hair with her +pretty hands with what she intended to be a frenzied gesture, which +was certainly not unbecoming, and at that moment she formed a +resolution. She would go to Nora there and then, straight off, and +approach the subject gently, trusting to the inspiration of the moment +to provide her with the lie which would sound like truth, which it was +so necessary that she should find to aid her in her beneficent +purpose. No one knew better than she did how quickly her wits could +come to her assistance at a pinch; with characteristic courage she +took it for granted that they would not fail her when she was alone +with Nora, and heart was speaking unto heart. In so doing she +overlooked one factor--the unexpected. Experience had taught her that +when she was hard pressed her wits could be relied upon, but hitherto +she had always found herself in situations for which she was more or +less prepared. The immediate future had something in store for her +which was wholly unexpected. + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + THE BUTLER + + +Elaine's room was at some distance from Nora's; they were in different +wings. Miss Harding, whose habits were, in some respects, peculiar, +always preferred that her room should not be too close to her +friend's; though Nora herself would have liked to have had her nearer. +To reach Miss Lindsay Elaine had to traverse a lengthy passage, which +was divided in the centre by a square opening, which was used +sometimes as a lounge. As Miss Harding moved along some one came out +of this recess, and addressed her. It was Morgan, the butler. + +Mr. Morgan was tall and fair--very fair. His face and eyebrows, and +eyelashes, and hair were all of the same colour; it had rather an odd +effect, which some people thought unpleasant. Many persons have an +uncomfortable habit of never looking you in the face; he had what some +felt was a nearly equally uncomfortable habit of never looking away +from your face; he regarded any one with whom he might be talking with +a fixed, impassive stare, which never faltered; there was a quality in +his light greyish-blue eyes which, under such circumstances, was +occasionally disconcerting. Miss Harding, who, in her way, was shrewd +enough, had never known what to make of him; more than once, during +her visits to Cloverlea, she had had a vague feeling that his +demeanour towards her was not quite all that it ought to have been; +the feeling came to her with unpleasant force as he stood before her +then. Yet nothing could have been more decorous than his bearing; +while he spoke with the softly modulated voice with which a +well-trained servant ought to speak. + +"I beg your pardon, Miss Harding, but can I speak to you for a +moment?" + +She said him neither yea nor nay, but put to him a question in return. + +"What is it, Morgan?" + +"It's about these." + +He was extending towards her, on his open palm, what she perceived +were three sovereigns. Whose they were, whence they came, what they +meant, she had not a notion; but all at once she was conscious, not +only of a curious fluttering of the heart, but of a desire to get away +from him as quickly as she could. + +"I can't stop now; if you have anything you wish to say you must say +it later; I'm going to Miss Lindsay, she's waiting for me; and--I'm +not feeling very well." + +Why she added that last remark she did not know; a second after she +wished it had been left unuttered--he fastened on it with such +singular eagerness. + +"You're not looking well--I've noticed it." + +She was just about to hurry on, but there was something about the way +in which he spoke which induced her to pause; something impertinent, +which stung her, so that she regarded him with angry eyes, and replied +to him with scorn. + +"It's very good of you." + +"I've noticed that you've not been looking well--ever since last +Thursday." + +This time he spoke with a significance which startled her, though she +did not understand. + +"Why since last Thursday?" + +"I'll tell you. I was in the study when you were. After you had gone I +found these three sovereigns. One was lying on the floor, and the +other two were lodged on the shelves of the bookcase. And ever since +then I've noticed that you've not been looking well." + +A great horror was stealing over her, which she tried to get the +better of, but failed. He regarded her with that impassive stare of +his, which compelled her eyes to be fixed on his, whether they would +or they would not. + +"I--I don't know what you--what you mean." + +It was strange how her voice trembled; his was steady enough, like the +voice of doom. + +"I'll explain. You remember last Thursday, the day on which the master +was taken ill? I don't think you're ever likely to forget it. It +occurred to me, after dinner, that the lamp had been left lighted, and +the window open; so I went to put out the one and shut the other. When +I got into the room, rather to my surprise, I found that the lamp was +out, though the window was still open. As I stood there, in the +darkness, I heard some one outside, coming along the terrace; +presently you appeared at the open window. The moon was shining +through the window, and you stood right in the moonshine, so that I +saw you as plainly as if it had been daylight. But in the room it was +darker; I expect that, coming in out of the moonlight, it seemed +darker to you than it did to me. You didn't know I was there; I +suppose that, being in a bit of a hurry, and with your thoughts all +fixed on one thing, you took it for granted that the room was empty. +It was rather funny--that's how it struck me at the time, and that's +how it's struck me more than once; but perhaps that's because I've got +a very keen eye for anything humorous. + +"You went right across the room towards the oak bookcase which stands +on the other side of the door, passing so close to me that I felt the +wind of your skirts against my trousers as you passed, and I guessed +that you knew what you were after before you came there, though I +never guessed for a moment what it was. The bookcase was in the +shadow, and mine not being cat's eyes, I couldn't see all that you +were doing; but I could hear; and there are times when the sense of +hearing conveys a good deal of information. I heard you takedown some +of the books, then a rustling, then the chink of money. By that time +you may be sure that I was all ears, and eyes--mine had almost become +cat's eyes before you'd finished. I saw that you had something white +in your hand, which I guessed was your pocket-handkerchief; and I +partly saw, and partly heard, that you were shovelling coins on it +which you were taking from one of the bookcase shelves. Either there +were too many coins for such a small handkerchief--those handkerchiefs +of yours are pretty, but they're small; I like one which is about the +size of a towel--or else you were a little clumsy; you're not, as a +rule, I know; I've often been struck by the natty way you have of +doing things; but perhaps being in such a hurry made you a trifle +nervous. Anyhow, as you're aware, you dropped some of the coins which +you were putting into the handkerchief; I heard them fall, and so did +you. You stooped to pick them up. I expected every second that you'd +strike a match, or get a light somehow; in which case you'd have seen +me, and it might have been funnier still. But you didn't. You felt, +and felt, and felt; I take it that you thought you'd felt everywhere, +and that as you could feel no more of the coins, that you'd picked up +all you'd dropped. Presently, whether satisfied or not upon that +point, you went out the way that you'd come in." + +Mr. Morgan paused, and Miss Harding tried to breathe. It seemed to her +that she was choking; that she was bound about as if with bands of +iron. If there was anything peculiar in her appearance the butler made +no comment; he went on in his easy, softly modulated tones. + +"I heard you return along the terrace; I waited till I could hear no +more of you; then I shut the window, and drew the curtains; then I lit +the lamp, and with its aid I subjected the room to a careful +examination, and in less than five seconds I found a sovereign on the +floor by the bookcase, and then two more on the shelves. Here they +are." + +He again extended his hand, with the three shining discs on the open +palm. She started back from them, gasping, as if they were dangerous +things, of which she stood in physical terror. + +"I've marked each coin--see? I want you to notice them carefully, so +that you may recognize them, if you see them again." He held up one of +the coins between his finger and thumb. "Of course when I found these +I knew what had happened; understood it all--better even than you did. +I knew some of the governor's little ways, which perhaps you didn't; a +man in my position has to keep a sharp look-out; it's part of his +duty--to himself. I knew all about the governor's habit of paying into +his banking account three thousand pounds every quarter, in notes and +gold, which Dr. Banyard has been telling you young ladies about, as if +it was news; I'd seen the money on his table, that afternoon when I +was helping to carry him away, the next day being his usual one for +paying in, I knew what it was there for. He was a man of regular +habits, was my late governor; though some of them were queer ones. +There wasn't any of it left, except these three sovereigns which, in +the dark, had escaped your notice. Because why?--because you'd taken +the lot. I consider that a remarkable thing for any one to do, +especially for a real young lady. Never before, in my experience, have +I known the friend of the house take instant advantage of the host's +sudden illness to play a game like that. Remarkable, I call it; most +remarkable." + +Each time that Mr. Morgan paused the girl before him gasped, as if the +mere cessation of his speech removed from her some sense of +constriction, which prevented the free play of her lungs. + +"Don't suppose," he continued, with what he possibly intended to be +affability, "that I am saying this to you in any unfriendly spirit; +because I'm not--nothing of the kind. I've always felt that there was +in you the makings of something remarkable, though I must admit that +you've gone beyond my expectations. I've always liked you, Miss +Harding; in fact, I've nearly more than liked you. I want you to +understand that you've made of me what you might call an unintentional +confidant; so why should there be any barriers between us? Socially +there are none to speak of. Your father's a poor country parson, mine +was a schoolmaster; there isn't much to choose between them; if I was +asked I should say that I don't think much of either. Pecuniarily the +advantage is all on my side, as I happen to know; and that in spite of +the three thousand pounds you have of somebody else's. Very +comfortable I could make a wife, if I had one; she'd be quite the +lady. I've no complaint to make about your manner towards me in +public; I humbly venture to hope that after this intimation of my +friendly feeling towards you, you'll be even affable when we're alone +together--if ever we are. It's all up with everything here; from what +I happen to know, I shouldn't be surprised if the house, and all +that's in it, was sold for what it will fetch in a surprisingly short +space of time. Then we shall all be parted. Miss Lindsay will go her +way--though I don't know what way that'll be; you'll go yours, and I +shall go mine. This will be my last taste of service. When you meet me +again afterwards you'll find me a perfect gentleman, whom you won't be +a bit ashamed to introduce to your friends; and I assure you I'll do +my best to earn their respect and esteem. I won't detain you any +longer, Miss Harding--you'll understand that I had to speak to you; +and that, situated as I am, I had to take the first chance that +offered. Now you can go to Miss Lindsay with a mind at ease. If an +opportunity offers you might inform her what a feeling of true +sympathy there is for her in the servants' hall. It's very hard for a +young lady, who has been brought up in the lap of luxury, to be all at +once left with hardly clothes enough to cover her, because, between +ourselves, that's what's going to happen to her; and down-stairs we +earnestly trust, if I may use the language of metaphor, that her back +will be broadened for the burden. There's many a young girl like her +who has to earn her bread in ways I shouldn't like to mention; let's +hope she won't come to any of those. You might mention, if you have +the chance, that we all of us wish her the very best of luck." + +With a slight inclination of his head, which might almost have been +mistaken for a nod, Mr. Morgan went past her towards the staircase. +She remained where he had left her, as if her feet were glued to the +carpet. Her inclination would have been to return to her own bedroom; +there she would at least be alone, to try to think; but the butler was +between it and her. As she glanced in the direction of her room, +looking over his shoulder he glanced towards her, and she ran towards +Nora's room. + +Without knocking she opened the door and entered; but so soon as she +had crossed the threshold she stood motionless, as if all her limbs +were locked together. Nora, seated on an arm-chair, was leaning on the +sill of the open window, trying, in her own fashion, to find light in +the darkness which threatened to encompass her round about; when she +turned it seemed, from the expression which was on her face, as if she +had found it. Certainly a stranger, observing the two girls, would +have said that it was Elaine Harding who stood most in need of +consolation; and so Nora seemed herself to think. That divine instinct +which, in some people, wakes to life in the presence of suffering, was +quick to perceive that here was trouble which was greater than hers. +She held out her arms, crying-- + +"You poor child!" + +It was enough; Elaine needed no further invitation. With eager, +tremulous steps, and a cry which was half gasp, half sob, she went +fluttering across the room, sinking in a heap at Nora's feet, +pillowing her head upon her lap, crying as if the violence of her +grief would tear her asunder. Smoothing her hair with her soft hands, +stooping down and kissing her tenderly, using towards her all manner +of endearments, Nora strove her utmost to assuage the passion of her +woe, in seeming forgetfulness of how much she herself was in need of +comfort. But Elaine was not to be consoled. + + + + + CHAPTER X + + THE EARL AND THE COUNTESS + + +Events moved quickly; as, at certain crises of our lives, they have a +knack of doing. During twenty years very little had really happened to +Nora; in a few crowded, bewildering days for her the whole world was +turned upside down. On the Friday--the day after the funeral--Nora +told Dr. Banyard that she was inclined to be of his opinion, that the +creditors had better be called together, and matters left in their +hands. She did not tell him that her faith in her father remained +unshaken. It was made clear to her that this was a question of hours, +possibly even of minutes, if something was not done to appease the +creditors at once then the worst would befall; it was no use +delivering herself of pious expressions of faith when action was +required. So she authorized the doctor to do his best for her, and +left everything to his discretion. + +Throughout that day she was puzzled by the singularity of Miss +Harding's behaviour; she had cares enough of her own to occupy her +mind, yet she could not help but notice that there was something very +strange the matter with Elaine. The young lady's outburst of the +evening before had not been explained. All day long she was in a state +of nervous tremor which was almost hysterical; such conduct was +unusual in Elaine, who had been wont to laugh at the idea both of +nerves and of hysterics. Nora did not know what to make of her. So far +as she could gather, from the cryptic utterances which the girl now +and then let fall, she was troubled about three things. First, because +of the poverty which apparently was in store for Nora; then because of +the various amounts, which together did not amount to a very large +sum, and most of which, to tell the truth, the creditor had herself +forgotten, in which she was indebted to Nora; and, in the third part, +because of a nebulous scheme she had for endowing Nora with unnamed, +but seemingly immense supplies of ready money. It was this scheme +which, apparently, was worrying her more than anything else; though +what it really was, was beyond Nora's comprehension. Elaine +talked--vaguely, it is true, but passionately, none the less--of being +in possession of funds which Nora knew perfectly well she never had +had, and probably never would have; and about which she waxed quite +warm when Nora smilingly asked if she was quite sure she was not +dreaming. + +"You're not to laugh!" she cried. "You're not to laugh! You are to +have it! you shall have it!" + +"I shall have what?" + +"The money I'm telling you about!" + +"But what money are you telling me about? Elaine, you don't seriously +wish me to believe that you have money. Only this week you were crying +because of what you said you owed me; though I say you owe me nothing, +since all that has been between us has been for love's sake. And only +last week you told me that your pockets were empty, and you didn't +know where you were going to get something to put in them; don't you +remember?" + +"But I may know where money is!" + +"Yes, and so may I; there's money in the bank, but it's neither yours +nor mine; and I'm sure--don't you know I'm sure? you must be a goose +if you don't--that you've no more idea how, honestly, it's to be wooed +and won than I have; so what's the use of our pretending?" + +To the speaker's surprise Miss Harding glared at her for some moments +in silence; then, as if in sudden rage, she flung herself out of the +room without a word; sounds were audible as if she were sobbing as she +went. + +"What," inquired Nora of herself, not by any means for the first time +that day, "can be the matter with Elaine?" + +On the Saturday the storm broke on her from a quarter for which, at +the moment, she was unprepared. Word had been brought that the Earl +and Countess of Mountdennis were in the drawing-room, waiting to see +her. Her first impulse was to send an excuse; the mere announcement of +their presence made her conscious of a sinking heart; but it was not +her way to excuse herself because she feared unpleasantness; second +thoughts prevailed. She recognized that, from their point of view, +they were entitled to see her, even in these first days of her +bereavement. She needed none to tell her that the purport of their +presence was not likely to be an agreeable one; that they probably had +not come upon an errand of love; she had too shrewd a notion of their +characters. Under the circumstances the last thing she might expect +from them was sympathy; she was aware that they had a standard of +their own; and that according to that the more a person stood in need +of sympathy the less likely they were to vouchsafe it. Still they were +Robert's parents; it was for her to consider him rather than herself; +so, for the first time since her father was taken ill she ventured +into the drawing-room. + +The frigidity of the reception which they accorded her was ominous; +she knew at once that so far from having deserved their sympathy she +had incurred their displeasure. The last time they had met they had +both of them taken her, not only metaphorically, but literally, to +their bosoms; showering oh her tokens of affection which erred, if +anything, on the side of redundance. Now the lady permitted her to +touch a fish-like hand, taking care not to allow her to approach too +near; while the gentleman merely bowed. It was he who spoke first, as +if he were addressing some one whose behaviour had both pained and +shocked him. + +"We only learnt this morning, actually by the merest accident, that +your father was not only dead, but buried." + +"Not only dead but buried!" + +This was the Countess. It was a standing joke that, if they were both +engaged in the same conversation, when he did not echo her she echoed +him. If they ever differed it must have been in private; in public +their agreement was so complete as sometimes to approach almost to the +verge of the exasperating. + +"We were not even aware that your father was unwell; we had received +positively no information on the subject whatever." + +"Positively none whatever!" + +"It seems to me--to us--a most extraordinary thing that you should not +have apprised us of the condition of your father's health; that you +should have given us no intimation of any kind; that you should have +kept us in utter ignorance." + +"In utter ignorance!" + +"May I ask, may we ask, Miss Lindsay, why you have not treated us with +at least some approximation to that consideration which our position +obviously demanded?" + +"Our position obviously demanded!" + +"To begin with, it was all very sudden; and then I didn't know where +you were. + +"But you might have made inquiries, anybody would have told you; +almost, one might say, the first person you met in the street. We are +not the kind of people who hide ourselves in holes." + +"No, not in holes!" + +"The moment we learnt what had occurred--learnt, as I have observed, +by the sheerest accident,--we rushed back to Holtye, that very moment; +though to do so involved us in the most serious inconvenience; but we +had no option." + +"We had no option." + +"Because, not only were we informed, by accident, that your father was +dead and buried, but we were also told, at the same time, what struck +us as being so surprising as to be almost incredible, that he had not +left behind him even so much as a sixpence." + +"Not even so much as a sixpence!" + +"You will remember, Miss Lindsay--that is, I take it for granted that +information was given to you to that effect, that before sanctioning +my--our--son Robert's engagement to you I made a special point of +calling upon your father, who then and there informed, I may say, +assured, me that, on the occasion of your marriage, he would present +you with a house and furniture, and settle on you five thousand pounds +a year. On the strength of that positive and definite assurance +I--we--gave our consent, which, without it, we never should have +dreamt of doing. We have our duty to perform, not only to our son, but +to ourselves, and I may say, to our family, of which we are the +representatives; I therefore offer no excuse for taking advantage of +the first opportunity which arises to ask if your father has left his +affairs in a condition which will enable you to carry out that +assurance. On behalf of the Countess of Mountdennis, and of myself, I +beg you, Miss Lindsay, in answering that question, to be perfectly +plain and perfectly candid." + +"Perfectly plain and perfectly candid!" + +The Earl, very tall, very straight, very thin, waved his hard felt hat +in one hand, and his gold-knobbed malacca cane in the other, in a +manner which was hardly so impressive as he perhaps intended; the +Countess, her gloved hands clasped in front of her, wagged not only +her head, but her whole body, as if to punctuate, and notify her +approval, of his remarks as they fell from him. Nora was silent. At +the back of her mind had been the consciousness that, sooner or later, +this question would have to be confronted; but she had not anticipated +that it would be addressed to her so suddenly, so brusquely, with such +a stand-and-deliver air. When she began to speak her lips were +tremulous; and, though she might not have been aware of it, her eyes +were moist; the feeling was strong upon her how different it all was +from what she had expected. + +"I--I'm sorry to say that, so far as we have been able to ascertain, +the state of my father's affairs is not--not altogether satisfactory." + +It was the Countess who took up the running then; the Earl who played +the part of echo; but as her volubility was much greater than his she +did not give him so many opportunities to shine as he had given her. + +"Not altogether satisfactory! my good young woman, what do you mean? I +suppose all ideas of a house and furniture and five thousand a year +must be given up, though your father led us to expect that there would +be much more than that after he was dead; but the Earl has asked you a +plain question and what we want is a plain answer; how much has he +left you? If you can't give us the exact sum let's have it +approximately, in pounds, shillings and pence." + +"I'm afraid that I'm not yet in a position which enables me to do +that." + +"Not in a position? what do you mean, you're not in a position? are +you in a position to say that he has left you anything, except debts?" + +"I'm certain that when he said he had that money he had it; I believe +he was a rich man when he died. Only he was very reserved; and, in +consequence, we have not been able to find where the money is." + +"Stuff and nonsense! you'd have found the money if there'd been any to +find; it's only when there is none that none's found! Have you any +sort of solid foundation for thinking that he did leave money?" + +"He gave me to understand that I should be left well off; and I can't +believe he would have done so if it had not been true." + +"Some people can't believe anything; I know a woman who can't believe +that her husband committed murder, though he was found guilty on the +clearest possible evidence, confessed his guilt, and was hung ten +years ago. Husbands and wives can't exist on the incomes they believe +they have; tradesmen want coin of the realm. I'm informed that by the +time everything's sold, and everything will have to be sold, and the +debts paid, there'll be nothing left for you; I want you to tell me, +plainly, please, if that's true." + +At last the Earl had his chance. + +"Yes, plainly, please, if that's true!" + +"I am afraid that, as matters stand at present, it does seem as if it +were likely to be true." + +The Countess, putting up her lorgnettes, surveyed her fixedly, and +severely. + +"You must allow me to remark, Miss Lindsay, that you have a way of +fencing with a plain question which, under the circumstances, seems +peculiar, and which compels me to wonder if it can be possible that +you knowingly obtained my son's consent to marry you under false +pretences." + +At this Nora did fire up. + +"How dare you say such a thing! I did not obtain his consent, he +obtained mine." + +"We know very well what that means. I have not arrived at my time of +life without understanding what are the wiles with which a young woman +of no position lures a handsome young fellow of good family; I have +not the slightest doubt that my son would never have asked you to be +his wife had you not made it quite clear to him that you wished him +to." + +Nora stood up; one could see that the colour kept coming and going in +her cheeks; that she was trembling; that she seemed to be panting for +breath. + +"I--I think you'd better go." + +The Countess went calmly on; the girl's agitation seemed to make the +elder woman calmer, and more corrosive. + +"I am going when it suits me; I assure you I have no wish to stay a +moment longer in this abode of misrepresentation than I am compelled +to. But before I go I wish to appeal to your sense of decency, if you +have any sense of decency----" + +"How--how dare you! how dare you speak to me like this!" + +"I say, if you have any sense of decency, to release him from the most +unfortunate position in which your father's misrepresentations, and +your own peculiar behaviour, have entangled him." + +"Has--has he sent you here?" + +"If you persist in putting such a question I shall understand that you +have no sense of decency; surely any young woman with a spark of +honour in her composition, must perceive that in such a situation the +man would not be likely to send--that the initiative must come from +her, not from him." + +"I simply wish to learn if Mr. Robert Spencer knows that you have come +to me upon this errand." + +"He does not know; which gives you an opportunity to free him +gracefully before the true state of affairs does come to his +knowledge." + +"If he wishes to be what you call 'free,' do you suppose that for one +moment I would stand in his way?" + +"It is not so much a question of what he wishes, as of what you wish. +If you wish, though ever so slightly, to hold him to his bargain, I +dare say he'll be held, even to the extent of making you his wife; +though he will regret it ever afterwards, and will probably live to +curse the day on which you first placed yourself in his path. Young +men have married undesirable women, who were in no way fitted to be +their wives, and who were thinking only of themselves, before to-day, +and will again; I have seen examples of it in my own family, to my +great sorrow. I intend, if I can, to save my son Robert from such a +fate, whatever you may say or do; the purport of my presence here is +merely to learn if you are, or are not, possessed of a shred of +principle." + +"I cannot conceive why you talk to me like this; what makes you think +yourself entitled to take up such an attitude towards me; what I have +done which causes you to address me in such a strain." + +"That's high-faluting, it's talk of that sort which makes me suspect +that you must be even worse than I supposed. Your father held you out +to the world as a young woman who was rich already, and who would be +still richer later on, and you tacitly endorsed his positive +statements; then he dies just in time to save himself from being made +a fraudulent bankrupt, leaving you worse than a pauper, and you have +the assurance to pretend to wonder why I and the Earl regard you--I +will be as civil as I can--askance. Talk sense, Miss Lindsay; don't +presume on our simplicity any longer. You are perfectly well aware +that, had we been aware of the truth from the first, we should never +have countenanced you in any way whatever. Your father's lies, +with which you went out of your way to associate yourself--I +know!--deceived us; and they deceived my son; there's the truth for +you, if you never heard it before." + +Nora looked as if she could have said many things; but she only asked +a question. + +"What, precisely, is it that you wish me to do?" + +"I wish you to do something to, at least in part, undo the mischief +which you have done already, to atone for the evil of which you have +been the cause; I wish you to show by your demeanour your +consciousness of the miserably false position in which you have been +placed by others, or in which you have placed yourself, it doesn't +matter which. In other, and plainer words, I wish you to hand me my +son's letters and presents, and to sit down at once and write a +letter, which I will hand him, in which you express your appreciation +of the fact that he asked you to become his wife under an entire +misapprehension, and that now, since circumstances have turned out so +wholly different to what they were represented to be, your own +self-respect forbids you to allow any association to continue between +you; and that, in short, all is over between you, in every possible +sense of the phrase. I want you to put that down, as plainly, and as +finally, as it can be put, in black and white, because, Miss Lindsay, +I wish to save my son Robert, at the earliest possible, from the +danger in which he stands, and to do it while he is still absent." + +"But, my dear mother," exclaimed the voice of some new-comer, "your +son Robert is not still absent, he is here." + +Looking round the trio saw that the Honourable Robert Spencer was +standing at the open window. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + ROBERT + + +Robert Spencer was not only, as his mother put it, a handsome young +fellow; he had more than good looks, he had that air of distinction +which goes with character. No one with even a slight knowledge of +physiognomy could see him once without perceiving that he was +physically, mentally, and probably morally, a strong man, and, what +was almost as much, a likable man. As he stood framed in the open +window, with the glory of that almost uncannily glorious April sun +lighting up the frame, each of those who saw him was conscious of an +impulse which, had it been yielded to, would have resulted in a scene +of tenderness. He was dear to his parents, and he knew it; they +themselves scarcely knew how dear, and that also he suspected. He was +dear, with a different sort of dearness, to the girl who moved towards +him, as if impelled by a power against which she was helpless; only to +start back, shrinking timidly, with frightened, longing eyes, and +cheeks on which the crimson faded to pallor. Yet, though he was dear +to all of them, there was not one of the three who would not rather he +had not appeared upon the scene just then. His mother, with +characteristic courage, gave expression to her feeling on the spot. + +"Robert! my boy! we don't want you. Where have you come from? and what +are you doing here?" + +He smiled, and his was such a pleasant smile it did one good to see +it. + +"Why, mother, I'm sorry to hear that you don't want me. I've rushed +from the station to tell Nora, what I've not a doubt she knows +already, that I hope she'll find in me some one who'll take the place, +at least in part, of him whom she has lost." + +When he advanced into the room his mother placed herself in his path. + +"Robert, my dear boy, you ought not to be here. Go back to Holtye, and +when I return I will explain to your perfect satisfaction why I say +it." + +"Ought not to be here!--where Nora is! My dear mother! Nora, why +do--why don't--Nora, what's the matter?" + +He made a sudden forward movement, but once more his mother was too +quick for him; again she interposed; if he did not wish to knock her +over he had to stand still. + +"Robert, I must beg you to do as I desire, and return at once to +Holtye." + +"My dear mother, I must beg you to stand aside, and let me speak to +Nora." + +The old woman turned to the girl. + +"Miss Lindsay, you perceive how my son treats me; have you nothing +which you wish to say?" + +"Of course," replied the son in question, "Nora has something which +she wishes to say--I'm sure I don't know why you call her Miss +Lindsay; she's not likely to say it when addressed like that. I'll +make a suggestion, mother; you go back to Holtye, with the dad, and +I'll talk to Nora when you're gone, and I'll tell you some of the +things she says to me when I return to Holtye." + +The old lady stuck to her guns. + +"Miss Lindsay, is there nothing that you wish to say?" + +"Yes, Mr. Spencer, there is something which I wish to say--your mother +is right; you ought not to be here." With a great effort she had +brought herself to the sticking-point. She was one of those women who +have in them an infinite capacity for suffering, yet who remain +unbeaten though they suffer. If she once saw what she believed to be +her duty straight in front of her, though her flesh might quail, her +soul would not falter; she would do her duty as certainly as any of +that great host who have died for duty, smiling as they died. The +Countess had not put things pleasantly, but it seemed to Nora that she +had put them correctly; she ought not to marry the man she loved, for +his own sake; and because she loved him with something of that love +which passes understanding, she would not marry him--to his own hurt. +She proceeded to make this as clear to him as she could. "There has +been a misunderstanding between us from the first; I don't know that +the fault has been altogether mine, but there has been. It is +necessary that we should understand each other now. When I consented +to become your wife it was under a misapprehension; I did not know it +then; I know it now. Now that I do know it, it is quite clear to me +that it is impossible that I should be your wife, and I never will be. +Therefore, since what your mother says is obviously correct, and you +ought not to be here, I would join with her in asking you to go." + +Robert Spencer stared as if he found it difficult to credit that this +formal, cold, somewhat pedantic young woman was the girl whom he had +found all love and tenderness; indeed he refused to credit it. + +"Nora, you're--not well." + +He said this with such a comical twist, and such a sunny smile, that +she all but succumbed, she loved him for it so; she was all of a +quiver, her heart seemed melting. It was possibly because she +perceived the girl's sad plight that the sharp-eyed old woman took +another hand in the game. + +"Robert, is it necessary that Miss Lindsay and I should retire? I +should not have thought that you would have required two women to ask +you to go, before you went. I repeat that you shall have all +explanations--from Miss Lindsay and from me--when I see you at +Holtye." + +But Robert still smiled, and he shook the handsome, clever head, which +the Countess ought to have known was too clever to be hoodwinked quite +so easily. + +"It won't do, mother; I'm sorry to seem to run counter to your wishes; +but it's clear to my mind that it is I who am entitled to ask you to +leave me alone with Nora; it pains me to observe your seeming +reluctance to do what you know you ought to do. Dad, you'll +understand; won't you take my mother away?" + +The Earl, thus appealed to, cleared his throat, and then observed-- + +"Robert, you're a fool; leave this business to your mother; you come +and talk to me." + +He moved towards the window, as though inviting his son to accompany +him into the grounds, and to have that talk out there and then; but +Robert stood still. + +"Thank you, dad; it's very good of you, and I'll have all the talk +with you you can possibly desire--after I have had a talk with Nora." + +All at once the girl solved the question in her own fashion; she spoke +tremulously, yet in haste. + +"I--I think that if Mr. Spencer won't go, then--then it is better that +I should." + +And she did go, towards the door, and through it like a flash, before +the person principally concerned had a chance to stop her. + +"Nora!" he cried, the instant she had gone, and he went rushing +towards the door through which she had vanished; but again his mother, +showing an agility which, in a person of her years, was remarkable, +stood in his way. + +"Robert, I insist upon your conducting yourself like a gentleman! If +you will not show me the respect which is due to your mother, you at +least shall not behave in a stranger's house in a way which is +unbecoming to my son." + +He looked at the old woman, who had planted herself in front of him, +upright and stiff as a post, and he drew back; this time his smile was +grave. + +"Mother, I trust that you are not forgetting that there is a respect +which a mother owes to her son. Why do you object to my having any +conversation with my affianced wife?" + +"Don't you know that her father is dead?" + +"Certainly I know it; just dead, and just buried; it is on that +account that I feel so strongly that my place is with her." + +"Don't talk nonsense!" + +"Mother, when you were alone in the world, didn't you feel that my +father's place was with you?" + +"Robert, your brothers have behaved like fools, but I hope you won't; +you are all the hope I have left; it will break my heart if you do. +This girl's father has turned out to be an impostor!" + +"An impostor? Mother, in saying what you have to say to me will you +please remember you are speaking of the woman who is to be my wife, +and your daughter, and so choose language which does not convey more +than you intend?" + +"Don't presume to lecture me! that is going too far. I say he has +turned out to be an impostor--and he has!" + +"In what sense?" + +"He told your father he was going to give his girl a house and +furniture and five thousand a year, besides leaving her a rich woman +when he died; and now he hasn't left enough to pay his debts; if that +isn't being an impostor I don't know what is!" + +"A good deal of water has gone over the mill since he said that; he +may have had money then, and yet have lost every penny of it since." + +"Then he ought to have told you." + +"Why?" + +"Why! you know perfectly well why. I believe it is your wish to +irritate me, when I'm very far from well, as your father here will +tell you. That man knew that you were not in a position to marry a +poor woman, and that we should never have given our consent if it had +not been for this distinct assurance that his daughter would be amply +provided for." + +"Well?" + +"Well! it's not well; there's nothing well about it! You shan't speak +to me like this--I won't have it! Robert, I want you to promise that +all shall be at an end between Miss Lindsay and you; she herself sees +the matter in the proper light----" + +"Does that mean that you have been talking: to her?" + +"Certainly I have been talking to her; and I will say this, that she +did not take long to see where her duty lay." + +"Is it possible that she took it for granted that I should behave like +a blackguard--at my mother's bidding?" + +"Robert, how dare you!" + +"It is not I, mother, who dare; I dare not. I asked Miss Lindsay to be +my wife when her father was alive, and a rich man and all was well +with her. If, now that all is not well with her, I attempt to +repudiate the solemn engagements into which I then entered----" + +"Fiddle-de-dee! solemn engagements indeed! You entered into no solemn +engagements, and I'll take care you don't. Robert, you are the only +creature I have left to love." + +"I don't see how that can be, since you have eight other children and +a husband." + +"My boy, my boy, don't you be so cruel as to pretend that you don't +understand! You're my youngest born, the child of my old age, my +baby--you're dear to me in a special sense, as you know very well. If +you marry this girl, who is not only penniless, but who is in honour +bound to pay her father's debts, and who'll drag you down into the +gutter, because your aunt will never give you another penny when she +knows the facts, on the day of your marriage I'll commit suicide." + +"Mother!" + +"I will, so now you're warned; and she shall know why I do it. I'll +not live to be mocked by all my children; I've had nine of them, as +you say, and if not one of them will try to please his mother--then +God help us mothers." + +The young man turned to the Earl. + +"Do you associate yourself, sir, with my mother in this matter?" + +"Certainly I do--most distinctly I do; with what she says respecting +this young woman most emphatically I do; I can't conceive of a +rational creature doing anything else. As matters have turned out the +girl's impossible--absolutely out of the question. If you can't see +it, Robert, you're a fool." + +"Thank you, sir." The young man regarded his plain-speaking sire with +a wry little smile. "I think it probable that when you have thought +things over, sir, you will modify your views; but while you hold them +so warmly, plainly it is desirable that I should restrict myself to a +bare announcement of the fact that they are not mine." + +He moved towards the window; his mother called out to him. + +"Robert, where are you going? You will return with us. We came in the +landau; there is plenty of room. I beg you will give us your company; +indeed, if it is not sufficient for a mother to beg of her son, then I +insist upon your doing so." + +"Pardon me, mother, but I am not going to Holtye; I have taken a room +at the 'Unicorn.'" + +"The 'Unicorn!' Robert! Harold, will you be so good as to ask him what +he means?" + +The Earl did as he was bid. + +"Robert, what do you mean by saying that you have taken a room at the +'Unicorn'?--an inn!--a mere tavern! at the gate of your father's +house!" + +"The 'Unicorn' can hardly be said to be at the gate of Holtye, since +it is at a distance of a good five miles." + +"Stuff, sir! Five miles or fifty, what does it matter? Holtye is your +home, and you will be so good as to come home; we've been expecting +you; we've been looking forward to your return; I trust that the day +is far distant on which you will cease to regard Holtye as your home." + +"Unless he wishes to break his mother's heart." + +The interpolation was the lady's. + +"So no nonsense, sir; get into the carriage and we'll drive you home." + +"You are very kind; permit me, sir, to finish. It is plain that my +mother and you have made up your minds that Miss Lindsay shall not +become my wife; you will probably leave no stone unturned which will +keep us apart. I appreciate your motives, and though I think them +unworthy, I know you think they're for my good; but I have made up my +mind that she shall be my wife, and I will stop at nothing which will +bring about that desirable consummation. Under these conditions +obviously the more we are together the more friction there will be; +and therefore, equally obviously, it is desirable that, for the +present at least, I should not come to Holtye. But I promise you this, +that when she's my wife I'll come--and I'll bring her with me." + +"You'll do nothing of the kind; if you ever do marry her you'll never +set foot inside the door again." + +This, of course, was the Countess; her son laughed. + +"You hear my mother, sir! Isn't that conclusive?" + +He passed through the window and out of sight, the Earl and the +Countess staring at the place where he had been. The Earl was the +first to speak. + +"Jemima, what on earth was the use of saying a thing like that? Don't +you know him better than to threaten?" + +"What am I to say? what am I to do? Who'd have children!--they're the +cause of suffering and sorrow to their mothers from their cradles to +their graves! I wish I'd never had one!" + +"My dear Jemima, I dare say, also, you wish you had two heads, but you +haven't. For my part, I don't know that I regret the line he's taken +up." + +"Harold! Do you wish to see him ruined?" + +"Not at all; quite the other way; that's exactly it. In cases of +this sort, when the man throws over the woman there's a certain +amount of odium attached to his conduct--I realize that as clearly as +he does; but when she throws him over that's another thing. Robert's +pig-headed----" + +"Like his father!" + +"And his mother! he's no worse on that account, Jemima, not in the +sense in which I use the word. You'll not move him, but you will the +girl; there's your objective. In her way, unless I'm mistaken, she's +as pig-headed as he is. He may use all the eloquence he has at his +command, but, after what you said to her, and the way in which you +put things, I doubt if she'll marry him though he pleads till he is +dumb--they are a pair of Quixotes; when it comes to rank, downright +Quixotry, she'll beat him on his own ground." + +And the lady considered her lord's words. + +"I shouldn't be surprised," she admitted, "if you are right." + +"I know I'm right," he said. "I haven't come to my time of life +without being a student of human nature." + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + IN THE WOOD + + +On the Sunday morning Nora went to church alone. Miss Harding, who did +not appear at breakfast, sent word that she had a headache and hoped +that Nora would excuse her; which Nora was glad to do; she preferred +to go alone. + +For the first time for some days the sky was overcast; the sun was +hidden, as if the clerk of the weather desired to show that he was in +sympathy with the girl's feelings. Certainly the girl's mood was not a +sunny one. The church was distant from the house about a mile. The way +to it was through the grounds; along a footpath through the wood, +across Farmer Snelling's thirty-acre field, into the copse on the +other side, where the first daffodils were always found; when you were +out of the copse almost in front of you was the Rectory Lane; a +hundred yards along the lane, turn sharply to the left, there was the +lych-gate under which, aforetime, more parish coffins rested than men +had count of. As she went the familiar way, amid the many evidences of +the hasting spring, the spirit of the morning seemed to enter into +her, so that, as she passed into the church, and knelt where she had +knelt so many times in happier days, the peace of God came into her +soul and she knew, with an abiding sense of comfort, that indeed all +things are in His hands. + +She never forgot that morning's service; the last at which she was +privileged to be a worshipper in what she had thought would always be, +in a special sense, her own church; the memory was with her, as a +sweet savour, in the still darker days which were to come. It was Palm +Sunday, for Easter was late that year; the hour of the Church's +mourning was close at hand; the appointed service for the day seemed +to be peculiarly suited to her own case; before it was at an end her +thoughts ceased to be centred on herself; her head, and her heart, +were both abased before a sorrow that was greater than hers. + +When she came out, at the close of service, she was surrounded by +people, villagers and others, for there was not a creature in the +parish, good or bad, high or low, with whom she was not on terms of +intimacy; unconsciously she illustrated the doctrine that-- + + + "He prayeth best who loveth best + All things, both great and small; + For the dear God who loveth us, + He made and loveth all." + + +They had all a word of sympathy to offer, crude words some of them +were, but she knew that all of them were well meant, and that was +something; what was hidden from her, and from them, was knowledge of +the fact that to most of those who clustered round her, and who +waylaid her as she went, the words which were uttered were words of +farewell; that before another Sunday came round she was to be parted +from them as by a great sea. At the church porch, in the Rectory Lane, +in the copse across Farmer Snelling's field, she found some one who +had at least a word to say; sometimes it was an ancient, sometimes a +toddling child. She had gained the stile which one had to climb to get +into the wood before she was able to feel that the last of the +interviewers was done with; she did not guess that on the other side +of that stile lurked the most irrepressible of them all. + +Although there was a right of way through the wood it was one which +was seldom used, except by the household at Cloverlea; and how often +they went that way was shown by the untrodden moss which almost hid +the track. And yet it was a pleasant wood, and an inviting path; it +had only to be followed a very little way, there were delicious nooks +and dells. Most of the trees were old, and many of them were stately; +yet they were excellent company, if one chanced to be alone. As Nora +had found, many a time. She loved that wood; it was to her as a dear +friend; so often had she come to it to dream, waking dreams, and to be +alone in it, with her joys. The season, that year, was early. The +chestnuts--there were not many in the wood, only about a dozen, but +they were all fine trees--were already nearly in full leaf; the elms +were showing green; there was promise of green upon the beeches; only +the oaks were still bare; in all the wood, somewhere, was the gleam +and glow and glory of that lustrous, delicate, fleeting green which is +spring's greatest marvel. And though the sun still was hidden, she +felt how beautiful it was, and how good to be in it there alone; until +she came upon a man who was leaning against a tree, the finest +chestnut in the wood, the splendour of whose leafing branches formed a +canopy above him. + +The man was Robert Spencer; the tree was just round a bend in the +path, so that she was almost up against him before she had the +faintest notion that any one was there. To judge from her demeanour +the sight of him alarmed her; she drew back with a half-stifled cry, +staring at him as if he were some dangerous thing. He, on his side, +was all smiles, as if he was very conscious that she was the +pleasantest thing he had seen that day. He held out both hands, with +his cap in one. + +"Nora! at last! I was afraid you were never coming!" + +There was no mistake about the joyous ring which was in his voice. On +her part she seemed not to know what to say, or do, or make of him, as +if his presence there was a possibility of which she had never +dreamed. + +"Mr. Spencer, you--you ought not to be here; I--I must beg of you to +let me pass." + +"Why, my dear Nora, of course I'll let you pass; do you suppose I want +to block the way? But why do you call me Mr. Spencer? and why do you +keep out of kissing distance? Do you know how long it is since I had a +kiss? and how often of late I've pictured the delicious moment in +which I was to have another? Nora!" + +The colours chased each other across her cheeks in rainbow hues; she +strove her utmost to look dignified; but, to his thinking, she only +looked more delightful; her very severity he thought became her. + +"Mr. Spencer, you--you have no right to talk to me like this. You have +had my letter----" + +"Your letter? what letter?" + +"The one I sent you yesterday; it ought to have been delivered this +morning." + +"It wasn't; I've had no letter of yours which you sent me yesterday; +where did you send it? to what address?" + +"I addressed it to you at Holtye." + +"Then that's why I've not had it; possibly I never shall have it. You +rushed off in such a flurry, before I could speak a word to you, that +I had no chance to tell you that I wasn't staying at Holtye." + +"Not staying at Holtye? then where are you staying?" + +"At the 'Unicorn,' I've taken a room there; it's only another +illustration of the truth of what I've so often told you, the more +haste the worse speed. I can see now that you'd go tearing off if I'd +let you; but I won't. I want to explain." + +"I--I'd rather you explained through the post." + +"Then I wouldn't; and I'm not going to. When people wish to understand +each other in matters of real importance I hold that they'd better do +so face to face; I've no faith in pen and ink; microbes breed in +ink-bottles, which breed all sorts of misconceptions. Now I can see +that you're rushing at your fences again. You're taking it for granted +that I wish to speak to you on one subject, when I principally wish to +speak to you about your father. I want to tell you something about him +which you ought to know." + +"What is it?" + +Her voice was faint, as if she felt that unfair engines of war were +being used against her. + +"Your father hoped that we should marry; he knew that I loved you, and +would always love you; and he thought you loved me, and would always +love me; and therefore----" + +"What were you going to tell me about my father?" + +She perceived that he was trenching on dangerous ground, and tried to +get him off it; he came off with much agility. + +"I met him on the morning on which I was starting for Cairo----" + +"You never told me." + +"I had an idea that he didn't wish me to mention that I'd met him, so +I didn't. We lunched together; he gave me a most excellent lunch----" + +"I'm glad he gave you an excellent lunch." + +"There, Nora! that's much more like you! thank you! It was an +excellent lunch; it was after lunch he said he hoped that we should +marry, because, as I have already observed, he knew that----" + +"Yes; we'll take that for granted; please go on." + +"I'm going on as fast as ever I can; but it'll only be another case of +more haste worse speed if you won't let me tell my tale my own way, +because, if I don't, I'm nearly sure to leave out essential details. +Among other things he remarked that, one day, you'd be a rich young +woman." + +"You're sure he said that?" + +"Quite; your father could express himself clearly enough if he chose; +and he expressed himself clearly then." + +"But--I don't understand." + +"Wait a bit; I'm going to make you understand, if you'll have a little +patience. Later, I cannot say that he said so clearly, but he +intimated, that he obtained his income from some business with which +he was connected, and which represented to him a large sum of money." + +"Business! I didn't know that he had anything to do with any business." + +"Mind, he didn't state definitely that he had; and I asked no +questions, but that was what he hinted. Then he said something which, +in the light of recent events, appears to me to have been rather +remarkable. He observed that life was always uncertain; that one could +never tell the hour when one would die, and that, therefore, since I +was going to be the husband of his only child, he would like to place +in my hands directions as to what he would desire to have done, in +case death took him unawares; or before he completed certain +arrangements which he then had in view." + +"What a strange thing for him to say!" + +"You see how necessary it was that I should see you face to face, and +how difficult it would have been to put this on to paper? Nora, I love +you!" + +"Are you--are you really telling me what my father said?" + +"I'm going to tell you everything he said, if you'll give me time +enough; only don't suppose for a moment that you're going to keep me +from saying that I love you; especially as it was because he knew I +loved you, and believed that you loved me, that he told me what he +did." + +"I--I wish you'd go on." + +"After I'd been a few days in Cairo there came a package in which +there was a note from him; a brief and characteristic note, to this +effect. 'Dear Robert,' you see he called me Robert." He paused, as if +to challenge her. "Nora, I wish you'd call me Robert; it's a stupid, +ugly, vulgar, clumsy name, but you don't know how I long to hear it on +your lips." + +"I--I don't know that it's any of the things you say it is; I--I don't +know that there's anything particularly the matter with the name." + +"That's very sweet of you." + +"But I don't think it's either fair or kind of you to try to take +advantage of me like this!" + +"Take advantage of you! is your sense of justice so warped that you +can say a thing like that! In what sense am I supposed to be trying to +take advantage of you, Nora?" + +"You're pretending to tell me about my father, and--and you keep +trying to tell me about other things instead." + +"The only tie which bound me to your father, the only reason he had +for placing his confidence in me, was his knowledge of my love for +you." + +"Very well; if you like we'll take that for granted----" + +"I don't like." + +"Tell me what was in the note!" + +"'Dear Robert, referring to our conversation of' such and such a date; +at this moment I can't give it you exactly----" + +"It doesn't matter." + +"'You will find in envelope enclosed herewith the instructions of +which I spoke. It is understood that it is only to be opened in the +event of my demise; and that, should I for any reason whatever desire +its return, you will at once hand it me intact. In acknowledging +kindly state that you understand.--Faithfully yours, DONALD LINDSAY.' +That was the note. With it was a sealed envelope, inscribed, 'To +ROBERT SPENCER. Not to be opened until after my death.--DONALD +LINDSAY.'" + +"And have you opened it?" + +"That's the gist and point of the whole affair--I haven't it." + +"I don't understand; I thought you said----" + +"I did say. What's that?" + +Mr. Spencer's question referred to a sound like the rustling of +bushes. + +"It's only a rabbit, or a hare." + +"It must be a large specimen of either animal, and an awkward one, to +make a noise like that." + +"What were you going to say?" + +"I placed the sealed envelope in my suit-case, together with my other +most valuable possessions; which, with the exception of some of your +dear letters, were worth about twopence; at the moment I'd nowhere +else to put it. When I left, the suitcase was placed, with my other +luggage, on the train, and, I presumed, transferred from the train to +the boat; yet, when I went down to my cabin, after the boat was fairly +off, the suit-case wasn't there." + +"What had become of it?" + +"That's the problem which I have still to solve, and which I'm going +to solve. Either it was left behind at my aunt's, which she denies, or +it was left on the train, which the railway company denies, or it was +taken by mistake to somebody else's cabin, which every one denies, or +it was stolen, of which I haven't the faintest proof. Anyhow, it was, +and, at present, it isn't; as yet that's as far as I've got." + +"Then my father's letter to you is lost." + +"But it's not going to continue lost; I have lost things before, but +I'm not going to lose the only thing I ever had worth losing; I've a +ridiculous sort of fatalistic feeling that, as matters have chanced, +if I lose that letter--really, and truly, and finally lose it--I may +lose you; you don't suppose I'm going to sit down quietly and endure +that loss with equanimity? You don't know me, my lady, if you do. What +is that? Don't tell me that that's either a rabbit or a hare." + +"Perhaps it's a fox." + +"Foxes don't set the whole countryside in a clatter when they start +moving; they're of much too retiring a nature. It's some one making +off through the bushes, that's who it is. Hi! you there, who are you?" + +There was no reply to his call. + +"Perhaps it was some one who came upon us unexpectedly, and--and +didn't wish to disturb us." + +"Perhaps so; we're obliged to his taste for self-effacement if it is." + +"I suppose you've no idea what was in the envelope." + +"I've been putting two and two together, and I've formed a hypothesis +which I'm convinced can't be very far out. Your father was not a man +to say the thing which is not." + +"I'm sure of it." + +"I also; he did not say you would be a rich woman without cause. The +hypothesis I've deduced is this. Your father was a gentleman of the +old school; he didn't like commerce; he didn't wish people to think +that he had anything to do with commerce; yet all the while he was +drawing his income from a business with which he had probably been +associated more or less unwillingly. At the time I saw him he was +making arrangements to dispose of it; whether or not they were +completed I cannot say; that envelope contains the clue. When he spoke +of the suddenness of death he was possibly aware that he had a +congenital predisposition towards the end which was actually his; and +that envelope contained the secret--which he was even perilously +anxious to preserve in life--of what was the source of his income, and +of the fortune which he had built up for you." + +"All this, of course, is surmise." + +"You know it's more than surmise; you know that you're a rich woman, +as you stand there." + +"I know, from the only facts which as yet are established, that, at +present, I'm a pauper." + +"Well, we're both of us paupers; all the better." + +"I don't agree." + +"You're taking your cue from my mother." + +"I should prove myself very foolish if I need take such a cue from any +one." + +"There's a wisdom of the foolish which is sometimes wonderful. If you +were to marry me tomorrow----" + +"As if I should!" + +"You'd make my fortune!" + +"When, as you've told me again and again, you live on charity; and +directly you married me that charity would stop?" + +"I know a way by which I could earn two or three hundred a year right +off; before long I'd be earning thousands; I'm not incapable, I only +need a spur; to work for the woman I love! I ask for nothing better. +If I marry a woman with money the probability is that I should never +earn a penny." + +"No, but you'd earn a name for yourself instead; one can earn +something better than money." + +"May be." + +"And she'd be proud of you." + +"Even supposing that you're not buttering me up----" + +"As if I would!" + +"As if you would! as if you haven't done it over and over again! I +know! I say, even granting I'm a swan of the very finest plumage----" + +"Mr. Spencer!" + +"Miss Lindsay; since you will interrupt me; and will descend to +surnames; though, Nora, you're a darling." + +"It's no use our indulging in abstract discussions. I've no doubt +you'll be able to clothe charming sentiments in the very best +language. I know how clever you are." + +"Thanks very much." + +"But what's the use, since my mind's made up that I won't marry you +while I'm a pauper?" + +"Acting on my mother's instructions." + +"If you like to put it that way; though I wouldn't even if your mother +hadn't interposed; if I'd thought I was going to be a pauper I'd never +have said I would." + +"Although you love me?" + +"Because I love you." + +"Nora! You're going to make a mess of things." + +"I'm going to try not to make a mess of things." + +"You're starting the wrong way." + +"Listen. I don't think you've behaved well about that envelope my +father sent you." + +"Do you imagine that I think I have? do I look it? How my countenance +belies me!" + +"There appear to have been some letters of mine in that suit-case; I +didn't think you'd have left my letters lying about." + +"Nora!" + +"You seem to have left the suit-case lying about, so I suppose you +left my letters too." + +"Of all the--of all the----! Well, I deserve it." + +"I think you do. When you find that envelope you can come and show me +what is in it; until then--good-bye." + +"Do you mean that?" + +"I hope that I am like my father in not saying what I don't mean; I do +mean it." + +"I'll find that envelope!" + +"And I hope you'll find my letters." + +"I'll find them too." + +"I hope there was nothing in them very--very amusing; it isn't nice to +feel that strangers are reading one's--one's private letters." + +"You rub it in." + +"That's not my intention; would you like to feel that people you know +nothing about were reading some of the letters you wrote to me?' + +"I know what you mean; I'll find the letters and the envelope, and the +suit-case; and if any one has opened that suit-case I'll--I'll make +them smart." + +"Good-bye." + +Already she was moving off; he exclaimed--"Like that! Nora! won't you +even give me your hand?" + +She stopped, and turned; with something on her face which, in his +eyes, made her very beautiful. + +"If you'll promise only to take my hand." + +"I promise; I'll take only what you're willing to give." They stood, +for some seconds, hand in hand, eyes looking into eyes, as if they +found it difficult to speak. Then he said, "Don't suppose I don't +think you're right; I know you're doing this for me, and I know you're +always right. This good-bye is only the prelude to a time of waiting, +and hope, and work. First of all I'll find that envelope, then if +there's nothing in it to show that you're a millionaire, I'm going to +work and be a millionaire--I'll win you in my own way. I'm not afraid +of waiting; you'll not marry any one but me." + +"I don't think I shall." + +"I don't think you will either." + +"There's something I'd like to ask, if you won't misunderstand." + +"I'll not misunderstand." + +"I'd like to kiss you before I go, only--I don't want you to kiss me." + +"Nora!" + +She moved closer to him, and, while he stood still, she touched her +lips to his, a butterfly kiss, then, turning, went quickly down the +path. He stood and watched her as she went. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + LOVERS' TIFFS + + +Nora had not long been gone to church before Miss Harding became +sufficiently cured of her headache to permit of her quitting her own +apartment. Perhaps she was of opinion that fresh air would do it good; +and, notoriously, fresh air is good for headaches; certainly she +looked very far from well. She donned her smartest hat, and one of her +prettiest frocks, relinquishing, for the nonce, the black dress she +had been wearing for her lately departed host. She attired herself +with the greatest care, giving minute attention to those small details +which mean so much; possibly she was under the impression that costume +might have something to do with a cure--yet all her care could not +conceal the fact that she was looking ill. When she saw how white she +was, and the black marks under the eyes--and actually wrinkles in the +corners, and how thin and worn and pinched her face seemed to have +suddenly become, she could have cried, only she was painfully +conscious that tears had already had too large a share in bringing her +to the state in which she was. If she could she would have "assisted +nature," only she had nothing with which to do it. Nora's opinions on +the subject of "aids to beauty" were strong; Elaine had frequently +declared that hers were even stronger. That was the worst of being in +the position of "humble friend"; one had sometimes to pretend that one +thought what one really did not think, or so it seemed to her. If she +had only had a little "something," in a jar, or in a tube, or a stick, +or anything--but she would not have dared to run the risk of allowing +Nora to find such a thing in her possession. Moreover, until then she +had never wanted it. Still, if she had been left alone--that was how +she put it--she might have had it by her. Now that she really wanted +something, she had absolutely not a thing--obviously the fault of that +was Nora's. + +The consequence was that when at last she sallied out into the grounds +she was conscious that she was not looking her best, in spite of her +hat and frock--she knew that there was nothing amiss with them; and +that morning it was so very desirable that she should look even better +than her best, because she was going to meet Mr. Herbert Nash, and was +particularly anxious to twist him round her finger. Every one knows +that, where a man's concerned, the better one looks the easier that +operation is apt to be found. Miss Harding made one slight error; she +ought to have remembered that when one is not looking one's best +matters are not improved by being in a bad temper. Good temper may +almost act as an "aid to beauty," bad temper certainly won't; and, +unfortunately, Miss Harding was so conscious of her defects that her +temper suffered. + +Nor was it mended by the fact that the gentleman kept her waiting. +Perhaps that headache of hers had had something to do with the +accident that she had an appointment to keep. She had asked Mr. Nash +to let her see him somewhere on Sunday morning, where they could be +alone, and he had told her he would be by the fish-pond at such and +such an hour. She herself was a little late at the trysting-place; her +toilette had taken longer than she had intended; still she was first. +She waited--she had no watch, but it seemed that she waited hours, +yet he did not come. By the time he did appear her mood was hardly +lover-like; nor, it seemed, was his. He came strolling leisurely +through the trees, his hands in his jacket pockets, a cane under his +arm, a big cigar in his mouth, his hat at a rakish angle--quite at his +ease; there was something in his appearance which would hardly have +induced the average client to select him as his legal adviser. Elaine +always had a more or less vague feeling that this was so; the feeling +was stronger than usual as she watched him coming; yet the man had for +her such an intense physical fascination that she deliberately refused +to let her eyes see what they would have perceived plainly enough if +she had only let them. More or less, it was possibly because she +realized that that Sunday morning he did not look quite so desirable +an example of his sex as he might have done that her greeting was +hardly saccharine. + +"You've taken your time in coming." + +He planted himself in front of her, without removing his hands from +his pockets, his cane from under his arm, his cigar from his mouth, or +his hat from his head. + +"Well, what's the hurry? I had to see a man." + +"You knew I was waiting; you might have let him wait." + +"I might; but I didn't. Hello! what's wrong?" + +He was looking her up and down in a way which made her tingle. + +"What do you mean--what's wrong?" + +"You look--no offence intended--but you look as if you'd been up all +night--a hot night too." + +"I have a headache, and waiting for you hasn't made it any better." + +"A headache? My mother used to have headaches, and, my word! when she +had them didn't she use to make it warm for us. I used to say----" + +He stopped, and laughed. + +"What did you use to say?" + +"I used to say--again no offence intended--that I'd never marry a +woman who had headaches." + +"I'm not subject to headaches--don't suppose it; I scarcely ever have +them; in fact, I don't ever remember having had one before; only--I've +been worried." + +"Have you? that's bad. Don't do it; be like me--don't let yourself be +worried by anything." He took out his cigar and surveyed the ash. "I +read somewhere the other day that it's worry makes people grow old +before their time; I don't believe much I read, but I do believe that. +No matter what goes wrong, don't worry, it will come right; that's my +theory of life." + +"It's very easy to talk, it's harder to do. You don't seem very +pleased to see me now that you have come." + +"Don't I? I am; I'm as pleased as Punch." + +"You don't show it." + +"How do you expect me to show it? By taking you in my arms and kissing +you out here in broad daylight, with you don't know what eyes enjoying +the fun? If you'll come over the stile into the wood you shall have +all the kissing you want--before lunch." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind, and I expect you to do nothing of the +kind, as you very well know; only----" She suddenly changed the +subject. "Did you see Mr. Dawson yesterday, and arrange about the +partnership?" + +"I saw him, but I can't say I did much more than see him. He didn't +seem to be so enthusiastic about the idea of having me for a partner +as I expected, and--I can't say I'm very enthusiastic." + +"What do you mean? The other day you said it was just the thing you +would like to be." + +"Yes, in a sense--in default of something better; but I don't want to +be premature; since the other day something has occurred to me which +may turn out to be better than a partnership with the venerable Mr. +Dawson--who, between ourselves, is as supercilious an old beast as I +ever want to meet--a good deal better." + +"What is it, Herbert?" + +She was observing him with--in her eyes, and on her face--an +eagerness, a something strained, of which he seemed unconscious, and +of which, no doubt, she was unconscious also. + +"Excuse me, but that's exactly what I can't tell you--not at the +present moment. It's still, as you may say, in the embryo--in the +making; but it's there." + +He touched his forehead with his finger, as if to denote that the +something in question had a safe location in his brain. + +"Can't--can't you give me some idea of what it is?" + +"It depends on what you call an idea. I'll tell you this much; I'm +meditating a coup--a great coup; if I bring it off it'll mean a really +big thing; how big I can't tell you, not just now--I don't know +myself; but something altogether beyond anything a partnership with +old Dawson would mean. + +"Herbert, I hope it's nothing risky." + +She had run such a risk herself she wanted him to run none; she had +had enough of risks, for ever. + +"That depends again on what you mean by risky. I'm not sure that I +shall go in for it; I haven't quite finished turning it over in my +mind; I don't altogether see my way; but if, by the time I have +finished turning it over in my mind, I do see my way, why, there you +are; I'm a starter. Of course there's always the risk of my not +bringing it off, though you may bet I'll do my best"--he said this +with a very curious smile; a smile which, for some reason, seemed to +bring a sense of chill to her heart. "But I shall be no worse off if I +don't--there's no risk in that sense. Then will be the time to join +myself in partnership with dear old Dawson." + +She drew a long breath. The position was becoming complicated. She had +not dreamed that he would have formed a scheme of his own, which she +was to be kept out of, or she would not have gone, the second time, +through the study window. + +"Will--will any money be wanted for what you're thinking of?" + +"No; not, at least, from you; of course, money will be wanted, but--it +will come from some one else, if it comes at all; that's the idea; +plenty of it too." + +Again that curious smile came on his face; that, this time, it +positively frightened her, showed what a state her nerves were in. + +"Herbert, of what are you thinking?" + +"I'm thinking--of a real big thing." + +As she watched him some instinct warned her not to push her curiosity +too far; yet there were certain things she must know. + +"How long--will it take you to make up your mind?" + +"That's something else I can't tell you; I never may make it up. You +see, I'm only mentioning this so that you can understand why I'm not +anxious to press old Dawson, just yet awhile. There's nothing to be +lost by waiting; I'm in no hurry." + +"How about our marriage?" + +"What do you mean--how about our marriage?" + +She would have liked to have told him just what she did mean--that she +had invented her aunt's legacy simply because she wanted to be married +at once. But she could not do that; she had to get to the point some +other way. + +"You said if you had enough money to buy a partnership in Mr. Dawson's +business we might be married at once; that's why I told you about my +aunt's legacy." + +"That's all right; the legacy'll keep; what's the harm?" + +"The harm is--it's not nice of you to make me say so, though--you +ought to be--you ought to be flattered." + +"I am flattered." + +"You're not! I don't believe you care for me one bit, or--or you'd +know I want to be married." + +"So you shall be." + +"When?" + +"Oh, when I've had time enough to find out where I'm standing; say in +a month or two." + +"Herbert, you should never have had that two hundred pounds if you +hadn't promised me that we should be married at once." + +"What do you call at once?" + +"Next week." + +"Next week! why, that's Easter!" + +"Well, why shouldn't we be married at Easter?" + +"Good gracious! Where do you propose to set up housekeeping? in my +rooms?" + +"Not necessarily in your rooms; but in some rooms--nice rooms, for the +present; they needn't be just about here. I've money enough to go on +with--plenty of money; and you might think over what you've been +talking about, and come to a decision, while--while we're on our +honeymoon." + +Again he took the cigar out of his mouth, and again he regarded the +ash; it was white, and long, and firm; it seemed it was a good cigar; +and while he was still regarding the ash, he observed-- + +"Young woman, there's more in you than meets the eye. There's +something in what you say; I admit there's a good deal in what you +say. I'll give it my serious attention." + +"Your serious attention! Won't you understand? Any day I may have to +leave this place." + +"That's true enough, unless you propose to remain on the premises +while the catalogue s being drawn up, and the lots are being +ticketed." + +"Herbert! What do you mean?" + +"Nothing to speak of; only I happen to know that the principal +creditors don't mean to wait for their money a moment longer than they +can help. Either the estate will have to be administered in +bankruptcy, or Miss Nora Lindsay will have to agree to the whole thing +being sold--lock, stock and barrel, for what it will fetch." + +"When?" + +"As a matter of fact, they want to come into the place and start the +catalogue to-morrow." + +"But what will become of Nora?" + +"Quite so." + +"Where will she go?" + +"Where will she?" + +"Couldn't she--couldn't she come and live with us?" + +"What's that?" + +"Couldn't she--live with us?" + +"Who's us?" + +"With you and me--just for a time--when we're married?" + +Mr. Nash looked the lady straight in the face, significantly; his tone +was as significant as his look. + +"My dear, I don't think you care for Miss Nora Lindsay one snap of +your fingers, and I'm sure I don't." + +"You've no right to say that." + +"I fancy that you've a sort of notion that you ought to behave +prettily to her because she's let you come and liven her up when she +hadn't a soul in the place to speak to. So far as I can see, she's at +least as much under an obligation as you are. She'd have been deadly +dull without you; she'd have had to pay a companion, and pay her well, +if it hadn't been for your society. You got nothing for your services; +seems to me she owes you. Don't talk about her living with us! I +wouldn't live under the same roof as Miss Nora Lindsay, not for a +million a year. I don't like her--never did--never could; she's not +the kind of girl I care about. What does it matter to me what becomes +of her? Do you think she'd trouble if I came to eternal grief? Very +much so! I fancy I see her at it! No, if you're going to take up with +Miss Nora Lindsay you've done with me. There never has been any love +lost between us, and now if I had my way I'd never see her or speak to +her again. So if your sentiments are different I'll hand you back the +two hundred pounds you so kindly threw into my face just now, and +we'll cry quits. I'm not going to start by letting the girl who's +going to be my wife mix herself up with people who are objectionable +to me." + +The expression which was on the girl's face, as she looked at him, was +pitiful; had he been aware of the emotions which seemed to be tearing +at her in a dozen different places at once, even he might have been +moved to pity. Had his words been lashes they could hardly have hurt +her more. She stood trembling, hardly able to speak. + +"I--I'd no idea you--you felt like this--about--Nora." + +"Hadn't you? Well, you know now; and as perhaps you'd like to have a +little time to get the idea well into your head, I'll say good-day." + +"Herbert, you--you mustn't go." + +"Mustn't go? Why mustn't I go?" + +"How about our marriage?" + +"How about our marriage?--when just now you were talking about her +coming to live with us." + +"I--I--was only--suggesting." + +"Then let me tell you that the suggestion's made me feel sick. I don't +want any words--I hate them; and as I'm not going to be bustled, when +I know that I ought not to allow myself to be bustled, as I remarked, +I'll return you the money which you threw into my face just now." + +"I--I didn't mean to throw it in your face." + +"Then what did you mean? You as good as said that I'd been up for +sale, and that you'd bought me; but as I didn't understand that I was +being bought, I'll hand you back the purchase price, then perhaps I +shall be able to call my soul my own." + +"I--I--Herbert, don't--don't let's quarrel. I--I--you don't know how I +love you." + +"Very well, then, and I love you; so that's all right." + +"Are you sure you love me? If I were only sure!" + +"You may be dead sure; at the same time you must allow me to speak a +few plain words. There's something the matter with you, and there has +been for some little time; I don't know what it is--it may be a +headache, as you say, but if it is it's the kind of headache which, if +I were you, I should take something for. You've changed altogether +during the last few days; the little girl I used to know wouldn't have +tried to bully me into marrying her at a moment's notice, when I told +her that I thought it would be better, for both our sakes, that we +should wait a little. I promise you that as soon as I see my way I'll +come and ask you to name the day, and I hope you'll name an early one. +But, in the meantime, where's the hurry? So far as I know you'll get +no harm by waiting; it isn't as though I was asking you to wait +long--a month or two at most; and it isn't as though you were hard up; +you've got the cash, not I. As for leaving the place, I should say the +sooner you leave it the better; you've got a home to go to--what's +wrong with your home? You can write to me, I can come and see you; or, +if I can't manage to come, after a bit you might step over to see me; +you might find quarters with a mutual friend--why not? My present +advice to you is to take a dose of medicine, that is medicine, and lie +down, and sleep it off; then when you're feeling more like yourself +you'll see that I'm quite right; and then you might let me know, and +we can have another little talk together. In the meantime, as I +observed before, I'll say good-day. By the bye, if you do want that +money back again, you've only got to let me have a line, and you shall +have it." + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + THE PARTING OF THE WAYS + + +Mr. Nash strolled leisurely off, lighting another cigar as he went. +Elaine could have done nothing to stop him, had her entire future +depended on her making the effort. Indeed she only dimly realized that +he was going; something seemed to be pressing on her brain, and +numbing it; until all at once the pressure lightened, and, with a +start, she perceived that he had gone. For a second or two she stood +staring about her on all sides, as if, just roused out of sleep, she +was wondering where she was. When she understood that he had left her, +and had passed out of sight, and that she was alone, oblivious of her +smart hat and pretty frock, she sank down on to the grass, just where +she was, and hid her face in her hands. + +She stayed like that some time; she herself did not know how long; +then, uncovering her face, again she looked about her; and, possibly +recognizing that nothing was to be gained by behaving like that, she +scrambled to her feet, shaking herself, touching herself here and +there, where she thought that her costume might stand in need of a +touch, then she started to return to the house. + +She had just got on to the path which wound among the trees when she +encountered the person she would have most wished to avoid--the +butler, Morgan. Elaine had never before seen him attired in anything +but what might be described as his official garments; such was her +mental confusion that, at her first sight, in his well-cut, neat grey +suit, she hardly knew him; it had to be admitted that in it he looked +more like a gentleman is supposed to look than Mr. Nash had done. He +carried himself with less swagger than Herbert Nash; what was still +more marked, he uncovered when he saw Miss Harding, showing all those +signs of outward respect which a gentleman is supposed to show in the +presence of a lady, but which Mr. Nash had entirely ignored; yet Miss +Harding shrank back from Mr. Morgan as if he had been some noxious +thing. Nothing could have been more deferential than the air with +which he addressed her. + +"With your permission, Miss Harding, I should like to speak to you." + +She looked as if she was afraid that he would whip her. + +"Not--not now; I'm afraid I shall be late for lunch; I--I don't want +to keep Miss Lindsay waiting." + +"We don't lunch on Sunday; you forget, Miss Harding; we take early +dinner; I assure you you shan't be late; they can't begin without me, +and I'm always punctual. Pray don't be distressed." + +"I--I can't stop now; I--I'm not feeling very well." + +"You're not looking very well, I'm sorry to say; as Mr. Nash informed +you." + +She started. + +"Mr.---- What do you mean?" + +"You were so engrossed with each other that you had no eyes for +anything but yourselves; or you would certainly have noticed me. I was +so close that I actually heard everything you said." + +"Are you always spying?" + +"Candidly, I very often am. I regard it as my duty to keep at least +one eye on everything that's going on; that's a high ideal, but I do +my best to live up to it. When I had that little conversation with you +with reference to the three thousand pounds you found, I endeavoured +to assure you that you might rely implicitly on my discretion; but, at +the same time, I did not bargain that you would throw the money away +on such a man as Herbert Nash." + +"Morgan! you--you forget yourself." + +"Not at all, Miss Harding, not at all. When first I saw you together +my feeling was one of resentment; but, when I heard what was said, my +resentment grew less; for one reason, because I perceived that I might +be able to work with Mr. Nash, as well as with you." + +"You might work with Mr. Nash? What do you mean?" + +"Is it not obvious? As you are doubtless aware, Mr. Nash is a young +man of many possibilities." + +"Possibilities?" + +"You will remember that I told you that I saw possibilities in you, +which have become facts. In the same sense I see possibilities in +Herbert Nash, so that I may be able to work with him. We shall be a +united trio." + +"Do you--do you dare to hint----" + +"Yes? do I dare to hint? pray finish." + +"Let me pass! I'll have nothing to say to you! Get out of my way!" + +"Still one moment, Miss Harding, if you please. I heard you ask Mr. +Nash to marry you, which was rather 'coming on,' to use a kitchen +phrase, wasn't it? Luckily he declined; the anxiety was plainly all on +your side; or I should have objected." + +"You would have objected! Do you suppose I should ask your +permission?" + +"If you didn't, and I did object, on your wedding-day I'd have you +arrested at the church door; and if your husband was Herbert Nash that +would be the last you'd see of him. When you came out of jail he'd +slam the door in your face, unless I mistake the man, and he'd stick +up a notice in his front garden, 'No convicted felons need apply.' +It's not my wish to be disagreeable, Miss Harding, quite the other +way; but I've a feeling that you don't want to treat me fairly; and in +matters of this sort both sides expect fair treatment, it's only +natural. I can tell you, at this moment, exactly what I propose, as +Herbert Nash put it; I want time to find out where I'm standing; as +you must see for yourself, everything's at sixes and sevens. But I can +tell you what I don't propose; that you should hand over that three +thousand pounds to a man who doesn't deserve it. You catch what I +mean? I fancy you will if you think it over." He glanced at his watch. +"Now I am afraid that I must go; if you go straight home you'll have +plenty of time to tittivate; and I do trust, Miss Harding, that, at +dinner, you'll be once more the charming, lively, high-spirited young +lady I've always loved to rest my eyes upon." + +When the gong sounded for dinner Miss Lindsay was informed, by the +butler, that although Miss Harding had been out, and had returned, she +had sent down word that her headache was still so bad that she wanted +nothing to eat, and preferred to remain in her own room. Whereupon +Nora went up-stairs to make inquiries on her own account. She found +the young lady's door was locked. Having tapped twice without +eliciting a response, the third time she knocked more peremptorily, +exclaiming-- + +"Elaine! please let me in! it's Nora." + +A shrill voice cried out within. + +"I can't let you in! I won't! I only want people to let me alone." + +Wondering, Nora let her alone, and went down to a solitary dinner; +while Elaine lay face downward on the bed, wildly asking herself if +suicide was not the best way out of it. + +That night there came to Nora still another variation of the dream +which she had dreamed before. Throughout the day she had been +conscious of a sense of curious depression; as if she was realizing, +for the first time, how wholly alone in the world she was, and was +likely to remain. She had said good-bye to the man she loved; Mr. +Spencer's story of the envelope which her father had sent him was an +odd one; but the envelope was lost. She resented with a bitterness of +which she had not imagined herself capable the fact that he had lost +it; she had not put her bitterness into words, she had not wished to +reproach him; it was contrary to her nature to reproach any one; but +it had seemed to her the hardest blow which fate had dealt her yet, +and that it should have come from him! If the envelope were found it +was possible that it might contain the key to the mystery of Donald +Lindsay's money; so that it would be shown that she was, after all, +pecuniarily, in the fortunate position her father had led her to +suppose she would be. But, to begin with, it had to be found. It +seemed that its loser had already been making strenuous efforts to +recover it, without success; if it was to be retrieved surely it was +most likely to be the case when the scent was hot. What reason was +there to suppose that the search which had failed when the conditions +were more favourable was likely to have a more satisfactory result now +that everything was against it? Even if the envelope was regained +there was still the--should she say probability, or possibility?--that +its contents might lead to nothing after all. Disappointments had +crowded on her so fast lately that it would only be in the natural +order of things if she was to be visited by yet another. + +Almost worse than all the rest; suppose the envelope was recovered, +and it was found that she was indeed an heiress, still to her the +world would never again be what it was; in her heart of hearts she +knew it; it was that knowledge which, that Sunday, weighed on her so +heavily. During the last few days disillusions had come to her from +every quarter. Whatever the future might have in store for her the +attitude taken up by the Earl and Countess of Mountdennis was one +which she never could forget. That her position as an heiress had +heightened her charms in their eyes she had known; but she had +supposed that they had cared for her a little for herself. That bubble +was blown. Common decency, it seemed to her, would have bade them +extend to her at least some show of sympathy. Plainly such an idea had +not occurred to them. All they had done was to revile her for having +lost everything she valued most, father, home, all; as if the fault +was hers, and she had been engaged in a conspiracy to bring about her +own destruction; they had made it so hideously clear that, from the +first, and all along, they had only thought of her as a representative +of so many pounds, shillings and pence; not a creature of flesh and +blood, who was one day to stand to them in the place of a daughter, to +be loved and cherished by their son. Though to-morrow millions were to +come tumbling into her lap her lovers' parents could never now be what +she had once hoped they would become; with their own hands they had +rent into nothing the veil of illusion through which she had seen +them. + +That Robert was not as they were she admitted, gladly admitted. Yet he +was their son; if she became his wife she would be in duty bound to +regard his parents, in a sense, as hers; how could she pretend filial +attachment and respect for such persons as they had shown themselves +to be? Hers was the young girl's high ideal of marriage; husband and +wife ought to be one; they ought to have a common community of +interest; what was dear to the one should be dear to the other; how +would that ideal work out if she were to marry Robert Spencer? +Obviously, it would not work at all; he would be on one side; his +parents--not improbably all his relatives and friends--would be on the +other side, against her. It would begin in dissension, and end--where? +Even the discovery that she was rich would make but little difference; +she was not going to buy a husband from his father and mother, well +knowing that all they wanted for the light of their countenance was +their price, and that they would only consent to receive her into the +family circle if she came plastered with gold. Rather than become a +wife upon those terms she would remain a spinster all her life. She +knew her weakness; if she came within reach of Robert her love--his +love--might prove greater than her strength; that morning it had been +all that she could do to keep herself out of his arms. Next time--and +she was pretty sure that if Robert was in the neighbourhood there +would be a next time before very long--she might succumb, and regret +it ever afterwards. Better that she should leave Cloverlea than run +such a risk. + +The probability that she would have to go--whether she wanted to go or +not--had been continually in her mind since she had heard Dr. +Banyard's statement of her affairs; and with it there had been a hazy +sort of notion that, when the moment of parting came, she might find +temporary refuge in Elaine Harding's home in the west country, as a +guest in her father's vicarage. Elaine had asked her often; it was +true that the invitations had been coupled with intimations that the +vicarage was but a humble one, and would seem but a poor place to the +heiress of Cloverlea. But now circumstances had changed; to Nora any +place seemed desirable where she would be welcome; especially her dear +friend's home, however modest it might be. Although she would not +confess it even to herself she had vaguely expected that Elaine would +have spoken to her on the subject before now; Elaine had always been +so full of protestations of what she would do--of what she would love +to do--for Nora, if opportunity ever offered, in return for all that +Nora had done for her. But now that opportunity did offer, and Elaine +was well aware of the plight which Nora was shortly likely to be in, +not a hint had she dropped of a disposition to be of service to her in +any way whatever. More, it seemed to Nora that Elaine was avoiding her +as if misfortune had made of her a pariah. It was true that she +excused herself by alleging illness; and Nora was not prepared to say +that her illness was diplomatic. But during all the time they had +known each other Elaine had always enjoyed excellent health; so far as +Nora knew--and they had been intimate for years--she had not endured +an ache or pain until the moment arrived when it seemed likely that +she might be able to render some slight services to the friend who had +done so much for her. + +It was not strange that Nora took it for granted that she need expect +nothing from the dearest friend she had in the world; and that that +feeling did not tend to lighten the load of depression which, that +Sunday, weighed on her so heavily. + +In the evening she took stock of such possessions as, in any case, she +might be entitled to call her own. She had it strongly in her mind +that she and Elaine might soon be parted; just how close the hour of +parting was she could not tell, but she felt that, whenever it came, +it would be as well that it should find her ready. There had been, she +knew, a meeting of the creditors yesterday; exactly what course they +had decided to pursue she had not learnt; and, again, that troubled +her; she felt that either Dr. Banyard or Mr. Nash might have let her +have some sort of intimation. But, anyhow, from what she had gathered +it seemed likely that before long there would be strangers at +Cloverlea; when they came she must go, practically on the instant. +Even if their coming was postponed it appeared to her that she must +go. It cost money to keep up Cloverlea; since the little money which +her father had left belonged to the creditors, when she came to +consider the matter calmly, it seemed to her that she had no real +right to remain another hour. Her continued stay in that huge house +involved the expenditure of money to which it had not yet been shown +that she had any claim; even if money enough had been discovered to +keep it going for another week, which she doubted. + +No; it seemed to her, from whatever point of view she regarded the +position, that the hour was close at hand for the parting of the ways; +and that it behoved her to be ready for it when it came. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + 'SO EARLY IN THE MORNING' + + +So she took stock of such things as, whatever befell, she felt that +she would have a right to take away with her from Cloverlea; it seemed +to her that, since God had opened her eyes to her actual situation, He +would forgive her for undertaking, on the Sabbath evening, what He had +shown her was a work of necessity. A pathetic business that +stocktaking was, and a queer one, and not a very heavy one either. + +She began with the money. She concluded that such cash as her father +had given her for her own separate and private use she might still +call her own, and use as her own. Had she been dealing with a sum of +any magnitude she would have hesitated; for this young woman was a Don +Quixote in petticoats, and would rather starve than eat food which she +even fancied belonged to others; but she was not dealing with a sum of +any magnitude. Her father had always made her a generous allowance, of +which she had always made a generous use; regarding herself as, in a +sense, her father's almoner, she used far the larger part of it in +works of charity. Since she left school it had been his custom to give +her, four times a year, a sum of one hundred and twenty-five pounds, +always in gold. It had been one of his peculiarities that he had never +given her either cheques or bank-notes, but always sovereigns. One of +the quarterly sums had always been handed to her during the first week +in April; she had been expecting it when her father had been taken +ill. As a matter of fact, it was her hundred and twenty-five +sovereigns, plus two more, which had formed that little heap of gold +which was on the study table when Elaine Harding first adventured +through the window. So, as that little heap had never found its +way to her, all she actually possessed was what was left from last +quarter--and the first three months of the year always were such +expensive months. During the winter there was apt to be so much want +and suffering; sometimes she found it hard to make both ends meet, +even though she spent scarcely anything on herself at all. However, +that winter quarter there had been something over; that something +represented her entire fortune, nearly nine pounds; to be exact, eight +pounds fourteen and eightpence. Even the most clamorous creditor might +have suffered her to go out to face the world with that. Especially as +beyond that Nora had very little of a portable nature which she +considered she would be justified in regarding as her own, except her +clothes. + +Among the other things to which he had objected Donald Lindsay +included jewellery. He wore none himself; had he had his way he would +have called no man an acquaintance who did. He disliked to see +jewellery even on a woman. On an elderly woman he esteemed it bad +enough; like the cynic he was, he held that the average elderly woman +very properly felt that she was only worth the net value of what she +had on her. On a girl, to his thinking, it was impossible; if ever he +encountered, under his own roof, young women who were, as they +fancied, ornamented by products of the jeweller's art, he was apt to +make such plain-spoken comments that Nora always endeavoured to warn +her girl acquaintances to put aside their ornaments while, at any +rate, her father was about. Nora herself had only had four pieces of +jewellery in her life. One was a plain gold watch, which her father +had given her when she was at school, which she then wore attached to +a plain black ribbon; another was a gold locket, in which was her +father's portrait, which she had worn on the same black ribbon. The +other two articles had been presents from Robert Spencer--her +engagement ring, and another locket, in which was his portrait. These +she had returned to him on the previous day, together with his +letters. So that all the jewellery she now had was the gold watch and +the locket with the portrait of her father. These, she decided, came +in the same category as the eight pounds fourteen and eightpence; she +was entitled to regard them as her very own. + +Her wardrobe presented difficulties. She had heaps of pretty dresses; +quantities of all sorts of pretty clothes; the puzzle was, what to +take and what to leave. She knew, from experience, that if her +garments were turned into cash they would not fetch a great deal, +however much they might previously have cost, or however little they +might have been worn; so that if she took all her clothes she was +aware that she would not be depriving her creditors of an appreciable +sum of money. It was the difficulty of selection which troubled her. +Obviously elaborate and costly evening dresses consorted ill with a +fortune of eight pounds fourteen and eightpence, which represented +both capital and income; in that sense the daintier and prettier they +were, the more undesirable they were. Yet--she loved her pretty +frocks; only a woman could understand how hard it seemed to her to +have to part from them. With them were entwined so many associations; +she wore this one on that never-to-be-forgotten night when Robert +first asked her to be his wife; that when he slipped the engagement +ring upon her finger; how pretty she had thought it! how she had +kissed it when she was alone! She blushed at the memory. + +After all, those were sentimental considerations which reached back to +the life with which she had done for ever. It was quite another sort +of life which was in front of her; she must be equipped for that. +Three Or four plain, substantial dresses would be sufficient; the +rest--those triumphs of the dressmaker's art--she was not likely to +require garments of that sort again, ever. So she packed the few +clothes she thought she would require into a trunk, together with her +Bible, her writing-case, and a few odds and ends; looking round the +room, she decided that all her other things, which she had so +treasured, must remain behind. She undressed, feeling as if she was +undressing in a room peopled with ghosts, all of them memories of the +many-sided Nora of the days which were gone; then, all radiant in her +white attire, she knelt in prayer; supposing, as she poured forth all +the dear, secret things which were in her heart, that she was a woman; +but God, who heard her, knew that she was a child; and, as she prayed, +He breathed peace into her soul; so that hardly, at last, was she +between the sheets when she fell fast asleep. + +And in her sleep she dreamed the dream which she had dreamed before; +of her father, stealing timidly into her room, filled with a great +longing to tell her something, which he would have given much that she +should know, yet speechless. And to him the knowledge that he was dumb +was agony, and to her; so that she put her arms about him, and +whispered in his ear words which were meant to assist him in the +efforts he was making to say what he so yearned to tell her. But +struggle as he might, speech would not come; until, all at once, in +the exceeding bitterness of his grief he made her understand that, +because he had been still so long, and so had sinned, God would not +let him speak now; He would not forgive him for the opportunities he +had wasted. Mingling her anguish with his, she held him closer, +crying-- + +"God will forgive you, father! God will forgive you!" and, with her +own crying, she woke herself up, to find herself in the darkness, +alone, and the sound of her own voice in her ears. + +As before, the delusion of her father's presence was so real that, at +first, she could not believe it was delusion. She put out her hands to +feel for him; when they found nothing, she whispered-- + +"Father!" + +When none answered she got out of bed, and crossed the room, and stood +at the open door, listening for the sound of his retreating footsteps; +she had heard them so plainly when he entered. When she remembered +that he was dead, and that it must have been a dream, she began to +tremble all over; she did not dare to ask herself if this dream had +been sent to her of God; she was afraid. + +Throughout the remainder of the night she lay awake. Day had scarcely +dawned when she rose and dressed. Recollections of the awe which had +obsessed her spirit were with her still. She was conscious of an +uncomfortable feeling that something unusual was about to happen. So +soon as she was dressed she left her own room and went to the bedroom +which had been her father's. As she crossed its threshold she had an +odd sensation of having come again into his presence. Impelled by she +knew not what motive of curiosity, she examined methodically all that +the room contained, opening drawers and wardrobes, going through their +contents. It seemed to her that they were emptier than they used to +be. Her father had accumulated clothes until every store-place he had +was filled to over-flowing; she had told him not long ago that if he +would keep on getting more, without ridding himself of some of those +he had, he would require another room to put them in. She knew he had +got rid of nothing, yet drawers and cupboards in bedroom and +dressing-room were nearly empty. Certainly more than three-quarters of +them were gone; what were left were scarcely more than odds and ends. +And not only clothes; as she looked about her she began to miss all +sorts of things. Both rooms had been nearly stripped of all her +father's personal belongings. By whom had they been taken? who had +given the necessary authority? + +From the bedroom she passed through the still silent house to the +rooms below, and presently to her father's study. Here again was some +subtle suggestion of its late owner. He seemed to be standing by her +as she touched this and that, moving from one familiar object to +another. Nor had she been there very long before she perceived that +here also things were missing; and, in this case, they were things +which mattered. A pair of bronzes had gone from the mantel, for which +her father had paid a large sum, and which he valued highly; some +ivory antiques, fine specimens of the carver's art, which he had +brought with him from China, had also vanished; a Satsuma vase, two +costly examples of powder blue, even prints and pictures from the +walls, all kinds of curiosities, the possession of which would gladden +a collector's heart, had disappeared. Of course their absence was +capable of a natural and legitimate interpretation; they might have +been put out of sight for safer keeping. Still--they were there on +Saturday; she was sure she had noticed them when she came in a moment +for some ink; why should they have been removed during the course of +yesterday? + +While she stood looking about her, feeling a little bewildered, the +door was opened suddenly, and Morgan, the butler, came hastily in. He +stared at her as if she was not at all the person he had expected to +see; indeed, he said as much. + +"I beg your pardon, Miss Lindsay, I thought--" He left his sentence +unfinished, and began another. "I heard some one moving about below, +and knowing that the household was still upstairs, I thought it might +be some one who had no business here, so hurried down to see who it +was." + +He made as if to withdraw, but Nora stopped him. + +"Morgan, who has been interfering with my father's things?" + +"I beg your pardon; I don't quite follow." + +"Where's the Satsuma vase? and the powder blues? and the bronzes? and +all sorts of things?" + +"Have they been removed?" + +"You can see for yourself that they've been removed; who has taken +them? where are they?" + +Morgan glanced round the room with, in his air, as it seemed to Nora, +almost a suggestion of amusement. + +"They do seem to have been removed, don't they? As you say, all sorts +of things." + +"Didn't you know they had been removed?" + +"Perhaps Mr. Nash has had it done; or Dr. Banyard." + +"Why should they? Besides, neither of them has been here since +Saturday; and the things were here then, because I saw them." + +"Ah, if you saw them that doesn't look as if they could have had it +done, does it? But--may I ask, Miss Lindsay, how it matters?" + +"How it matters, Morgan--the things are worth a great deal of money." + +"Isn't that all the more reason why they shouldn't be allowed to fall +into the hands of--I don't wish to cause you pain, Miss Lindsay--of +those who are coming?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"Don't you know? Then, in that case, Miss Lindsay, I will have +inquiries made, and will inform you, at the earliest possible moment, +of the result." + +He slipped out of the room so rapidly that she had not a chance to +question him further, leaving her more bewildered than he had found +her. What did he mean? what could he mean? She did not like to suspect +him of impertinence, or even something worse; yet--what had he +implied? That it would be just as well that these most valuable +possessions of her father should be kept out of the hand--of those who +were coming? She did not doubt that the state of affairs was known to +the household; could he have been referring to the creditors? was he +suggesting that they should be defrauded of what might go some +distance towards settling their claims, and that she should connive at +such a fraud? If he had not meant that, what had he meant? Her impulse +was to call him back, and insist upon an explanation there and then. + +But she reflected that, whatever his meaning might have been, she had +made herself quite plain; his manner had shown it. His error, perhaps, +had been one of over-zeal for her service; though that was not a fault +of which she had supposed Morgan would have been likely to be guilty. +Still, that was how it might have been. If so, now he understood--that +that was not the sort of zeal which she desired. If--as, in spite of +his evasions, she thought was possible, he knew where the missing +articles were to be found--she gave him an opportunity to restore +them, in his own fashion, to their former places, no doubt, when +she returned again to the study, she would find them where they had +always been. With some vague notion of giving him such an opportunity, +there and then, she opened the French window which led into the +grounds--through which Elaine Harding had made that entry she was +never to forget, which had changed the whole face of the world for +her, as well as for others--and, hatless, passed out into the morning +air. + +Although she did not know it, she was setting out on what was to be +her last walk through the familiar places she had known so long, and +loved so well. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + GULDENHEIM + + +It was hardly the morning she would have chosen for such a jaunt. A +change was impending in the weather. Fickle April seemed to be of +opinion that the world thereabouts had already had too fair a taste of +summer, and that the time had come for quite a different sort of +thing. Heavy banks of cloud scudded across the sky, blown by a cold +north-easterly wind, which at times almost amounted to a gale. But +Nora was heedless of the weather; her mood was in tune with the wind, +wild and vagrant. The chilly breezes blew her hair this way and that, +she cared nothing. Now and then a splash of rain was dashed on her +uncovered head; she paid no heed. She walked rapidly, delighting in +the sensation of striding swiftly through the open air, careless of +all else. How far she walked, or how long, she did not know; she kept +no count; one could walk some distance without quitting the grounds of +Cloverlea; but even she awoke to the fact, at last, that she had +better seek shelter, or else go home. The rain threatened to fall in +earnest; without hat or jacket, or protection of any sort, she would +soon be soaked to the skin. + +She stood up under the shelter of a tree; as much to enable her to +take her bearings as for anything else; and had just realized that the +road ran on the other side of the hedge which was close at hand, when +a trap came bowling along it, whose driver, seeing her peeping out +from behind her tree, brought his horse to a sudden standstill. It was +Dr. Banyard. + +"Why, Miss Nora," he exclaimed, "you're early abroad. And have you +joined the anti-hat brigade that you venture so far afield without one +on, and in such weather? I'll give you a lift, I'll get you home now +before the rain; and if I don't Sam and I between us will find +something which will keep you dry. There's a gate a little further on; +if you hurry I'll be there to meet you." + +She shook her head; and stood closer to the tree. + +"You're very good; but I'd sooner walk if you don't mind." + +"Walk! but it's going to pour! and you haven't even so much as an +umbrella!" + +"It's not going to be so much, only a shower; I can see blue sky +there." + +The doctor looked in the direction to which she pointed, and, seeing +the peeping blue, perceived that, probably, after all, it was only +going to be an April whimper. + +"You're a refractory young person; if you catch a cold don't look for +sympathy from me; and, I say, I want to speak to you. In fact, I've +been wanting to speak to you since Saturday; but of course the parish +chooses the wrong moment to get itself ill, I haven't had a moment to +call on you. I've been up practically all night, and when I do get +home I expect I'll be dragged out again directly; I know them! But you +will have heard from Nash." + +"I have heard-nothing from Mr. Nash since I saw you last." + +"No? How's that? I told him to communicate with you in case I +couldn't, and he said he would." + +Again she shook her head. Leaning over the side of the trap he eyed +her with his shrewd grey eyes. + +"In that case, here, Sam, take the reins, and drive a little way down +the road; I'll call you when I want you; I have something which I wish +to say to Miss Lindsay, in the rain." As a matter of fact when he +alighted, and the trap had gone on, the shower had already nearly died +away; she stood close up to the hedge on one side and he on the other. +"I am sorry to be the first bearer of the bad news, I had hoped Nash +would have broken the ice. I was present on Saturday at the meeting of +Guldenheim and his friends." He did not tell her at what inconvenience +he had been present, and of how, in consequence, all his work had got +into confusion. "I said all we had arranged that I should say; but I +am sorry to have to inform you that the only terms on which they would +consent not to throw your father's estate into bankruptcy were that +everything should be realized at once." + +She smiled, a rather wintry smile, but still it was a smile. + +"Thank you; it is very kind of you to take so much trouble; but would +you mind telling me exactly what that means." + +"I'm afraid it means that Guldenheim and his friends, or their +representative, may arrive at Cloverlea to-day. They seem to be hot +against your father with a heat I confess I don't understand, and +declare they won't wait a moment longer for their money than they can +help." + +"They need not; I am quite ready to go." + +Her pale face grew perhaps a little paler, and her lips were closed a +little tighter; but the girl still smiled. He seemed to be more moved +than she was. + +"If you take my advice, my dear young lady, you'll at once get +together as much as you possibly can, and have the things removed from +the premises before they come; you can have them sent over to us if +you like. Anyhow you're entitled to personal belongings; and in a case +like yours the law takes a liberal view of what that term covers." + +"I think I've packed up everything already, practically." + +"I hope you've treated the situation broadly, and have not been unduly +generous to persons who you may be quite sure will show no generosity +to you." She nodded; she did not care to tell him, in so many words, +that what she chose to regard as her personal belongings were all +contained in one small trunk. "And of course you'll come over to us +till you have had time to look round; things may turn out much better +than at present they promise; you never can tell. The wife is taking +it for granted that you're coming, you can take that from me; but, if +you think it's necessary, so soon as I get home she'll come and fetch +you." + +Perhaps it was because that was the first offer of real assistance she +had received that her voice was tremulous. + +"Thank you; you--you know I thank you and Mrs. Banyard; but--I can't +come, I've made other arrangements." + +He eyed her suspiciously; his tone was brusque. + +"What arrangements have you made?" + +"Just for a while they're private." + +"Are you going to be married? It would be the best thing you could +possibly do, to get married out of hand; I hear your young man's back +again, and I've no doubt he's willing; Robert Spencer's not a fool." + +Her voice sank nearly to a whisper. + +"I'm not going to be married." + +"Then what are you going to do?" + +"If you don't mind, doctor, I prefer to keep my own counsel for a +while." + +He broke into alliterative violence. + +"You're contemplating some feebly foolish female knight-errantry. I +know you! But it won't be allowed; directly I get home I'll send my +wife to talk to you; she'll do it better than I can. Your best friends +are here; it's they who have your best interests at heart; and you're +going to consider their feelings whether you like it or not; you're +not going to be allowed to ride over them roughshod, young lady. Sam, +bring that pony." He discharged a parting shaft at her as he climbed +into the trap. "You understand, my wife will come and talk to you as +soon as she gets her hat on; or whatever it is she does put on when +she goes out visiting. And I hope you'll have the grace to listen to +what she says." + +Nora re-entered the house through the open study-window. As she passed +through the room she saw that the butler had taken her hint; the +missing articles had been replaced. As she was sitting at her lonely +early breakfast--for it seemed that Elaine Harding had not yet +sufficiently recovered to put in an appearance at so matutinal a +meal--she commented on the fact to Morgan. + +"I am glad to see that the study is again as it always has been. I +wish everything, throughout the house, to remain exactly as it was +when my father was alive; nothing is to be touched. Let the servants +understand that this is my wish." + +Morgan slightly inclined his head, as if to express both perfect +comprehension and his readiness to carry out her directions. Then, +when, feeling that she preferred to be alone, she told him that he +need not wait, he returned straight to the study, gathered together +the articles which he had only recently replaced, and walked off with +them to a hiding-place of which he flattered himself he alone knew the +secret. + +"She's had her way," he told himself, as he was stowing them in what +he hoped was a place of safety. "Always let a woman have her way, if +you can, especially if she's young and good to look at; now it's my +turn. She's not likely to go back to the study for a bit; it's worth +chancing, anyhow, these things mean quite a heap of money; from what I +hear others are likely to get here before she does, and they can look +after themselves. At a time like we're going to have every one has to +look after himself. If the things are missed, why they can be +produced, and everything explained; if they're not missed, and I don't +see how they're going to be, if there's a little management, there's +no reason why I shouldn't have them, instead of that pack of thieves. +I have got some artistic taste; it's born in me; I doubt if they've +got any." + +He grinned, as he wrapped the Satsuma vase carefully in a large white +silk handkerchief. + +Having finished breakfast Nora went up to her own sitting-room; but +had not been there very long before a servant first knocked shakily, +then entered hastily. + +"If you please, miss, there's a lot of men downstairs; they didn't ask +for you, and I don't know what they want, but they've got such a free +and easy way about them that I thought I'd better let you know that +they were there; Morgan let them in; they came in a wagonette." + +Nora went down without a word. In the hall there was quite a little +crowd of men; ten or twelve of them there seemed; among them some +sufficiently rough-looking customers. None of them had troubled to +remove their hats; but at sight of Nora one of them, a big fat man, +beautifully dressed, with a red face, a large nose, and curly shining +black hair, removing his hat, advanced to meet her. + +"Are you Miss Lindsay?" + +He spoke with a curious nasal utterance. + +"I am." + +"I'm Guldenheim, you know all about me; and these are my friends, who +are in the same boat with me, you've heard about them; and these are +our chaps. I suppose you know we've agreed not to make a fuss on +condition that you give us possession of everything, to cut up between +us so that we can get a bit of our own back again, what there is of it +to cut up." + +"I do know." + +"Well, we've come into possession." As he looked at the girl and saw, +dimly, what manner of girl she was, he seemed to think that he owed +her some sort of apology, which he offered in a fashion of his own. "I +dare say it seems hard to you, our coming in like this, but you must +know that your father had our money, and my friends' money, and we +can't afford to lose it, it isn't to be expected that we should; you +must understand that." + +"I quite understand," said Nora. + +"Then that's all right," said Mr. Guldenheim. + +About that time some one was rapping at Miss Harding's bedroom door, +on the other side of which Miss Harding was completing her toilette. + +"Who's there?" she asked. + +"It's me, Morgan; here, come closer to the door, I want to speak to +you." + +She went so close to the door that even a whisper of his would have +been audible. + +"What is it?" + +"The bailiffs are in down-stairs, the whole show's burst up. You'd +better pack up--you know what, as soon as you can; and everything else +you've got as well; and anything you see lying about worth packing; at +a time like this anything's any one's. Only get a move on you; they +may be up here directly, there's a lot of them, and there's no telling +how they're going to do things, those sort of people can make +themselves very nasty if they like; you don't want to have them +superintending your packing; don't you let them in, if you can help +it, till you've got your boxes locked. I thought I'd just give you a +tip, so that you might look lively." + +Miss Harding acted on Mr. Morgan's "tip," beginning, so soon as he had +gone, to pack everything she had got, and doing it with feverish +haste; but had not proceeded far when something came rattling against +the window-panes, something which sounded as if it were a handful of +gravel. She drew aside the curtain and looked out. Mr. Nash was below, +he waved his hand; apparently it was he who had saluted the window. +Hurriedly throwing a dressing-jacket over her bare shoulders, she +raised the sash sufficiently to enable her to put her head out, +apparently oblivious of the fact that her black hair was streaming +loose; she had been engaged in "doing" it when Morgan had knocked at +the door. + +"Herbert! Did you throw those stones at my window? What do you want?" + +The reply from below was hardly an answer to her question. + +"I say! Now you are worth looking at! Now you're what I call something +like a picture!" + +Her cheeks were flushed with excitement; there was a light in her +eyes; the streaming locks certainly were not unbecoming; nor did the +blush with which she received his words detract from the general +effect. + +"Herbert, you naughty boy, you don't mean to say you nearly broke my +window simply to make me put my head out, and I'm in this state!" + +"Well, not exactly; though it would have been worth breaking a window +for. I chucked that gravel up at your window because I've something to +say to you which has got to be said now, if it's to be said at all; +only don't shout." + +"Am I shouting?" + +"I thought I'd just give you the hint in case you felt as if you'd +like to. Somehow, do you know, the more I look at you the more I seem +to want to; if I could only get at you." + +"It's lucky you can't; what do you want to say? Do you know I'm +freezing?" + +"You remember what we were talking about yesterday?" + +"Am I likely to have forgotten?" + +"I've been thinking things over, and I've come to the conclusion that +if you're game I am." + +"Game? game for what? what do you mean?" + +Mr. Nash glanced round, as if to ascertain if any one was in sight, +then dropped his voice. + +"To marry." + +"Herbert!" + +Her heart seemed to leap into her mouth, as if the word, coming from +his lips, touched a spring and made it bound. + +"You said you'd like the marriage to be at once; what do you say to +our being married to-morrow?" + +"Herbert!" + +At the moment she could only trust herself to repeat his name, she was +in such a curious state of tremblement. + +"Do you know that Guldenheim and his crowd are in the house?" + +"I've just heard." + +"A nice lot they are; you can't stop in the house with them; you'll +have to clear." + +"I told you I should." + +"You'd better pack everything you've got and I'll send a trap for you; +they may object to your taking anything out of the stable; it's quite +possible that they've laid hands on the lot. Anyhow I'll send +something for you; how long'll you be?" + +"Half-an-hour." + +"Not more?" + +"I can't tell you to the exact moment how long I'll be; don't be +absurd. You send the trap in half-an-hour, and I'll be as quick as +ever I can. Where's it going to take me?" + +"To the station; I'll meet you there." + +"Why at the station?" + +"You poor little thing! we're going off together; it's going to be a +regular elopement." + +"Herbert! How are we going to get married?" + +"How soon can you get some of your aunt's money?" + +"I've got enough by me to go on with." + +"How much do you call enough?" + +"Oh, about ninety pounds." + +"You sly little thing! Who'd have thought you were stuffed with money +like this? It's not so long ago since I pointed out a big hole in your +glove, and you said you had to wear old gloves, because you couldn't +afford to buy yourself a pair of new ones." + +"I dare say; that was a hint to you." + +"Was it? then it was thrown away, because if I possessed the price of +a pair of gloves it was as much as I did have; though in the sweet by +and by I'm going to be a millionaire." + +"You haven't said how we're going to get married." + +"I'm going to get the licence the other end, and we're going to be +married to-morrow." + +"Are you sure we can get married to-morrow?" + +"Of course I'm sure." + +"In church?" + +"In church; in St. Paul's Cathedral if you like; though to arrange +that might take a little longer." + +"I don't want to be married in St. Paul's Cathedral; I want to be +married quietly." + +"That's what I want; so there we are agreed; hooray!" This cry of +jubilation was uttered in a sepulchral whisper. "Now you quite +understand? Trap's coming in half-an-hour; you're to be ready; you're +going to meet me at the station; we're going to elope; we're going +together to get the licence; and to-morrow we're going to be married +together; is that perfectly clear?" + +"Don't be silly! Are you glad?" + +"What for?" + +"That we're going to be married; you know!" + +"Of course I'm glad; how do you want me to show it? would you like me +to stand on my head and dance?" + +"No; I only want to know you're glad." + +"You wait; you shall have all the knowledge you feel you stand in need +of." + +"Herbert!" + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + NORA GOES + + +When Elaine brought back her head into the room, the window was +closed, Mr. Nash had vanished; the young lady was in such a state of +palpitation, that for some seconds she was incapable of continuing the +operation of packing, conscious though she was of how time was +pressing. Half-an-hour is not long. She was not yet fully dressed; it +seemed that now she was to dress to meet her lover, to elope with him; +if she had known that before she would have arrayed herself in some +quite different garments. There was no time to change now; it was out +of the question. Really, there was not time even to finish packing +properly; her things would have to be squashed in anyhow; if she could +get them in at all she would have to be content. There was one +comfort, she would buy herself an entirely new outfit when she had +once got clear away. Herbert need not think--no one need think--that +she was going to do without a trousseau; she was not. She was going to +have a proper trousseau; a complete trousseau. Only it seemed that in +her case the various articles would have to be purchased after +marriage instead of before; but she would have them. + +While such thoughts chased themselves through her excited little head, +she returned to the process of packing with still greater zeal than +before. Cherished garments received unceremonious treatment; if they +could have felt they would have wondered why their mistress was using +them as she had never done before. Rolled up anyhow; squeezed in +anywhere; no regard paid to frills or dainty trimmings; plainly +Elaine's one and only desire was to get her things in somewhere, +somehow. Yet as if it was not enough to have to pack against time, she +was not allowed to pack in peace; she was doomed to interruption. Just +as the first box seemed full as it could hold, and she was wondering +if her weight would be enough to induce the hasp to meet the lock, +there came a tapping at the bedroom door. The sound was to her an +occasion of irritation; her voice suggested it. + +"Now who's that?" + +"It is I." + +It was a voice she knew--at that moment it seemed to her--too well. So +entirely was this young woman a creature of mood that there was only +room in her for one mood at a time, and while that possessed her she +forgot everything else; before she heard that voice she had forgotten +Nora. And it was Nora who stood on the other side of the door. +Elaine's selfish little soul shook with fear when the sound of the +voice without recalled her friend's existence to her recollection. + +"What am I to do?" was the question which instantly sprang up within +her. She could scarcely put her off with an excuse now. Nora was +probably at her wit's end; all the seas of trouble had been opened on +her unprotected head. If ever there was a moment in which she was in +need of friendly service it was this; unless some one held out to her +a helping hand she might sink in the deep waters, never to rise again. +In the box which she had just been packing was the money which Elaine +had "found" on the study table; that huge sum which, of course, was +Nora's. Here was a chance to show that, after all, she was not +altogether the worthless wretch she had seemed to be. Should she? + +No, she told herself, Herbert would not like it; then there was +Morgan, and the trousseau, and the honeymoon; if she kept all the +money she might have the kind of honeymoon of which she had so often +dreamed; and--there were other things. All the uses she might have for +the money crowded into her brain, treading on each other's heels. She +dropped the lid and ran to the door. + +"I'm awfully sorry, Nora, to keep you waiting, but----" She stopped, +to stare. "Why, you've got your hat on; where are you going?" + +Nora was dressed for travelling. It was Elaine's cue to be surprised +at everything; she meant to be so surprised that the mere force of her +surprise should drive all other things clean out of her. Nora came +into the room. + +"I see you are packing." + +For a second Elaine was slightly embarrassed, but she quickly got over +that. + +"Yes, I've had a letter from papa this morning." + +"A letter from your father?" + +The calm eyes looked Elaine straight in the face. The girl turned +away; the glib tongue began to reel off lies. + +"Just now--I should think I ought to have had it yesterday; I don't +know why I only had it to-day. He wants me to come home; of course he +feels I'm frightfully in the way; and then it seems Polly has the +scarlet fever, and Jennie looks as if she were sickening for it, and +there are the other children, and papa has no one to help him--he +can't afford a nurse; so you see I must go; the poor man writes as if +he were half distracted." + +"Of course you must go; and, perhaps, in a way it's as well you must, +though I'm so sorry to hear about Polly and Jennie; but I'm afraid +that in any case I should have had to ask you to go." + +"Nora! Am I so much in the way as that?" + +"It is not only you who are in the way; we both of us are, both you +and me. Mr. Guldenheim and his friends have come, and, in consequence, +I also am leaving Cloverlea." + +"Nora! What do you mean?" + +Nothing could have been more eloquent than the amazement on Elaine's +face. + +"You knew that they were going to sell everything to pay what it +appears were my father's debts; well, it's come a little sooner than I +expected, that's all." + +"But where will you go? What will you do?" + +"Something; don't fear. 'God's in His heaven, all's well with the +world.' I don't doubt there's a place in it somewhere for me." + +"Oh, Nora, if I could only take you home with me! But it's such a poor +place, and so small; and now it's like a hospital, with all the +children ill of that dreadful fever, and papa writing that he's nearly +penniless; what do you think yourself?" + +It was rather a neat way of passing on the responsibility. + +"I think it's out of the question. With that poor father of yours +already nearly borne down beneath his troubles, do you think I'd add +to them? What I'm wondering is if you've enough money to take you +home." + +"Papa hasn't sent me any--I'm afraid he's none to send; but I've been +reckoning--I've just enough, with a squeeze; but then I'm used to +squeezing. Nora, I do hope you've plenty of money." + +"I've enough to go on with. Can I help you with your packing?" + +"The idea! As if I'd let you, you poor dear!" + +"Then, Elaine, if you won't mind very much----" + +Nora stopped, as if at a loss to find words with which to clothe her +thoughts. Miss Harding was gushing. + +"I shan't mind anything, my darling. What is it?" + +"It--it's only, if you won't think me very unkind, that I'd--I'd like +to catch a train which starts almost at once." + +She was thinking, perhaps, of Dr. Banyard's promise to send his wife +to talk to her, and desired to avoid that talking. Miss Harding leapt +at the hint. + +"And you want to get away immediately? And do you think I'd wish to +stop you from doing anything you want to do?--you sweet! Good-bye, +Nora, my darling! God bless you! I hope everything will turn out all +right yet; I feel sure it will; it's bound to. And mind you write!" + +"I will--when I am settled." + +"And what address will find you?" + +"I'll let you know that also, when I'm settled." + +So they parted, with fond embraces, many kisses, words of endearment, +tears in their eyes. Nora's heart was very full, and Elaine felt hers +ought to be. So soon as Nora had left the room Elaine banged her foot +against the floor; clapped her hands together with such violence that +she actually stung her tender palms, and cried-- + +"What a little beast I am! what a little beast!" + +Then, instantly, she resumed her packing, remembering that the trap +was coming in less than half-an-hour, but not with quite so much zest +as before. There was a vague consciousness in her somewhere that her +conduct had not been--and still was not--altogether without reproach. + +When Nora got down-stairs she found the hall door open, a dog-cart +without, a footman keeping guard over the single trunk which he had +brought from her room, and Morgan, as it were, keeping watch and ward +over him; otherwise the hall was deserted. Nora recognized the fact +with something like a pang. She knew then that she had hoped that at +least some of the servants would have been gathered together to wish +her God-speed; then she told herself, with the quick philosophy which +was eminently hers, that it did not matter after all. + +Morgan greeted her with a question. + +"Is there any more luggage?" + +"No; none." + +"What directions are there as to what is to be done with the contents +of your own rooms--your two rooms, bedroom and boudoir? Perhaps I may +be allowed to remark, Miss Lindsay, that I believe you've a right to +whatever is in your own rooms; no one's a right to touch anything +that's in them except you." + +"Thank you, Morgan; there are no directions. By the bye, if you like I +will write you two or three lines, before I go, which you will be able +to use as a reference when you are applying for another situation. I +don't wish you to suffer by what has happened." + +"Thank you, Miss Lindsay, you are very good; but I don't propose to +seek another situation. I am giving up service. I trust, Miss Lindsay, +that in the future everything will turn out as you would like it to." + +"Thank you, Morgan, I hope it will. Say goodbye to the others for me, +and say I wish them all well." + +The butler inclined his head with his most deferential air. The trunk +had been lifted into its place at the back of the cart, the footman +had ascended to the driver's seat, and Nora was climbing up to his +side, when a seedy-looking man came shambling along the drive, +apparently in a state of some excitement. + +"Here, what's all this!" he cried. "This won't do, you know." + +"What won't do?" inquired the footman. + +"What you're doing of--that won't do. I'm in charge of the stable, and +that horse and cart have been took out of it; can't have that; +nothing's to be took off the premises without the governor's express +permission." + +"Isn't it? We'll see about that; and so will you see if you don't +watch out." + +The footman evinced an inclination to use his whip with some degree of +freedom. Nora laid a restraining hand upon his arm. She addressed the +seedy-looking man. + +"The dog-cart is only going to drive me to the station; it will be +returned to the stable, uninjured, probably in less than half-an-hour. +You need fear nothing." + +There she was mistaken; the man was in imminent peril of being run +over. The footman flicked the mare on the shoulder, she gave a +startled bound, then went dashing down the drive; if the fellow had +not sprung nimbly aside both the mare and the cart might have gone +right over him. + +And that was how Nora left Cloverlea. + +While the vehicle was still in sight Mr. Morgan addressed a few +outspoken remarks to the seedy-looking man on his own account. + +"You're a fool, my lad, that's what you are; you don't know when +you're well off. You and your governor have no more right to be where +you are than you have to be in the moon. That young lady's been badly +advised. If she'd had your governor, and his friends, thrown out of +the house, and dragged down the drive, and deposited in the high +road--your governor, for one, wouldn't have wanted much dragging; he +knows enough to get in out of the rain--he'd have taken to his heels +as fast as ever he could, to save himself from something worse. As for +your laying your hand upon her horse, and her cart--because they are +hers, and hers only--if she'd had you locked up you'd have got six +months, and serve you right. I call you a low down thief, because +that's exactly what you are; and I call your governor a low down +thief, because that's exactly what he is; and if I have an opportunity +so I'll tell him. Taking rascally advantage of a fatherless girl. Poor +young lady! it goes to my heart to see the way she's being put upon." + +Mr. Morgan ascended the steps with an air of virtuous indignation +which caused the other to stare at him open-mouthed, as if an assault +from that quarter was the last thing he had expected. + +Before many minutes had passed a trap drew up before the hall door, +from which Mrs. Banyard alighted. She was received by Morgan; her air +was a trifle imperious; she had come, as her husband had promised she +should come, to talk to Nora. + +"Where is Miss Lindsay? I wish to see her; take me to her at once." + +The butler was affable, but unsatisfactory. + +"I am afraid I cannot do that." + +"What do you mean? Why can't you? Has she given instructions that she +doesn't wish to see me?" + +"Miss Lindsay has gone." + +"Gone! Gone where?" + +"I apprehend that Miss Lindsay has left Cloverlea for ever." + +"You apprehend! Man, you're dreaming! How long is it since she has +been gone?" + +She glanced towards the trap, as if she meditated jumping into it, and +starting in instant pursuit; but if she entertained such an idea +Morgan's answer put an end to it. + +"Possibly an hour, possibly not quite so much; I cannot say exactly +when she started." + +He must have been aware that she had not been gone ten minutes; +possibly he wished to spare his late mistress the indignity of being +chased--even by a friend. + +"Where do you say she's gone?" + +"The directions were to drive her to the station." + +"To the station? Then what address has she left?" + +"None with me." + +"She must have left an address with some one." + +"Not with any member of the household." + +"But where are her letters to be forwarded?" + +"That I cannot say." + +"Man! why did you let her go?" Probably this time the expression of +surprise which was on Morgan's face was genuine. "I'm afraid I don't +understand." + +"Oh-h-h!" + +She clenched her fists, and, so to speak, she ground her teeth; she +looked as if she would have liked to have beaten the butler; only just +then another dog-cart drew up, from which the Hon. Robert Spencer +descended. He hailed the butler. + +"Morgan, I want to speak to Miss Lindsay; where is she? I'll show +myself in." Then he saw the doctor's wife. "Oh, Mrs. Banyard, how are +you? But I needn't ask, you're looking so well." He returned to the +butler. "Morgan, where is Miss Lindsay?" + +"Miss Lindsay, sir, has gone." + +Mr. Spencer did what Mrs. Banyard had done--he echoed the butler. + +"Gone! Gone where?" + +Mrs. Banyard took it on herself to explain. + +"The headstrong girl has gone to the station, and probably to London, +and as she's left no address she's gone goodness only knows where. But +I know--I understand perfectly well. She's got some Quixotic notion +into her head, and because she's got it she's bent on suffering +martyrdom, and she will too, if somebody doesn't stop her; though who +for, or what for, nobody knows." + +Mr. Spencer laughed, as if he thought the doctor's wife was joking; +but he seemed to do it with an effort. + +"If she's gone we'll find her, wherever she's gone; don't let your +imagination paint any very frightful pictures, Mrs. Banyard. I'll +undertake to find her, and save her from the martyrdom at which you +hint--well, I'll be on the safe side, and say within four-and-twenty +hours." + +But he was undertaking more than he was able to perform. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + MISS GIBB + + +Nora's knowledge of London was as slight as the average young lady's, +who has lived mostly in the country, is apt to be; yet, when she left +Cloverlea, she went straight to London, with eight pounds, four and +twopence in her pocket, intending to live upon that sum until she had +discovered some means of earning more. There was some method in her +madness. She had been reading a story lately about a young woman who +had struggled to make a living in town, and she had had rooms in +Newington Butts. Nora had gathered that, while Newington Butts was not +an abode of fashion, nor a particularly salubrious neighbourhood, it +was within reasonable distance of places where young women could earn +money; and, above all, that thereabouts lodgings were both plentiful +and cheap. + +The train deposited Nora at Paddington. Had she known her way about +she would have left her trunk in the cloak-room, and crossed London by +one of half-a-dozen different routes, for a few coppers; when she had +found lodgings the box would have been delivered at her address for a +few more coppers. What she did do was to charter a four-wheeler. It is +some distance from Paddington to Newington Butts; to Nora, an +unaccustomed traveller, already tired with her journey, hungry and +thirsty, the way seemed interminable. She began to wonder if the +driver quite knew where he was going; he seemed to go on and on and +never get there. At last, a little desperate, she put her head out of +the window and asked him-- + +"Are you sure this is the right way?" + +The cab stopped. The driver screwed himself round in his seat, and he +observed, in the tone of one who is offended-- + +"You said Newington Butts, didn't you?" + +"Yes." + +Hers was the voice of deprecation. + +"Very well then; I'm driving you to Newington Butts. If you think you +know the way better than I do you can come outside and I'll get +inside. I've been driving this cab two and twenty years, and if +there's any one who knows the way to Newington Butts better than I do, +I should like to know who it is." + +She drew her head back and subsided on the seat, doubting no longer. +She felt that a man who had been a cabman for two and twenty years +ought to know the way to Newington Butts better than she did. The cab +went on. There was another period of seemingly interminable jolting; +it seemed likely that the springs had been on that cab as long as the +driver had. Once more the vehicle stopped. This time the driver asked +a question. + +"What address?" + +As Nora put her head out again hers was the tone of anxiety. + +"Is this Newington Butts?" + +"It used to be when I was here last, but perhaps it's been and gone +and turned itself into something else since; you might ask a policeman +if you think it has been up to any game of the kind. There's one +standing over there; I'll call him if you like; he might know." + +"Thank you; I--I don't think I'll trouble you. The fact is I want +lodgings; do you know of any round here?" + +"Lodgings? I shouldn't have thought there was any round here to suit +you." + +"Oh, I'm so sorry; why not?" + +"There's about two hundred thousand, I dare say, so perhaps one of +them might suit. Anyhow, I'll show you a few samples. Only, mind you, +I'm not engaged by the hour, nor yet by the week." + +When next the cab stopped the main thoroughfare had been left behind, +and they were in a street of private houses. + +"Here you are; here's a street pretty nearly full of them; all you've +got to do is pick and choose." + +Nora, getting out, perceived that in many of the windows there were +cards announcing that there were rooms to let. She began her search. +At some houses they asked too much; at others they did not take +ladies; and there were rooms in which she would not have lived +rent-free; perhaps she tried a dozen without success. The cabman, who +had followed her from house to house, did not appear to be so +disheartened by this result as she did. + +"That's nothing," he declared, as she regarded him with doubtful eyes. +"Sometimes people go dodging about after rooms the whole day long, and +then don't find what they want. There's more round the corner; try +them." + +Nora went round the corner, the cab moving at a walking pace beside +her. The first door at which she knocked was opened by a girl, a small +girl, who looked about twelve; but she wore her hair in a knob at the +back of her head, and there was something in her manner which seemed +intended to inform the world at large that she was to be regarded as a +grown woman. + +"What rooms have you to let?" asked Nora. + +The girl looked at her with sharp, shrewd eyes; her reply was almost +aggressive. + +"We don't care for ladies, not in the ordinary way we don't." + +Nora had been told this before. Though she had not understood why a +woman should be objected to merely because she was a woman, she had +meekly withdrawn. But there was that about this child--who bore +herself as if she were so old--which induced her to persevere. + +"I am sorry to hear that. If you were to make an exception in my case +I would try not to make myself more objectionable than I could help." + +The girl remained unsoftened. + +"That may be; but you never can tell. Some give more trouble than +they're worth, and some aren't worth anything; this is a respectable +house. Still there's no harm in letting you see what we have got." + +On the upper floor were a small sitting-room in front and a still +smaller bedroom behind; barely, poorly furnished, with many obvious +makeshifts, but scrupulously clean. + +"What rent are you asking?" + +"Ten shillings a week, and not a penny less; it ought to be fourteen." + +"I'm afraid I can't pay fourteen shillings a week just yet, but I +think I can manage ten; I like the rooms because they seem so clean." + +"They are clean; no one can say they're not clean; I defy 'em to." + +"Can I see the landlady?" + +"My mother's the landlady; she's not very well just now; I can make +all arrangements." + +"Then in that case don't you think that if I were to take the rooms +for a week on trial, at the end of that time we might find out if we +were likely to suit each other?" + +"We might; there's no knowing. When would you want them?" + +"At once; my luggage is at the door." + +"Then mind you make the cabman bring it up before you pay him; I know +them cabmen." + +But the cabman would not be made; he pleaded inability to leave his +horse. An individual had appeared who offered to carry up the box for +threepence; so Nora let him. After the cabman had been paid there +remained of her capital less than eight pounds. When they were again +up-stairs she said to the girl-- + +"What's your name? I'm Miss Lindsay." + +"I'm Miss Gibb." + +Nora smiled; the child said it as if she wished the fact to be +properly appreciated. + +"I meant, what is your Christian name?" + +"Angelina; though I'm generally known as Angel, you see it's shorter; +though I don't pretend that there's anything of the angel about me, +because there isn't." + +"I fancy I'm tired, my head aches; do you think you could let me have +some tea?" + +"Course I could; are you going to do for yourself, or are we going to +do for you?" + +"I'm afraid I don't understand." + +"Are we going to do your marketing, or are you going to do it for +yourself? If you take my advice you'll do it for yourself; it'll save +you trouble in the end, and then there won't be no bother about the +bills. The last lodger we had in these rooms he never could be got to +see that he'd had what he had had, there was always a rumpus. Quarter +of a pound of tea a week he used to have, yet he never could +understand how ever it got into his bill. I'll let you have a cup of +tea, and some bread and butter, and perhaps an egg; then afterwards I +dare say you might like to go out and lay in a few stores for +yourself." The girl turned as she was leaving the room to supply the +new-comer with a piece of information. "Number 1, Swan Street, Stoke +Newington, S.E., that's the address you're now in, in case you might +be wanting to tell your friends." + +In Swan Street Nora continued to reside, while the days went by, +though she never told her friends. From Cloverlea, and the position of +a great heiress, with all the world at her feet to pick and choose +from, to Swan Street and less than eight pounds between her and +beggary, was a change indeed. Used only to a scale of expenditure in +which cost was never counted she was incapable of making the best of +such resources as she had. Miss Gibb took her to task, on more than +one occasion, for what that young woman regarded as her extravagance. + +"Don't want it again? What's the matter with the bread? Why, there's +the better part of half a loaf here." + +"Yes, but I had it the day before yesterday." + +Nora spoke with something like an air of timidity, as she stood rather +in awe of Miss Gibb when that young person showed a disposition to +expand herself on questions of domestic economy. + +"Day before yesterday? Let's hope you'll never be wanting bread. I've +known the time when I'd have been glad to have the week before last's. +Then look at those two rashers of bacon you told me to take away +yesterday, what was the matter with them?" + +"They weren't--quite nice." + +"Not nice?" + +"I didn't think they were--quite fresh." + +"Not fresh? I know I cooked them for my dinner and there didn't seem +to be anything wrong about them to me. Then there was that lump of +cheese which you said was all rind, it made me and Eustace a handsome +supper. Of course I know it's none of my business, and of course any +one can see you're a lady from the clothes you send to the wash; but +if there's one thing I can't stand it's waste; perhaps that's because +I've known what want is." + +Nora had been in the house more than a week without seeing or hearing +anything of her landlady, or of any managing person except Miss Gibb. +She made constant inquiries, but each time it seemed that Mrs. Gibb +was "not very well just now," though what ailed her Miss Gibb did not +explain. One afternoon, as she was removing the tea-things, Nora was +struck by the look of unusual weariness which was on the +preternaturally old young face; something in the look determined her +to make an effort to solve the mystery of the invisible and inaudible +landlady. + +"Angel, whenever I ask you how your mother is you always say she's not +very well just now; but the only person I've seen or heard moving +about the house is you. I'm beginning to wonder if your mother is a +creature of your imagination." Angel said nothing; she continued to +scrape the crumbs off the tablecloth with the blunt edge of a knife. +"Are you alone in the house?" + +"Course I'm not; how about my brother, Eustace? You've seen and heard +him, haven't you?" + +Eustace, it appeared, was only slightly his sister's senior, and +almost as old; though Nora felt that no one could really be as old as +Angel seemed; she admitted that she had seen Eustace. + +"Very well then; he don't go till after nine and he's back most days +before six, so how can I be alone in the house?" + +"I know about Eustace; as you say, I've seen him. But I was thinking +of your mother. Where is she; or have you reasons why you would rather +not tell me?" + +"What do you mean by have I reasons?" + +The light of battle came into the child's eyes; it was extraordinary +how soon it did come there. + +"I was wondering if, for any reason, you would prefer to keep your own +counsel." + +"We don't all of us care to turn ourselves inside out; seems to me you +don't for one." + +The accusation was so true that Nora was routed. + +"I beg your pardon, Angel; I didn't mean to seem to pry." + +"No harm done that I know of; bones aren't broke by questions." She +folded the tablecloth. As she placed it in its drawer, and her back +was turned to Nora, she said, as with an effort, "Mother's paralyzed." + +"Paralyzed? Oh, Angel, I'm so sorry; where is she?" + +Miss Gibb faced round, again all battle. + +"Where is she? This is her own house, isn't it? In whose house do you +suppose she'd be if she wasn't in her own? I can't think what you mean +by keeping on asking where is she?" + +Nora was properly meek. + +"You see, I only asked because I never hear her moving about; I never +hear any one but you, and Eustace." + +"Mean I make a clatter?" + +"Angel! you know I don't. You are nearly, as quiet as a mouse; but +your mother is so very quiet. I hope the paralysis is only slight." + +"That's the trouble, it isn't. It's been coming on for years; during +the last three years it's been downright bad; and during the last +twelve months she's hardly been able to move so much as a finger." + +Nora reflected; how old could the child have been when the mother was +taken "downright bad"? + +"Can she do nothing for herself?" + +"Can't even feed herself." + +"But how does she manage?" + +"What do you mean, how does she manage?" + +"Who does everything for her?" + +"I never heard such questions as you do ask! Who do you suppose does +everything for her? Isn't there me? and isn't there Eustace? Me and +Eustace always have done everything for her; she wouldn't have anybody +else do anything for her not if it were ever so." + +"Has she any income of her own?" + +"I wish she had; that would be heaven below." + +"But on what do you live?" + +"Don't we let lodgings? What do you think we let 'em for? We live on +our lodgings, that's what we live on; leastways mother and me; Eustace +keeps himself, and a bit over now that Mr. Hooper's started giving him +his old clothes. I only hope he'll keep on giving him them. The way +Eustace wears out his clothes is something frightful; it always has +been Eustace's weakness, wearing out his clothes." + +Later Nora did a sum in arithmetic. Miss Gibb had previously told her +that, including rent, rates, and taxes the house cost more than forty +pounds a year. Nora paid ten shillings a week; Mr. Carter, on the +floor below, paid twelve and six; which meant twenty-two and sixpence +a week, or fifty-eight pounds ten shillings a year; so that when rent, +rates, and taxes had been paid under eighteen pounds per annum were +left for the support of the Gibb family, or less than seven shillings +a week. And this when times were flourishing! The rooms Nora had had +been vacant more than a month before she came; small wonder Miss +Gibb--as she would have put it--had "chanced" a lady. + +More than another week elapsed before Nora was permitted to see her +landlady. She found her in the front room in the basement, which was +used by Miss Gibb as well as herself to live and sleep in. There, +also, were performed most of the necessary cooking operations. + +"Mother," explained Miss Gibb, "always does feel the cold; we can't +have a fire going both in the kitchen and in here, so that's how it +is. Besides, mother likes to see what's going on, don't you, mother?" + +Mother said she did; for she could talk, and that was the only thing +she still could do; it seemed to Nora that even the faculty of speech +was threatened. Mrs. Gibb spoke very quietly and very slowly, and +sometimes she paused, even in the middle of a word; as she listened +Nora wondered how long it would be before that pause remained +unbroken. Her landlady lay on a chair bedstead. Miss Gibb and her +brother, between them, had contrived a method, of which every one was +proud, by means of an arrangement of sloping boards, to raise her head +and shoulders, when she desired to be raised. Nora was not surprised +to find that, in common with the rest of the house, she was spotlessly +neat and clean; but she was conscious of something akin to a feeling +of surprise when she observed the expression which was on her face; +and the more attentively she observed the more the feeling grew. +Although she seemed so old--the cares of this world had pressed +heavily on her--still, in a sense, she seemed younger than her +daughter; for on her face was a look of peace, as on the face of those +who are conscious that they also serve although they only stand and +wait. + +"I have nothing of which to complain," she told her lodger; +"only--it's hard on Angelina." Nora noticed that she always referred +to her daughter by her full Christian name. Angelina remonstrated. + +"Now, mother, don't you be silly; if you are going to say things like +that I shall have to send Miss Lindsay away." + +The mother looked at her daughter with a look in her eyes which, when +she saw it, brought the tears into Nora's; there was in it an +eloquence which she wondered if, with all her wisdom, Angelina +comprehended. If she had only been able to take the burden of the +mother off the daughter's shoulders, how gladly she would have done +it. But the days when she was able to bear the burdens of others were +gone; it seemed not unlikely that she would be crushed out of +existence by her own. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + + A YOUNG LADY IN SEARCH OF A LIVING + + +The more Nora sought for means to earn her own livelihood, the more +they seemed to evade her. In her time she had heard a good deal about +how difficult it sometimes is to earn one's own living, but she never +realized what that meant until she started to earn hers. To begin +with, she had only the very vaguest notions of how to set about it. +She could not serve in a shop; at least she did not feel as if she +could; she was conscious that she was not qualified to be a governess; +she had no leaning towards domestic service, though she would have +preferred that to serving in a shop; she had no woman's trade at her +fingers' ends, so that she was unfit for a workroom. What remained? It +seemed to her very little, except some sort of clerkship; she had +heard that thousands of women were employed as clerks; or if she could +get a post as secretary. That was the objective she had in her mind +when she left Cloverlea, a secretaryship; for that she believed +herself to have two necessary qualifications--she wrote a very clear +hand, and she had some knowledge of typewriting. She had once started +a typewriting class in the village; she had taken lessons herself. She +had bought a machine and practised on that, until she gave it away to +one of the pupils, who wished to take advantage of the information she +had acquired to earn something for herself. That was nearly a year +ago; she had not practised since; but she did not doubt that if she +came within reach of a machine it would all come back to her; and she +had attained to a state of considerable proficiency. + +So she bought the daily papers and answered all the advertisements for +secretaryships which they contained. There were not as many as she +would have wished; some days there were none; and the only answers she +received were from agents, who offered to place her name upon their +books, in consideration of a fee, which she did not see her way to +give them. The way those eight pounds were slipping through her +fingers was marvellous; when three weeks had gone she had scarcely +thirty shillings left, between her and destitution. Of course, she had +been extravagant--monstrously extravagant, as Miss Gibb occasionally +told her; but when you have been accustomed all your life to an +establishment kept up at the rate of some twelve thousand pounds a +year, to say nothing of having five hundred a year for pocket money, +it is not easy, all at once, to learn the secret of how to make a +shilling do the work of eighteenpence; that is a secret which takes a +great deal of learning; by many temperaments it can never be learnt at +all. + +She had been a month in Swan Street; had paid three weeks' bills; the +fourth lay in front of her. It was such a modest bill--Miss Gibb's +bills were curiosities; yet when it was paid she would not have six +shillings left in the world. It frightened her to think of it; the +effort to think seemed to set her head in a whirl; her heart was +thumping against her ribs; it made her dizzy. What was she to do? +where was she to go? She could not stay in Swan Street; she had not +enough to pay next week's rent, to say nothing of food. Yet, what was +the alternative? With less than six shillings in the world what could +she do? + +In a sense, since her coming to Newington Butts she had kept herself +to herself. She had this much in common with her father, she could not +wear her heart upon her sleeve. She had kept her own counsel; told no +one of the straits she was in, of the efforts she was making to find a +way to earn her daily bread. But it was plain even to her, as she +regarded her few shillings, that the time had come when she must take +counsel of some one. If she had to go out into the highways and +byways, with her scanty capital, she must learn of some one what +highways and byways there were for her to go out into; of herself she +knew nothing. As she cast about in her mind for some way out of her +trouble, it seemed to her that the only person to whom she could +unbosom herself was Miss Gibb. + +She rang the bell, paid her bill, and as she watched Angelina, with +her tongue out and her head on one side, making magnificent efforts to +affix her signature to the receipt, she prepared herself for the +ordeal. When the receipt was signed, and Angelina was about to go, +Nora stopped her. + +"If you have nothing particular to do just now, and you don't mind, +there is something which I should like to say to you." + +"I don't know that there's anything you might call particular that +I've got to do, but there's always something." + +Which was true enough; from the first thing in the morning to the last +thing at night, Miss Gibb was always doing something; and sometimes +also, Nora suspected, in the silent watches of the night. Nora +hesitated; she found the subject a difficult one to broach. + +"I'm in rather an uncomfortable position; I--I'm afraid I shall have +to leave you." + +"Why? Aren't we giving satisfaction?" + +"If I give you as much satisfaction as you give me there'd be no +trouble on that score." + +"Oh, you give us satisfaction all right enough; although, of course, +any one can see you're several cuts above our place." + +"You are likely to be several cuts above me; I am having to leave you +because I have not money enough left to pay you next week's rent." + +"Not enough money left? How much have you?" + +"Five and eightpence halfpenny, to be precise." Miss Gibb changed +countenance. "Five and eightpence halfpenny! That's not much." + +"No one can appreciate the fact better than I do." + +"But however come you to have so little?" + +"I hadn't much when I came, and I suppose I've been extravagant." + +"You have been that." + +"You see,"--despite herself Nora sighed--"I haven't been used to +economy." + +"Any one could see that with half-an-eye; I shouldn't be surprised to +learn that you're one of those who've been used to spend as much as +five pounds a week." + +"I'm afraid I am. + +"Then of course there's excuses. We can't get out of ways like that +with a hop, skip and a jump; it's not to be expected. But haven't you +got any friends who'd help you?" + +"I haven't a friend to whom I can apply for help." + +"I should have thought you were the kind who'd have had lots of +friends. Have you fell out with them?" + +"I thought my father was a rich man; but when he died--it was only a +very little while ago--it appeared that he wasn't; so I have to make +my own way in the world, and that is how I came to Swan Street." + +"I know them fathers; I had one of my own, and he wasn't of any +account; though I will say this, I always liked him." + +"I have been trying to find something by means of which I could earn +enough money to keep me. I hoped to have found it before now, but I +haven't, and that's the trouble." + +"What sort of work have you been looking for?" + +"I've been endeavouring to get a post as secretary, among other +things, and I've answered no end of advertisements, but nothing has +come of one of them." + +"Secretary? what's that? The notices that the water'll be cut off if +it's not paid for, they're signed by a secretary; I always took him to +be some kind of a bailiff." + +Nora endeavoured to explain, but her explanation was not very lucid, +and Miss Gibb was not extremely impressed. + +"Is that the only kind of work you want?" she asked; "a secretary?" + +"Indeed it isn't; I should be glad to do anything." + +"Some people, when they say they'd be glad to do anything, mean +nothing, which is about all they're good for; I know. How would you +like to go out charing?" + +"Charing? Well, I may be glad to have an opportunity of doing that." + +"Yes, no doubt; I fancy I see you at it! you charing! My word! Strikes +me you're the kind who'll find it difficult to get work of any sort." + +"You're not very reassuring." + +"Facts is facts." + +"That's true enough; and it's no use blinking them. I fear you're +right; I shall find it hard; anyhow while I'm looking for work it's +clear that I can't continue to be your lodger. That's what I wanted to +explain." + +"And pray why not?" + +"Isn't it pretty obvious? With five and eightpence halfpenny, and no +prospect of more, how am I to pay you next week's rent?" + +"I did think you'd have talked better sense than that." + +"Angel!" + +"If there's one thing I cannot stand it is to hear people talk +right-down silly; I never could stand it, and I never shall. I +wouldn't take this week's bill if it wasn't that we were so short; but +if that there poor-rate isn't paid next week we shall have the brokers +in, so paid it must be; them there poor-rates is demons; they'll turn +me grey yet before I've done. But as for your next week's rent--we'll +talk about that when it's due." + +"Are you proposing that I should run up debts with you, which I may +never be able to pay? Do you call that sense?" + +"As it happens that's not what I'm proposing; though if I were as sure +of most things as I am of that you'll pay me first chance you get, it +might be better for me; but you can hardly say you've got no money +when you've got plenty of things you can get money on." + +"I don't understand." + +"Look at your clothes--lovely some of them are; you can get money on +them." + +"Get money on my clothes? How?" + +"Why, bless me, aren't there pawnbrokers? What do you think they're +for? Taken to the proper place, by the proper person, you'd get a lot +of money on those things of yours; I know. I always say that so long +as you've something to pawn it's like having money at the bank." + +It was to Nora as though Miss Gibb's words had opened out to her a new +world, of which she had not dreamed. In none of the country towns +within miles of Cloverlea was there a pawnshop; to her knowledge she +had never seen one; there were plenty within an easy stroll of Swan +Street; she had passed and re-passed them, but her attention had not +been called to what they were; they had escaped her notice. In her +mind the word pawnshop stood for almost the lowest word in the scale +of degradation; it was the drunkard's last hope; the friend of the +felon; the resource of those to whom there was no resource left; that +gate into the unthinkable which was associated only with despair. And +that it should be suggested to her that she should enter a +pawnbroker's den--she had heard it spoken of as a "den"--to "raise" +money on the clothes she had worn yesterday, and had hoped to wear +again to-morrow--in her blackest hours she had not anticipated such a +fate for herself as that. The proposal actually appalled her; filled +her with a fear of she knew not what; shamed her; hurled her from a +pedestal into a morass. She stammered as she replied, conscious of the +crass banality of what she was saying-- + +"I--I don't think I--I should like to pawn any--any of my things +if--if I could help it." + +Miss Gibb's scorn was monumental, as if she resented something which +the other implied, though it had been left unuttered. + +"And who do you think does like to pawn their things if they can help +it? Do you suppose people pawn their boots because they've got their +pockets full of money? I am surprised to hear you talk, I really am; +should have thought at your time of life you'd have known better. +Wouldn't you rather pawn your clothes than starve?" + +"If you--if you put it in that crude way, I suppose I would." + +Nora smiled; a horrible libel on what a smile ought to be. There was +no pretence of a smile about Miss Gibb; there never was; she was +always like a combatant, who, armed at all points, is ever ready for +the fray. + +"Very well, then; you say you've got no money, and I say how do you +make that out when you have got things that you can pawn? If you like +to go hungry rather than put away a lace petticoat--which you can get +out again, mind you, whenever you've a chance--all I can say is I +don't; I've known what it is to be hungry, I have." + +"But I fear that I--I shouldn't know how to set about pawning a lace +petticoat even if I wanted to save myself from going hungry." + +"Who said you would? Who said anything about your setting about it? +Not me; I do hope I have more sense than that. Why, you'd be worse +than a baby at the game; it needs some knowing. I'll do all in that +way that's wanted; if I don't know pretty well all about pawning that +there is to know I ought to, I've been pawning pretty nearly ever +since I could walk. What's more, I've pawned pretty nearly every +blessed thing that there is to pawn, down to a towel-horse and a +kitchen fender. Mother and Eustace and me would have been a case for a +coroner's inquest long ago if I hadn't; and I will say this for them +there pawnbrokers, that, considering the class they've got to do with, +and that they have got to make a living, they've got as much of the +milk of human kindness in them as most. You're going to stop here, +that's what you're going to do, and mother and Eustace and me will put +our heads together to see about finding you some work to do, though I +don't know about that there secretary. Only for goodness' sake don't +you lose heart; no one ever gained anything by doing that. I've seen +as much of the world as most, and I know from my own experience that +when things are tightest is just the moment when help comes. Mother +says it comes from heaven; but I don't know, it may or it may not; but +it comes from somewhere, and that often from where you least expected +it. When next week's bill comes due, if nothing's turned up, you give +me something, and I'll take it round to Mr. Thompson--he's about as +good as any--and I'll get as much on it as ever I can, and you'll be +able to pay all right; you see, I'm not concealing from you that we've +got to live as well as you, and them poor-rates there's no shirking. +But don't you fear; mother and Eustace and me will have found you +something to do between us long before you've spent all the money +you've got in the bank; but whatever you do do, don't you go losing +heart." + +So the child taught the woman, who was learning rapidly that age is +not measured by the years one has lived; Miss Gibb was a century older +than she was, though she was only just in her teens. Two visits were +paid to Mr. Thompson, each time with a petticoat. Nora lived on the +proceeds of those two petticoats for nearly another month, during +which all the members of the establishment were putting their heads +together in endeavours to find her something to do. The heart-sickness +it meant for her; the consciousness of wasted effort; the sense of +shame; the realization of her own futility; she had aged more during +the time she had been in Swan Street than in all the preceding years. +She had long ceased to confine herself to attempts to find a post as +secretary, or as clerk. She tramped half over London in her desire to +answer, in person, advertisements of all sorts and kinds, always in +vain. Any one but a sheer ignoramus--Miss Gibb's ignorance outside her +own sphere of action was colossal--would have told her at a glance +that her efforts were foredoomed to failure. And why? The idea of such +a one as she was occupying some of the situations for which she +applied was in itself an absurdity; her appearance, her bearing, her +manners, her dress, all were against her; perhaps her dress +handicapped her worst of all. She did not know it; she thought her +frocks were as simple as they could be; and so they were, in the sense +of the great costumier, with the simplicity which is the hall-mark of +the dressmaker's art. There was not one of them which had not cost her +ten or fifteen guineas. The would-be employer saw this at once, and +decided that the applicant was unsuited, which she was; so Nora was +sent sorrowing away. + +So with Nora the world went from bad to worse; until, as if to +justify Miss Gibb's prophetic instinct, when things seemed really at +their "tightest," help came to her from a quarter--as Angelina had +foretold--from which she had least expected it. + + + + + CHAPTER XX + + KING SOLOMON + + +John Hooper, Esquire, barrister-at-law, of Fountain Court, Inner +Temple, was the employer of Mr. Eustace Gibb, who was the brother of +Miss Gibb. It is not easy to define the relation which Mr. Gibb +occupied with regard to Mr. Hooper. Mr. Hooper, although, presumably, +learned in the law, had never held a brief in his life, and, to be +frank, did not particularly want one; only his uncle worried. He had a +small income of his own, and great expectations from his uncle; as his +expenditure always exceeded his income, he regarded it as of the first +importance that he should continue to stand in what he called his +uncle's "good books," since he looked to that gentleman for sufficient +financial assistance to enable him to what he termed "rub along." To +please his uncle, who appeared to think he ought, very shortly, to be +sitting on the woolsack, since he could get no briefs of his own he +worked on those of other people; in other words he devilled for a +gentleman who was always promising to do more work than, as he knew +very well, he could do, and who, therefore, allowed Mr. Hooper, among +others, to do some of the work which he was paid to do, but for which +he paid Mr. Hooper nothing; there was not so much of this as Mr. +Hooper chose to allow his uncle to imagine; still, from his point of +view, there was emphatically enough. + +What position Mr. Gibb filled in his chambers he himself occasionally +wondered. To those whom he wished to impress with his legal standing +he spoke of him as his clerk; to those whom it was impossible to +impress, and they were many, as his office boy; while in his own +circle of intimates, which was of rather a peculiar kind, he generally +referred to him as King Solomon. Mr. Gibb generally referred to +himself as Mr. Hooper's right-hand man. + +"I'm his right hand man, that's what I am," he was wont to tell any +one who showed interest in the subject; whereat the listener whistled, +or did worse, and wondered, if he stopped at that. His duties appeared +chiefly to consist in sitting, if Mr. Hooper was in his chambers, in a +sort of lobby, which opened on to the staircase, which he called his +office, and where he did nothing; or if Mr. Hooper was not in his +chambers, he went out, as far out as he thought was discreet, and did +nothing there. Sometimes when, as was not infrequently the case, both +employer and employed had nothing to do, Mr. Hooper would summon Mr. +Gibb into his inner room, and would talk to him--and Mr. Gibb would +talk to him. It was the words of wisdom which Mr. Gibb would casually +let drop in the course of these conversations which induced Mr. Hooper +to allude to him, in the privacy of his own circle, as King Solomon; +the barrister declared that it was worth his while to pay Mr. Gibb ten +shillings a week, which he with difficulty did, merely on account of +the benefit which he derived from hearing him talk. + +It was during one of these conversations that Mr. Gibb touched on a +subject which was foremost both in his heart and head. He had taken a +strenuous part in the family endeavours to find for Miss Lindsay some +employment by means of which she could at least provide herself with +the wherewithal to keep herself alive. He had entered on the search +with sanguine zest. Apart from any feeling which he might himself +entertain for the lady he felt that his reputation was at stake. He +had pledged himself to find for her at least half-a-dozen ways of +earning a living in a ridiculously short space of time; and as yet he +had not found her one; and she herself still searched. He was aware of +the visits to Mr. Thompson; they troubled him nearly as much as they +troubled Nora; he felt almost as if he was himself responsible for +their continuation. He knew that any day another might have to be +paid; the knowledge made him desperate. He had had, for some time, a +vague intention of speaking to his employer on the matter; but he was +aware that Mr. Hooper did not always take him seriously, and he was +curiously unwilling to have Miss Lindsay made the subject of that +gentleman's chaff. Yet the thought of that further impending visit +pressed heavily on his mind; so that presently the barrister perceived +that in his air there was something singular. + +"You're not up to your usual mark, Mr. Gibb; those pearls of wisdom +which I love to cherish as they drop from your lips don't seem +dropping; stock run out?" + +Mr. Gibb looked up at the ceiling, then down to Mr. Hooper. + +"The fact is, sir, I've got something on my mind." + +"Is it possible? My good Mr. Gibb, do I ever allow anything to stop on +my mind? Get it off!" + +"It's easy to talk, sir, but I don't seem as though I can." + +"Perhaps it would do your mind good to tell me what's on it; I have +known that prescription work a cure. Give your mind its head, Mr. +Gibb, let her go." + +Mr. Gibb hesitated; he was trying to find fitting words in which to +express what he had to say. + +"It's like this, sir; I know somebody who very much wants to find the +means of earning a living." + +"Not an uncommon character, Mr. Gibb. I suppose there are the usual +requirements, large salary wanted, and very little work." + +"Not at all, sir, not in this case. The person to whom I'm alluding +would be only too glad to do any amount of work, for very little +wages." + +"That is unusual; I fear an effort has been made to impose upon your +innocence. Who's the gentleman?" + +"It's not a gentleman, sir, it's a lady." + +"A lady? I say, Mr. Gibb! warnings out all along that coast; if at +this period of your existence you get yourself mixed up with a lady, +especially one who is on the look out for means of earning a living, +your whole career may be blighted. She may look upon you as her +living, and then where are you?" + +"No fear of that, sir; this is a lady born and bred; she's as high as +the heavens above me." + +"Is she? Then she's tallish. Old?" + +"No, sir; in her early prime." + +"Meaning?" + +"I couldn't say exactly, sir; I should say somewhere about twenty. You +could tell better than me. + +"What on earth do you mean?" + +"If you saw her." + +"If I saw her! Look here, Mr. Gibb, have you got anything at the back +of your head?" Mr. Gibb sighed. "Is she hideous?" + +"No, sir; she's the most beautiful young lady ever I set eyes on; and +I've seen a few." + +"You have, Mr. Gibb, I admit it; still as I don't know what your type +of beauty really is your remark conveys little to me." + +"It would convey more, sir, if you were to see her. You wouldn't want +to see her twice to know that she's the most beautiful young lady ever +you set eyes on. I feel sure of it. I wish you would see her, sir." + +"May I ask, Mr. Gibb, what it is you're driving at? Why should I see +her?" + +"So that you might understand." + +"Understand what?" + +"How it is." + +"How what is? I'll trouble you, Mr. Gibb, to be a trifle more +explicit. Where's this lady of birth and breeding, who's as high as +the heavens above you, to be found?" + +"She's lodging at my mother's. Yes, sir, I don't wonder you look +surprised; I know it's no place for a lady, especially one like her; +and that's the trouble, she is a lady; I know a lady when I see one as +well as I know a gentleman." + +"You must forgive me, Mr. Gibb, but I'm wondering if you do; it's not +every one who can tell a lady by the look of her." + +"Perhaps not, sir; but you can. If you saw her you'd soon tell. She'd +have found something long ago she could have turned her hand to if +she'd been one of your common sort; but that's the mischief, she's a +lady; and I happen to know that she's in a very bad way. She lost her +father and her mother, and she doesn't seem to have a friend in the +world; if she doesn't find something soon by which she can earn a +little money I don't know what will become of her. I wish you would +see her, sir." + +"What good do you suppose will be gained by my seeing her? What sort +of work does she want?" + +"She has been trying for a secretaryship; but she's tried, and tried, +and nothing's come of it; and now she'd be only too glad to do +anything by which she could earn money. You see, sir, you know all +kinds of people, and I thought that if you saw her, so that you might +know what she's like, and how it is with her, you might think of some +one who could give her work; I know you wouldn't regret it if you +did." + +"Mr. Gibb, you're a--you're a person of a Mephistophelian habit! Mind +you, I've no more chance of putting anything in the way of your lady +born and bred, who's as high as the heavens above you, than the man in +the moon; but I've got plenty of time on my hands; I'm always ready to +see any one; and I've no objection to see her." + +"Thank you, sir. Will you see her to-morrow morning?" + +"Look here, Mr. Gibb, are you trying to bustle me?" + +"Well,' sir, you see she's pawning her things----" + +"Pawning her things! and you say she's a lady." + +"Yes, sir, she is pawning her things, and she is a lady; and it's +because I've reason to know that she may have to pawn something else +either to-day or to-morrow that I've mentioned her to you at all; +because when she's pawned all she's got what will she do?" + +"Do you want me to lend her some money? or to give her some?" + +Mr. Gibb smiled. + +"When you've seen her, sir, you won't need to ask me that. Then you'll +see her to-morrow morning?" + +"Now don't you go putting any false hopes in her head, you'll only be +doing her a disservice if you do; nothing will come of my seeing her, +I'm only doing it to oblige you; let that be clearly understood." + +"Yes, sir; thank you very much." + +When Mr. Gibb got home he rushed straight up to Miss Lindsay, who was +commencing the nondescript apology for a meal which served her as tea +and supper. + +"Miss Lindsay, I believe I've found you something which may lead to +something." + +"Oh, Eustace! have you? what is it?" + +"It's my chief." Mr. Gibb never would refer to him as "governor," as +other clerks did; he thought it vulgar. "It's Mr. Hooper!" + +"Mr. Hooper?" + +"I happened to mention to him to-day that you were looking out for a +secretaryship, and he said would you call round and see him to-morrow +morning." + +"Oh, Eustace! how shall I ever thank you? Is it for himself he wants a +secretary?" + +"That I can't say; but if you'll take my advice you'll call and see +him." + +"Of course I'll call and see him; I'm--I'm all trembling! as if I +wouldn't call and see him! Do you think I've any chance?" + +"That also I can't say; but if you'll allow me to give you what I +should describe as a hint----" + +"Please do! What is it? You are so clever!" + +"If I were you I should put on your prettiest frock, and your +prettiest hat, and the prettiest everything you've got." + +"Eustace! Why?" + +Mr. Gibb put his hand up to his mouth, and coughed discreetly. + +"Fact is, Mr. Hooper's more of an eye for female beauty than he +thinks, and if you come to him looking as I've seen you look, you'll +knock him." + +"Knock him?" + +Mr. Gibb was apologetic. + +"It's not often that I do use words of that kind, but, asking your +pardon, this time I mean it." + +"But--I don't understand what you do mean. You can't mean that Mr. +Hooper would engage me as his secretary merely because I happened to +be wearing my prettiest frock?" + +"I don't say anything of the kind; not at all. I don't know that he +wants a secretary; I only know he told me to ask you to call. You want +to make a good impression when you do call, don't you?" + +"Of course I do." + +"Exactly; of course you do! What I say is don't leave anything undone +which will help you to make a good impression; and that's all I do +say." + +When Mr. Gibb went Nora was left blushing, trembling, excited, and +slightly bewildered; she continued her meal without having any clear +idea of what it was that she was eating. + +"That's a queer boy," she said to herself, more than once. + +Mr. Gibb was a queer boy; which was why his "chief" occasionally +alluded to him as King Solomon. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI + + NORA FINDS SOMETHING TO DO + + +Mr. Hooper had not long arrived at his chambers, on the following +morning; he was lounging in his chair, his hat still on the back of +his head, his pipe between his lips, studying, in the newspaper which +he held out in front of him, reports of cricket, golf, and similar +legal matters, when the door was opened and Mr. Gibb came in. + +"Lady to see you, sir." + +Mr. Hooper started. + +"Lady? What lady?" + +"Lady you made an appointment with yesterday, sir." + +"Lady I made an appointment with yesterday?" Mr. Hooper seemed to be +making an effort to collect his wits, which Mr. Gibb's announcement +had scattered. "You young scoundrel! I'd forgotten----" + +Fortunately he had got no further; because, even as he was speaking, +the lady entered; whereupon Mr. Gibb vanished with a degree of haste +which was almost suspicious. Mr. Hooper dropped his newspaper, removed +his hat with one hand, his pipe with the other, and sprang to his +feet, to stare; forgetful altogether, for the moment, of his manners, +so completely was he taken by surprise. What he had expected to see he +could not have said; what he actually did see, standing + + + "in his room, + Making it rich and like a lily in bloom," + + +was the most beautiful girl he ever had seen. She was tall and most +divinely fair, perfectly dressed, in a long, trailing black gown, +which became her slender form, and a big black hat, which threw into +strong relief what seemed to him to be the almost ethereal beauty of +her face; and she held herself daintily erect, like the great lady he +could have sworn she was. The fact that the bowl of his pipe was +burning his hand recalled him to his senses. + +"I--I beg your pardon; I'm afraid I've been smoking; if you'll allow +me I'll open the windows." + +He opened them; the three windows the room contained. + +"You are Mr. Hooper?" + +Her voice was just the kind of voice it was fitting should be hers, +soft, clear, sweet; it was to him like the sound of music which he +loved; and, when he heard it, off went his wits again. + +"Yes, that--that is my name; yes--exactly--I--I am Mr. Hooper--yes." + +"I am Nora Lindsay." + +Nora! That was one of his pet names; as she pronounced it it seemed to +him to be the sweetest name a woman could have; like everything about +her, it became her so. + +"May I--may I offer you a seat, Miss Lindsay? I--I am very glad to see +you." + +She sat down, with what seemed to him almost awful calmness; but she +was all tremblement within, a maze of conflicting emotions, for +already it was clear to her that this was quite a singular young man; +only she was able to exhibit more outward self-control than he was. +When she saw that he showed no immediate disposition to touch on the +subject on which she had come, but seemed to be able to do nothing but +fidget, she began on the theme herself. + +"Eustace tells me that he mentioned to you that I am looking for a +post as secretary." + +"Eustace? Oh, you mean King Solomon--that is, young Gibb. Young Gibb's +a curious boy." + +"Curious? I think he's delightful." + +"Delightful? Yes, so--so he is; a--a most valuable acquisition for a +man like me." + +"Do you yourself require a secretary, Mr. Hooper. + +"Do I--require a secretary--myself? I--I--the fact is----" A wild idea +was germinating in the erratic young gentleman's brain. "What are your +qualifications, Miss Lindsay?" + +"I can work a typewriter." + +"Can you? That's splendid." + +"At least I could about twelve months ago, and I dare say I could +again, after a little practice." + +"Of course you could; not a doubt of it. And--and can you write +shorthand?" + +"No, I can't write shorthand; is that indispensable?" + +"No, not--not indispensable." + +"I can speak and write French, and I know some German." + +"Those--those are decidedly advantages." + +"And I write a very clear hand; I don't think any one would have any +difficulty in reading what I write; I will show you a specimen if you +like." + +"There's--there's not the slightest necessity; not the least; I feel +sure you write a clear hand. And--when are you disengaged?" + +"At once; I should like to begin as soon as I possibly could; I am +very anxious to begin." Something which she fancied she saw on his +face seemed to trouble her. "Isn't the secretary wanted at once?" + +"Well, the fact is, it's this way----" + +"I could come for a week on trial, so that you might see if I suited." + +The idea of this divine creature coming to his chambers, day after +day, for a whole week, made his brain whirl round. + +"I'm sure you'd suit; I--I've not the slightest doubt about that." + +"You can't be quite sure; but I'd try to please you." + +"I--I--I----" He was about to remark that there was not the slightest +necessity for her to try, since she could not help but please him, +whether she tried or not, when a sudden fear came to him that his +remark might be misconstrued; so he pulled himself up in time. +"The remark I was about to make is, since--since I desire to +be quite plain, in order that we may not commence with--with a +misunderstanding; what it is I wish to point out is that the post may +be of a purely temporary nature." + +"That doesn't matter; it would be something; and that's better than +nothing. How long would it be likely to last?" + +"That's--that's not easy to determine; the fact is it's really a +jobbing secretary that's wanted." + +"What is a jobbing secretary?" + +"One who works by the job." + +"By the job?" + +"Let me explain. Say there's a job--that is, a piece of work--wants +doing; when that's done there may be an interregnum before more's +required." + +"I see. And--will the secretary be paid by the job?" + +"Paid by the job?" + +"Or--by the week--or how?" + +"That--that reminds me." It seemed to Nora that Mr. Hooper drew in a +long breath, as if he desired to lay in a stock in case of emergency. +"What honorarium were you thinking of asking, Miss Lindsay?" + +"I was thinking of asking two guineas a week." She fancied his jaw +fell; so she hedged, quickly. "But, of course, if that's too much----" + +"Not at all; not in the least; practically it's less than I expected." +Although he had not the faintest notion where the money was to come +from, if it had to come from him, he was thinking that if she proposed +to keep herself on two guineas a week it would be some time--slight +though his knowledge of such matters was, before she would be able to +buy another dress like the one which she had on. "Well, Miss Lindsay, +we'll leave it like this; I will think it over and let you know my +decision." + +"Couldn't you decide now? I've found that when people say they'll let +me know their decision they mean no. Please--please give me a trial; +do let me try. If--if you'll give me a chance I'll--I'll do my very +best, so that you--you shan't regret it." + +Unless he was mistaken, something very much like tears stood in her +eyes; they affected him in a way nothing ever had done before; he +would have liked to have knocked his head against the wall. + +"My dear Miss Lindsay, you altogether misunderstand me--entirely +misunderstand me; I shall be delighted to offer you the +post--delighted." + +"Mr. Hooper! Do you mean it? Really?" + +It was worth two guineas a week to see the look which came into her +face. + +"Certainly I mean it." + +"But--what did you mean when you said you'd let me know your +decision?" + +"I meant my decision with--with reference to--to when your duties are +to commence." + +"Oh! Will it be very long before you want me?" + +"Emphatically no. As to wanting you, I--I want you immediately. Shall +we say----" + +"To-morrow? If you could let me begin tomorrow!" + +"Undoubtedly you can begin to-morrow." + +"At what time?" + +"Shall we put it--at eleven? or would you prefer to make it twelve?" + +"Twelve! But Eustace comes at ten." + +"Yes, Eustace comes at ten; but I don't want to put you to any +inconvenience." + +"You don't want to put me to any inconvenience!" She got up from her +chair with something in her way of doing it which frightened him. "But +I don't want you to study my convenience; in the future it will be my +duty to study yours; please understand that, before all else, I wish +to do my duty. I want to do a man's work and to earn a man's wage--to +deserve a man's wage. Of course I know I shan't deserve it at first; +but I'm going to try hard, and if you'll only give me a chance, and +treat me as if I were a man, I think you'll admit that I do deserve it +before very long. I know that being a woman is against me----" + +"Really, Miss Lindsay, I can't admit that." + +"But I know it is--I learnt that long ago; and only when I have +succeeded in making you forget that I am a woman shall I know that I +am beginning to earn my wage--as a man. Then I am to come to-morrow +with Eustace, at ten." + +"With Eustace? Oh yes; quite so--that is--certainly; that will suit me +very well." + +She went out of the room without another word; he stood staring at the +door through which she had passed. + +"This is uncommonly awkward; ought I to have opened the door for her +or not? It wouldn't have been treating her like a man, and she might +have resented it. She has a way of speaking, to say nothing of +looking, which takes the stiffening right out of me. I'd have given +anything to have dared to ask her to lunch; but--if I had dared, +anything might have happened. One thing's certain, I've been and +gone and done it. I've given myself two problems to solve; one thing +is, what am I to find for her to do?--for even a jobbing secretary +must do something, especially when she's full of enthusiasm to the +bursting-point. And the other is, how I am going to find the cash to +pay her for doing it; I'll be hanged if I know which of the problems +is likely to prove the most insoluble." + +When Nora reached the office Mr. Gibb assailed her with questions; her +answers seeming to amaze him in an ascending scale. + +"Well, what did he say to you?" + +"He's engaged me." + +"Engaged you? What for?" + +"As jobbing secretary." + +"As what?" + +"As jobbing secretary." + +"Who to?" + +"Why, to himself, of course." + +"He's engaged you as jobbing secretary to himself? What are you going +to do?" + +"How can I tell? I suppose he has something very important which he +wants me to do." + +"Has he? Oh! When are you going to start on it?" + +"To-morrow!" + +"To-morrow? What's he going to pay you?" + +"Two guineas a week; isn't it splendid?" The announcement seemed to +startle Mr. Gibb out of the faculty of asking further questions. She +went on. "And I have to thank you for it! Only think! if it hadn't +been for you such luck never would have come my way; you dear, dear +boy! I should like to kiss you for it; and I will!" And she did, quite +heartily too, though she had to stoop to do it. "And out of my first +two guineas I'll buy you something; what shall it be?" + +"Nothing you could buy could ever equal what you've given me." + +"What I've given you? what have I given you?" + +"A kiss; I never shall forget you kissed me as long as I live." + +"Eustace, you are--you are a queer boy!" + +She went out, all blushes. When she had gone Mr. Gibb did what his +employer had done; he stared at the door through which she had passed. + +"Well, I call this of the nature of a startler; she must have knocked +him. His jobbing secretary! What's he going to find for her to do, +when there's nothing for him to do? or, for the matter of that, for me +either. And two guineas a week! When the other day he sent me out to +change his last fiver, and told me he'd have to make it do till +quarter day, and there's still three weeks to that. Looks to me as if +he'd rather overdone it." + +The door of Mr. Hooper's room was opened; his voice was heard. + +"Mr. Gibb, come in here!" Mr. Gibb went in there. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII + + MASTER AND MAN + + +When Mr. Gibb entered he found Mr. Hooper in a state of agitation; +there was nothing very amazing in that, as he had found him in that +condition on previous occasions; but it seemed to Mr. Gibb that, in +his agitation then, there was a quality which was new. Mr. Hooper +assailed him the moment he was past the door. + +"Now, Mr. Gibb, you have been and gone and done it." + +"Done what, sir?" + +"I think it's extremely possible that you've laid yourself open to an +indictment for conspiracy." + +"Have I, sir?" + +"You brought Miss Lindsay here?" + +"Excuse me, sir, but if you'll remember you told me to ask her to +come." + +"You put me up to it." + +"I merely happened to mention that she was looking for something to +do, and so she is." + +"No she isn't." + +"Isn't she, sir?" + +"No, she's found it! And that's where I'm in a position to prove +conspiracy. Mr. Gibb, do you mean to tell me that Miss Lindsay has +been pawning her things?" + +"I hope you won't let it go any further, sir." + +"Do you think I'm---- What do you think I am?" + +"I haven't thought, sir; only it happened to come to my knowledge, and +it seemed to me to be a sad thing for her to have to do." + +"All I can say is that she hasn't pawned all her things." + +"No, sir, but she soon would have done." + +"Have you any idea of how much that dress cost which she had on? to +say nothing of the hat!" + +"Not exactly, sir, I haven't; but my sister told me that some of her +things must have cost a good bit of money." + +"That dress cost every penny of five-and-twenty or thirty pounds, and +I dare say the hat cost another tenner; and she's been walking about +in those kind of things her whole life long, I'm sure of it." + +"I told you, sir, she was a lady born and bred." + +"Mr. Gibb, you see advertisements for a lady, as barmaid; when I think +of that I don't want to think of Miss Lindsay as a lady; she's on a +different plane; she's of heaven, not of earth." + +"I told you, sir, she was high as the heavens above me." + +"So she is; you were right there; although the construction of your +sentence is faulty, Mr. Gibb. She's a divinity among women; a poem +among girls; the ideal which a man sets up for himself of what a woman +may be when God chooses." + +"Is she, sir?" + +"Look at her! how she walks, how she moves, how she bears herself! And +what a voice! had Orpheus had it he'd have needed no warbling string +to aid him to draw 'iron tears down Pluto's cheek!' Then what beauty's +in her face; but there's in it what not one beautiful woman in a +thousand has, there's a soul! Mr. Gibb, I've only seen Miss Lindsay +about twenty minutes, but I regard her as 'a perfect woman, nobly +planned'; and I may add 'she was a phantom of delight, when first she +gleamed upon my sight,' therefore I say you were guilty of conspiracy +in luring me on to ask her to come here; because what has the result +been?" + +"What has it, sir?" + +"The result has been that I've made an idiot of myself; a complete and +perfect ass." + +"Have you, sir?" + +"I don't like your tone, Mr. Gibb, it exacerbates. It is in itself +enough to prove your guilt. Had you not been engaged in a conspiracy +you would have been surprised beyond measure at the wholly unforeseen +result. But, as it is, I put it to you, Mr. Gibb; are you surprised?" + +"Well, sir, in a way I can't say I am, not exactly." + +"There you are! there you are! Do you know, Mr. Gibb, that I've given +Miss Lindsay to understand that I've retained her services as a member +of my staff?" + +"She told me you'd engaged her, sir." + +"Oh, she did, did she? What did she tell you I'd engaged her as?" + +"As jobbing secretary, sir." + +"And pray what is a jobbing secretary?" + +"That's what I was wondering." + +"She asked me what a jobbing secretary was; and I explained as clearly +as I could under the circumstances, and considering that I don't know +myself. When you reflect on the fact that I have engaged her to be +something which I never heard of before you will have grasped the +initial difficulty of my position; which is complicated by the further +fact that she is, what she certainly is, a divinity among women. If +she'd come, say, about twelve and leave before one; or if she'd spend +a few hours daily in intellectual conversation with me in here; or if +she'd come out with me to enjoy the air, say on the top of an omnibus; +or even if she'd go out with you, for a little pedestrian exercise, +from two to six; the situation might be lightened. But she'll do none +of these things; she's as good as said so. She told me, with a +delicious seriousness which took all idea of resistance clean out of +me, that she meant to do a man's work for a man's wage. Now, Mr. Gibb, +in this office I don't see how it's going to be done." + +"I'm sure I don't." + +"I don't do a man's work." + +"No, sir, you don't." + +"You do still less." + +On this point Mr. Gibb was discreetly silent; he seemed to be turning +something over in his mind, of which he presently gave Mr. Hooper the +benefit. + +"I think, sir, I've got an idea of something you might give Miss +Lindsay to do." + +"Let's have it; you know, Mr. Gibb, any pearls of wisdom which you may +drop are always welcome." + +"You remember, sir, when I first came you gave me some papers which +you said I might copy when I'd nothing else to do." + +"I have some dim recollection of something of the kind. Well, have +they been copied?" + +"No, sir, they haven't." + +"How long have you had them?" + +"Oh, rather more than two years." + +"Then it's time they were copied. What papers are they?" + +"I never could make out, and I don't think you could either; they're +counsels' opinions, or judges' rulings, or something like that. I know +when I asked you what they were you told me not to ask any questions; +so I knew you didn't know." + +"Mr. Gibb, you have a way of your own of arriving at conclusions. I +think I recall those papers; they were here when I came into +possession; they'd been stuffed up the chimney to keep out the draught +or something." + +"I was thinking, sir, if you could think of nothing else, that you +might get Miss Lindsay to copy them." + +"There's--there's something in the idea. Could we pass them off as +genuine?" + +"As how, sir?" + +"Are they of an appearance, and character, which would enable us to +induce Miss Lindsay to believe that they really are papers of +importance?" + +"I should think so, sir; I know it took me ever so long before I found +them out." + +"Ah; then it might take her a week. By that time we may have hit upon +something else. Where are those papers?" + +"They're in my desk." + +"Then get them out of your desk. Have them cleaned, tidied, made +presentable; Miss Lindsay shall commence on them as soon as she +arrives. And I tell you something else I'll do. Miss Lindsay tells me +she can work a typewriter." + +"Can she?" + +"I'll get her one. I think I should prefer to have good, clear +typewritten copies of those papers, Mr. Gibb; they'll be so much more +accessible for reference. I--I suppose a typewriter can be hired." + +"Oh yes, sir; I believe from about half-a-crown a week." + +"That doesn't seem to be a prohibitive figure; I'll hire one; I'll go +out this afternoon to see about it. You see, Mr. Gibb, how one thing +leads to another. I propose to increase my staff; the mere proposition +adds materially to my own labours. I know no more about typewriters +than I do about sewing-machines; of which I know nothing; so I foresee +that my afternoon will be fully occupied. By the way, Mr. Gibb, a +further point; you have found an idea which has been of assistance in +one direction, perhaps you might find a second which would be of some +service to me in another." + +"What is it, sir?" + +"As you put it to me, I take it that you will allow it to go no +further; but, between ourselves, I have undertaken to pay Miss +Lindsay, as jobbing secretary, since she proposes to do a man's work +for a man's wage, an honorarium of two guineas a week." + +"So she told me, sir." + +"So she told you, did she? Oh! Then I suppose she expects to get it." + +"I expect she does, sir." + +"Then in that case I think that, perhaps, I had better make it +perfectly clear to you how, precisely, the land lies." From a drawer +which he unlocked in his writing-table Mr. Hooper took three +sovereigns and some silver; he displayed the coins to the best +advantage on the table. "This choice, but small, collection of bullion +has to last me, Mr. Gibb, to quarter day. There are still three clear +weeks. I have to pay you thirty shillings; being three weeks' wages at +ten shillings a week; out of the balance I have to pay Miss Lindsay +six guineas, and keep myself; besides having to meet certain small +liabilities which must be met. I should be glad, Mr. Gibb, if you +would give me some idea of how it is to be done." + +"I think, sir, if I were you, I should let me explain to Miss +Lindsay." + +"Explain what, Mr. Gibb?" + +"What kind of gentleman you are." + +"And pray, in your opinion, what kind of gentleman am I?" + +"Well, considering how you've gone and done it with Miss Lindsay I +shouldn't think you'd want much explaining, sir." + +"That's true, Mr. Gibb, most true. Still, I'm curious to hear what +you'd tell her." + +"I wouldn't give you away, sir." + +"Wouldn't you? Oh! What would you do?" + +"I should simply tell her, sir, that you'd been thinking things over, +and that you'd come to the conclusion that two guineas a week was too +much to pay her at the start; and that you thought--should I say +fifteen shillings ought to be enough at the beginning, sir?" + +"Fifteen shillings! And I promised her two guineas!" + +"Yes, sir, you promised her." + +"What kind of a person do you suppose she'd think I am?" + +"I don't see how it matters, sir." + +"You don't see how it matters!" + +"Well, sir, you can't pay her two guineas a week, no matter what +she thinks of you; and you might manage to pay her fifteen +shillings--somehow. I expect you'd find she'd sooner have fifteen +shillings in cash than two guineas in promises." + +"Mr. Gibb, you appear to have a high opinion of me." + +"I have, sir; I couldn't have a higher." + +"Couldn't you? you young scoundrel! Pray when did I make a promise to +you which I didn't keep, to the letter?" + +"When I came, sir, you gave me six shillings a week, now you give me +ten; but there's a difference between ten shillings and two guineas." + +"Yes, Mr. Gibb, and there's a difference between you and Miss +Lindsay." + +"Don't I know it, sir? There's all the difference in the world." + +"As you say, there's all the difference in the world. Miss Lindsay is +a divinity among women." + +"That's exactly my opinion, sir; and has been from the first." + +"It has been your opinion, has it, Mr. Gibb? Then allow me to inform +you that when I enter into an undertaking with--with a divinity among +women, to do a certain thing, I do that thing. I have undertaken to +pay Miss Lindsay two guineas a week; I will pay her two guineas a +week. The money shall be found; I will find it. Be so good, Mr. Gibb, +as to look up those papers you spoke about, and see that they are in a +presentable condition, so that Miss Lindsay can begin on them directly +she arrives." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII + + A JOBBING SECRETARY + + +The next morning Nora did not start for Fountain Court with Mr. Gibb; +he positively forbade her, explaining that he had certain duties to +perform immediately on his arrival which he preferred, and which Mr. +Hooper preferred, that he should perform before anybody else appeared +upon the scene; so he started at half-past nine, and she followed +thirty minutes later. When she reached Fountain Court the door was +promptly opened by Mr. Gibb, who called her attention to a curtained +recess, with the remark-- + +"Please hang your hat and coat up there." + +Behind the curtain she found three pegs and a looking-glass; which +articles, if she had not been too nervous to observe closely, might +have struck her as being even suspiciously new. She had no coat on, +but she had a hat, which she hung upon one of the pegs, with a +breathless feeling, as if the simple action, in that strange place, +stood to her as an emblem of the passage she was about to take from +the old world to the new; as she hung up her hat, with Mr. Gibb's +stony gaze fixed on her coldly from behind, it almost seemed to her +that with it she hung up her freedom, and passed into servitude. Nor +was this feeling lessened by the unaccustomed, and unnatural, rigidity +of Mr. Gibb's bearing; she being unaware of the fact that Mr. Hooper +had informed the young gentleman, not ten minutes before she came, +that if he did not treat her with the profound and distant respect +with which a divinity ought to be treated, the consequences would be +serious for him. While she was still touching her hair with her +fingers, as a girl must do when she has just taken her hat off, he +inquired, with what he felt to be cutting coldness-- + +"Have you quite finished?" + +"Yes, Eustace, I--I think I have--quite, thank you." + +"Then Mr. Hooper is waiting to see you; kindly step this way." + +She stepped that way, Mr. Gibb moving as stiffly as if he had a poker +down his back. She found Mr. Hooper seated at a table which was +littered with a number of papers and documents which were of a most +portentous looking nature, over one of which he was bending with an +air of earnest preoccupation which, it is to be feared, had been put +on about thirty seconds before she had entered the room, and would be +taken off in less than thirty seconds after she had left it. + +"Miss Lindsay has come, sir." As Mr. Gibb made this announcement Mr. +Hooper looked up with a start, which was very well done, as if nothing +could have surprised him more; he rose, a little doubtfully, as if the +professional cares of this world were almost more than he could bear. + +"Miss Lindsay? Yes, yes, quite so; Miss Lindsay, of course. I hope, +Miss Lindsay, I see you well." + +"Quite well, thank you." + +She ignored the hand which he extended, possibly in a moment of +absence of mind, in a manner which seemed to him to be marked; he +trusted Mr. Gibb had not noticed it before he left the room. He +continued to be as professional in his manner as he knew how. + +"Miss Lindsay--eh--might I--eh--ask you to take a seat?" + +"Thank you, sir, I prefer to stand." + +Really this young woman was trying; she was reversing the positions; +it was she who was keeping him at a distance, not he her; there was +something in the way in which she said "sir" which made him wince; +however, he was still professional. + +"Quite so, Miss Lindsay, quite so--whichever you prefer. Now, Miss +Lindsay, here are some papers of a--of an abstract nature; privacy +with regard to them is of the first importance; serious consequences +might result were their character to become known outside these +chambers." The jobbing secretary inclined her head; he thought she did +it very gracefully. "Now, what I require are copies of these papers; +you understand, copies--perfectly clean copies. How long do you think +it will take you to let me have them?" + +"There seem to be a good many." + +"There are--oh, there are; quite a number; only they are not all of +the same character. Now, for instance, how long will it take you to +let me have a perfectly clean copy of that?" + +He held out what looked like a musty document, consisting of several +foolscap pages, covered with close writing on both sides of each page. +She turned it nervously over. + +"Is it--is it to be typed?" + +"Certainly; oh yes, emphatically." + +"What--what machine have you?" He mentioned the maker's name; +fortunately it was on one of the same maker's machines she had learnt. +"I told you that I had not used a machine recently; I fear, therefore, +that I may be rather awkward at first, so that I can hardly tell how +long it will take me to let you have a perfectly clean copy of this. +There--there appears to be a good deal of it." + +"There does--oh yes, I admit it, there does--and of course I shouldn't +want an absolutely clean copy." She looked at him; there was something +in her look which caused him to look away, with some appearance of +confusion; he realized that he had made a mistake. "By that I--I +should wish you to understand that--that I shouldn't require you to +destroy the entire document merely--merely because of one slight +error." + +She spoke with what seemed to him to be magisterial severity; he felt +that there was more than a touch of that severity in her demeanour. + +"You said that you wanted perfectly clean copies, and you shall have +perfectly clean copies; I quite understand that only perfectly clean +copies will be of the slightest use. I hope you do not think that I +wish you to put up with indifferent work. I merely wished to point out +that I am afraid that I may be a little clumsy at first." + +She turned to go. + +"The--the typewriter's in the next room." + +"I saw it as I came in." + +"Pray--pray allow me to open the door for you." But she would not. + +"If you don't mind, sir"--the stress upon that "sir"!--"I would rather +open it for myself; and I do hope that you won't allow a difference in +sex to alter the relations which ought to exist between employer and +employed. You wouldn't open the door for Eustace Gibb; I would like +you to regard me in the same light as you do him." + +No, he certainly would not open the door for Eustace Gibb, but the +idea of regarding her in the same light as Mr. Gibb was preposterous; +the trouble was that he could only see her through a golden haze. The +typewriter was in the next room to Mr. Hooper's, with beyond it the +lobby which Mr. Gibb termed his office; the room was known to Mr. Gibb +as the waiting-room, though no one had ever been known to wait in it. +It was furnished with an old wooden table, and three older wooden +chairs, and nothing else. On the table was the typewriter, and a +plentiful supply of paper. After about an hour's interval, Mr. Hooper, +who felt as if he were a prisoner in his own rooms, began to find +himself in a state of fidgetiness which was beyond endurance. It was +ridiculous to suppose that he did not dare to venture into the +presence of his own jobbing secretary, yet--he did not dare. What was +worse, he found himself incapable of smoking in the room next to her, +and that in spite of her expressed desire that he should treat her as +he treated Mr. Gibb. When the tension had reached a point at which he +could stand it no longer, snatching up his hat, he burst into the room +with an air of haste, seeming, when he was in it, to realize her +presence there with a touch of surprise. + +"Miss Lindsay!--oh yes, yes, quite so. And--and how are we getting on?" + +The moment he had asked he saw that he had made another mistake. This +time there was something on her face which moved him in a manner which +really did surprise him. She looked as if she had at least been near +to tears, and still was not far off. + +"I--I'm not getting on at all well," she said. + +"I've not the slightest doubt, Miss Lindsay, that you are getting on +much better than you imagine." + +"I--I suppose I ought to know how I am getting on." + +"But your--yours is such a strenuously high standard." + +"I--I've spoilt I don't know how many sheets of paper." + +"What does it matter how many sheets of paper you spoil? The more you +spoil the better I'll be pleased." + +"Will you? Then all I can say is that if I--I spoil many more I shall +know that I'm not fit for the situation which you've been so kind as +to offer me, and--I shall go." + +"Really you must not talk like that." He picked up one of the +ominously numerous sheets of paper which lay at her side, all of which +had plainly had at any rate some slight acquaintance with the machine. +"Now this is not at all bad." + +"There are three errors in the first line." + +"Are there? So many as that?" + +"And five in the second." + +"Indeed! you don't say so!" + +"And the third line's wrong altogether." + +"That only shows that with a little practice you'll regain all your +old facility." + +"I'm not sure that I ever had any facility; I can see that now; I'm +afraid I only used to play at typing." + +"Then in that case you shall copy them by hand; I'm disposed to think +that perhaps good clear writing is best after all." + +"Copy them by hand?" Suddenly a look came on her face which actually +frightened him; his words had evidently been to her an occasion of +serious offence. "I applied for your situation, Mr. Hooper, in the +belief that I could work a typewriter; you gave it me on that +understanding. If, now, it turns out that I cannot work a typewriter +it would look as if I had applied for your situation under false +pretences; do you suppose that I will continue to hold it knowing that +to be the case, and that you are paying me for something which it +turns out I cannot do? Either you shall have perfectly clean +typewritten copies, Mr. Hooper, or I must resign; I will not go +through the farce of pretending to occupy a position for which I have +been proved to be unfit." + +He could have answered her many things, but he answered her nothing; +he was afraid. Instead, he shuffled out of the room, excusing himself. + +"I've a most pressing appointment, Miss Lindsay." He was longing for a +pipe; the appointment was to smoke, all by himself, in the Temple +Gardens. "When I return I've no doubt you'll have advanced beyond your +expectations. Rome wasn't built in a day; you must persevere, +persevere!" In the office Mr. Hooper, placing his hand on King +Solomon's shoulder, whispered in his ear, as if anxious not to be +overheard, "Mr. Gibb, I am inclined to the opinion that having a +divinity on the premises is not all lavender." + +To which Mr. Gibb replied, with a sigh, as if he himself was vaguely +conscious of a feeling of being "cribbed, cabined and confined"-- + +"No, sir; that's what I was thinking." + +For two days Nora continued to wrestle with the typewriter, and on the +third something happened which ultimately resulted in another upheaval +of the world for her. She had found the "document" which she had to +copy--it was one of those which Mr. Hooper had discovered stuffed up +the chimney--not easy to decipher, which perhaps was not surprising; +she was puzzling over a part of it which seemed even worse than usual +when the office door was opened, and a masculine person came striding +in who had not even troubled to remove his hat. At sight, however, of +the girl poring over that refractory passage, with her pretty brows +all creased, off came his hat; but no sooner was he uncovered than, +with something in his bearing which almost suggested that he was +unconscious of what he was doing, he stood and stared. The girl +glanced up and looked at him. For some seconds there was silence; +then, seeming to come to himself with a start, he ejaculated--. + +"I beg your pardon; I--I'd no idea!" + +He did not stay to explain what he had no idea of, but passed into Mr. +Hooper's room beyond. As he entered Mr. Hooper rose from his chair; +then stared in his turn, as if this was not at all the kind of person +he had expected to see. + +"Frank!" he exclaimed. "What on earth has brought you here?" + +The gentleman addressed as Frank replied to the question with a +statement which was sufficiently startling. + +"Jack, I've seen a ghost!" + +Mr. Hooper, as was not unnatural, stared still more. + +"You've seen what?" + +"Of course I don't mean that I've seen an actual ghost, but I feel as +if I had." + +"What's given you such a very curious feeling at this hour of the +morning? And what's brought you here, anyhow?" + +The gentleman addressed seemed genuinely disturbed. + +"I'll tell you, what's brought me if you'll give me time; I'm in a +frightful mess, that's what's brought me; but before I tell you +anything, you tell me who--who's that girl in the next room?" + +Mr. Hooper's bearing betrayed annoyance, which was perhaps caused by +the singularity of the other's demeanour. + +"The lady in the next room, whom you speak of as 'that girl,' is----" + +There was a tapping; the door was opened; the girl in question +entered, the "document" over which she had been puzzling in her hand. +She crossed to Mr. Hooper. + +"I beg your pardon if I am interrupting you, but there is something +here which I cannot make out; I thought that perhaps you would not +mind telling me what it is before you become really engaged." + +Mr. Hooper took the paper which she held out to him, with a glance +towards the gentleman who had just now entered, in which there was a +hint of mischief. + +"Will you allow me to present to you my cousin, Mr. Frank Clifford? +Frank, this is Miss Lindsay." + +"Lindsay!" Mr. Clifford was staring more than ever. "Lindsay! +Not--not--I beg your pardon, but--would you mind telling me if you are +related to Mr. Donald Lindsay of Cloverlea?" + +"I am his daughter." + +"His--daughter? Thank you; thank you." + +He sank on to a chair as one who had been dealt a crushing blow. +Nora's bearing was frigid; the stranger's unexpected question had +touched in her a chord of memory which hurt her more than she would +have cared to say. She returned to Mr. Hooper. + +"Can you tell me what that sentence is? One or two of the words seem +quite illegible." + +He explained, to the best of his ability, which was not much greater +than hers. When she had gone back to her own apartment, Mr. Hooper +said to his visitor, with what was possibly meant to be an air of +politeness-- + +"May I venture to inquire if that is how you generally behave when +you're introduced to a lady, Frank? because if it is I shall know +better than to attempt to introduce you to another." + +Mr. Clifford's reply was remarkable. + +"I told you that when I first saw her I felt as if I had seen a +ghost; now I know my instinct was right; I have seen a ghost. If you +knew--what I know, and had had to go through what I've had to go +through, and still have to go through, you would understand how +meeting Donald Lindsay's daughter like this makes it seem to me as if +the hand of God had been stretched out of the skies." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV + + MR. MORGAN'S EXPERIENCES OF THE UNEXPECTED + + +It was a shock to Mr. Morgan when he learnt that Miss Harding had +quitted Cloverlea without a word to him. At first he could not believe +that she had gone; that she could have gone without his knowledge. +When belief was forced on him his language was unbecoming. While he +was engaged in little matters of a sort which demanded privacy, and +which had to do with the safe storage of certain articles which he had +brought himself to believe were his own property, a wagonette arrived +at the front door, which, the driver explained to the footman who +appeared, had come to fetch Miss Harding. The footman, with the aid of +a colleague, had borne the young lady's belongings down the stairs; +for which she liberally recompensed them with a sovereign apiece; and +she and her possessions were safely away before Mr. Morgan had a +notion she was going. Mr. Morgan abused the footmen for not having +said a word to him; which abuse they, having no longer the fear of him +before their eyes, returned in kind. The butler had to console himself +as best he could. + +"Given me the slip, have you, Miss Harding?" That was what he said to +himself. "Very well, my dear, we'll see; I'm not so easily got rid of +as you may perhaps suppose. You're a pretty darling, upon my Sam you +are!" + +As soon as circumstances permitted--at Cloverlea there were a great +many things which he thought it desirable that he should do that +day--he went out on a little voyage of discovery. He learnt at the +local station that Miss Harding had not taken a ticket for her home in +the west country; she had not taken a ticket for herself at all, Mr. +Nash had taken one for her, and another for himself; they had gone up +to London in the same compartment, and both had luggage. This news +added to Mr. Morgan's pleasure. + +"Dear me, has she? And I meant her to be Mrs. Morgan, and so she would +have been if I'd put on the screw when I'd the chance. As my wife she +might have come to something; but as his wife--I'll show her, and I'll +show him. If she thinks she's going to hand over to him, by way of a +dowry, that nice little lot of money, and leave me out; if that really +is her expectation she'll be treated to another illustration of the +vanity of human wishes. That sweet young wife will have an interrupted +honeymoon." + +Mr. Morgan called at an inn which it was his habit to honour with his +custom in quest of something to soothe his ruffled feelings. There he +met a friend, George Wickham, the Holtye head groom. Mr. Wickham had a +grievance, in which respect, if he had only known it, he resembled Mr. +Morgan. It seemed that he was the bearer of letters which had been +addressed to the Hon. Robert Spencer at Holtye, which he was carrying +to that gentleman's actual present address, the Unicorn Hotel, +Baltash. It was supposed to be Mr. Wickham's "night out"; he wanted to +spend his hours of freedom in one direction while Baltash lay in +another. + +"Might as well have sent 'em by post, or by one of the other chaps; +but no, nothing would please the old woman"--by "old woman" it is to +be feared that he meant the Countess of Mountdennis--"but that I +should go. I had half a mind to tell her I'd an appointment." + +Mr. Morgan was sympathetic; he explained that he was going to Baltash, +and even carried his sympathy so far as to offer to take the letters +for him. The groom hesitated; then decided to take advantage of his +friend's good-nature. + +"There's thirteen letters," he pointed out, "five post-cards, four +newspapers, eighteen circulars, and these parcels, about enough to +fill a carrier's cart." + +Mr. Morgan laughed. + +"I shall make nothing of that little lot," he said. "And I'll charge +nothing for carriage." + +On the way to Baltash he leaned against a gate to light a cigar; it +was one of his peculiarities to smoke nothing but cigars; he held that +a pipe was low. When the cigar was lighted he remained a moment to +glance at the letters he was carrying. He noticed that one of them was +from the London offices of a steamship company; the name of the +company was printed on the envelope. While Miss Lindsay had been +talking to Mr. Spencer in the copse on the preceding Sunday morning +Mr. Morgan had been quite close at hand; the lady had supposed that +the noise he made among the undergrowth was caused by a hare or a +rabbit; had Mr. Spencer proceeded to investigate the cause of the +noise the butler would have been discovered in a somewhat ignominious +position. As it was Mr. Morgan, remaining undetected, heard a good +deal that was said; among the things he heard Mr. Spencer's story of +the letter which Donald Lindsay had sent to him at Cairo, which was +only to be opened after the writer's death, which Mr. Spencer had put +in his suit-case, and which suit-case Mr. Spencer had lost, containing +not only Mr. Lindsay's letters, but also some more intimate epistles +from that gentleman's daughter. + +Mr. Morgan remembered the story very well; he had a knack of +remembering nearly everything he heard, and he managed to hear a good +deal. He was struck by the fact that the letter which he held in his +hand was from the steamship company by one of whose boats Mr. Spencer +had travelled on his homeward journey; it might contain news of the +missing suit-case. On the other hand, emphatically, it might not. +Still! It is notorious how carelessly some envelopes are fastened. +Here was a case in point; the gummed flap only adhered in one place, +and there so slightly that Mr. Morgan had only to slip the blade of a +penknife underneath and--it came open. It was as he had guessed. The +steamship company wrote to say that the missing suit-case had turned +up. It had strayed among the voluminous luggage of an American family, +where it remained unnoticed until the luggage had been divided up +among the members of the family; the explanation seemed rather lame, +but it appeared it was the only one that steamship company had to +offer. Now the suit-case was at Mr. Spencer's disposition, and the +company would be glad to hear what he wished them to do with it. + +As Mr. Morgan enjoyed his cigar, and leaned against the gate, and +looked up at the glories of the evening sky, he indulged in some +philosophical reflections. + +"It's an extraordinary world; extraordinary. To think that George +Wickham's burning desire to see that red-headed girl of his at +Addlecombe should have thrown a thing like this right into my hands. +It's quite possible that that suit-case may turn out to be worth more +to me than that nice little sum of money with which Miss Elaine +Harding erroneously supposes she's going to set her husband up in +life. Beyond a shadow of doubt things are managed in a mysterious +way." + +Mr. Morgan faithfully delivered those letters at the Unicorn Hotel at +Baltash, with the exception of one letter; and on the morrow he +treated himself to a trip up to town. He took a bedroom at a quiet +hotel in the neighbourhood of the Strand, and he sent a messenger boy +to the steamship company's office with an envelope. In the envelope +was the Hon. Robert Spencer's visiting card; on the back of which was +written-- + +"Your letter duly received; please give suit-case to bearer." + +Some one at the office gave it to the bearer; who took it to the +hotel, where it was sent up to Mr. Spencer's room; it happened that +Mr. Morgan had registered as Robert Spencer. Mr. Morgan opened it with +difficulty; none of his keys fitted the lock, which was of a curious +make; but he did open it; he was an ingenious man. And when he had +opened the suit-case he found that the letter, for whose sake he had +taken so much trouble, was not in it. It was a painful shock; he was +loth to believe that a man of the Hon. Robert Spencer's character +could have played him such a trick; to say nothing of the deceit +which, in that case, he must have practised on Miss Lindsay. He turned +the contents of the case over and over, subjecting each article to a +close examination. No, there was nothing there which in any way +resembled the letter which he had heard Mr. Spencer describe. What was +almost worse, as showing the lover's utter unreliability, there were +none of Miss Lindsay's letters either. Mr. Morgan had distinctly heard +Mr. Spencer tell Miss Lindsay that in his missing suitcase were not +only her father's unopened letter, but also some letters of hers. What +confidence could be placed in the man who, at such a sacred moment, +made such a gross mis-statement to the woman whom he professed to +love? It was dreadful; Mr. Morgan was pained beyond measure. In the +future he would never be able to believe anything he overheard; even +though his ear was glued to the keyhole. He was a dispirited man. + +He did not return at once to Cloverlea. As a matter of fact he had +brought with him to town a number of packages of various shapes and +sizes. He had some trouble in removing them from Cloverlea; but he had +removed them, having dared Mr. Guldenheim and his friends and minions +to do anything to try to stop him. He devoted a few days to the +bestowal of these trophies in a safe place. When he did return to +Cloverlea he put up at the village inn, whence he kept an eye on the +doings of the neighbourhood. Having succeeded in screwing out of Mr. +Guldenheim more than was due to him for wages, and in lieu of notice, +he attended the sale with melancholy feelings, going so far as to +purchase some lots for which he felt a sentimental interest, and which +he had reasons for knowing were going for much less than they were +worth. + +It was only after the sale that he ascertained what he thought was +likely to be Miss Harding's present address. He had made regular, and +persistent, inquiries at Mr. Nash's office; but nothing had been heard +of that promising solicitor by his staff, which consisted of a weedy +youth of seventeen summers, with whom Mr. Morgan was on terms of the +closest intimacy; until there came one morning a curtly worded request +to forward any letters which might be awaiting him to Mr. Nash at an +address which he gave. Mr. Morgan saw that address; a couple of days +after he called there. + +The address was at that charming south-coast seaside resort, +Littlehampton, 27, Ocean Villas. Ocean Villas proved to be some quite +picturesque cottages fronting both the common and the sea; 27 was, +perhaps, the most picturesque of them all. The front door was open in +the confiding way one finds at seaside resorts, and which saves the +trouble of having to open it; Mr. Morgan, entering, rapped on the +floor with his stick. A diminutive maid instantly appeared who, +without waiting for him to state his business, instantly broke into +breathless speech. + +"If you've come after the rooms, sir, if you please Mrs. Lorrimer's +not in, but if you'll wait half-a-minute I'll fetch her." + +Mr. Morgan explained that he had not come after the rooms; he asked if +Mrs. Nash was in. + +"Mrs. Nash is out, sir, along with Mr. Nash; I did hear them say they +were going to Arundel." + +"I'll wait till they return; which are their apartments?" + +"This is their sitting-room, sir." + +She opened the door of what, for a lodging-house, was quite a pleasant +room. Mr. Morgan entered; the maid went; the moment he was alone Mr. +Morgan did what he always did do when he found himself alone in a +strange apartment, he treated everything it contained to a rigorous +inspection, and was still engaged in doing so when the diminutive maid +reappeared. + +"If you please, sir, I'm going out to do some errands, and if there's +anything you want would you mind letting me know before I go; though I +really shan't hardly be five minutes before I'm back again." + +On the visitor assuring her that he was not likely to require her +services during the next five minutes she departed to do those +errands; scarcely was her back turned than Mr. Morgan started on what +might have been a tour of curiosity through the house. He got no +further, however, than the room behind the sitting-room, which proved +to be a bedroom; unmistakably the sleeping apartment of Mr. and Mrs. +Nash. Against the window stood a large trunk, a lady's; Mr. Morgan +tried it; it was locked. He surmised as he eyed it. + +"What's the betting that in there isn't that nice little sum of money? +I wonder if she's told her loving husband that she's got it, and where +it is; if she has I wonder how much he's left her. It might be worth +my while to look and see; but I think I can manage to get all I want +without what would look to the ignorant eye like dabbling in felony. +What's that?" "That" was something which lay on the floor just +underneath the bed; something which resembled a letter-case. He picked +it up. "I rather fancy that this is the property of my friend Nash. +Looks as if it had fallen out of his pocket while he was putting on +his coat, and that he hadn't noticed it had fallen; extraordinary +how careless some people are about things of that kind. It is a +letter-case; let's hope there's nothing in it which he would not like +to meet the public eye. What have we here? Papers which, apparently, +are of value only to the owner. What's in this?" In one of the +compartments of the case was a single paper. Mr. Morgan took it out, +unfolded it, read it, not once only, but twice, and again a third +time. The contents of the paper seemed to puzzle him; he stared at it +hard, rubbing his forehead as he did so, as if he hoped by the mere +force of vision to get at its meaning. Then he smiled, as if suddenly +a light had dawned on him. "So that's it, is it? To think of his +leaving a thing like this lying about on the floor! What a foolish +man! I never had a high opinion of Herbert Nash; but that he should +leave a thing like this for any one to find, and borrow; dear, dear! I +never should have thought it. Let's replace these papers which are of +no value to any one but the owner. And the case we'll put upon the +mantelpiece; so that he'll see it directly he returns, when he'll +understand the risk he's run." The letter-case which he had picked up +from the floor he put on the mantelpiece, in plain sight; but the +paper which he had taken from it he slipped into a case of his own; +and that case he placed in his own pocket. When the diminutive maid +returned with a basket full of parcels, she found him lounging on the +doorstep. His manner to her was affable; as it nearly always was to +every one. "You've been rather more than five minutes, haven't you?" + +"Yes, sir, I'm afraid I have; but they kept me at the grocer's." + +"Did they? Ah! I don't think I shall wait for my friends to return." +He grinned as he said "friends." "Tell them that Mr. Morgan called; +Mr. Stephen Morgan, of Cloverlea. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, sir; Mr. Stephen Morgan, of Cloverlea." + +"Exactly. And you can also tell them that I shall call again; I can't +say quite when, but I certainly shall call again before they leave +Littlehampton. You understand that also?" + +"Yes, sir; you'll call again; you can't say quite when, but certainly +before they leave Littlehampton." + +"That's it; you have it just right. Mind you give them the messages as +I gave them you; and here's a shilling for your trouble." + +He presented her with a shilling; and left the maid all smiles. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV + + ON THEIR HONEYMOON + + +Mr. and Mrs. Nash had been spending the afternoon in Arundel Park. +When they returned to their rooms at Littlehampton they were met by +the diminutive maid with a message. + +"If you please, Mr. Stephen Morgan of Cloverlea called." + +"Mr.---- who?" asked Mr. Nash. Mrs. Nash changed colour. The maid +repeated the visitor's name. "She must mean Morgan the butler; what +does he mean by coming here?" + +"I--I can't think." + +She was conscious of that sudden sickness which she had experienced +once before; all at once the room seemed to be whirling round and +round. The maid went on. + +"He said he'd call again; he couldn't say quite when, but he'd +certainly call again before you left Littlehampton." + +"Like his impudence! What on earth can the fellow mean? By the way, +Louisa, have you seen a letter-case of mine lying about?" + +"No, sir, that I haven't." + +Mr. Nash went into the next room, hurriedly. So soon as he was through +the door he saw the letter-case upon the mantelpiece, where Mr. Morgan +had left it. The sight of it seemed to surprise him. + +"Who put it there? I'll swear I didn't. Louisa, have you been in here +since I went out?" + +"No, sir; not once." + +"Has Mrs. Lorrimer?" + +"I don't think so, sir; she's been out; she only come in just before +you did." + +He was searching the letter-case, turning it literally inside out. +Suddenly he went to the door. + +"Louisa, come here!" Louisa came. He spoke to her in lowered tones, as +if he did not wish what he said to be heard in the next room, where +his wife still was. "Who was in when Mr. Morgan came?" + +"If you please, sir, I was; Mrs. Lorrimer, she was out." + +"Where you in all the time that he was here?" + +"No, sir; I had to go out and do some errands." + +"And was he alone in the house while you were gone?" + +"Yes, sir; he was outside the front door when I came back; it was then +he gave me the message about his calling again." + +So surprising a look came on Mr. Nash's face that the girl shrunk +back, almost as if she had been afraid that he would strike her. He +went back into the bedroom, shutting the door with a bang. He stood +glaring about him, as if beside himself with rage. Then, with an +effort, he steadied himself. Again he turned the letter-case inside +out, going carefully through the papers it contained. Then he searched +the room so methodically that even a pin could hardly have escaped his +notice, moving every article it contained, his wife's trunks, his own +boxes, even turning down the bedclothes and looking under the pillows, +going down on his knees to peer under the bed. When all his hunting +came to nothing he leaned his elbows on the mantelpiece and shut his +eyes, as if suffering physical pain. + +In the next room his wife was fighting a fight of her own. So soon as +he left her she dropped on to a chair, as if her legs refused her +support. A curious change had come over her face, and her lips were +twitching; she looked furtively about her, as if she was afraid of she +knew not what. When she heard the bedroom door banged, and she knew +that her husband had dismissed the maid, she called, "Louisa," softly; +so softly that one wondered if she wished to be heard. + +But Louisa did hear, appearing with a startled visage in the doorway. + +"Who--who did Mr. Morgan ask for?" + +The question was put so softly that it was nearly whispered; the +speaker's tongue and lips seemed parched. + +"Please, ma'am, he asked for you." + +"For me? What--what did he say?" + +"Please, ma'am, he said 'Is Mrs. Nash in?'" + +"Mrs. Nash? You're sure he said Mrs. Nash?" + +"Yes, ma'am, quite sure." + +"And when you told him I wasn't in, did he ask for Mr. Nash?" + +"No, ma'am; he said he'd wait." + +"How--how long did he wait?" + +"Maybe twenty minutes, maybe half-an-hour; please, ma'am, I couldn't +say exactly." + +"And did he seem angry?" + +"No, ma'am; quite pleasant. He gave me a shilling as he was going." + +"A shilling! Oh! Now tell me, exactly, what was the message he left." + +"If you please, ma'am, he told me to tell you exactly what he said, so +I took particular notice." She repeated word for word what Mr. Morgan +had said; Mrs. Nash listening with singular intentness, as if her +attention was fixed not so much on the actual words as on what was +behind them. When the girl had finished she sat still, as if +pondering. Louisa roused her. "If you please, ma'am, can I lay for +supper?" + +Mrs. Nash rose with a little jump. + +"Supper! of course; how silly I am! I was quite forgetting about +supper. Certainly, Louisa, you can lay for supper; I--I think I'm +quite ready for it." When she went into the bedroom her husband was +still standing with his elbows on the mantelpiece and his face to the +wall. As she entered he looked round with a start; the pair stood +looking at each other as if each was taken aback by something which +was on the other's face. She spoke first, in a voice which seemed to +tremble. "Herbert, what--what's the matter?" + +"The matter?" He laughed, a forced laugh. "Nothing's the matter; why +do you ask what's the matter?" + +"You're--you're looking so strange." + +"That's your imagination, my dear. What is the matter is that I've got +a touch of headache--one of my mother's headaches; you remember what +I've told you about the headaches she used to have. I fancy the sun +was stronger than I thought." + +"I didn't notice it; you said nothing about it." + +"No; I didn't notice it at the time. I expect that what I want is my +supper; it'll be better after I've had something to eat." + +"Have you found your letter-case?" + +"Oh yes, yes; I've found my letter-case; I must have dropped it out of +my pocket as I was putting on my coat--very stupid of me; but I've +found it all right. Anyhow there wasn't anything in it of very great +consequence, so it wouldn't have mattered much if I hadn't." + +It was a curious meal, that supper of theirs. It was as if ghosts sat +with them at the table; phantoms of horror; one by his side, and one +at hers, whose presence each hoped was hidden from the other. +Conversation languished, and they were in general so talkative; the +efforts they made to disguise their incapacity for speech were +pathetic. Their appetites were as poor as their talking powers, and +that although each had professed to be ready to make an excellent +meal. He ate little, and what he did eat was with an obvious effort; +she ate still less, each mouthful seemed to choke her. When the +make-believe repast was at an end Mr. Nash got up. + +"I'm afraid my headache isn't much better; I think I'll go for a turn +on the front; the night air may do it good." + +She also rose. + +"It won't take me a minute to put on my hat; I'll come with you." + +He was not so pleased at her suggestion as he might have been. + +"I think, if you don't mind, I'll go alone; I don't feel as if I were +in a mood for company." + +She seemed hurt. + +"Oh, Herbert, don't leave me behind! I won't keep you waiting; I'll +come without my hat." + +But he still professed unwillingness for her society, speaking almost +roughly. + +"Don't I tell you I'd sooner go alone? Can't you take a hint?" + +It was the first time he had spoken to her like that since they had +been married, which was not so very long ago. Had he struck her he +could not have hurt her more. When he had gone, without another word, +or a kiss, or a sign of tenderness, she sat staring at the nearly +untouched meal, and shivered, although the night was warm. What had +happened to Herbert, to have produced such a change in his manner? +Could Morgan have left a note for him, or a message for his own +private ear; or dropped a hint; or communicated with him without her +knowledge? As Louisa cleared away the supper things she cross-examined +her. The girl told all that she had to tell again; Elaine could find +nothing in her story which would account for the singularity of her +husband's demeanour; but on one point she fastened, when the maid told +her that she had left the visitor in the house alone. + +With Mr. Morgan in sole possession of the premises, Elaine saw instant +possibilities. What might he not have been doing while Louisa was out? +He might--he certainly might have intruded himself in her bedroom; if +he had gone so far he might have gone much farther. At the thought of +what he might have done she felt inclined to shake Louisa for giving +him the chance of doing it; instead, however, of assaulting the maid +she hurried off to learn, if she could, what he had done. + +Apparently nothing. So far as she could perceive everything in the +bedroom remained untouched, just as she had left it. She opened her +trunk, and took out her dressing-case, to make sure; she kept her +dressing-case in her locked trunk for greater security. Herbert +laughed at her for her caution, but she did not mind; she knew its +secret, he did not. After all it was perhaps as well he had left her +behind; she never had a chance of peeping at her hidden hoard while he +was there. Morgan had not touched that; that was safe enough. She +examined it with feverish fingers, fearful every moment of her +husband's return. The tale of the money was correct; nothing was +missing there. + +When she had done counting she hesitated, and thought, a big bundle of +notes in her hand. She slipped some of them into the bosom of her +dress--notes for a hundred pounds. Now that Morgan had thrust himself +again upon the scene they might be wanted; anything might happen; she +might not be able to get at her store at a moment's notice, with +Herbert always hovering round. She was just as anxious to keep the +secret of her hiding-place from her husband as from Morgan, or from +any one. + +She had not long returned the dressing-case to the trunk, and locked +the trunk, and placed the notes representing a hundred pounds in a +more convenient spot than her bodice, when her husband returned. As he +came bustling into the bedroom she perceived at once that his mood had +changed. He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her, rather +boisterously; his breath told her he had been drinking. + +"Hello, old girl! that headache's better; the stroll has done it +good." + +She wondered if it was the stroll or the refreshment he had taken; she +had already discovered that stimulants made of him another man; even +after one bottle of ale he was not the same man he had been before. +Her cue was to ignore the part which alcohol might have played in +affecting a cure. + +"I am so glad you're better, dear; I know what it is to have a +headache; I believe I've got one. Please mayn't I go out on to the +common now?" + +He laughed at her, lifting her off her feet. + +"I'll carry you," he said. + +And he did; out of the house, across the road, not putting her down +till he had borne her on to the grass; then, running the risk of what +eyes there might be about to see, she gave him a kiss to pay for +porterage. Presently they were, outwardly, on proper honeymooning +terms again, each making a gallant, and not wholly unsuccessful, +effort to shut out from actual vision the ghosts which kept step at +their sides. When they had retired to rest Herbert Nash said to his +wife-- + +"Do you know, I think I have had about enough of Littlehampton; what +do you say?" + +"I say what you say; only the question is, wherever shall we go to? +and when?" + +"There are heaps of places we can go to; and as for when, we can leave +this to-morrow. I'll think it over." + +He thought it over; all through the night he lay thinking, with +wide-open eyes, and so did she. But they did not leave on the morrow, +nor the next day. And on the morning of the third day there came a +letter addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Nash," which Mr. Nash, being +first at the breakfast table, opened. It ran-- + + +"DEAR FRIENDS, + +"Mrs. Lorrimer's servant will have told you that I called to see you, +and also that I propose to call again. Apart from the pleasure which I +anticipate from meeting you once more, I have something of the utmost +importance which I wish to say to both of you. As I believe you have +no pressing engagements, I confidently hope that you will not leave +Littlehampton till I have had an opportunity of saying it. I will let +you have a wire, advising you of my coming, and shall be glad if you +will leave word at the house where, at any moment, you are to be +found, as I should not like to miss you a second time. + +"Adding my congratulations to the numerous expressions of goodwill +which, I do not doubt, you have already received on the auspicious +occasion of your marriage, believe me to be, + + "Yours most sincerely, + + "STEPHEN MORGAN." + + +Mr. Nash was reading this epistle a second time when his wife came in. + +"What have you got there?" she asked. + +He looked up with a frown, seeming to hesitate about what to say, then +answered-- + +"It's from that fellow Morgan; the most insolent, presumptuous scrawl. +What he's driving at I can't imagine; the fellow must be stark, +staring mad." + +If Mr. Nash had been in an observant mood he might have noticed that +the smile which had been on his wife's face gave way to quite a +different expression, and that she shivered, as she always did do when +Mr. Morgan's name was mentioned. + +"What does he say? Let me look at his letter." + +He was folding it up, as with the intention of consigning it to his +pocket unseen by his wife; at her point-blank request he seemed to +hesitate, then tossed it to her across the table. + +"If you can explain what the fellow means by sending a letter like +that I can't; it's beyond me altogether." As she read he commented. +"Fancy calling us 'Dear friends.'" + +"What an extraordinary thing for him to do." + +"A butler!" + +"It's quite inexplicable." + +"What on earth has he to say to us which is of the least importance?" + +"That's it; what can he have?" + +"He practically orders us not to leave the place till it pleases him +to come." + +"It does--it does amount to that, doesn't it?" + +"Fancy his telling us to let them know in the house where, at any +moment, we're to be found, as if the one thing to be considered was +his sovereign pleasure!" + +"That is really remarkable." + +"Remarkable! I should say so; remarkable is a mild way of putting it. +I've half-a-mind to pack directly after breakfast and leave the place +this morning; the idea of his attempting to dictate to us! As I say, +the only explanation I can think of is that the fellow's stark, +staring mad." + +"That--that must be it." + +Mr. Nash continued to comment on Mr. Morgan's insolent epistle while +he trifled with his breakfast; but it was noticeable that he only +trifled. If he had had an appetite it had vanished; it seemed as if +the man's impertinence must have affected him more than he would have +cared to own. It was the same with his wife, she had no appetite +either. Indeed, when one came to think of it, neither of them had +eaten much since they had first heard of Mr. Morgan's call. The fact +had even been noticed by the landlady. + +"I can't think what's the matter with them all at once," she declared +to her diminutive maid, Louisa. "They used to eat heartily enough; as +you know, I remarked on it to you." + +"Yes, Mrs. Lorrimer, that you did." + +"But these last couple of days they've scarcely touched a thing. +There's been nothing the matter with the food, and I'm sure there's +been nothing the matter with the cooking; it must be them that's +wrong." + +When breakfast was finished--such a breakfast as it was; even the +soles went out practically as they came in--Mrs. Nash went to put on +her hat preparatory to going out with her husband on to the front, as +she usually did on fine mornings; he with a newspaper, and she with a +book. That morning the process was a lengthy one; she seemed +preoccupied, as if her mind was so full that there was no room in it +for her hat. She moved restlessly about the room, as if her thoughts +kept her in motion. All at once it seemed that she arrived at a sudden +resolution. + +"I know what I'll do; I'll get Herbert to go; we will go, before he +comes; we'll go to-day. I'll talk to Herbert directly we get outside. +I believe he wants to go as much as I do; though I--I don't know why. +And this time we won't stay in England; we'll go abroad, as far away +as ever we can; somewhere where that wretch can't get at us; and--and +we'll leave no address behind." + +While the lady so resolved the gentleman--unconscious of her +resolution--waited for her on the doorstep. As he waited he saw, +advancing towards the house on a bicycle, a telegraph boy. Some +instinct induced him to leave that doorstep and move to meet him. + +"Got a telegram for me--Nash?" + +"Nash? Yes, sir." The boy jumped off; he produced the familiar yellow +envelope. "Herbert Nash." + +"That's for me; that's all right. Wait while I see if there's an +answer." He tore the envelope open; this was the message it contained: +"Coming by the train due 12.28. You had better meet me at the station +alone.--STEPHEN MORGAN." "There is no answer," Mr. Nash informed the +boy. + +The boy got on his machine and rode away. Mr. Nash read that telegram +again, then stuffed it into his jacket pocket, swearing beneath his +breath. He looked quite ugly when he swore. He glanced at his watch, +as if to make sure about the time, then returned to his place upon the +doorstep. He said nothing about the telegram to his wife. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI + + AN OFFER OF FRIENDSHIP + + +Mr. Nash was at the station when the 12.28 came in, and alone; it +might have been by some sort of coincidence that he happened to be +there just then, but Mr. Morgan seemed to take it for granted that he +had come to meet him, an inference which Mr. Nash apparently resented. +Mr. Morgan came up to him smiling in the most friendly fashion, and +with hand held out. + +"My dear Nash, how are you?" + +There was no smile on Mr. Nash's face, and he ignored the proffered +hand. + +"Thank you, Mr. Morgan, I am well." + +"And my good friend, your dear wife? blooming, eh?" + +"I'm not aware that Mrs. Nash ever was a friend of yours." + +"No! my dear fellow! when we were so often under the same roof +together." + +"Do the servants of a house always regard their master's friends as +their own?" + +"My dear Nash, if you hadn't said that I should have said it was meant +to be nasty. I was in the service of the head of the house, and your +wife was a sort of attendant of the daughter's. + +"Do you dare to say that my wife was ever Miss Lindsay's attendant?" + +"Unpaid attendant, my boy, unpaid; sort of hanger-on--poor companion. +I received a regular income; she got an occasional frock; some article +of clothing; now and then a few pounds; as it were, the crumbs which +fell from Miss Lindsay's table. Of course, pecuniarily mine was much +the better position of the two; but I always have been one to overlook +a mere financial difference, and I hope I always shall be." + +"Look here, Morgan, if you're come down with the express intention of +being insolent, I'll wring your neck, here, in the station." + +Mr. Nash looked as if he were capable of at least trying to perform +that operation on Mr. Morgan there and then, but Mr. Morgan only +smiled. + +"My dear Nash! the idea! Nothing can be further from my wish than to +be insolent to you; as I'll show you before I've done. Where can we go +where we can be quiet, and have a little chat together? And afterwards +if you'll take me to 37, Ocean Villas, and offer me a little lunch, +and give me an opportunity of renewing my acquaintance with your +charming wife, I think you'll find that we are on better terms than +you seem to suppose. Where are you going?" + +Mr. Nash was striding out of the station. + +"To the golf-links; you say you want to go somewhere where we can be +quiet; you'll have the quietude you want there." + +"Thank you; I don't think we need go quite so far as the golf-links, +really; nor is that exactly the sort of solitude I was thinking of. +You come with me; I'll be conductor." He opened the door of a fly +which was by the kerb, and stood with the handle in his hand. "Step +in." + +The two men looked at each other, as if each was measuring the other's +strength. Then Mr. Nash said-- + +"Where do you think you're going?" + +Mr. Morgan spoke to the driver. + +"Take us to the east end of the promenade, right to the extreme end." +Then he turned to Nash. "We shall have all the quietude we want there. +After you." + +Nash hesitated, then entered the fly; Morgan followed; the fly drove +off. As it rumbled along Mr. Morgan beguiled the way by spirited +attempts at conversation; but he had all the talking to himself; not +once did his companion open his lips. Mr. Nash sat with unbending +back, stiff neck, grim face, looking straight in front of him; Mr. +Morgan might not have been in the same vehicle for all the notice he +took of him. Under the circumstances his unruffled affability did the +latter gentleman credit. The vehicle set them down not only at the +extreme end of the promenade, but beyond it. When the fly had gone Mr. +Morgan called his companion's attention to their surroundings. + +"You see! where could we have more privacy, even on the golf-links? +Not a creature within many yards of us. We can sit on the beam of this +groyne--could it be at a more convenient height?--and talk at our +leisure." + +Again Mr. Nash seemed to be measuring the other with his eye; his +bearing did not point to his being at all in the conversational frame +of mind which Mr. Morgan's words suggested; indeed he said as much. + +"Now, my man, if you have anything to say, out with it; I've not the +dimmest notion what it is you think you've got to say; to be quite +frank, your whole conduct looks to me like infernal insolence; but, +whatever it is, make it short; and take my advice, and be careful how +you say it." + +"My dear Nash, I assure you that no one could be more careful than I +shall be." + +"And don't you call me your dear Nash! you swollen-headed butler! I +don't propose to allow a servant to treat me as an equal, nor do I +propose to consort with him." + +"Don't you? Now that shows how different we are. I don't mind with +whom I consort; I'm even willing to consort with a thief." + +"What--what the devil do you mean?" + +Mr. Nash's eyes blazed; but they blazed out of a face which, +consciously to himself or not, had suddenly grown pale. Mr. Morgan +smiled as affably as ever; he offered Mr. Nash his cigar-case. + +"Try one of my cigars; I think you'll find them something rather +exceptional." + +"Confound your cigars! I don't want your cigars! What do you mean by +what you said just now?" + +"You know what I mean as well as I do. There are moments when it's so +unpleasant to have to dot one's i's; surely this is one. Then isn't it +rather childish to pretend that you don't know what I mean when you +do?" + +"Are you going to tell me what you mean?" + +"Certainly, if you insist; but is it wise?" + +"Morgan, am I to knock you down?" + +"You can try if you like; I dare say I can put up as good a fight as +you can." + +Again they seemed to gauge each other, eye to eye; Nash as if half +beside himself with rage, Morgan all smiles. + +"Will you tell me what you mean?" + +Morgan looked away from the other's face, up into the air. He blew a +ring of smoke from the cigar which he had lighted, following it with +his eyes. Nothing could have been pleasanter than his manner, or more +affable than his smile; he spoke as one who meditated. + +"I happen to know that you borrowed certain sums of money from the +late Mr. Donald Lindsay, for which you gave him notes of hand, +amounting altogether to a little over a hundred pounds; a flea-bite to +him, but a deal to you. When you were going through Mr. Lindsay's +papers, on behalf of his daughter, you came upon those notes of hand; +you put them into your pocket; you concealed their existence; in +plainer words, you stole them." + +"It's--it's an infernal lie!" + +"My dear Nash, I saw you do it." + +"You saw me!" + +"I did. If you like I can describe to you, in detail, how you found +them, and where, and how you looked to an unprejudiced observer, and +precisely what you did when you had found them; but is it necessary?" + +"Why--why don't I knock you down?" + +"Because you have more sense. Pray don't indulge in heroics for my +benefit, I beg of you; I know! I know! I also saw you steal another +paper." + +"What other paper?" + +"That's what I said to myself; what can that other paper be? I confess +that I was gravelled; and I continued gravelled until I called on you +the other day at Ocean Villas, and found it in your letter-case." + +"You--you scoundrel!" + +"That's a hard word, from one who is both a scoundrel and a thief. +Don't let us bandy epithets. Here is the paper--gently! I should have +said, here is a copy of the paper. You and I know how desirable it is +that so important a document should be in safe keeping. I have +arranged that if I don't turn up at a certain place, at a certain +time, the actual letter--you know it is a letter--will be posted to +Dr. Banyard, together with a history of how it came into my +possession, and particulars of those notes of hand you stole; so let +us hope, for your sake, that no accident will happen to me. I will +read you the copy I made of the letter; you will possibly have +forgotten the precise wording, and the precise wording is of such +importance-- + + +'DEAR SIR, + +'Referring to the acceptances of yours which we hold, and which fall +due on the 7th inst., they reached us, in the ordinary course, through +a client with whom we have done business before; who informed us that +they came to him from Mr. Frank Clifford, of Marlborough Buildings, +Farringdon Road, E.C., who, we presume, discounted them for you. We do +not know that we are called upon to furnish you with this information, +and, as your inquiry is an unusual one, we shall be glad to know why +you make it. + + 'Your obedient servants, + + 'GULDENHEIM AND CO.' + + +Now that, my dear Nash, is the letter which you found; I don't know if +your memory will enable you to recognize the accuracy of the copy." +Mr. Nash was silent, presenting a curious picture of indecision; of +the man who lets "I dare not" wait upon "I would." Mr. Morgan went +affably on, diplomatically ignoring the singularity of the other's +attitude. "To the superficial eye there is nothing in that letter; +it is a mere routine business communication; in fact, however, as +matters were, you could scarcely have found anything more important. I +take it that you recognized this, or you would hardly have +appropriated it; but I fancy that you only recognized it dimly. Your +whole after-behaviour seems to point to it." Mr. Morgan glanced round +at the moment, in time to catch the ghost of a smile, which seemed to +flicker across Mr. Nash's face; Mr. Morgan's comment on that +flickering smile was characteristic. "Perhaps not so dimly as I +supposed; the springs of human action do lie so deep. Perhaps, after +all, it has occurred to you, as it has to me, that that letter killed +Donald Lindsay. You remember where you found it? Lindsay's was a +pedestal writing-table; it was on the floor, under one of the +pedestals, with one corner of the paper just showing. I think that was +the last letter Donald Lindsay ever read. He had read it again and +again before, and was re-reading it; but that re-reading was just the +one too many. The strain of that cumulative shock was greater than he +could bear; something snapped; he fell forward; the letter slipped +from his fingers, under one of the pedestals, where it might have +remained but for your sharp eyes." Mr. Morgan held the paper out in +front of him with the air of one who is explaining something which he +desires to make quite plain. "Now what is there in this letter which +could have produced so extraordinary an effect upon a person possessed +of so much self-restraint as Donald Lindsay undoubtedly was? What does +the letter itself tell us? It tells us that Messrs. Guldenheim, as is +the custom, I have reason to know, of a certain type of usurer, had +written to advise him that certain acceptances of his, which matured +at a certain date, had come into their hands. I'll bet sixpence that +Lindsay was a man who never in his life put his name on a piece of +paper which was likely, in the ordinary course, as they put it, to +fall into the hands of carrion like the Guldenheims; that first +communication of theirs must in itself have been a shock to him. But +he was a cautious man; he liked to move gently; whether he already had +suspicions I cannot say; evidently he wrote a non-committal letter, +asking them from whom they had obtained acceptances of his. This was +their reply; they informed him that originally the acceptances came +from Mr. Frank Clifford, of Marlborough Buildings, Farringdon Road, +and that information killed him. Is that how it occurred to you?" + +"Never mind what occurred to me." + +"Quite so, I won't; I'll content myself with telling you what occurred +to me. I've only known what was in this letter a couple of days, and, +with its aid, I have already learned that, when he died, Donald +Lindsay was, probably, one of the richest men in England. Have you +learned that?" + +"I--I had my doubts." + +"But you hadn't verified them? I see. Other matters interfered; for +instance, your marriage. Now, my dear Nash, pray understand that I +congratulate you, from the bottom of my heart, on what is, in all +respects, an auspicious event; but you must forgive my saying that you +were one of the last persons I should have associated with a love +match. Now I happen to know that neither Miss Harding nor you had +money, or prospects. Indeed, I've been wondering how you managed +between you to pay the marriage fees, to say nothing of the expenses +of your honeymoon. Did a good fairy drop down from the skies?" + +"It strikes me, Morgan, that you are constitutionally incapable of +seeing how infernally insolent you are." + +"Am I? Perhaps; you should be a better judge of insolence than I. And +believe me that I quite understand that a man is entitled to keep his +own counsel; I don't wish to pry into your secrets; only I was +wondering if you had a secret. However, to return to business. Do you +know that this letter means a fortune for you, and incidentally, +perhaps, also one for me; but certainly a fortune for you. All we have +to do is to pull together; treat each other as friends, not enemies; +although I say it, you'll find my friendship well worth having, from +every point of view. Don't let the accident of my having once been a +butler stand in the way; that's nonsense. Let me tell you that the +butler at Cloverlea had a better position, in every respect, than the +average clerk in a government office; as for your banks, and such +dustbins--pah! he was better off than many a solicitor; though I know +that's a delicate subject. But don't let's cut each other's throats +for the sake of a merely imaginary social distinction; let's be +friends, and I'll undertake to make your fortune. That's the +proposition I've come down to Littlehampton to make." + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII + + A ROYAL ROAD TO FORTUNE + + +Mr. Nash considered. The expression which had been on his face a few +minutes ago had nearly vanished. The ex-butler had expressed himself +in terms which the solicitor felt might justify him in modifying the +attitude he had been disposed to take up. That Morgan had been, and +still was, presumptuous went without saying; at the same time, as +matters were turning out, it seemed that there were things which might +be said on the other side; at least so it appeared to Herbert Nash. On +the whole, he was inclined to concede as much. He took a few steps, to +and fro, beside the groyne; then planting himself directly in front of +Morgan, he told him his mind, rather in sorrow, perhaps, than in +anger; indeed his bearing altogether was very different from what it +had been. + +"I tell you what it is, Morgan, your conduct, from first to last, has +been bad." + +Mr. Morgan smiled at him, affably. + +"Has it? That's good, coming from you." + +"That's where you've got the wrong end of the stick; whatever I've +done I've done nothing to you." + +"No; and therefore you think that I've no right to put a finger in the +pie you've found." + +"You'd no right to force yourself into my place, and run the rule over +my things." + +"That was luck, Nash, pure luck. I didn't call intending to run the +rule over your things; is it likely? But if you will carry papers in +your letter-case, you shouldn't leave your letter-case lying about." + +"Idiot that I was! I found what I'd done soon after I'd started, but I +was fool enough not to come back for it." + +"You weren't an idiot; not at all; it was the best thing that could +have happened for both of us--that I should find it." + +"I'm afraid I can't agree. To begin with, see how awkward you've made +it for me with my wife." + +"Have I?" + +"She can't understand what I have done which gives you any title to +call yourself my friend--you!" + +"Can't she?" + +"And how am I going to explain? I may only be--as you suggest--a poor +brute of a country solicitor; but you forget that she's a lady." + +"Not for one moment. Mrs. Nash is a perfect lady; none knows that +better than I do. But, if I help you to make your fortune; if we +become partners in, say, a mercantile speculation; if I show you how +to pour gold, and all the pretty things gold can buy, into her lap, +will she require any better explanation? I think not. My dear fellow, +you exaggerate the difficulties she will make; believe me. + +"You talk very largely, but how are you going to do these things? I +had the letter, and I didn't see my way." + +"You didn't? Then that shows how fortunate it was that you +communicated the contents of the letter to me; because I do. Tell +me--now be frank; I'll be perfectly frank with you; it's to our common +interest to be frank with each other--how far did you go?" + +"I looked up Mr. Frank Clifford." + +"And found?" + +"That Marlborough Buildings is the head office of Peter Piper's +Popular Pills; of which business Clifford's the managing director." + +"And what else?" + +"That's as far as I got; I meant to go on after--after----" + +"After the honeymoon? I see; I've got a great deal further than that, +a great deal. I take it you're aware that Peter Piper's Popular Pills +is one of the medicines of the hour; the profits are stupendous; +sometimes amounting to a hundred thousand pounds in a year, possibly +more." + +"I dare say; that doesn't want much finding out, everybody knows it; +but what's it to do with us?" + +"A good deal." + +"How?" + +"We're going to have a share of the business, and of the profits, and +probably of former profits also." + +"Are we indeed? How are we going to manage it?" + +"Do you know who the proprietor was?" + +Again the two men eyed each other; this time as if Nash was trying to +read in Morgan's eyes the answer to his question. + +"He was Donald Lindsay of Cloverlea." + +"You don't mean it?" + +"I do." + +"Are you sure?" + +"Perfectly. He called himself Joseph Oldfield; he was a bachelor; he +was a reserved man, standoffish, of secretive habits. He had a flat in +Bloomsbury Square, I've seen it, where he was supposed to spend most +of his time in thinking out new advertising dodges; the present +position of Peter Piper's Popular Pills is principally owing to clever +advertising. The proprietor was his own advertising agent, he was a +master of the art. He called himself, as I've said, Joseph Oldfield in +town, and in the country he was Donald Lindsay of Cloverlea." + +"The old fox!" + +"I don't think you can exactly call him that; there was nothing in the +opprobrious sense foxy about him. He was one of those men who live +double lives, owing, one might say, to the pressure of circumstances; +there are more of them about than is supposed. He bought the pill +business when it was at a very low ebb; he hadn't very much money +himself, at that time, and I dare say he got it for a song. Mrs. +Lindsay was just dead; his girl was with her nurses, or at school; for +business purposes he called himself Oldfield; it isn't every man who +cares to have it known that he's associated with a patent medicine; in +England it's quite a common custom for a man to carry on a business +under an alias, under half-a-dozen aliases sometimes. As time went on +I take it that his secretive habit grew stronger; he became less and +less disposed to have it known that Donald Lindsay had anything to do +with pills, which do rather stink in people's nostrils; and so he +drifted into the double life. That's the word, drifted." + +"You seem to have got up his history." + +"I have a way of finding out things; people have noticed it before. +Now take Mr. Frank Clifford; I can tell you something about him. He's +a young man, a _protégé_ of Oldfield's--we'll call him Oldfield. +Oldfield had faith in him, he'd have trusted him with his immortal +soul. That's how it was that it was such a shock to him to learn that +he had been taking liberties with his name." + +"But had he?" + +"Had he what?" + +"Been taking liberties with Lindsay's name?" + +"He forged those bills which Guldenheim and his friends got hold of." + +"That's what I guessed; but guessing's one thing, proof's another." + +"Of course it is; I've the proof. I have some of the bills; I got hold +of them rather neatly, though, as a matter of abstract right, I've as +much title to them as anybody else. When you show Mr. Clifford one of +them he won't deny he forged it." + +"Yes; when I show it." + +"Exactly. I said when you show it to him; and you're going to show it, +if necessary, that's part of the scheme; though it mayn't be +necessary, since it's quite possible he'll capitulate at once. My dear +chap, at the present moment, to all intent's and purposes, Mr. Frank +Clifford is the sole proprietor of one of the finest businesses in the +world, and one of the largest fortunes in England, while the actual +owner is starving in town." + +"It's hard upon Miss Lindsay." + +"It's the fortune of war. A little starving won't do her any harm; and +I dare say she won't starve long. I never liked the girl." + +"Nor I." + +"Then there you are; why worry? She's too superior for me, too good; +knocking about in the gutter may bring her down to your level, and +mine; I've known it pan out that way where a young woman's concerned. +I don't like any one to be too good, it makes me conscious of my own +deficiencies; you see, I'm candid. However, she's a factor with whom +we may, or may not, deal later. At present we've to concentrate our +attention on Clifford; think of the possibilities for him, and for us. +No one knows of the connection between Oldfield and Lindsay; no one +even knows that he's dead. Clifford already has powers to draw cheques +in the name of the firm, within certain limits; a man capable of +committing forgery will soon be able to make those limits wider; +there's no reason why he shouldn't appropriate to his own use every +penny that comes in; as things stand nobody'll be able to call him to +account for it; there's no reason why he should not lay hands on the +whole of the old gentleman's investments; and they're--you may take it +from me that they're magnificent. We're the only persons on this side +of the grave who can stop him, and there's no reason why we should, if +he gives us a proper share; in other words, if he takes us in as +partners." + +"It's playing with fire." + +"Not a bit of it; it's playing with nothing that's in the least +dangerous, if it's managed as I propose to manage it. You think it +over. And now you take me in to lunch, and let me have the pleasure +of meeting that charming wife of yours again; I'm starving! And if by +the time we've done lunch you haven't formulated a scheme of your own +I'll tell you what mine is, and then you'll see that without the +slightest danger to either of us, without the shadow of a shade of +danger--there's no reason why we shouldn't, within a very short space +of time, be worth a quarter of a million apiece." + +"A quarter of a million!" + +"At least; we're going to deal with big figures, my boy. It'll pay +Clifford, pay him handsomely, to split it up into three parts; and let +me tell you that a third ought to come out at a good deal more than a +quarter of a million." + +Herbert Nash hesitated--for his credit's sake let it be written that +he did hesitate--but he took Mr. Morgan home with him to lunch. And +when his wife saw the visitor coming she would have been almost glad +if the earth could have opened to swallow her up; it was as if she +beheld avenging fate advancing towards her in the shape of a +policeman. Her husband was late; it was long after their usual hour +for lunch; he had left no word as to where he had gone; half beside +herself with anxiety, she would have liked to send the town crier +round in search of him; she had been along the pavement to the corner +of this street and the corner of that, to and fro across the common +for a glimpse of him along the front; these man[oe]uvres she had +repeated again and again, and, standing on the doorstep, was +frantically debating within herself as to what could have become of +him, as to what she should do, when she saw him coming with Morgan at +his side. Then, if she could, she would have run away, but she could +not, her feet were as if they had been shod with iron weights, she +could not lift them; she could not move; when they came to her she was +a white-faced, shivering, terror-stricken little wretch; a poor ghost +of the sunny-faced, light-hearted Elaine Harding of such a little +while ago. + +Mr. Nash offered a pretty lame explanation of his appearance with the +man of whose presumption in claiming his acquaintance he had spoken +with such scorn in the morning. + +"This is Mr. Morgan; he is going to have some lunch with us; we have +business to transact together. You remember Mr. Morgan, Elaine?" + +As if she ever could forget him! How she would have prayed for the +power to forget him if she had dared to hope that such prayers were +answered. She hardly heard her husband's words; her white face was +turned towards Morgan, as the convicted criminal has eyes only for the +judge who is to pronounce his doom. Yet nothing could have been less +judge-like than Mr. Morgan's bearing; nothing more affably respectful +than the manner of his greeting. He stood before her with uncovered +head, without even presuming to offer his hand. + +"This is indeed an honour to be permitted to meet you again. May I +venture to hope that you will allow me to offer my congratulations on +the fortunate event which has occurred since I saw you last?" + +She had to moisten her parched lips with her tongue before she could +speak at all. Then-- + +"Thank you," was all she said to him; and to her husband, "I--I was +wondering what had become of you." + +Nash replied-- + +"Mr. Morgan had something which he wished to say to me." He led the +way into the house; his wife and Morgan followed. He paused at the +sitting-room door. "Take Mr. Morgan in there," he said to her. "I will +join you in a minute." + +Dumbly she obeyed; not realizing that he wanted what she did, a few +minutes' solitude to enable him to pull himself together. He meant to +have them, she had to do without; so that when she was in the room, +and the ex-butler, coming after her, closed the door behind him he had +her wholly at his mercy. She was still limp and helpless, having had +no chance to recover from the shock and horror of encountering him +again; a fact of which he, instantly perceiving, took prompt +advantage. As he pulled the door to behind him a subtle change took +place in his manner; he still smiled, but neither respectfully nor +affably. He addressed the cowering woman in front of him as if she +were some base creature. + +"A pretty trick you played me, slipping away like that and leaving no +address! Sneaking off with the man you'd paid to marry you, when, if +it hadn't been for me, you'd have been in jail; and you call yourself +a lady! and I'd treated you as one! Never again, my beauty, never +again need you expect me to treat you like a lady, because you've +shown me what you are. Now you listen to me! You'll give me five +hundred pounds before I leave, or to-night you'll sleep in +Littlehampton jail; and when your husband's told what kind of a +character he's been diddled into marrying by way of a start he'll +throw you out into the road. Now then! that five hundred pounds!" + +He held out his hand, as if he expected her to give him the money +there and then. She presented a pitiable spectacle; being scarcely +able to stammer. + +"I--I--I can't--can't give it you now." + +"No lies! I'm off them! How much have you got in the house?" + +"I--I--I might----" Her voice failed her; there was a hiatus in her +sentence. "A hundred pounds." + +"Then you'll give me a hundred pounds within half-an-hour after lunch, +and you'll send another four hundred to an address I'll give you +within four-and-twenty hours, or I promise you that, in less than an +hour after, the man you've bought shall kick you out of this house +into a policeman's arms." + +Before he could speak again, or she either, the door opened to admit +the diminutive maid; how she managed to open the door, as she +apparently had done, was a mystery, since she was carrying a tray +which was nearly as big as herself. And Mr. Nash presently appearing, +the three sat down to lunch. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII + + TO BE--OR NOT TO BE--POSTPONED + + +Daisy Ross was annoyed, almost indignant, and with reason. As she said +to Mr. Clifford-- + +"It's really too ridiculous! One's wedding day is an occasion of some +importance, even to a man." Mr. Clifford admitted that it was. "While +to a woman it involves a frightful strain." Mr. Clifford again agreed. +"Very well, then; a little consideration surely should be shown; Mr. +Oldfield's conduct is absurd." + +"He certainly is placing me in a very awkward position." + +"I should think he was; considering that the bridesmaids' dresses are +practically finished, and that two of them have to go away on the day +after the one we fixed, how are we going to postpone the wedding?" + +"I'm sure I don't know; but what am I to do? His conduct's most +mysterious." + +"My dear Frank, his conduct's not only mysterious, it's monstrous; and +I don't care what you say. He knows you are going to be married." + +"Of course he does; he's known about it all along." + +"He knows when you are going to be married." + +"Certainly, I asked him to be present; he gave me to understand that +probably he would be." + +"Then probably he will be." + +"But suppose I see or hear nothing of him in the meanwhile?" + +"He is a most exasperating man. How long is it since you have heard +anything of him?" + +"About two months; rather over than under." + +"Something must have happened to him." + +"You know his ways; I've told you about them often enough. When he +leaves the office, unless he volunteers the information, I never know +when I shall see him again, and unless I've some pressing reason for +wanting to know I never ask; I've more sense. He dislikes being +questioned about anything, and he's always shown what I've felt is +really a morbid objection to being questioned about his movements; +it's only quite recently that I've known his private address. It isn't +as if this sort of thing hadn't happened before; it has, again and +again. One evening, about a couple of years ago, he left the office +quite late, after being in regular daily attendance, early and late, +for some weeks; I expected he would come on the following day in the +ordinary course, but I never saw or heard anything of him for close +upon four months; then one morning he walked in, and, without offering +a word of explanation, took up the thread of affairs just where he had +left it, and, what's more, showed quite a good knowledge of what had +been going on during his absence." + +"But what a state things would have got into if it hadn't been for +you." + +"Quite so; that's just the point, he trusts me. In the ordinary course +of business I have complete control of everything. If anything unusual +turns up, which is of importance, I hold it over for reference to him; +but in the general way I run the entire show; which, after all, isn't +saying so very much, because, when all is said and done, he's a +first-rate man of business and a splendid organizer, so that it's +quite easy for me to do. And you know, Daisy, he treats me very +generously, and always has done; I've practically a share in the +concern, which is a free gift from him." + +"I suppose you're worth what he gives you." + +"All the same, I never put in a penny--I never had one to put; and +there are hundreds, I dare say thousands, of men who could do all I +do, and who'd be only too glad to do it, for a tenth part of what he +gives me." + +"If I were you, I shouldn't tell him so." + +"He knows, my dear, he knows. He's the same with everybody about the +place; it's a principle of his to treat everybody generously who does +honest work for him; he wouldn't be happy if he thought that a man +wasn't getting a fair share of the fruits of his own labours. In spite +of his little eccentricities he's a magnificent fellow, and I couldn't +do anything to annoy or disappoint him--not--well, I wouldn't do it." + +Miss Ross sighed. + +"You hadn't arranged to be married during that four months' absence of +his." + +"I certainly hadn't." + +"Suppose the wedding-day had been fixed for two months after he had +gone, and he had known it, would you have postponed it indefinitely, +till he condescended to turn up again?" + +"I don't know what I should have done, I really don't; but I tell you +what we might do--that is, if you wouldn't mind very much." + +"Oh, never mind what I mind; my wishes aren't of the slightest +consequence; I shall begin to wish that I wasn't going to be married!" + +"Daisy! don't say that, even in jest. It's as hard upon me as it is +upon you." + +"Honestly, Frank, I don't see it. To a man, having his wedding-day +postponed, and that indefinitely, is, of course, rather a nuisance; +but to a woman, it's--it's quite a different thing." + +"But I'm not going to suggest that it shall be postponed." + +"Then what are you going to suggest? What have you been suggesting for +the last--I don't know how long?" + +"That's because the idea never occurred to me until just now; I don't +know why; I suppose it's because I'm stupid." + +"Now what idea have you got into your head?" + +"I think I see a way out of the difficulty; that is, if you'll agree." + +"Agree to what?" + +"The great thing for us is to be married, isn't it?" + +"I don't know that I'm prepared to admit it till I know what you're +leading up to." + +"Very well, then, as one of the parties I'll admit it; the one thing +for which I'm living is to be married to you; when I am married I'll +be happy." + +"Thank you; that's very nice of you; but I'm not going to admit +anything till I know what it is you've got at the back of your head." + +"We're going to be married on Thursday--that is, this day week." + +"We were to have been married on Thursday; I know my wedding dress is +coming home on Wednesday." + +"And after the wedding we're to start for a three months' tour on the +continent, something like a honeymoon." + +"We were to have started for a three months' tour." + +"That's what I arranged with Mr. Oldfield. I said to him, 'Mr. +Oldfield, after my marriage--at which I trust you'll be present--I +hope to go abroad with my wife for a month, if I can be spared from +the office.' He said to me, 'Clifford, why not make it three months?' +I stared; he went on: 'A man isn't married often!'" + +"Frank!" + +"That's what he said; and it's true. 'Therefore there's no reason why +he shouldn't make the most of it when he is; you take your wife abroad +for three months, I'll see you're spared from the office.' And that's +how it was arranged." + +"Yes, and then he goes and disappears, and I'm not to be married at +all, and that's how it's disarranged." + +"Not a bit of it; the wedding needn't be postponed; the more I think +of it the less reason do I see why it should." + +"Frank! Then what ever have you been talking to me about ever since I +don't know when!" + +"Mr. Oldfield's continued absence needn't prevent my sparing a day to +get away from the office to be married." + +"Needn't it! I'm sure it's very nice of you to talk about sparing a +whole day for a trifling thing like that." + +"In any case, all that need suffer is the three months' tour. If Mr. +Oldfield hasn't turned up by Thursday, after we're married we'll go +for a weekend honeymoon. I'll return to the office on Monday. The +house is ready, all it needs is its mistress; you'll be installed a +little sooner than you thought, and when Mr. Oldfield does appear +we'll go for our three months' tour." + +Miss Ross sat looking at him with rather a complicated expression on +her pretty face, as if she did not quite know what to make of his +proposition. + +"Frank, why didn't you think of it before? instead of worrying me, and +making my hair come out by handfuls, by keeping on saying that if Mr. +Oldfield didn't return in time, you couldn't possibly desert Peter +Piper's Popular Pills, and that therefore the wedding would have to be +postponed till you didn't know when." + +"I don't know; but I didn't. I fancy, sweetheart, that it's because I +was so looking forward to that scamper through Europe. It's so long +since I had a real holiday--and such a holiday--with you! If you only +knew how often I have dreamed of it!" + +"And do you think I haven't dreamed of it too?" They were sitting very +close together; she looked at him with almost comic wistfulness as she +added, "A week-end honeymoon will be rather a comedown, won't it?" + +"Compared to that elaborate tour, which we have so carefully planned, +in which we were to go to so many delightful places, and do so many +delicious things, rather! But it won't spoil by being kept; we'll have +it; and in the meanwhile a week-end will be better than nothing." + +"Frank, I'll tell you something. Rather than that the wedding should +be put off I'd go straight home with you to our home, from the church +doors; or I'd return with you to the office, and sit on a stool, till +your day's work was done." + +"Sweetheart!" + +There was an interval, during which more was done than said. Then she +observed-- + +"Now let me clearly understand; even if Mr. Oldfield returns on +Wednesday we go for our tour." + +"Even if he puts in an appearance in the church." + +"Well, let's hope he won't put it off till quite so late as that; +because, though perhaps you mayn't be aware of it, there is such a +thing as packing; one doesn't pack for a week-end just as one packs +for three months on the Continent. But, in any case, the wedding is +not to be postponed." + +"It is not to be postponed. Let me put it like this. You talk it over +with your father----" + +"Frank! don't be absurd! I fancy I see myself talking it over with +papa. Why, do you know what he says? He says he can't see why a girl +need make such a fuss about such a little thing as being married; he +wonders why she can't go in a 'bus to the nearest registrar's, and +then go, in a spirit of meek thankfulness, to her new home in another +'bus, and start darning the old socks which her husband has been +storing up against her coming." + +"Well, there's something in it." + +"Is there? At any rate, I'm not going to talk it over with papa; he +wouldn't talk it over with me if I wanted him to." + +"Then talk it over with your mother, and--and the rest of the family." + +"It is a matter for my decision, not for theirs." + +"Precisely; only there's no harm in observing certain forms. And I'll +make another effort to see if I can find out something which will +point to Oldfield's whereabouts. I'll go round to his flat in +Bloomsbury Mansions; they sometimes do hear something of him there; +then I'll try every other place I can think of--there aren't many +places, but there are some--then I'll come round to-morrow and tell +you the result of my efforts, and you'll tell me the result of the +family consultation." + +"I can tell you that before you go; the wedding is not to be +postponed." + +"Of course the wedding is not to be postponed; but still there are +things you'll like to talk over with them--they'll expect it; and then +they can talk them over with me--you know the sort of thing. And +anyhow I hope you don't object to my coming again to-morrow, if only +to be told once more that the wedding is not to be postponed." + +"Of course I don't object to your coming again to-morrow; you'll hear +of it if you don't." + +"But in case I should be prevented, don't you think you'd better give +me an extra kiss or two?" + +"Frank! I'm always kissing you." + +"Not always; sometimes I'm kissing you." + +"You'll soon grow tired." + +"Shall I? Be careful what you say! you'll be punished if you say it." + +"I hope you never will grow tired." + +"Sweetheart, you mustn't even say it in jest!" + +The rest was that sort of talk which we have most of us talked once; +those of us who haven't are to be pitied; it is a kind of talk which +is well worth talking. Then Mr. Clifford went on to Bloomsbury +Mansions, which was Joseph Oldfield's London address; indeed, so far +as his manager knew, it was the proprietor of Peter Piper's Popular +Pills' only address. As usual he found the porter in the entrance +hall; of him he made inquiry. + +"Well, Coles, any news of Mr. Oldfield?" + +In the porter's manner, as he replied, there was a significance which +Mr. Clifford did not understand. + +"I can't say that there's any news of Mr. Oldfield exactly; but +there's something going on." + +"Going on? What do you mean?" + +"In his flat." + +"In his flat! What's going on in his flat?" + +"That's more than I can tell you, sir; but there's some one in there; +in fact, there's two people in there. One of them says he's Mr. +Oldfield's solicitor; I don't know who the other is, but he may be +another solicitor for all I can tell; he looks as if he might be +something in that line." + +Frank Clifford opened his eyes. + +"His solicitor? What solicitor? What's his name?" + +"Seemed to me he was shy about giving his name; but when I made it +clear that he wasn't going up unless he did, he said his name was +Nash--Herbert Nash. He's quite a young chap--younger than the other, +though he's not old." + +"Nash? Herbert Nash? I never heard Mr. Oldfield speak of a solicitor +named Nash; but of course he may have a dozen solicitors of whom I +know nothing. How did they get in? Did you let them in?" + +"Not me; they brought Mr. Oldfield's own key; Mr. Nash had it." + +"That looks as if they'd at least heard from Mr. Oldfield quite +recently, which is more than I have. It's lucky I happened to come +just now. Take me up, Coles; I should like to see Mr. Nash." + +The porter said, as they were stepping into the lift-- + +"I hope, sir, there's nothing wrong with Mr. Oldfield--that he's not +ill, or anything like that; but it looks odd his solicitor coming +instead of him, and that without giving any notice." + +"It doesn't necessarily follow, Coles, that there's anything wrong +with him on that account; most probably Mr. Oldfield is abroad, and +has sent his solicitor instructions, in order to carry out which Mr. +Nash has to visit his flat." + +The lift stopped; the porter pointed to a door. + +"I hope you're right, sir; I should be sorry to hear that anything had +happened to Mr. Oldfield; to my thinking he's the pleasantest +gentleman we've got in the Mansions, and I don't care who hears me say +so. That's his flat, sir. You'll find them in there now. Shall I ring, +sir?" + +"No; I'll ring." + +Mr. Clifford rang. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX + + IN JOSEPH OLDFIELD'S FLAT + + +The idea was Morgan's. + +"We're going to call at Bloomsbury Mansions to begin with; that's to +be the first move in our plan of campaign." Herbert Nash looking a +note of interrogation, Mr. Morgan condescended to explain. "How many +times am I to tell you that Bloomsbury Mansions was where Mr. Joseph +Oldfield lived when he was in town? When he was there he was Peter +Piper's Popular Pills; when he wasn't there if you'd talked to him +about pills I dare say he wouldn't have known what you meant." + +"But why should we go to Bloomsbury Mansions?" + +"Doesn't your own common-sense tell you, my dear Nash, that the more a +man knows about the game he's going to play the better chance he has +of winning? Certainly it does, because you're one of the cleverest men +I know. Very well then; if you and I can manage to be alone together +in that flat for, say, half-an-hour, there's very little about Joseph +Oldfield which, at the end of that time, we shan't know. Unless I'm +mistaken, that's where the key to the situation is; it must be +somewhere, and I tell you it's there. That's where all his business +papers are, which you and Baynard couldn't find at Cloverlea; his +books, his accounts, the lists of his securities; perhaps some of the +securities themselves; and, what's more, the whole financial history +of those immortal pills. We shall be able to find out what exactly Mr. +Frank Clifford's position is, and how we shall best be able to get at +him. I'm no gamester; I object to gambling on principle; yet I'm +willing to bet a trifle that after I've been there half-an-hour I'll +be in a position--with the aid of what I know already--to squash Mr. +Frank Clifford between my finger and thumb; and between us, my boy, +we'll have Peter Piper's Popular Pills, and the pile they represent, +lying at our feet." + +"I tell you again, Morgan, what I've told you before, that I think you +pitch your anticipations too high; there are all sorts of difficulties +in the way which you don't seem to appreciate. Anyhow how do you +intend to get into this flat? do you propose to commit burglary?" + +"Am I a criminal? a felon? I've been an honest man all my life, and I +mean to die an honest man. No, my dear Nash, we're going in through +the front door, in broad daylight, before the eyes of the whole staff +of the Mansions, if the whole staff chooses to look on, and, as about +flats they're mostly a prying lot, they may do; we're going to let +ourselves in with Mr. Joseph Oldfield's own private and particular +latch-key, and a very private and particular latch-key it is. I +lay--betting again! you see, Nash, how a bad habit, once indulged in, +grows on one--that, knowing what kind of people they are about flats, +he had both lock and key specially made for him; and here that key +is." + +He held out a small and curious-looking key, of the Bramah type. Mr. +Nash eyed it dubiously, as if it were something which he would rather +leave alone. + +"How do you know it is the key? and where did you get it from?" + +"Question No. 2 first, as to where I got it. When the late Donald +Lindsay was seized with that most unfortunate stroke I assisted in +undressing him; afterwards I folded up his clothes and put them away, +and, in the ordinary course of my duty, I examined the pockets. In a +small and ingeniously placed pocket inside his waistcoat--which the +commonplace searcher would have overlooked--I found this key, +secreted. That set me thinking. You will observe that on the tiny ring +to which it is attached there is a number. When I learnt certain facts +I caused inquiries to be made of a firm which I happen to know +manufactures keys like this, asking how long it would take them to +make Mr. Joseph Oldfield a duplicate key to his fiat in Bloomsbury +Mansions, quoting this number. They replied to the effect that they +could let him have another key in four-and-twenty hours; so that's how +I know that this is the key to the flat in Bloomsbury Mansions." + +"You've a roundabout way of your own of finding out things." + +"Roundabout ways are sometimes the shortest, and the safest. Now, my +dear Nash, you and I are going together to Bloomsbury Mansions; you +will be the bearer of the key; you will show the key to the porter who +we shall probably find there; you will tell him that you are Mr. +Oldfield's solicitor--which you are; let us keep to the strict and +literal truth; he will say 'Walk in!' and, when we have walked in, I +think that the rest you can leave to me." + +Herbert Nash did not like Mr. Morgan's little plan; he disliked it +very much, and said so with considerable force of language, which the +gentleman to whom it was addressed did not at all resent. He simply +smiled, and persuaded Mr. Nash; having means of persuasion at his +command which that person seemed most unwillingly to feel that he was +not in a position to resist; the result being that, as we have heard, +the pair did gain access to the flat in Bloomsbury Mansions; the +porter, as Mr. Morgan had prophesied, looking on as they went in. When +they had entered they found themselves in a fair-sized hall. + +"I wonder," said Nash, as if struck by the silence of the place, "how +he managed for servants." + +"The flat people provided service, I expect; they cater, and do +everything for tenants if they're wanted to." + +"Do you mean to say that he lived here all alone?" + +"Generally, I fancy; though when the humour took him he may have kept +up any sort of an establishment for all I know; I'll be able to tell +you more on that head when I've been over the place. Now let me see. +From what I know of the arrangements of flats I should say that that +room over there was his own particular apartment." He moved to the +door to which he referred. "Locked; however, there's the key in the +lock, and it turns quite easily." He threw it open. "Right I am! Nash, +this is Joseph Oldfield's Ali Baba's treasure-cave; perhaps presently +you'll be fingering some of his precious things. But before we start +at that let's see what's behind these other doors; I always like to +know the lay of the land before I commence actual operations." Mr. +Morgan began opening door after door, glancing at what was behind +each, then shutting it again; Herbert Nash stood in the hall and +watched. "Looks like a drawing-room; what did he want with a +drawing-room, a lone-lorn bachelor? Seem to be some nice things in it +too. A bedroom, furnished up to the knocker. My word! that bed cost +money; he lay well. Bathroom; spared nothing even over his bath. +Dining-room; nothing cheap about that either; he spent money upon this +place; I suppose he walked straight out of the bath to his food. +Another bedroom; everything in the palest pink; that's meant for a +woman's occupation I'll swear. I wonder who it was meant for? Looks as +if it had never been lived in. What are those over the way? Domestic +offices, I take it; kitchen; yes, and the rest of it, I know; we'll +pay attention to you perhaps a trifle later. Now we'll return to Ali +Baba's treasure-cave. Come along, Nash." + +Mr. Nash followed him into the room; he entered with what seemed +dragging footsteps, glancing round, when he was in, with a shame-faced +air. + +"Morgan," he protested, "I don't like this; I don't care what you say, +I don't like it; if we're not committing burglary, we're doing +something which is not far off." + +"Don't talk nonsense; you a lawyer! and talking about burglary! stuff! +If you imagine, Mr. Nash, that I'm the sort of person who would commit +burglary you're mistaken. Haven't you got all your explanations pat? +You've as much right to be here as any man on this side the grave. +Very nice room I call this; very nice; well adapted for a gentleman's +occupation. The late Oldfield had a pretty taste in bric-a-brac; like +Mr. Donald Lindsay, he'd a good eye for a promising investment. I'm a +bit of an authority on the subject myself, so I know. There's a pair +of powder blue vases over there--both Oldfield and Lindsay seem to +have had a liking for powder blue--which wouldn't be out of the way at +a thousand. And unless I'm mistaken that cabinet in the corner is a +genuine Boule; Oldfield wasn't likely to have anything imitation about +his place; if it is I should like to have the coin it's worth in my +pocket; perhaps we shall have it in both our pockets before very long, +eh, Nash? What do you think? My dear boy, the contents of this room, +the mere trimmings, so to speak, are worth a small fortune in +themselves, you can take it from me; I was quite right in calling it +Ali Baba's treasure-cave." + +"Morgan, look at this!" + +"Look at what? Hello! what's that?" + +Nash was pointing to a large framed photograph, which stood upon a +centre table. + +"It's Miss Lindsay; it's his daughter." + +"So it is; and a fine photograph too; and a good likeness." + +"She--she was with him even when he was here." + +There was an odd catch in his voice; Mr. Morgan was as unmoved as +ever. + +"You mean her effigy was." + +"And--and look at that portrait over the mantel." + +"Rather a fine bit of painting; quite decent; good colour; clever +drawing; face seems alive." + +"Can't you see who it is? It's his wife." + +"Never saw the lady; but I shouldn't be surprised; there's no +mistaking the likeness to the girl. So while he was living a double +life he was living it with his wife and child; queer thing human +nature." + +"Morgan, I feel as if those women were looking at us." + +"Looking at us? What do you mean?" + +"I--I'm sure they can see us; look how they're staring!" + +"Staring! Nash! Stop that! One would think you'd been drinking; or +perhaps it's a nip of something you want; there ought to be a decanter +somewhere about." + +"I want nothing; it would make no difference." + +"Then let's get to business. I've a theory; you listen, and tell me +what you think of it. From what we know of the late Oldfield I rather +infer that when he left the flat he left the keys of all these +drawers, and cupboards, and things, behind him; that's the kind of +thing he would do; and I know that they weren't at Cloverlea; I'm +guessing that they're somewhere about the place at this moment. Now +what's your idea of the kind of hiding-place he'd choose?" + +"I don't know; and I don't care." + +"What do you mean by you don't care? You seem to be in a nice mood, my +lad." + +"I'll not touch a thing here; nothing!" + +"Won't you? Then don't! Who asked you? I'll do all the touching that's +wanted; only--mind! if you shirk now you'll pay for it when the time +for sharing comes." + +"I'm not quite the scoundrel you take it for granted that I am." + +"No, you're another and a worse kind, you're a white-livered cur. You +do the sneak game, when you think it's safe, for pennies; but when it +comes to the man's game, for something worth having, you whine. I can +see that I shall have to talk to you as I haven't done yet before you +really do begin to find out where you are; but I haven't time to do it +now. Where's he likely to have put those keys? Anyhow we ought to be +able to get at his writing-table drawers without them; I shouldn't say +that there was anything very special about their locks." He took +something out of his pocket which he inserted in the keyhole of the +top drawer. "It only wants a little--a little management. I thought +so; that's done it; drawer No. 1." He drew the top drawer open, and +instantly pushed it back again. "What's that?" + +There was the sound of an electric bell. + +"It's--it's somebody ringing." + +"I know it's somebody ringing; I'm not deaf, am I? I don't need you to +tell me that it's somebody ringing; but who's ringing? Who knows that +we're here?" + +"Perhaps it's the porter; or somebody connected with the Mansions." + +The two men stood staring at each other; Nash white-faced. The bell +was heard again. + +"You go and see who's there; if it's the porter, or any one of that +sort, you bluff him off. And mind, if you make a mess of things +through funk, it'll be you who'll pay." + +"I'm not afraid, Mr. Morgan; at least, not in the sense you mean." + +Herbert Nash went to the front door; Morgan remained in the room, +listening. Without was a young man; behind him was the porter. + +"I beg your pardon," said the young man; "but the porter tells me that +Mr. Oldfield's solicitor, Mr. Nash, is here; are you Mr. Nash?" + +"I am." + +"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Clifford--Frank Clifford; I +am Mr. Oldfield's manager--at Marlborough Buildings; possibly he has +mentioned my name to you." + +A voice came from within--Morgan's. + +"Certainly he has mentioned your name to us, Mr. Clifford; we know it +very well, and all about you. Step in, you're the very man we want to +see. Nash, let Mr. Clifford in." + +After what seemed to be a moment's hesitation Mr. Nash drew the door +wider open, so as to permit of Clifford's entering. When he was in the +door was shut. + + + + + CHAPTER XXX + + WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT + + +"Come in here, Mr. Clifford; it's a very fortunate chance your +dropping in on us like this; you couldn't have arranged it better if +you'd tried. I've no doubt Mr. Nash is glad to see you, and I'm quite +sure I am." + +As Clifford followed Morgan into the sitting-room he eyed him a little +askance. + +"To whom have I the pleasure of speaking?" + +"I'm Mr. Oldfield's most intimate friend; I know more about his +affairs than any man living." + +"May I ask your name?" + +"Morgan; Stephen Morgan." + +"Are you also a solicitor?" + +"Not yet, exactly; I think I may describe myself as Mr. Oldfield's +confidential agent. Come in, Nash; don't stop out there; then we can +have the door closed--it'll be snugger." + +Mr. Nash had stayed in the hall, as if unwilling to associate himself +with Morgan's reception of the new-comer; indeed from his bearing one +might almost have suspected him of an inclination to march out of the +flat, and leave Morgan to deal with Mr. Clifford; possibly he was +deterred by the prosaic accident that his hat was in the sitting-room. +When Morgan bade him go in he went in, and Morgan closed the door +behind him. Clifford looked from one to the other, as if there was +something in the attitude of the two men which he could not make out. + +"May I ask what you gentlemen are doing here?" + +"You may ask; but, so far as I can see, it's no business of yours." + +"Quite so; still--at the same time----" + +"Yes, Mr. Clifford; at the same time?" + +"I wondered." + +"There's no harm in your wondering, Mr. Clifford; none at all." + +Mr. Clifford turned to Nash, as if he preferred his appearance to +Morgan's. + +"Can you tell me, Mr. Nash, where Mr. Oldfield is? or how I can +place myself in communication with him? As you are possibly aware, he +has not been at the office now for some time, and his continued +absence--and I may add, silence, because I have heard nothing from +him--is occasioning much inconvenience." + +"To whom?" + +This was Morgan. Clifford seemed to hesitate, then replied--"To me." + +"To you? Mr. Oldfield hasn't been in the habit of studying your +convenience, has he, Mr. Clifford?" + +The new-comer flushed, as if he felt that the other's words were meant +unpleasantly. When he answered he looked the speaker straight in the +face. + +"Mr. Oldfield has been in the habit of studying not only my +convenience, but every one's convenience, Mr. Morgan; if you suppose +the contrary, I know him better than you do. And, just now, the +circumstances are peculiar. I am to be married next week, and I can +hardly carry out in their entirety the arrangements I have made unless +I know what Mr. Oldfield's movements are likely to be." + +"I see; you are to be married next week?" + +"Mr. Oldfield knows that I am to be married next week." + +"Does he? What's the lady's name?" + +"Mr. Oldfield also knows the lady's name; I told him." + +"Did you? Then I fancy he's forgotten." + +"I never knew Mr. Oldfield forget anything that was of importance to +any one in whom he was interested; so I take leave to doubt your +fancy, Mr. Morgan." + +Mr. Morgan looked at the speaker, for some moments, in rather a +peculiar way; then he thrust his hands deeper into his trousers +pockets, leaned back his head, and laughed. Clifford flushed again. + +"What is the jest, Mr. Morgan?" + +"Jest? Clifford, you're a funny one! you're all the jest I want." + +"Sir!" + +"I give you my word, my dear fellow--" Morgan advanced, with the +apparent intention of laying his hand upon the other's shoulder; +Clifford retreated; Morgan stared. "What's the matter? Why do you draw +back?" + +Clifford's manner was courteously frigid. + +"You will be able to say anything you wish to say to me from where you +are." + +"Oh yes, I'm quite able to say to you all I wish from where I am; or +from anywhere. Don't you think, Mr. Clifford, you're cutting it a +trifle fine?" + +"I don't understand." + +"No? Surely you're not dull. I beg you to believe I'm not. Haven't I +told you I'm Mr. Oldfield's confidential agent?" + +"You have, sir; though what especial interest that fact should have +for me I still fail to understand; and yet I believe that I am not +dull beyond the average man. Mr. Nash, while Mr. Morgan is +endeavouring to find words with which to convey his meaning to my +comprehension, may I again ask you how I can place myself in immediate +communication with Mr. Oldfield?" + +Before Nash could answer, Morgan made a hasty movement towards the +speaker, crying-- + +"You miserable hypocrite! trying to play the innocent with us! asking +how you can place yourself in communication with Mr. Oldfield, when +you know he's dead!" + +"Dead! Mr. Oldfield dead, Mr. Morgan!" + +"Stop that game of pretending, or I shan't be able to keep my hands +off you! Not only is Mr. Oldfield dead, and you know it, but you +killed him!" + +"Killed him! I! Mr. Nash, is your friend sane?" + +"Did ever rogue play the hypocrite so brazenly? and actually I've one +of the weapons with which he killed him on me! and here it is. You +killed him, Mr. Clifford, with that." + +Morgan held out a slip of blue paper on which there was some writing. + +"With that? And what is that? It looks to me rather a singular weapon +with which to commit murder." + +"Does it? you sneering villain! When Brown does all in his power to +make of Smith an honest man, and Smith turns out to be a blackguard +and a thief, do you think that isn't a blow to Brown? It was that kind +of blow killed Joseph Oldfield; it was the shock of learning that you +were a forger." + +"Learning that I was a forger! Mr. Morgan, you--you said just now that +you found it difficult to keep your hands off me; now I'm finding it +difficult to keep mine off you. What justification have you for the +statement you have just made, that I am a forger?" + +"Isn't that justification enough?" + +Again Morgan held out the slip of paper. + +"I repeat the question I put to you just now--what is that?" + +"It's news to you that it's one of the bills you forged?" + +"One? Do you charge me with forging others?" + +"I don't know what you got for them, Mr. Clifford, but you forged +bills to the face value of over forty thousand pounds. Are incidents +of the kind of such frequent occurrence in your career that it is +necessary to recall this one to your recollection?" + +"And do you seriously accuse me of forging bills for more than forty +thousand pounds? Was ever anything heard like it?" + +"Often; there have been plenty of scoundrels before you, if you find +that any consolation." + +"Don't imagine that because I endeavour to retain my self-control in +the midst of this--this sudden nightmare that I am incapable of +showing resentment; if that is what you imagine, you are wrong, Mr. +Morgan. What grounds have you for asserting that I forged that bill, +or any bill?" + +"Mr. Clifford, drop the mask; the time for bluff has gone; try to be +candid. You see, Mr. Nash and I know all about it." + +"Do you? It so happens that I don't. I ask you again, what grounds +have you for asserting that I've committed forgery? Don't be vague; be +specific." + +"I happen to know the man to whom you gave the bills." + +"Do you? What's his name?" + +"Sir Henry Trevor." + +"Sir Henry Trevor? Harry Trevor? Do you venture to affirm that Harry +Trevor says he got forged bills from me, or any bills?" + +"He took them to the discounters; when they asked where he got them +from, he said they came from you. What he got for them, or what share +you had of the plunder, I can't say; at present I'd rather not know; +these are details which may come out at the Old Bailey." + +Up to then Frank Clifford had kept his countenance to a wonderful +degree; but when Mr. Morgan spoke of the Old Bailey his lips +flickered, as they might have done had he been suddenly attacked by +St. Vitus' Dance; the movement passed, he was calm again. + +"Will you let me look at that bill you're holding? I'll not touch it; +I merely want to look." + +"I'll take care you don t touch it. You can look at an old friend. + +"What is the signature it bears?" + +"Don't know? I'll tell you. Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea." + +"Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea? And who is Donald Lindsay, of +Cloverlea?" + +"Really, Mr. Clifford, when you didn't become an actor what the stage +lost! and now-a-days there are so few actors who are to the manner +born. It's the very gist of your offending, you sly scamp, that you +made such use of the knowledge you had surreptitiously obtained that +Joseph Oldfield, of Peter Piper's Popular Pills, was Donald Lindsay, +of Cloverlea." + +Clifford stared, as if the other had been speaking in a foreign +language. + +"What's that? Would you mind saying that again?" + +"I'll not say it again; I'll not pipe to your dancing, you brazen +vagabond!" + +"Are you hinting that Joseph Oldfield is, or was, I don't know which +it ought to be, a pseudonym? that he had, or has, another name?" + +"Is that the trick you're trying to play? You wish it to be believed +that you didn't know there was such a person as Donald Lindsay; that +he and Joseph Oldfield were one and the same; and that in putting the +name upon a bill stamp you did it innocently, in ignorance that was +childlike and bland. The idea is ingenious; as, I fancy, Mr. Clifford, +most of your ideas are; but you won't find a judge or jury quite so +simple." + +Ignoring Mr. Morgan, Frank Clifford, to the unprejudiced observer, +seemed to be engaged in reflections of his own; to which he presently +gave shape in disconnected words. + +"Donald Lindsay? I seem to have heard the name." + +"I shouldn't be surprised." + +"Donald Lindsay? Why--it can't be!" + +"That conscience is pricking you at last? No, it can't be that." + +"Harry Trevor wouldn't--couldn't--he couldn't do a thing like that; +and yet----" + +"And yet? So it's Harry Trevor now; as usual, everybody's guilty +except the man who did it." + +"Mr. Morgan, I'm willing to believe that you don't realize what a +confused nightmare I seem all at once to be moving in, and that that +explains your attitude. If you did realize how wholly you have taken +me by surprise----" + +"I do realize that; I quite think that you're altogether the most +surprised man I've lately met. I don't know what you did expect when +you rang that bell, but I don't suppose that you expected this." + +"I did not; though you speak in one sense, and I in another. With +reference to what you say about those bills, a horrible--I can only +call it fear, has come into my mind, of which I scarcely dare to +think, lest I should be guilty of heinous injustice; and before I +speak of it----" + +"You would like to have time to think it over?" + +"I should." + +"Then you shall have it; that's what I'm coming to. You will be at the +office to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock." + +"I will." + +"You had better." + +"You need not tell me that." + +"Needn't I? I think I need. Mr. Nash and I are administering Mr. +Oldfield's estate." + +"Are you an executor?" + +"I am; the only executor. I do not know that I ought to say so, but +you will understand that I am not committing myself, and that I speak +without prejudice; but, at present, it is our wish--Mr. Nash's and +mine--not to prosecute." + +"Prosecute!" + +"Prosecute. Do you wish me to believe that you were unaware that +forgers are occasionally prosecuted? Our first consideration is, and +must be, the business; we fear that it may do the business no good to +have the manager sent to penal servitude for forgery. These bills have +been taken up, in the first place under a misapprehension, at a very +heavy cost; we will tell you all about that to-morrow; you will have +to make that loss good." + +"I shall!" + +"You will; do you imagine that you are to escape scathless? You are a +truly remarkable person. But, as I have said, we will discuss that in +the morning. I only trust that no further irregularities may be +brought to light." + +"Mr. Morgan!" + +"Please drop that tone; it makes me sick; nothing is so nauseous as a +futile hypocrite. My advice to you is, think things over, carefully, +seriously; in the morning make a clean breast of everything; the more +candid we find you the better it will be. Now, as Mr. Nash and I have +much to attend to, I must ask you to leave us." + +"That I am willing to do; but so far you have done all the talking; +but, before I go, there are some remarks which I wish to make." + +"We wish to hear nothing now--nothing; think first, Mr. Clifford, +think." + +"It is not necessary to think before making simple statements dealing +with plain facts, and you will have to listen, willingly or not; I +have had to listen, now it is your turn. What I have to say is this; +that I did not know Mr. Oldfield was dead; that I did not know that he +had any name but Oldfield; that I had no knowledge of his connection +with Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea; that this is the first time I have +been made aware that there ever was such a person as Donald Lindsay; +that I never before saw the bill of exchange which you showed me just +now." + +"I have proof to the contrary." + +"That's impossible. That there may be a mystery about that bill, and +about the others of which you have spoken, I admit; between this and +to-morrow I may be able to institute inquiries which will throw light +on it; but I assure you, Mr. Morgan, I am as incapable of forgery as +you are. If Mr. Oldfield really did believe that I was capable of such +conduct he was a much worse judge of character than I believed he was. +Now, Mr. Morgan, I will go." + +"With a lie upon your lips." + +"No, sir, not with a lie upon my lips. You will either give your +authorities for the statements you have made, or, in the morning, you +will apologize. You will find that you will have to make many +apologies, Mr. Morgan. I notice, Mr. Nash, that you have not +associated yourself with the charges Mr. Morgan has made, nor with the +language he has used; when I lay the facts before you in the morning, +as I hope to be in a position to do, you will have no cause to regret +your attitude." + +With that Mr. Clifford marched out of the room, and through the front +door. When he had gone Mr. Morgan leaned against a corner of a table, +with his hands in his trousers pockets, and whistled; then he looked +at Mr. Nash, and smiled. + +"Got a face, hasn't he? He can bluff. We may find him rather a harder +nut to crack than I imagined; it's just possible that we may have to +change our plan of operations; the line he has taken up is a little +unexpected. What do you think?" + +"I don't think, Mr. Morgan; I know." + +Mr. Morgan purposely ignored the peculiarity of the other's tone. + +"What do you know, my dear Nash?" + +"I know one thing; that if you do go to Mr. Clifford's office in the +morning you will go alone." + +"Shall I? How's that? Got a previous engagement?" + +"Here, and now, you and I part company; you go your way, I go mine; +under no circumstances will I associate myself with you again." + +"Steady, Nash, steady; do you know where talk like that will lead +you?" + +"It will lead to honesty." + +"It will lead you to jail, and pretty soon." + +"Will it? I'll take the risk. It is not necessary for you to remind me +that on a certain occasion I behaved like a blackguard, and perhaps +worse; I have only regretted it once, and that's been ever since." + +"Regrets, in a case like yours, are useless; they simply mean that you +regret that you're found out. Of course you do." + +"You'll find that my regrets mean more than that. I've behaved badly +since; I've acted like a coward in allowing you to use your guilty +knowledge." + +"Guilty knowledge?" + +"Yes, your guilty knowledge, as you'll discover if you're not careful; +I've let you use it as a lever to drive me into further misdoing. +You've threatened me with the consequences of my misconduct; I've been +afraid to face them. That's over now; I'm going to face them, if only +as the lesser of two evils." + +"Tell me, Nash, what's started you in this conversational strain?" + +"What's brought me to the sticking-point is your conduct to Mr. +Clifford. He's an innocent man; of that I'm absolutely certain; every +insult you flung at him stung me; it shamed me to feel that I was your +associate. I'll be your associate no longer. I'll have no part or +parcel in your attempts to entangle Mr. Clifford as you've entangled +me. I believe they'll fail; but if they do or don't, I'll have no +share in them. Henceforward you and I are strangers; I'm going; if you +stay, you stay alone." + +"Going, are you? Oh no, you're not!" + +Morgan moved between Nash and the door. The two men confronted each +other; there was something on Herbert Nash's face which made of him a +new man. + +"Mr. Morgan"--even in his voice there was a new tone--"more than once +my fingers have itched to take you by the throat, and choke the life +half out of you. If you are wise, you will not attempt to detain me, +or I may find the temptation too strong." + +Possibly Mr. Morgan was conscious that there was something unusual +about Herbert Nash; his manner continued to be so conciliatory. + +"Come, my dear fellow, don't let us fall out about nothing at all. I'm +quite ready to listen to anything you have to say; only, before you +take a step there's no retracing, do listen to reason." + +"No, thank you; I've heard too much of what you call reason already; +I'll hear no more. Stand out of my way." + +"Nash, Nash, don't be hasty! If you'll only let me speak a dozen +words, you'll view the situation in quite a different light." + +"Shall I? Then I'll not let you speak them. I see the situation now in +the only light I mean to see it. Stand out of my way." + +Nash, moving forward, gripped Morgan by the shoulders; either the +assault was unexpected, or he used great force. Swinging Morgan round, +he sent him reeling backwards half across the room; until, coming into +unlooked-for contact with a chair, he fell heavily on to the floor. +Before he could recover Nash had gone from the room, and was out of +the flat. Picking himself up, although he seemed a trifle dazed, +Morgan went rushing after him. When he reached the landing he heard +Nash's voice come up the well of the staircase, from the floor below. + +"Porter, the man Morgan, whom I have left in Mr. Oldfield's flat, has +no right whatever to be there." + +"Hasn't he, sir? How's that? He seems to have done something to upset +Mr. Clifford." + +"When he comes down, if you find that he has anything on him belonging +to the flat--papers, letters, anything--they have been stolen. If you +allow him to leave the building with them on him, possibly you will be +held responsible." + +"Shall I? He shan't leave here with anything on him that doesn't +belong to him, I promise you; there are two or three people about the +place who'll see to that." + +Mr. Morgan waited to hear no more. He slunk back into the flat and +shut the door. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXI + + HUSBAND AND WIFE + + +When Herbert Nash quitted Bloomsbury Mansions he went straight back to +Littlehampton, by the last train of the day to reach that primitive +place. When he arrived at Ocean Villas it was past ten o'clock. His +wife had gone to bed; or, at least, she had retired to her bedroom. As +a matter of fact, she felt as if she never wanted to go to bed again; +unless going to bed was synonymous with eternal sleep. If only she +could go to sleep and never wake! She was of opinion that she was the +most miserable woman; many women think themselves that with less cause +than she had. She was half-undressed, and, crouching on the floor, +rested her head against the bed. In her hands was a telegram, which +she had read again, and again, and again, until it seemed to have +branded itself upon her throbbing brain so that she could not get it +out of her sight even for a second. It had come to her earlier in the +day, and, as telegrams are apt to be, was curt. + + +"Send another five hundred immediately. No excuses will be accepted. + + "MORGAN." + + +Only a day or two ago she had given him a hundred pounds; then sent +him another four hundred, and here already he was demanding five +hundred more. The inference was plain; he would persist in his demands +until he had wrung from her all that she had found on Donald Lindsay's +table. Though he stripped her of every penny she would still be at his +mercy; what would he demand from her then? Whatever it might be, how +would she dare refuse him then, if she dare not refuse him now? + +In a sense, indeed, she had refused him, as it was. He had bade her +send the cash "immediately." That she had not done; she had purposely +not sent it by the night's post; and now was racked by fears of the +measures he might take to show her his resentment. Suppose he told her +husband, as he had threatened to do? If he did! if he did! Had she not +better hide in the sea before Herbert came back again? + +His opportunities for telling were so numerous; he and Herbert were +away together at that moment. That was another of her burdens. What +was the meaning of this sudden, ill-omened connection which had sprung +up between them? Why, all at once, had her husband become the +inseparable companion of the man who had been wont to stand behind her +chair? He had resented, so hotly, the fellow's presumption in even +venturing to write to him; yet now they might be bosom friends; he +even expected her to receive him as an equal. What did it mean? + +Nothing kindles the imagination like a coward conscience. All sorts of +hideous surmises had tormented her. A dozen explanations had occurred +to her; every fresh one more unsavoury than the last. She could see +that her husband had changed; in himself, as well as to her. He was +not the same man; he was always brooding, irritable, depressed. Of +late, not only had he not spoken to her a tender word, he had only +addressed her when compelled, and then with scant civility. What did +such conduct on his part portend? All kinds of doubts afflicted her; +yet among them one was foremost. Was it not possible that Morgan had +poisoned her husband's mind against her? He, perhaps, had not told him +everything, she did not believe he had; but, with diabolical +ingenuity, he might have hinted just enough to make Herbert afraid of +hearing more. In that case her husband might be working Morgan's will +under the delusion that, by so doing, he was protecting her; and all +the while the man was wresting from her all that she had risked so +much to gain--for Herbert's sake. + +As, on the floor in the bedroom there, she wrestled with wild beasts +of her own creation, on a sudden she heard the front door open, and a +familiar step come into the house. It was her husband. She sprang to +her feet, not with joy, but with terror. Why had he come back? He had +told her that he would not return that night; perhaps not on the +morrow. Why had he returned--when he had said that he would not +return--without notice, at that hour of the night? for it seemed to +her that she had been in her bedroom hours. + +She heard him go into the sitting-room; finding it in darkness, no +one there, he came towards where she was. As she heard him take the +half-dozen steps which divided the two rooms, she stood by the +bedstead, trembling from head to foot; it might have been her +executioner, not her husband, who was coming. A wild, frenzied impulse +came to her to turn the key in the lock, and so gain time; but before +she could do it he had opened the door, and was standing in the room. + +It did not need such a rarefied vision as hers was then to perceive +that with him all was not well. She seemed to see him in a blaze of +lightning, phantom-haunted, as she was. It was borne in on her that he +saw her as the hideous thing she saw herself to be, and that that was +why he stood there, white and terrible. If she could she would have +dropped to the floor, and crawled to him, and hung about his knees, +and cried for mercy; but she could not; she had to stand there, +straight and rigid, waiting for him to speak. When he spoke his voice +sounded strange in her ears, as indeed, though she was not aware of +it, it did in his own. + +"I see you guess why I am here!" + +"Guess? How--how can I guess?" + +"Has Morgan told you nothing?" + +"Morgan? What--what could Morgan tell me?" + +"Hasn't he told you that I'm a blackguard and a thief?" + +The words were so wholly different from any she had expected him to +utter that, in the stress of her agitation, they conveyed no meaning +to her mind; she stared at him like one bereft of her senses, as, in +fact, for the moment she was. He misconstrued her look entirely. + +"Elaine," he cried, "don't look at me like that, don't! If you only +knew what I have suffered, what I've gone through, you'd pity me, +you wouldn't look at me as if I was something wholly outside the +pale. I know you've guessed that there was something wrong ever since +that--that brute came; you knew I wouldn't breathe the same air with +him if I could help it; but it mayn't be, Elaine, it mayn't be so bad +as you suppose. I don't ask you to forgive me; I don't even ask you to +continue to regard me as your husband; I know I've forfeited all +claims I may have had on you. All I ask of you is to believe that, at +last, I'm going to try to be a man. I've come to tell you that, and to +tell you that chiefly. I'm not going to stay; you need not fear that +I'll contaminate the house which shelters you; but before I go I think +I ought to tell you just what I've done, and what the temptation was; +not to excuse myself, but so that, whatever happens, you, at least, +may know the truth. I felt that I could not let the night pass without +telling you the truth, if only because I have kept it from you so +long, and in the morning it may be too late; I may not have the chance +of telling it to you, face to face, again." + +The longer he spoke, the more her bewilderment grew. + +"I--I--don't understand," she stammered. + +He made her understand, telling his tale as straightforwardly, as +clearly, as it could be told; as it might have been told even by an +impartial witness; the man that was in him was coming to the front at +last. + +"You see," he said, "I was at Morgan's mercy, or he thought I was; +and, for a time, I thought so too; I was such a coward! And before +long I should have been wholly at his mercy, had not the sight of that +man, Clifford, roused me to a consciousness of what a coward I really +was; then I knew that the only way to be free was to tell the truth, +and let Morgan do what he likes. I've come to tell you the truth, +first of all; and to-morrow I'm going to tell Frank Clifford the +truth; and when I've found Miss Lindsay, I'll tell her the truth. If I +have to suffer for it, I'll suffer; but at any rate I've escaped from +Morgan. What a weight would have been off my mind if I'd escaped from +him before!" + +As she began to grasp the drift of what it was that he was telling +her, she had sunk on to the edge of the bed, and, with distended eyes +and gaping mouth, sat staring at him as if at some thing of horror. He +mistook the meaning of her attitude. + +"I don't wonder you look at me as if I were some repulsive object; I +couldn't be more repulsive to you than I am to myself; I understand +what you feel, what you think; I know I deserve it. I know you never +would have married me if you had known me to be the thing I am; I have +wronged you more than any one. I can't undo the bonds which bind us, +that is not in my power, and I'm afraid the law will not help you. But +this I can do, and I will; I'll take myself out of your life as +completely as I can. Your aunt left you enough to live on; I think you +had better sink it in an annuity; you'll be safer that way; and when I +can I'll contribute what I can. I don't wish to be released from any +of my obligations; on the contrary, I wish to fulfil them both in the +letter and the spirit, and I will. So soon as I am earning money you +shall have your proper share; but in any case it will be a comfort to +me to feel that, in any case, you are provided for. And, in time, when +I've done something towards regaining my self-respect, and--and you +send for me, I'll come to you again, if only for just long enough to +show that I am still alive. But you're rid of me till then. Good-bye." + +He moved towards the door, as if the whole thing was at an end; as if +husband and wife could be sundered quite so easily. She stopped him as +he was going. + +"Herbert!" She spoke in the queerest whisper, as if something had gone +wrong with her vocal chords, the effect of which was to leave her +partially strangled. She held out the telegram she had still in her +hand. "Look at that." + +He took it reluctantly, as if he feared it was a weapon which she +aimed at him. Glancing at it, he read it aloud. + + +"'Send another five hundred immediately. No excuses will be accepted. + + 'MORGAN.' + + +What--what does this mean?" + +"It means that I'm worse than you; much worse than you." + +"Elaine!" She tried to speak, but could not; her voice was strangled +in her throat; it was not nice to watch her struggles to regain the +use of it. He moved towards her, startled. "Elaine! what's the +matter?" + +"I'm--I'm--I'm going to tell you, only I--I---- Give me--something--to +drink--there's some water--in the bottle." She pointed to the +washstand. He brought her some water; but she could not drink it. She +could not hold the glass in her own hand; she could not swallow when +he raised it to her lips. He put the glass down on the floor. Her +condition frightened him. Although he had just been speaking of +leaving her for an indefinite period, now he knelt beside her on the +floor, and, putting his arms about her, held her close, soothing her +as best he could. It was while he held her that she told him; she +confessed in her agony; the words being wrung from her as if they had +been gouts of blood. He continued to hold her all the time. When, in +his turn, he began to understand her story, he was man enough to +realize that it was only his support which gave her the strength she +needed; that but for his encircling arms, and the consciousness that +they were his arms, she would collapse. As, by degrees, her meaning +was borne in on his understanding, the fashion of his countenance was +changed, and he kept his face averted, but he never moved. When, in +disconnected sentences, the root of the matter had been told, she did +what he had not done; she began, in a manner, to excuse herself. "It +was--because you said that you wanted money, and--that we couldn't be +married without it, that I went back and took the money--which was on +the table. And Morgan saw me." + +"Morgan saw you!" + +It was the first time he had spoken; there was a curious contrast +between his voice and hers. + +"He was in the room all the time--but in the darkness--I never knew +it." + +"So Morgan has held us in the hollow of his hand; both of us!" + +"I gave him five hundred pounds the other day, and now he's +telegraphed for more." + +"Poor Elaine! It seems, after all, that we're a well-matched pair, +both thieves and cowards." + +"Herbert!" + +She spoke as if she shrieked. + +"My dear, do let us look facts in the face now that we are trying to +make ourselves known to each other." + +"I--shouldn't have taken the money--if I hadn't thought--Nora was +rich--and it would make no difference." + +"I'm afraid that the question of Miss Lindsay's wealth or poverty +could make no difference to the thing you did." + +"I know that--now." + +"When it seemed that Miss Lindsay was a pauper did you give her back +any of the money you had taken under a misconception?" + +"I meant to--but I never did--I meant to give her a thousand pounds." + +"It's a pity you didn't; it might have caused the residue to appear a +little less dingy. We're a pair of beauties! God help us both; we need +His help!" + +"I--haven't dared to ask for it." + +But she did dare that night; they both of them dared. Already, since +they had been married, they had had some strange days and nights; but +that was the strangest night of their strange honeymoon. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXII + + A FORGOTTEN COAT + + +Lady Jane Carruthers was one of those elderly ladies who are never +quite well, yet seldom actually ill. She was a great believer in what +she called "air." + +"If you breathe the right air you're all right; and if you breathe the +wrong air you're all wrong, and there's the whole science of medicine +in a nutshell; believe me, my dear, because I know; mine's the +teaching of actual experience. So long as I'm well in a place I stay +there; I know the air's right; but so soon as I begin to feel a little +out of sorts I know the air has ceased to be right, I go away at once; +the consequence is that there are very few people who move about as +much as I do." + +It chanced that, in one of her pursuits after the right air, Lady +Jane went to Littlehampton; and, being there, with nothing to do +except breathe the right air, by way of doing something she sent for +her nephew, the Hon. Robert Spencer. She dispatched to him this +telegram-- + +"Come down to me this afternoon. I wish to speak to you." + +When he received the telegram the Honourable Robert pulled a face; he +happened to have a good deal to do. His impulse was to wire back-- + +"Can't come. Speak on." + +However, he felt that the result of such a message might be +disastrous; so, instead of sending it, he obeyed his aunt's commands, +and went down to Littlehampton. + +On his arrival, in response to his inquiries, Lady Jane informed him +that the local air was still on its trial; she was not yet quite sure +if it was, or was not, all right. It was true that she had had a touch +of indigestion; but she was not certain if that had anything to do +with the lobster salad she had had for luncheon three days running, or +with some peculiarity in the neighbouring atmosphere. It was true that +too much ozone was a disturbing influence; on the other hand she +admitted that yesterday she had eaten rather more of the salad than +she had meant to eat. Certainly the local lobsters were delicious; she +had determined so much; but, for the present, the question of the +quality of the local air was in suspense. The nephew knew his aunt. He +was aware that if he asked her if there actually was anything which +she wished to speak to him about she would look at him with chilly +gaze, and inquire if she had not been speaking to him on matters of +the most serious import already. Was he a Christian? Was he void of +all human feeling? Did he take no interest in her health? Then what +did he mean? As he did not wish to be asked what he meant in a tone of +voice he had heard before, he listened to her ladyship doubting, now +the lobsters, now the air, with the best grace in the world; for the +Honourable Robert Spencer really was an excellent fellow. And, in +course of time, his virtue was rewarded. + +After dinner--at which there was no fish at all, as if it had been he +who had suffered from the lobsters--she assumed a portentous air, and +requested him to bring a dispatch-box, which stood on a side table, +and place it in front of her; which he did. + +"Robert," she began, "I regret to have to tell you that you are one of +the most careless persons I have ever encountered." He admitted it; +inwardly wondering of what act of carelessness he had been guilty this +time, and what the dispatch-box had to do with it anyhow. Her ladyship +went on. "When you were staying with me in Cairo, after you left me, +you lost a suit-case; or, at least, you said you lost a suit-case." + +"My dear aunt, I not only said, I actually did lose a suit-case; and a +most important loss it was; for all I can tell it may have transformed +the whole course of my life; and--and somebody else's life as well. By +some stroke of good fortune you haven't come across it, have you?" + +"No, Robert, I have not; nor do I imagine that anybody ever will, in +this world." Whether she thought it likely that somebody would in +another world was not quite clear. "I do not know if you are aware +that, apart from your suit-case, you lost something else when you were +staying with me at Cairo. I imagine, from your manner, that you have +not discovered your loss even yet." + +"It's very possible; I seem to have such a genius for losing things +that sometimes I don't know what I do lose." + +"I am grieved to hear you say so; it amazes me. It only shows how +incapable a man is of looking after his own belongings; as I have +always maintained. I never lost anything in my life, except a pair of +house-shoes, which I left at Horsham House, and which have never been +returned to me to this hour." + +"I hope it was nothing very important I left." + +"It depends upon what you call important. There are different +standards in such matters; though you appear to have none. I should +call it important; but then my wardrobe is limited. You left a coat +and waistcoat." + +"Well, I rather fancy that my wardrobe is more limited than yours; +but--I don't recall that coat and waistcoat." + +"I am not surprised; after what you have just said, nothing would +surprise me. Baker brought them to me after you had gone; an admirable +servant, Baker. Were I to repeat to her what you have admitted she +would credit it with difficulty; she knows my ways. In the inside +pocket of the coat were some papers." + +"Papers? Aunt! What papers?" + +Lady Jane unlocked the dispatch-box; took from it a small packet; and, +placing her glasses on her nose, proceeded to read what was written on +half-a-sheet of note-paper. + +"This is an inventory of what was contained in the pockets of your two +garments. Unlike you, fortunately, or I don't know where I should be, +I am a creature of method; I do everything by rule. I drew up this +list after Baker had searched the garments in my presence. In the +waistcoat were three pockets; which contained, one penknife; two +toothpicks--which I threw away; one pencil, or, rather, part of a +pencil; three wax matches, loose, which were most dangerous, and which +I had destroyed; a cigar-cutter, or, rather, what I presume is a +cigar-cutter, Baker didn't know what it was; four visiting-cards, +three of them your own, and the fourth somebody else's, and all of +them shockingly untidy; and the return half of a ticket from Brighton +to London, which was then more than three months old. In the coat were +five pockets; it has always been a mystery to me what men want with so +many pockets; judging from what was in yours I am inclined to think +that they use them merely as receptacles for rubbish. Some of the +things which were in yours I had thrown away; the following are +what I have kept. One pocket-handkerchief; one pair of gloves; one +tobacco-pouch; one pipe, a horrid, smelling thing which I had boiled +in soapy water, but which still smells; one matchbox--empty. I suppose +it was meant to contain the matches which were loose in your +waistcoat; a cigar-case; a golf ball; while in the inside pocket were +the papers of which I have told you." + +"I don't suppose they're anything very serious, after what you've just +been reading." + +"Don't you? Then you must have your own ideas of what is serious; if I +had thought they were of no interest I shouldn't have troubled you to +come to Littlehampton." + +"But, my dear aunt, what are they? You--you do keep a man on +tenter-hooks." + +"I don't know why you say that. I am going to tell you what they are; +but, as you are of opinion that they are not serious, I should have +imagined that you were in no hurry. There are letters written to you +by Miss Lindsay; there are nine of them; some men would have thought +them serious." + +As he took the packet which she held out to him his countenance +changed in a manner which was almost comically sudden. + +"Letters written by---- Why, they're Nora's! But--I thought----" + +"Never mind what you thought, Robert; you see what they are. As this +envelope is sealed, and is inscribed that it is not to be opened till +after the writer's death, some persons might have thought that that +was of interest also." + +He regarded the envelope she offered as if he found it difficult to +believe that his eyes were not playing him a trick. "Aunt, it's--it's +the envelope which Donald Lindsay sent me, and---- But I don't +understand; it's incredible! Aunt, why didn't you let me know this +before?" + +"Why should I? It was in a coat of which you thought so little that +you didn't even know you'd lost it; the natural inference was that you +were hardly likely to leave anything of the least importance in the +pocket of a coat which you valued at nothing." + +"But--I thought I put it in my suit-case--I've chased the case half +round the world. Aunt, what have you done?" + +"What have I done? You mean, what have you done? If anything has been +done I trust it is something from which you will learn a lesson. I +said to myself, if these are of the least consequence, he will ask for +them; since he has been guilty of such culpable carelessness I'll wait +till he does ask. But I waited, and I waited, and you never asked, you +never once alluded to them. What could I conclude? At last they +slipped my memory, as sometimes trifles will do; I came upon them, by +mere accident, as I was looking through this dispatch-box last night; +so I sent for you that I might give them to you in person, though, +naturally, I had long ago come to the conclusion that they were not of +the slightest importance." + +He drew a long breath. + +"Well, this is the most extraordinary thing that ever has happened to +me!" + +"If that is the case I can only hope that it will teach you not to +leave papers in the pockets of a coat which you fling down anywhere, +anyhow, and instantly forget." + +"I--I hope it will teach me something of the kind. As this envelope +may contain a communication of much consequence, may I ask you to +excuse me while I go to examine it at once? + +"Why is it necessary that you should leave me? Why can't you examine +it here? You know what an interest I take in all that concerns you. +Sit down; open your envelope; see what's inside; you need fear no +interruption from me." + +"Then--if you don't mind--I will." Inside the envelope were two sheets +of large letter paper, closely covered, on all eight sides, with +Donald Lindsay's fine handwriting. Robert Spencer had not read far +before he broke into exclamation. "What the--I beg your pardon, +aunt--I didn't quite--but this is most extraordinary." As he read on, +more than once he punctuated his reading with interjectional remarks; +evidently what he read occasioned him profound surprise. When he had +finished he looked about him as if he was not quite sure where he was. +When he perceived Lady Jane he started from his chair in evident +perturbation; as good as her word, she had not interrupted him by so +much as a movement, and now sat eyeing him grimly. He turned to her +with a laugh which did not sound very natural. "Well, aunt, we've done +it, you and I, between us!" + +"Pray attribute nothing to me; I decline to accept any responsibility +for your criminal carelessness." + +"I can only say that while Nora Lindsay has been treated like a +fraudulent pauper, turned out of house and home, sent out into the +world to earn her bread, she may be starving for all I know; I've left +no stone unturned, but I've been able to find no trace of her; all the +time the letter has been lying in your desk which shows that she is +one of the richest women in England, and I verily believe that her +father owed no man anything." + +"If that is so, Robert, then I don't envy you your feelings when you +reflect that Miss Lindsay's sufferings are solely and entirely the +result of your own misconduct." + +"If you had only let me know you had the letter!" + +"Are you attempting to fasten blame on me? For your monstrous and +incredible negligence in doing nothing, and less than nothing, to +safeguard a document which you now assert is of such importance!" + +"Well, what's done's done! And Nora has had her home taken from her, +and the things she cared for scattered to the four winds; it's been +one of the greatest steals on record! and she's been shamed in the +face of all the world, and she may be eating out her heart in some +last refuge of the destitute, and all the while---- It's a pretty +story, on my word!" + +"It all comes from your mother and father taking it for granted that +the girl was a beggar; I nearly had a serious quarrel with your mother +because I told her I shouldn't be surprised if, after all, she was +mistaken; but your mother's like her son." + +"Thank you, aunt; my mother only took for granted what others took for +granted. I've heard you say some severe things about Miss Lindsay." + +"I've simply said that you're not in a position to marry a penniless +girl; and you're not." + +"If I could only have found her I'd have made her marry me, though she +hadn't a shoe to her foot, nor a penny in her pocket; I'd not have let +her go until she did. Thank God, she knew it, and that's why she's +hidden herself. Poor Nora! Will she--will she ever forgive any of us! +It's a tragedy I've never heard the like of; and all through some +one's blundering. But, as I've said, talk's no healer. I can't go +to-night, there's no train; but I shall go up to town in the morning +to investigate some of the statements which are contained in this +letter; and now, if you don't mind, aunt, I must get out of doors; I +must have what you're so fond of--air." + +He wanted something more than air; he wanted a vent for the feelings +which filled his breast, as it seemed to him, to bursting point. He +tore up and down the front; he had it to himself at that hour, so that +the unusual pace at which he strode along did not attract inconvenient +attention. The promenade at Littlehampton is not a very long one, but +he walked ever so many miles before he had done with it. It was easy +enough to blame Lady Jane; he felt strongly that that lady had not +behaved so well as she might have done; keeping a letter from him +while the weeks stretched out into months seemed to him to be a course +of action for which there was no excuse; but, all the same, he was +perfectly well aware that the fault was originally his. The parable of +the grain of mustard-seed came into his mind as he thought of the +Upas-tree of disaster which had sprung from a beginning which was +apparently so insignificant; he thought he had put the letter in his +suit-case and he had left it in one of his pockets instead; because of +that slight misadventure ruin had come to Nora; such ruin! His aunt +had punished him severely. He could not recall the coat even then; the +only explanation of which he could think was that he had supposed he +had packed the coat itself in his suitcase. If Lady Jane had but +dropped so much as a hint! He did not know how much cause he had to +rejoice because the letter was not where he had believed it to be; if +Mr. Morgan had only found it when he reclaimed the suit-case it might +have provided him with the means of keeping Nora Lindsay out of her +own for an indefinite length of time; the tragedy might have become a +tragedy indeed. + +In the morning, when Mr. Spencer reached the station, on the platform +were two familiar figures. He advanced to greet them. + +"Why, Mr. Nash, and Miss Harding! this is an unexpected pleasure; I +didn't expect to find such pleasant memories of Cloverlea at +Littlehampton." + +"Miss Harding," exclaimed the gentleman, "is now my wife; she is Mrs. +Nash. We"--he hesitated, and then went on--"we are just finishing our +honeymoon." + +Mr. Spencer's face expressed astonishment which was hardly flattering +to either of the parties concerned. + +"You--don't say so; then--that's another unexpected pleasure. Mrs. +Nash, you must allow me to offer you my congratulations." + +He was about to go with some of the banal remarks which are made on +such occasions when he was struck by the look which was on the young +wife's face, and by the singularity of her attitude. She seemed to be +in mortal terror. Shrinking back, cowering, she clung to her husband's +arm, as if she was afraid that Spencer would have struck her. Nor did +Herbert Nash wear the expression of beatitude which is supposed to be +proper to a bridegroom who is returning from his honeymoon. It was +apparently with an effort that he said to Robert Spencer-- + +"If you are going up by this train, Mr. Spencer, will you allow my +wife and me to travel with you? If--if we can get a compartment to +ourselves we have something to tell you, touching Miss Lindsay's +affairs, which--which I think we ought to tell you." + +The separate compartment was found; and, as a consequence, between +Littlehampton and London, Robert Spencer read human nature, as it +were, by flashes of lightning. Both husband and wife laid bare their +breasts to him; and what they left unsaid he saw between the lines. It +was a journey neither of the trio ever forgot. By the time the train +entered the terminus his soul shuddered at the thought of the mountain +of wrong which had been laid upon the woman he loved; who, after all, +was the merest girl. Yet, acutely though he felt for her, he felt also +for the miserable pair who were in front of him; already they had +probably suffered even more than Nora; and the worst of their +sufferings were still to come. + +The three got into a four-wheeled cab and drove to Memorial Buildings. +Mr. Clifford was out. Then, the clerk who received them asked if they +were Messrs. Morgan and Nash. + +"This is Mr. Nash," explained the Honourable Robert, "but my name's +Spencer. Has Mr. Morgan been here?" + +No, he had not. Mr. Clifford had been at the office till eleven +o'clock; and had then left word that if Messrs. Nash and Morgan called +in his absence they were to be informed that he had gone to Mr. +Hooper, of Fountain Court, Temple, where they would find him if they +liked to follow. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXIII + + THE AUTOGRAPH ALBUM + + +Mr. Hooper, leaning back in his chair, surveyed his cousin as if he +were some strange animal. + +"Although your conduct strikes me as--shall I say?--abnormal, I don't +wish to insinuate anything disagreeable, my dear Frank; still, if you +are sane I wish you'd prove it." + +Mr. Clifford passed his handkerchief across his brow, as if he found +the temperature trying. + +"It's all very well to laugh--if you're supposed to be laughing--but, +if you were in my position, you'd find it no laughing matter. I'm to +be married next week." + +"That is a prospect calculated to turn the strongest brain; granted!" + +"Look here, Jack, I'll throw something at you if you talk like that; +I've come for sense, not idiocy. Under the circumstances Mr. +Oldfield's continued absence--and silence--was pretty bad to bear; and +now to be told he's dead----" + +"Dead? you don't mean to say that Oldfield's dead!" + +"So I was informed last night by two men, one named Nash, and the +other Morgan. Nash introduced himself as Oldfield's solicitor, and +Morgan said he was his sole executor. A more unclubable man than +Morgan I never met; he's not even a good imitation of a gentleman; how +Oldfield came to appoint him as his sole executor is beyond my +comprehension." + +"What can you expect from a pill-man? I should take anything as a +matter of course from the proprietor of Peter Piper's Popular Pills." + +"They're a sound, wholesome medicine." + +"Of course; we won't flog a dead donkey. And when did Oldfield die? +and what of? did you know that he was ill?" + +"I hadn't the ghost of a notion. And the best--or rather the worst--of +it is that Messrs. Nash and Morgan seem to take it for granted that I +knew all about it; especially the man Morgan." + +"Why should he do that? And what's the harm if he does?" + +Clifford was drumming on the table with his finger-tips, nervously; as +a rule he was one of the coolest and most collected of men; now his +embarrassment was obvious. + +"That's one of the charms of the position; showing that one man may +know another for a long time, and yet know nothing at all about him. +According to the two gentlemen Joseph Oldfield lived a double life, +and his name wasn't Oldfield at all." + +"There you are again, the pill-man! It at least looks as if he had the +saving grace of being ashamed to have it known that he was connected +with his own pills." + +"I admit it does make it look as if he were ashamed, though I don't +see why he should have been; since, as I say, they are a sound and +wholesome medicine." + +"No doubt; the elixir of life; cure all ills; see advertisements." + +"There is no reason why a man should be more ashamed of being +associated with an honest medicine than with the profession of the +law, which is not all honesty." + +"True, O king! Still, however, let's pass on. If his name wasn't +Oldfield, what was it?" + +"Can't you guess?" + +"Can't I--would you mind saying that again; only let me warn you that +if you've come here to ask riddles there'll be ructions." + +"Don't be an ass, if you can help it! I saw the girl who's in the next +room in his room, yesterday." + +"You saw her? I don't believe it." + +"At least I saw her likeness; it was on his writing-table. She seemed +to be looking at me during the whole of a very unpleasant scene; it +was odd how the feeling that she was looking at me affected me; the +excellence of the likeness is proved by the fact that I recognized her +as the original the moment I saw her." + +"Then do you mean----" + +"I mean that, according to Messrs. Nash and Morgan, Oldfield's real +name was Lindsay, Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea. What's Miss Lindsay +doing here?" + +It was Mr. Hooper's turn to look surprised. As was his custom, when at +all moved, getting up from his chair, he began to wander about the +room. + +"Why--she's typing, very badly, some absolutely worthless rubbish, for +the magnificent payment of two guineas a week, which I can't afford to +pay her." + +"That sounds involved. Do you mean that she acts as your typewriter?" + +"No, sir; she's my jobbing secretary; though I don't know what that +is; nor does she. And in that position she's earning two guineas a +week; which is more than I am." + +"What's the idea?" + +"The idea is that she's a lady; and that she wanted to earn her daily +bread, desperately badly. Mind, you're not to breathe a word of this +to her, or she'll go away at once, and probably never forgive me into +the bargain." + +"It strikes me that you've been entertaining an angel unawares. She +says she's the daughter of Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea." + +"What she says goes. That girl wouldn't tell a lie--well, she +wouldn't." + +"Then in that case she must be worth piles of money. I don't +understand why she's here; unless---- Is it possible that she doesn't +know of the connection between Lindsay and Oldfield?" + +"Frank, there's a mystery about that girl; I've suspected it all +along; now suspicion's growing to certainty. Let's ask her to come in, +and we'll put her in the box. I'd give--more than I am ever likely to +have, to be to her a bearer of good tidings." + +"Jack! Is it like that?" + +"You idiot! I've only known her about two minutes; besides, she'd +never look at the likes of me; I feel it in the marrow of my bones. +But that's no reason why, if you have good news for her, she shouldn't +know them." + +"One moment! The point on which I've come to consult you I haven't yet +reached; and a very nasty one it is; all the same, my dear Jack, we +must leave Miss Lindsay till we've discussed it. I'm accused of having +committed forgery." + +"Frank! you're jesting!" + +"It would be a grim jest if I were; but I'm not. Yesterday Mr. Morgan +charged me, point-blank, with having forged--and uttered--bills, for +over forty thousand pounds; more, he seemed amazed because I did not +at once confess my guilt and throw myself upon his mercy." + +"The man's a lunatic!" + +"Mr. Nash did not directly associate himself with Mr. Morgan's +charges; on the other hand, he did not dissociate himself. His +attitude puzzled me. I fancy that he had no doubt about my guilt until +he met me, and that, afterwards, his judgment was in suspense." + +"But what foundation had either of these men for such a monstrous +accusation?" + +"That's the difficulty; Morgan professes to believe he has a sound +one." + +"Whose name are you supposed to have forged?" + +"Donald Lindsay's." + +"But you never heard it till yesterday." + +"That is so; but Morgan called me a liar, right out, when I said so; +and appearances may be against me. Jack, I'm in an awkward position." + +"I don't see why; you can bring Mr. Morgan to book, and there's an end +of him." + +"There's more in it than you suppose; it's not so simple. Let me +explain; or at least try to. You've heard me speak of a man named +Trevor, Harry Trevor?" + +"I know! Sir Henry Trevor! He's a blackguard!" + +"I'm afraid he's not all that he might be, but that has only begun to +dawn upon me lately. At one time he and I were intimate. When I was +last in Paris I met him one day on the Boulevard. Although, somehow, +we'd drifted apart; our paths in life lay in different directions; +still I was very glad to see him, and we chummed up at once. He was +living in Paris; had an apartment on the Champs Elysée, at the top +there, near the Arch. He knew everybody; took me about; I had a royal +time. One night I dined with him in his rooms, he and I alone +together. Now I'm reluctant to make a direct charge, because I've no +proof to offer, but I wondered then, and I've wondered still more +since, if he hadn't done something to his wine." + +"How--done something?" + +"You know I'm an abstemious man, I don't care for wine; as a rule I +drink nothing at meals, not even water. But on an occasion like that +it was different. I had one glass of champagne, one of those small +tumblers; when the servant began to fill it up I stopped him; not that +there was anything wrong with the champagne, I feel sure there wasn't. +After dinner, with our fruit, we had some port; I wanted neither the +port nor the fruit, but Trevor insisted. The servant had left the +room; he himself took a bottle out of a cupboard; he laid it in a +cradle; he drew the cork; you know the fuss some men make about +drawing a cork of what they allege is a remarkable bottle of wine. He +made all that fuss, he insisted upon my sampling it; of course after +all the business he had gone through, I had no option; he poured me +out a glassful. Now I believe that wine was not all he pretended." + +"What makes you think it?" + +"As soon as I tasted it I didn't like it, I told him so. He said +I should change my opinion by the time I'd finished the glass; +so--merely to get rid of it--I finished the glass in a hurry, and I +liked it less than ever." + +"How did it affect you?" + +"It upset me; I was conscious that I was not in a condition in which I +should care to do business." + +"Did you say anything?" + +"I told him that I thought the wine had a very funny taste; but he +only laughed and said it was evident that I was no judge of port." + +"You only had one glass?" + +"One only; nothing short of physical force would have induced me to +touch another drop." + +"Then what did you do?" + +"We went into the other room, his sitting-room. He took out an +autograph album, it seemed that he collected autographs; though that +was the first I'd heard of it. He began to talk about imitating +people's handwriting, how good some were at it. Now it's a fact that +I've always had an unfortunate facility for imitating handwriting." + +"It is, as you say, an unfortunate facility; one not overmuch to be +desired." + +"When I was at school I used to imitate the masters' writing, the +other fellows' writing, anybody's writing; it used to give me a sort +of importance in the eyes of the other boys, and I'm afraid I +sometimes used my gift in ways which weren't altogether to my credit; +you haven't forgotten what boys are. Trevor was at school with me, so +he knew all about it. As he turned over page after page of his album, +he kept saying that I couldn't imitate this writing, and I couldn't +imitate that; I hadn't tried my hand since I had left school; I didn't +know if he was right or wrong, and I didn't care. Finally he came to a +signature which, so far as I remember, was on a scrap of paper which +might have been torn off the bottom of a letter; the name itself was +recalled to my memory with unpleasant vividness yesterday--it was +Donald Lindsay." + +"Frank!" + +"We are fearfully and wonderfully made. It had gone clean out of my +mind till Mr. Morgan showed it to me yesterday on a bill of exchange; +then it came back with a rush of recollection which frightened me. +Wasn't that an extraordinary thing?" + +"Go on; I don't see yet what you are coming to." + +"Trevor made a special point of this signature. He sat down and +imitated it himself, and then challenged me to do better. His +imitation was a bad one; and--I did better." + +"What did you write on?" + +"I have a vague impression that it was on a blank sheet of paper; but +I was in such a state of muddle that I couldn't positively affirm. Had +I been myself I should have changed the conversation before, but I was +in such a condition that I could only sit and listen, with but a dim +appreciation of his meaning." + +"But you do remember copying Donald Lindsay's signature on what you +believe was a blank sheet of paper?" + +"Unfortunately I do; the name meant nothing to me; I had never heard +of such a person; I acted on Trevor's persistent suggestion +practically like a man might do who was in a mesmeric trance. When I +had finished, Trevor, taking it up, declared it wasn't a bit like, +and, if I couldn't do better than that, he'd beaten me. So I tried +again." + +"You mean that you copied Donald Lindsay's signature a second time?" + +"I did." + +"On the same sheet of paper?" + +"I couldn't positively say, but it wouldn't surprise me to be told +that it was on a fresh sheet. I've a hazy notion that I copied it a +third and fourth time; Trevor each time declaring that it was not a +bit like. By that time my brain was torpid, all I could do was move my +fingers; presently I could no longer move those. I lost consciousness. +The next thing I can recollect is waking up in bed at my hotel feeling +very ill. I rang for the waiter. When he appeared he told me, with a +grin, that I had been brought to the hotel in a cab; that I had had to +be carried out, borne up-stairs, undressed, and put to bed; the +inference being that I was drunk. But I knew better. There happened to +be staying in the hotel a doctor who practises at Karlsbad, with whom +I had some acquaintance, Dr. Adler, a man of cosmopolitan reputation. +I sent for him, and when he came he at once pronounced that I had been +poisoned." + +"Poisoned? Actually poisoned?" + +"Actually poisoned. Adler saved my life; I believe that without him I +should have died. It was three days before I could get out of bed; and +then I was so weak that I had to be helped across the room." + +"What did you do?" + +"I sent a note to Trevor, by hand. The messenger returned with it, +saying Trevor had left Paris the day after I had dined with him, and +his apartment was shut up." + +"And then?" + +"I returned to London. I had already overstayed my time; I was wanted +at the office; I resumed my duties, and forgot all about it; or, at +least, I tried to. What could I do? The conclusion to which I came was +that there had been something wrong with the wine. I had known Trevor +the greater part of his life; I had never known him to be guilty of a +disreputable action; I could conceive of no motive which might induce +him to play tricks with an old friend, at his own table; I resolved +that, when occasion offered, I would tell him the tragic tale of how +his port had affected me; until yesterday I supposed that it was by +sheer accident that so far an opportunity had not arisen, and that I +had heard and seen nothing of Trevor from that day to this; and there +you are!" + +"That's not all the story." + +"So far as I've actual knowledge it is; the rest is mere surmise, +based on what Mr. Morgan told me yesterday. He says that bills for +over forty thousand pounds, purporting to be signed by Donald Lindsay, +have been discounted by Trevor, who asserted that he had them from me. +If that's true it looks as if those pieces of paper on which I copied +Lindsay's signature were bill stamps." + +"Have you no recollection of them whatever?" + +"None. If that is so then the possibility is that Trevor knew of the +connection between Lindsay and Oldfield; and that that is why he +hocussed me--Oldfield's managing man--into copying Lindsay's name; +which points to a plot, on Trevor's part, of the most iniquitous +kind." + +"Where is Sir Henry Trevor now?" + +"That I don't know. After leaving Morgan last night I hunted for him +everywhere; wired to Paris, searched all over London. Nothing has been +heard of him at any of his old haunts for at any rate the last three +or four months; he seems to have vanished." + +"Who discounted the bills?" + +"That, also, I can't tell you; we shall probably hear all about that +from Mr. Morgan. What I want to learn is, legally, in what position do +I stand?" + +"It's not easy to say. To begin with they'll have to prove that the +bills were forged." + +"And then?" + +"Then they'll have to produce Trevor. A man who is capable of behaving +as he has done is quite likely to be willing to swear that he received +the bills in their completed state from you." + +"Which means?" + +"Your word against his; to clear yourself you'll have to convict him, +which mayn't be easy, or agreeable for you." + +"Sounds cheerful; especially as I'm to be married next week!" + +"There's one hope for you." + +"Only one? Let's have it." + +"The fact that Miss Lindsay is in the next room. If she has anything +to do with it she'll even forgive you for allowing yourself to get +mixed up with such a scamp as Trevor; I know more about him than it +seems you do. That girl could forgive anybody anything, she's a saint +in embryo. I suggest that we invite her to come in here, and that we +then put to her some leading questions." + + + + + CHAPTER XXXIV + + UNTO THE LIGHT + + +When Nora entered she looked from one man to the other, as if she +wondered by which of them her presence was desired. She declined the +chair which Mr. Hooper offered. On his persisting in his request to +her to be seated she observed, with the naïve mixture of humility and +pride which became her so well, that she would rather not sit, as she +was engaged in copying a passage which was more than usually involved, +and to which she would like to return as soon as she could. Mr. +Hooper, at her back, directed a glance at Mr. Clifford, of which, had +she intercepted it, she would probably have required a prompt +explanation. + +"I think, Miss Lindsay," he said, "that it is possible that you will +do no more copying for me, and that the passage of which you speak may +remain unfinished." + +She turned quickly round to him, alarm on her face. + +"Mr. Hooper! Why do you say that? What have I done?" + +"Everything you have done, Miss Lindsay, you have done excellently; if +you will permit me to ask you a few questions, you will understand why +I say it. Please sit down." + +"Thank you; I much prefer to stand." + +"You, of course, are at liberty to please yourself; but, in that case, +Mr. Clifford and I must also continue to stand, and that may be +inconvenient." Thereupon she subsided on to the chair which he had +placed for her, glancing as she did so at the two men in front of her +as if she suspected them of having conspired together to compel her to +seat herself against her will. Mr. Hooper assumed an air which was +almost judicial. "I beg you to believe, Miss Lindsay, that in putting +to you the questions I am about to put I am actuated only by +considerations of your own interests. If they seem at all impertinent, +I assure you that it is in appearance only; as, if you will answer +them frankly, you will immediately perceive. To begin with, how many +children had your father beside yourself?" + +It is possible that she looked as surprised as she felt; she could +hardly have felt more surprised than she looked. She hesitated; then +briefly answered-- + +"None." + +"Then--pardon me if I pain you--were you not on good terms with your +father when he died?" + +Her eyes opened wider; it seemed that her amazement grew. + +"Of course I was; what do you mean? If you had ever known my father +you wouldn't have dreamt of asking such a--such a silly question; I +don't wish to be rude, but you wouldn't. My father never said an angry +word to me in the whole of his life." + +"But, in that case, to whom did he leave his money?" + +"To me." + +"To you?" + +"He left everything he had in the world to me absolutely; I don't know +quite what it means, but I know that's what they said, absolutely." + +"Then now it's my turn not to understand you. Your father was an +immensely wealthy man. If you are his heiress, how is it I have the +honour, and happiness, of seeing you here, in receipt of a modest +weekly salary?" + +"Every one thought papa was rich; I did; I understood him to tell me +himself that he was; but it seemed, after all, that he wasn't. Indeed, +as soon as he was dead, some man said he owed him a great deal of +money, for bills." + +"Bills!" + +The interruption came from Clifford. + +"I don't know what kind of bills they were; but I know they were bills +of some kind, because I was told so; then they came and sold +everything to get money to pay the bills, and I was left with +nothing." + +The two men eyed each other as if the significance of what the girl +said surpassed their comprehension. Mr. Clifford continued his +interposition. + +"Miss Lindsay, Mr. Hooper has told you my name; it is Clifford--Frank +Clifford. I believe I knew your father for many years, and am indebted +to him for many kindnesses. Did he never mention my name to you?" + +"Clifford? No, I don't remember his ever having done so." + +"I saw your portrait in his rooms yesterday, and when I saw you this +morning I recognized you at once." + +"His rooms? What rooms?" + +"His rooms in town." + +"I didn't know he had any; we couldn't find out that he had an address +in town." + +"You couldn't find out that he had an address in town? I don't +understand; there is something very strange here. Do you know a Mr. +Nash?" + +"Herbert Nash? He acted as my solicitor after my father was dead." + +"Your solicitor, or your father's?" + +"Mine. He went through my father's papers with a friend, and it was he +who discovered that he had left no money." + +"This is stranger and stranger. How many executors did your father +appoint?" + +"Executors?" + +"How many executors did your father appoint in his will?" + +"I never heard that he appointed any." + +"Then did you ever hear of a Mr. Morgan?" + +"Morgan? Stephen Morgan? Stephen Morgan was our butler at Cloverlea." + +Mr. Clifford gave what seemed like a gasp of astonishment. + +"Your butler! Miss Lindsay, would you mind describing your butler?" +She did it so minutely that he identified his visitor of yesterday +beyond a doubt. "I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Morgan, Miss +Lindsay; but he did not introduce himself as your father's butler. +Would it be asking too much to ask you to describe your father?" + +"I can do better than that. He never would be photographed by a +professional, but I managed to snap him two or three times with my own +camera; I have a print of the very last snapshot I took of him here. +It's not much as a photograph, but it's not a bad likeness." She took +an old-fashioned gold locket from the bosom of her dress, and, opening +it, held it out for Mr. Clifford to see. On one side was the portrait +of her father; on the other was the portrait of some one else. "That," +she explained, rather lamely, "is a portrait of--of some one I used to +know." + +"This," declared Mr. Clifford, looking at the likeness on the other +side, "is the portrait of the man I have known for many years as +Joseph Oldfield." + +"As who? That's my father!" + +"Do you not know he had a business in town?" + +"I did not know he had a business anywhere." + +"He had; he carried on that business under a pseudonym; I have always +known him as Joseph Oldfield; for the first time yesterday I heard the +name of Donald Lindsay. It seems to have been his wish that his +commercial and his private lives should be wholly distinct, +overlapping at no point; he appears to have succeeded in carrying out +that wish almost too well." + +"How--how extraordinary; and yet I'm not surprised. That is what he +has been trying to tell me all the time." + +"All what time?" + +There was something in her tone and manner which struck the two men as +curious; a sort of exaltation. + +"He has been coming to me, night after night, in my dreams, always in +such trouble; always trying so hard to tell me something; but he never +could. Now I know what it was. If he comes again he'll understand that +I know, and his trouble will have gone. You mustn't laugh at me; in my +dreams his coming has been so real." Judging from their faces neither +of her hearers was inclined for laughter. She turned to Mr. Clifford. +"What was my father's business?" + +"He was the proprietor of Peter Piper's Popular Pills, of which you +have probably heard." + +"Why"--her face was illumined by a smile--"he always had a stock of +them in the house; it was a standing joke. He used to give a box to +nearly every one who came, declaring that they were a simple, safe +medicine for what he called 'common complaints.'" + +Mr. Clifford bestowed on Mr. Hooper what might be described as a glare +of triumph. + +"So they are, Miss Lindsay; it is only ignorant people who doubt it. +No one was in a better position to know than your father was, and he +was their sole proprietor. If he left you all his property, then I am +fortunate in being the first to tell you that, of my own knowledge, +you are the owner of at least a million." + +"A million! Mr. Clifford! Then--then----" + +She had the locket still open, and was looking at the likeness which +she had described as the portrait of some one she used to know; as she +looked her sentence came to a premature end, and her face was dyed +with blushes. Mr. Clifford went on, a little heatedly. + +"You have been badly used, Miss Lindsay; monstrously used; and by +those who should have made it their first aim to use you well." + +Her radiant face contrasted oddly with his warmth. + +"What does it matter? It has done me no harm. All the while I've felt +that God was leading me through the darkness unto the light; and +that's what He has done. So see how much I have to thank Him for." + +The door was opened by Mr. Gibb. + +"Two gentlemen and a lady to see Mr. Frank Clifford." + +Without waiting for further announcement the visitors came in; in +front Robert Spencer; behind him Herbert Nash, with Elaine at his +side. When the lovers saw each other, each stood gazing as if fearful +that the other was some entrancing vision which might resolve itself +into air and vanish. Both cried, as if it was the most delightful and +wonderful thing in the world that it should be so-- + +"You!" + +They advanced, and only just in the nick of time remembered that there +were others there; they could not have got closer and kept out of each +other's arms. Mr. Spencer spoke as if in an ecstasy. + +"You queen of dear women, I've ransacked all the stray corners of the +world for you! Where have you been hiding?" + +"Why," she replied, "I've been trying to earn my living." + +"My Lady Quixote! all the while you've been a millionaire!" + +"So Mr. Clifford has just told me. I haven't had time to realize it +yet; but I think I'm glad." + +"You only think?" + +"I'm sure." She added--they were so close!--these words, which reached +his ear only, "For your sake!" As she whispered her face crimsoned. +Before he could answer she had moved forward. "Elaine!" When she +advanced the other shrank back. "Why, Elaine, what's the matter?" + +Mr. Spencer spoke. + +"Miss Harding is now Mrs. Nash. If you will go with her into the next +room I think you will find that she has something which she wishes to +say to you." + +So Nora went with Elaine into the adjoining chamber. The four men, +left to themselves, began, with each other's aid, to piece together, +into a comprehensible whole, the scattered parts of Donald Lindsay's +strange history. While in the little room, where she had had such +struggles with the typewriter, in the hour of her happiness, Nora had +to listen to a tale of sin; and even while she listened, her one +thought was how to comfort the sinner, to lead her, through the +darkness, unto the light. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXV + + BREAD UPON THE WATERS + + +Although so recently returned to the House of Commons, Robert Spencer +has already made his mark; discerning judges on both sides of the +House prophesy that ere long he will become a power in the State. If +he does he will owe his success in no slight measure to his wife. Few +things help a man more than a happy marriage; about the happiness of +his marriage there can be no question. His wife is one of the +loveliest women in London; one of the most charming, in the best sense +of the word. All decent folk are proud to know she is their friend; +the other sort know she is not their enemy. She has help and sympathy +for all. + +Peter Piper's Popular Pills still belong to Nora. Mr. Clifford not +only continues to manage them; he has a share in the fruits of their +prosperity. He was married on the appointed day, to Miss Ross's +relief. Nora and Mr. Spencer were both present at the wedding, and Mr. +Hooper was the groom's best man. The honeymoon tour was carried out on +the lines originally planned. Nothing was done in the business of the +forged bills. When matters were explained to Nora she insisted that +nothing should be done. Probably hers was the part of wisdom; it is +difficult to see how good would have resulted. Sir Henry Trevor still +continues vanished; but it seems not unlikely that he is flourishing +somewhere on the other side of the world. Occasionally remittances are +received, sometimes for considerable sums, posted from different towns +on the American continent, in envelopes which contain, beside the +remittances, nothing but a half-sheet of paper, on which is always the +same line, "Towards the discharge of a debt due to Donald Lindsay's +estate." The inference is that these amounts come from Sir Henry +Trevor, who has chosen this method of salving an obligation of which +he alone knows the precise history. + +Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Nash are in Canada, where they have not done +badly. Nash is an honest and hard-working man; if anything, a trifle +hard and stern. His wife is a good mistress of his home. She is the +mother of three children. It is her continual prayer that they may not +be led into temptation, but delivered from evil. + +Stephen Morgan died in a London hospital on the day before Frank +Clifford was married. He was knocked down by a motor omnibus. When he +was taken to the hospital he was already unconscious, and already +dying. On his return to consciousness, he was plainly near the end. +With what seemed to be almost his last breath he begged that they +would send for Mr. Clifford. Before, however, Mr. Clifford reached the +hospital, he was dead. His ill deeds died with him. + +Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have a house in the country, but not at +Cloverlea. Nora had no desire to renew associations which had suffered +so severe an interruption. The lodge at the gate of the new house is +in the occupation of Mrs. Gibb and Miss Gibb--Angel Gibb. Miss Gibb is +engaged to the second gardener. A question has lately arisen as to +whether, on the occasion of their approaching marriage, he shall go +and live with his wife and her mother, or whether his wife and her +mother shall come and live with him. The point has been referred by +both parties to Mrs. Spencer, who finds it rather a difficult one to +decide. + +Mr. Gibb is still with Mr. Hooper. He reports that business is looking +up. It is a fact that of late several briefs have found their way into +Mr. Hooper's hands. It is whispered that he is indebted for them to +influence in certain quarters. However that may be, it is beyond doubt +that he has handled them as well as could possibly be desired. + + + + THE END + + + + * * * * * + _Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London and Bungay_ + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Woman Perfected, by Richard Marsh + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN PERFECTED *** + +***** This file should be named 38181-8.txt or 38181-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/1/8/38181/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Woman Perfected + +Author: Richard Marsh + +Release Date: December 1, 2011 [EBook #38181] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN PERFECTED *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Note:<br> + + +1. Page scan source:<br> +http://books.google.com/books?id=ezkPAAAAQAAJ +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="right"><b>A Woman Perfected</b></p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<table cellpadding="5" style="border:2px solid black; width:60%; margin-left:20%"> +<tr> +<td> +<br> +<h2><i>By the same Author</i></h2> + +<hr class="W90" style="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt"> +<div style="font-weight:bold; line-height:200%; margin-left:5%"> +<p class="continue">THE ROMANCE OF A MAID OF HONOUR<br> +ADA VERNHAM, ACTRESS<br> +CURIOS: SOME STRANGE ADVENTURES OF TWO BACHELORS<br> +MRS. MUSGRAVE AND HER HUSBAND<br> +MISS ARNOTT'S MARRIAGE<br> +THE MAGNETIC GIRL<br> +CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG LADY<br> +THE GARDEN OF MYSTERY<br> +UNDER ONE FLAG</p> +</div> +<hr class="W90" style="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:12pt"> + +<h3>JOHN LONG, <span class="sc">Publisher, London</span></h3> +</td></tr></table> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>A Woman Perfected</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>By</h5> + +<h2>Richard Marsh</h2> +<br> +<br> + +<h5>"Earth's noblest thing, a woman perfected"</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>London</h3> +<h2>John Long</h2> +<h3>Norris Street, Haymarket</h3> +<h5>[<i>All Rights Reserved</i>]</h5> +<br> +<br> + +<br> +<br> +<h5><i>First published in</i> 1907</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>Contents</h2> +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:90%; margin-left:5%; font-weight:bold"> +<colgroup><col style="width:10%; text-align:right"><col style="width:90%"></colgroup> +<tr> +<td><span class="sc2">CHAPTER</span></td> +<td> </td> +</tr><tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_01" href="#div1_01">Stricken.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>II.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_02" href="#div1_02">The Open Window.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>III.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_03" href="#div1_03">Little by Little.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>IV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_04" href="#div1_04">The Avernian Slope.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>V.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_05" href="#div1_05">Peter Piper's Popular Pills.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>VI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_06" href="#div1_06">Her Love Story.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>VII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_07" href="#div1_07">The Puzzle which Donald Lindsay left behind him.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>VIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_08" href="#div1_08">A Philanthropist.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>IX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_09" href="#div1_09">The Butler.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>X.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_10" href="#div1_10">The Earl and the Countess.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_11" href="#div1_11">Robert.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_12" href="#div1_12">In the Wood.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_13" href="#div1_13">Lovers' Tiffs.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XIV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_14" href="#div1_14">The Parting of the Ways.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_15" href="#div1_15">'So Early in the Morning.'</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XVI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_16" href="#div1_16">GULDENHEIM.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XVII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_17" href="#div1_17">Nora goes.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XVIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_18" href="#div1_18">Miss Gibb.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XIX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_19" href="#div1_19">A Young Lady in Search of a Living.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_20" href="#div1_20">King Solomon.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_21" href="#div1_21">Nora Finds Something to do.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_22" href="#div1_22">Master and Man.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_23" href="#div1_23">A Jobbing Secretary.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXIV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_24" href="#div1_24">Mr. Morgan's Experiences of the Unexpected.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_25" href="#div1_25">On their Honeymoon.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXVI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_26" href="#div1_26">An Offer of Friendship.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXVII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_27" href="#div1_27">A Royal Road to Fortune.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXVIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_28" href="#div1_28">To be--or not to be--Postponed.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXIX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_29" href="#div1_29">In Joseph Oldfield's Flat.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_30" href="#div1_30">When Thieves fall out.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXXI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_31" href="#div1_31">Husband and Wife.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXXII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_32" href="#div1_32">A Forgotten Coat.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXXIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_33" href="#div1_33">The Autograph Album.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXXIV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_34" href="#div1_34">Unto the Light.</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXXV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_35" href="#div1_35">Bread upon the Waters.</a></td> +</tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>A Woman Perfected</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_01" href="#div1Ref_01">STRICKEN</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Donald Lindsay was prostrated by a stroke of apoplexy on Thursday, +April 3. It was surmised that the immediate cause was mental. He +arrived home apparently physically well, but in a state of what, for +him, was a state of unusual agitation. As a rule he was a dour man; +much given to silence; self-contained. At that time there was staying +at Cloverlea, with his daughter Nora, a school-friend, Elaine Harding. +During lunch both girls were struck by his unusual talkativeness. +Often during a meal he would hardly open his lips for any other +purpose except eating and drinking. That morning he talked volubly to +both girls on all sorts of subjects. After lunch Nora said laughingly +to Elaine--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wonder what's the matter with papa. I don't know when I remember +him so conversational."</p> + +<p class="normal">He put in no appearance at tea; but as that was a common occurrence +his absence went unnoticed. When, however, the gong having sounded for +dinner, the girls were waiting for him in the drawing-room, and still +he did not come, Nora sent a servant to his dressing-room to inquire +if he would be long. The man returned to say that his master was +neither in his dressing-room nor his bedroom; that he had spent the +afternoon in his study, from which no one had seen him issue; that the +study door was locked, and knockings went unheeded. Nora, opening a +French window in the drawing-room, went along the terrace towards the +study.</p> + +<p class="normal">The study opened on to the terrace. It had two long windows. At +neither of them were the blinds down or the curtains drawn. It was +elicited afterwards that the servant whose duty it was to attend to +such matters had knocked at the door when the shadows lowered. On +turning the handle, he found that it was locked; Mr. Lindsay informed +him from within that he would draw the blinds himself. It seemed that +he had not done so. The room was in darkness, with the exception of +the flicker of the firelight. Nora said to Miss Harding, who had +followed at her heels--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whatever does papa want with a fire on a day like this?" All that +week the weather had been not only warm, but positively hot. There had +been one of those hot spells which we sometimes get in April; and, as +frequently, have to do without in August. Save in the evenings and +early mornings fires had remained unlit in all the living rooms. That +Thursday had been the hottest day of all. Mr. Lindsay was one of those +persons who seldom felt the cold, but quickly suffered from the heat. +He preferred to be without a fire in his own apartments when the rest +of the establishment was glad enough to be within reach of a cheerful +blaze. That there should be one in his study on such a day as that +struck his daughter as strange. She stood close up to the window, her +friend at her side. "The room seems empty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is empty," said Miss Harding. Nora knocked, without result. +"What's the use of knocking? There's no one there." Nora tried the +handle first of one window, then of the other; both were fastened. +"What's the use?" asked Miss Harding. "Any one can see that the room +is empty. There's light enough for that."</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment the fire flared up in such a way that all the room +within was lit by its radiance; so clearly lit as to make it plain +that it had no occupant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But," observed Nora, "if it's empty why should the door be locked? +Papa never leaves it locked when he's not inside."</p> + +<p class="normal">Two figures approached through the darkness. In front was the +housekeeper, Mrs. Steele.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Nora," she began, "you'd better go indoors. I'm afraid there's +something wrong."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should I go indoors?" the girl demanded. "And what can be wrong? +We can see all over the room; we saw plainly just now, didn't we, +Elaine? There's no one there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your father's there," said Mrs. Steele.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her tone was grim. Before Nora could ask how she knew that, there was +a crash of glass. Looking round with a start she found that Stephen +Morgan, the butler, had broken a pane in the other window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan," she cried, "what are you doing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is the shortest way in," he answered.</p> + +<p class="normal">He thrust his arm through the broken pane; lifted the hasp; the window +was open. He went through it. Nora was following when she was checked +by Mrs. Steele.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Nora," she persisted, "you had better go indoors."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am going indoors; isn't this indoors? If, as you put it, there is +something wrong, who is more concerned than I?" All four entered. +Morgan, who had passed round to the other side of the large +writing-table, which was in the centre of the room, gave a sudden +exclamation. Nora hurried round to where he was. Some one was lying +huddled up on the floor; as if, slipping awkwardly out of his chair, +he had lain helplessly where he had fallen. Nora dropped on her knees +by his side. "Papa!" she cried. "Father!"</p> + +<p class="normal">No one answered. Morgan lit the lamp which always stood on Mr. +Lindsay's writing-table. In the days which followed Nora often had +occasion to ask herself what, exactly, happened next. She was +conscious that in the room there was a strong smell of burnt paper; +always, afterwards, when her nostrils were visited by the odour of +charred paper that scene came back to her. The cause of the smell was +not far to seek; the hearth was full of ashes. Evidently Mr. Lindsay +had been burning papers on a wholesale scale; apparently for that +reason he had had a fire; Nora had a vague impression--which recurred +to her, later, again and again--that many of the papers were only +partially consumed. The room was littered with papers; they were all +over the table; on chairs, on the floor; drawers stood open, papers +peeped out of them; which was the more remarkable since Mr. Lindsay +was the soul of neatness. Plainly the finger of God had touched him +when he was still in the midst of the task which he had set himself. +There came a time when Nora had reason to wish that she had retained +her self-possession sufficiently to give instructions that all papers, +both burnt and unburnt, were to be left exactly as they were; and had +taken steps to ensure those instructions being carried out. But at the +moment all she thought of was her father. He was not dead; his +stertorous breathing was proof of that. They carried him up-stairs; +undressed him, put him to bed, who an hour or two before had been the +hale, strong man; who had never known what it was to be sick; who had +so loved to do everything for himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Apoplexy was Dr. Banyard's pronouncement, when he appeared upon the +scene; though there were features about the case which induced him to +fall in readily with Nora's suggestion that a specialist should be +sent for from town. The great man arrived in the middle of the night. +When he saw Nora he was sententious but vague, as great doctors are +apt to be; the girl gathered from his manner that the worst was to be +feared.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the following day, the Friday, towards evening, Mr. Lindsay +partially regained consciousness--that is, he opened his eyes, and +when his child leaned over him it was plain he knew her, though he got +no further than the mere recognition. He could neither speak, nor +move, nor do anything for himself at all. That night Nora dreamed +a dream. She dreamed that her father came into her room in his +night-shirt, and leaned over her, and whispered that he had something +to say to her--which he must say to her; but which was for her ear +alone--he was just about to tell her what it was when she woke up. So +strong had the conviction of his actual presence been that for some +moments she could not believe that it was a dream; she started up in +bed fully expecting to find him standing by her side. When she found +that he was not close enough to touch she leaned out of bed, +murmuring--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father! father!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was only after she had lit a candle that she was constrained to the +belief that it was a dream. Even then she was incredulous. She +actually carried her candle to the door, and looked out into the +passage, half expecting to see him passing along it. When she returned +into her room she was in a curious condition, both mentally and +bodily. She trembled so that she had to sink on to a chair. Then she +did what she had not done for years--she cried. If she had had to say +what prompted her tears, her explanation would have been a curious +one; she would have had to say that she cried because of her father's +grief; that it was his anguish which moved her to tears. Dream or no +dream, what had struck her about him, as he leaned over her as she lay +in bed, was his agony. In all the years she had known him she had +never known him show signs of emotion; yet, as he leant over her she +had felt, even in her sleep, that he was under the stress of some +terrible trouble; that he wished to say to her what he had to say so +much that his anxiety to say it was tearing at the very roots of his +being. It was some minutes before she regained her self-control; when +she did she slipped on a dressing-gown and went to her father's room. +The night nurse answered her unspoken question by informing her that +no change had taken place; that the sick man was just as he had been. +Nora moved to his bed. There he lay, on his back, exactly as before. +She had the feeling strong upon her that he had heard her coming; +that, in some strange fashion, he was glad to see her; though, when +she stood beside him, he looked up at her with such agony in his eyes +that the sight of it brought tears to hers. Again there came to her +that odd conviction which had possessed her when she woke out of +sleep, that there was something which he strenuously wished to say to +her; that he was torn by the desire to relieve himself of a burden +which was on his mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the Saturday his condition remained the same; he was conscious but +motionless, helpless, and, above all, speechless. So convinced was she +that if he could only speak, if only some means could be found by +which he could convey his thoughts to her, that he would be more at +his ease, that she appealed to Dr. Banyard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can nothing be done to restore to him the power of speech, if only +for a few minutes?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe that I am doing all that medicine can do; you heard Sir +Masterman say that he could do no more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you think of no way in which he can convey to us his meaning? +I believe that he has something which he wishes very much to +say--something on his mind; and that if he could only say it--get it +off his mind--he would at least be happier."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor eyed her shrewdly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you any notion what it is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not the slightest. If I had I might prompt him, and get at it that +way. But my father has never been very communicative with me; I know +nothing of his private affairs--absolutely nothing; I only know that +he is my father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you any other relations?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So far as I know only an aunt, his sister. I have never seen her--I +don't think they have been on good terms; I don't know her address; I +believe she lives abroad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Had your mother no relations?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot tell you; I know nothing of my mother--she died when I was +born. I have been wondering if what he wishes to say is that, if--if +the worst comes, he would like to be buried in her grave. I don't know +where her grave is; he has never spoken of her to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor continued to eye her intently. He had a clever face, with a +whimsical mouth, which seemed to be a little on one side; his eyes +were deep-set, and were surrounded by a thick thatch of iron-grey +hair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How old are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall be twenty in June."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's a ripe age."</p> + +<p class="normal">She sighed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I feel as if I were a hundred."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't look it; however, that's by the way. At such a time as +this, Miss Lindsay, you ought not to be alone in this great house, +with all the weight upon your shoulders."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not alone; Elaine is with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; and she--is even older than you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Elaine is twenty-four."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't doubt it. If you're a hundred I should say that she is a +thousand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing." But she felt that he had meant something; she wondered +what. He went on. "What I intended to remark was that I think you +ought to have some one with you who would give proper attention to +your interests. As it is, you are practically at the mercy of a lot of +servants and--and others. Hasn't your father an old friend, in whom +you yourself have confidence--a business friend? By the way, who is +his man of business--his lawyer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She shook her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If father has any friends I don't know them. He has never been very +sociable with anybody about here; I can't say what old acquaintances +he may have had elsewhere. As you are probably aware, he was +frequently away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you never go with him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never--never once. I have never been with my father anywhere out of +this immediate neighbourhood, except when I first went to school, when +he escorted me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you always knew where he was?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sometimes; not always."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Had he an address in town?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only his club, so far as I know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which was his club?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Carlton."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That sounds good enough. Did you use to write to him there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not often; he only liked me to write to him when I had something of +importance to say. He cared neither for reading nor for writing +letters. He once told me that there were a lot of women who seemed to +have nothing better to do than waste their own and other people's time +by scribbling a lot of nonsense, which they cut up into lengths, sent +through the post, and called letters. He hoped I should never become +one of them. I remembered what he said, and never troubled him with +one of the 'lengths' called letters if I could help it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Both of them smiled; only the doctor's was a whimsical smile, and hers +was hardly suggestive of mirth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You haven't told me who his lawyer is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The only lawyer I ever heard him mention was Mr. Nash."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nash? He only employed him in little local jobs; in no sense was he +his man of business; I've reasons for knowing that his opinion of +Herbert Nash's legal ability is not an unduly high one."</p> + +<p class="normal">As before, Nora shook her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is the only lawyer I ever heard papa mention."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my dear Miss Lindsay, your father is a man of affairs--of +wealth; he lives here at the rate of I don't know how many thousand +pounds a year, and has never owed a man a penny; you must know +something of his affairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All I know is that he has always given me all the money I wanted, and +not seldom more than I wanted; I have never had to ask him for any; +but beyond that I know nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">When Dr. Banyard got home he said to his wife--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Helen, if I had to define a male criminal lunatic, I am inclined to +think that I should say it was a man who brought up his women-folk in +the lap of luxury without giving them the faintest inkling as to where +the wherewithal to pay for that luxury came from."</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife said mischievously--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is at least something for women-folk, as you so gracefully +describe the salt of the earth, to be brought up in the lap of luxury; +please remember that, sir. And pray what prompts this last +illustration of the wisdom of the modern Solomon?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That man Lindsay; you know how he's been a mystery to all the +country-side; the hints which have been dropped; the guesses which +have been made; the clues which the curious have followed, ending in +nothing; the positive libels which have been uttered. It turns out +that he's as much a mystery to his own daughter as he is to anybody +else; I've just had it from her own lips. The man lies dying, leaving +her in complete ignorance of everything she ought to know--at the +mercy, not impossibly, of those who do know. Just as God is calling +him home he wants to tell her; I can see it in his eyes, and so can +she; but he is dumb. Unless a miracle is worked he'll die silent, +longing to tell her what he ought to have told her years ago."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_02" href="#div1Ref_02">THE OPEN WINDOW</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">On the Sunday Donald Lindsay died, in the afternoon, about half-past +four; probably about the time, Dr. Banyard said, when he had first +been stricken. Although, apparently, conscious to the last, he died +speechless, without being able to do anything to relieve himself of +the burden which lay upon his mind; a burden which, it seemed not +improbable, had been the first cause of the fate which had so suddenly +overtaken him. To Nora the blow was, of course, a bad one; when she +realized that her father was dead it seemed as if all the light had +gone out of the world for her. And yet, in the nature of things, it +was impossible that she should feel for him the affection which +sometimes associates the parent with the child. He himself had scoffed +at love; sentiment, he had repeatedly told her, was the thing in life +which was to be most avoided; he had illustrated his meaning in his +own practice. He had never been unkind, but he had certainly never +been tender; so far as she was aware he had never kissed her in his +life; on those rare occasions on which she had ventured to kiss him he +had brushed her aside as if she had been guilty of some folly. His +attitude towards her was one of more or less genial indifference. He +had provided her with a beautiful home; he had bought Cloverlea, as he +was careful to inform her, for her, and in it he left her very much +alone. He supplied her liberally with money, and there he seemed to +think his duty towards her ended. She was welcome to have any +companions she chose; he asked no questions about her comings and her +goings; took no sort of interest in the young women of her own age +whom, at rare intervals, she induced to stay with her. He made no +attempt whatever to find for her a place in local, or any other, +society; yet, unaided, she began, by degrees, to occupy a somewhat +prominent place on the local horizon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Living in one of the finest places in the neighbourhood, with horses +and carriages at her disposal, and even, latterly, motor cars; +possessed of a sufficiency of ready money, it was hardly likely that +she should remain unnoticed; her father's peculiarities threw her, if +anything, into bolder relief. There was not a house for miles in which +she was not a welcome visitor, and for this she had, largely, to thank +herself. Not only was she good to look at, she was good to be with; +she had that indefinable thing, charm. Not all the pens which ever +wrote could make clear to Us the secret of a young girl's charm. +Whilst she was still the mistress of Cloverlea her father seemed to be +the only living creature who remained impervious to its magic +influence; afterwards--that influence waned. On the Sunday on which +her father died she was left alone with her grief; but on the Monday +morning Dr. Banyard called and insisted on her seeing him. His manner, +while it was brusque, was sympathetic.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, my dear young lady," he began, almost as soon as she was in the +room, "what you have first of all to remember is that you, at any +rate, are still alive, and likely, in all human probability, to remain +so for some considerable time to come; your first duty therefore, +towards yourself, and towards your father, is to see that your +interests are properly safeguarded."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know what you mean."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I will endeavour to make myself clear. I believe you are engaged +to be married."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where, at the present moment, is Mr. Spencer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is on his way home from Cairo, where he has been staying with his +aunt, Lady Jane Carruthers, who is ill."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does he know what has happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't quite know where he is. When he last wrote he told me that he +was going to take what he called an 'after-cure' in Italy "--she +smiled, as if at some thought of her own--"but he entered into no +particulars, and until I hear from him again I don't quite know where +he's to be found; all I do know is that he's to be home before the +first of May."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As things stand, that's some distance ahead. I believe that his +father and mother, the Earl and Countess, are also absent." She +nodded. "You say you don't know who was your father's man of business; +then who is there to whom you feel yourself entitled to turn for the +kind of assistance of which you stand in such imperative need, at +once; certainly in the course of to-day?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's Elaine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mean Miss Harding?" It was his turn to smile. "I'm afraid she's +not the kind of person I'm thinking of; though I do not for a moment +doubt her cleverness. She suffers from one disqualification; she's not +a man. What you want is a dependable, and thoroughly capable lawyer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's Mr. Nash."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Nash is, again, hardly the sort of person you're in want of. To +begin with, he's too young, has too little experience; it was only the +other day he qualified--with difficulty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has been qualified more than three years; he did a good many +things for papa."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but what kind of things? Not the kind which will have to be done +for you; and I happen to know that what he did he bungled."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe he's coming here to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you sent for him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I haven't; but Elaine came into my room this morning and asked if she +should, and I believe she has."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Harding sent for him?" The doctor eyed her intently for a +moment; then, turning, he went to the window and looked out; presently +he spoke to her from there. "And do you propose to give Herbert Nash +the run of your father's papers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know what I propose to do; I haven't thought about it at all; +I want him to do what he can to help me; I don't feel as if I could do +very much to help myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it any use my saying that I can give you the name of a well-known +firm of family lawyers; and that you have only to send them a wire, +and before the day is over you'll have one of the best men in +England--in every sense--on the premises, making your interests his +own?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Elaine seemed to think that Mr. Nash has only to glance through some +of my father's papers to discover who my father's man of business +really was, and that then all we shall have to do will be to +communicate with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see; there's something in that--Miss Harding has her wits about +her. Do you know what time Mr. Nash is coming?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't--Elaine sent the message, if one was sent, and of that I'm +not certain; anyhow I don't know what arrangements she has made."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would you mind inquiring?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll ask her to come here, then you can inquire yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">The bell was rung, and presently Miss Harding appeared. She was short +and slight; with dark hair, big dark eyes, a dainty little mouth, and +very red lips. She made at once for Nora, ignoring the doctor, who was +still standing by the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They tell me that you want me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It isn't I, it's Dr. Banyard; he wants to know if you have sent to +Mr. Nash; and, if so, at what time he's coming."</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Harding opened her big eyes wider, which was a trick she had.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dr. Banyard wants to know?--why does Dr. Banyard want to know?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I cannot tell you; you had better ask him; here he is. Is Mr. +Nash coming?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course he's coming, but he doesn't seem to know quite when; it +seems he has some sort of case on at the police court."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know; he's defending that young scoundrel, Gus Peters, who's been +robbing his master."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was the doctor; Miss Harding turned to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is the gentleman you call Gus Peters a scoundrel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Isn't a fellow who robs his master a scoundrel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has it been proved that he robbed his master?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's a matter of common notoriety."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Common notoriety is not infrequently a liar. However, that's not the +point; I suppose Mr. Nash will do his duty to his client in any case, +and he'll come here as soon as he's done it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'd wait for him if I could, but I have to go my round; I'll look in +afterwards on the off-chance of finding him; there's something I +particularly wish to say to him. I fancy the magistrates, in spite of +Mr. Nash, will make short work of Mr. Peters."</p> + +<p class="normal">After the doctor had gone Miss Harding said to Miss Lindsay,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nora, dear, don't you think that Dr. Banyard is inclined to be a +little interfering?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has never struck me that he was."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has struck me, more than once. But then I think that G.P.s are apt +to be interfering; they hope, by having a finger in everybody's pie, +to get a plum out of each. Dr. Banyard doesn't like Mr. Nash, does +he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has never told me that he doesn't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has he never breathed words to the same effect?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has certainly hinted that he doesn't think much of Mr. Nash's +legal abilities; but then who does?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really, Elaine?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really, Nora. I believe that if he's truly interested in a person he +can do as much for that person as anybody else--perhaps more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Possibly; but is he ever truly interested in anybody but himself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Harding was silent for an instant; then she smiled rather oddly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Entirely between ourselves, Nora, that's what I wonder."</p> + +<p class="normal">She had cause to.</p> + +<p class="normal">It happened on the Thursday evening on which Mr. Lindsay was taken +ill, that Elaine Harding was left with nothing to do, and no one to do +it with. It is true that, had she insisted, she might have made +herself of use in some way; but, as she herself admitted, she was no +good when there was illness about. Indeed, she was one of those +persons--though this she kept to herself--who shrunk from suffering in +any form with a sort of instinctive physical repugnance. She only +needed half-a-hint to the effect that her services were not required, +and she was ready to give the sick-room as wide a berth as any one +could possibly require. To be plain, she was disposed to regard Mr. +Lindsay's attack almost as if it had been an injury to herself. Had +she been perfectly free, she would have packed up her boxes and left +the house within the hour; it would have been better for her if she +had. The idea of having to remain under the same roof with a man who +was suffering from an apoplectic stroke was horrid; but, at the same +time, there were reasons, of divers sorts, why she should not flee +from the dearest friend she had in the world at the first sign of +trouble.</p> + +<p class="normal">Instead of packing up her boxes she dined alone, off food which had +been ruined by being kept waiting. That was another grievance. She did +like good food, perfectly cooked. She was conscious that the servants +were regarding her askance, as if they were surprised that she should +dine at all; that also was annoying. When she rose from table she was +in quite a bad temper--what Mr. Lindsay meant by falling ill when she +was in the house she could not imagine. The solitude of the empty +drawing-room was appalling. The French window still stood open; better +the solitude of the grounds than that great bare chamber. She went out +on to the terrace. It was a lovely night, warmer than many nights in +June. There was not a cloud in the sky. A moon, almost at the full, +lighted the world with her silver glory. She looked about her. +Suddenly she perceived that a light was shining out upon the terrace +from what was evidently an uncurtained window. She remembered; no +doubt it was the lamp in Mr. Lindsay's study, the lamp which Morgan +had lit; in that case the window must still be open. She went to see; +her slight form moved along the terrace with something stealthy in its +movements, as if she was ashamed of what she was doing. She reached +the study; it was as she supposed; the lamp was lit, the window was +open, the room was empty. She was seized by what she would afterwards +have described as a sudden access of curiosity. She glanced over her +shoulder, to left and right; there was no one in sight; not a sound. +She put her dainty head inside the window, to indulge herself with +just one peep; after all, there is very little harm in innocent +peeping; then she passed into the room.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_03" href="#div1Ref_03">LITTLE BY LITTLE</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was just as it was when its owner had been stricken down; in the +same state of disorder. Cupboards yawned; drawers were open; letters +and papers were everywhere; a fire still smouldered in the grate; the +hearth was littered with the ashes of burned and half-burned papers; +everywhere were indications that Mr. Lindsay had been interrupted, +possibly just as he was setting his house in order. Glancing round her +Elaine perceived that the door which led into the passage was open, +though only an inch or two; probably it had been left unlatched when +they bore the master through it. Moving lightly, on tiptoe, she shut +it, noiselessly; but she made sure she had shut it fast. She even laid +her small fingers about the handle of the key, seeming to hesitate +whether or not to turn it; then, smiling, as if at the absurdity of +the notion, she returned towards the centre of the room; standing for +some seconds glancing about her in all directions, as if in search of +something which it might be worth her while to look at; a pretty, +dainty, girlish figure, herself the one thing in the whole room which +was best worth looking at.</p> + +<p class="normal">By degrees her quick, bright eyes, roving hither and thither, reached +the writing-table in the centre, by which its owner had been sitting +when he had slipped from off his chair; instantly they noted something +which gleamed amid the litter of papers with which it was covered. +Moving a little towards it she saw that there were coins on a little +oasis about the centre; quite a heap of them--gold coins. On the top +of them was half-a-sheet of note-paper. Going close to the table she +picked this half-sheet up, gingerly, as if it were dangerous to touch. +As a matter of fact to her, at that moment, a dynamite bomb could not +have been more charged with peril. On the piece of paper were some +figures--"£127"--nothing more. She knew that the writing was Mr. +Lindsay's. Evidently he had been counting the coins, and had made a +note upon that slip of paper of the value they represented; there were +one hundred and twenty-seven pounds in gold.</p> + +<p class="normal">Elaine Harding was poor. Her father was the vicar of a parish in the +West of England. His parish was large; his family was large; but his +income was small. His wife had died some three years ago, worn out by +her efforts to make a pound do the work of at least thirty shillings. +Elaine had been sent to an expensive school by a relation; there she +had met Nora Lindsay. Just as the time came for her to be leaving +school the relation died. It had been expected that he would have done +something to establish her in life; had he lived he probably would +have done; as it was he left her nothing. So he had done her harm +instead of good; that expensive school filled her with notions which +might never have got into her head had it not been for him; a +fashionable boarding-school is a bad school for a poor man's daughter. +Ever since she had left it she had been discontented, inwardly if not +outwardly, for nature had made her one of those persons who always, if +they can, show a smiling face to the world. Nora Lindsay had been her +chief solace. She never refused Nora's invitations to pay her a visit, +and when at Cloverlea stayed as long as she could; indeed, she had +been there so much just lately, during Mr. Lindsay's almost continual +absences, that she knew the people round about almost as well as Nora +did herself. She allowed Nora to make her presents; she would have +been hard put to it if Nora had not had promptings in that direction. +And then the girl had such a pretty way of giving, as if she were +receiving a favour instead of bestowing one, that Elaine had no +difficulty in preserving her dignity in face of the most delicate +donations. Yet in spite of Nora's generosity she was always in need of +money; there were special reasons why she was very much in need of it +just now. Only the night before she had spent nearly an hour on her +knees praying to God to show her some way to the cash she stood so +much in want of; and now here were one hundred and twenty-seven pounds +in gold at her finger-tips.</p> + +<p class="normal">It could hardly be called an answer to her prayer. It is said that +prayers are heard in two places, in heaven and in hell; Elaine +realized with a sudden, shrinking terror that this answer must have +come from hell. The owner of that money was up-stairs, dying; she +believed that he was dying, speechless; she thought it possible that +he might never be able to speak again, this side the grave. The +chances were that he was the only person living who knew that that +money was where it was. It was hardly likely that he would ever +again be able to refer to its existence; she might, therefore, safely +regard it as--what? Say, treasure-trove; it was a convenient word, +treasure-trove; especially as she was placed. One hundred and +twenty-seven pounds! in gold! no one would ever be able to trace it! +ever!</p> + +<p class="normal">Her eyes, which had opened wider and wider, having in them a very +singular look, a look which would have startled her had they suddenly +glared back at her from a mirror, wandered from the heap of gold coins +to a bag, a canvas bag--a good-sized canvas bag, stuffed, apparently, +to repletion, tied round the top with red tape; the kind of bag, she +was aware, which is used by bankers to contain coin. She touched it, +lightly, with her finger-tips; there were coins inside, undoubtedly; +she could see them bulging through the canvas. She picked it up, again +gingerly, as if, if she did not observe great care, it might explode +in her hand; it had been better for her, perhaps, if it had. It was +heavy, heavier than she had expected; wedged full of money. Beneath it +there was another half-sheet of writing-paper; on it, in Donald +Lindsay's writing, was what was probably a statement of what the bag +contained--"£500." Five hundred pounds! obviously again in gold! She +could feel the sovereigns! and the one person who knew of its +existence dumb and dying!</p> + +<p class="normal">What was the matter with Elaine? The sheet of paper fell from her +hand. She reeled as if attacked by sudden vertigo; she leaned against +the table as if to save herself from falling; she went quite white; +she stared about her as if afraid. Six hundred and twenty-seven pounds +in gold! ownerless! practically ownerless, for how could it be said to +have an owner when the only creature who knew of its existence was +dumb and dying? Six hundred and twenty-seven pounds! what might not +that money mean to her?--and--and to some one else who had grown of +late to be almost more to her than herself? She turned again to clutch +at it; when she saw that on the writing-table there still was +something else; a roll of notes, enclosed in a rubber band; banknotes, +if she could believe her eyes. She picked them up, to make sure; +heedlessly, fearlessly this time; the other things had proved so +innocuous that, already, she had grown careless. They were bank-notes, +unmistakably; and beneath them, was the inevitable half-sheet of +paper. This time it was covered with quite an array of figures, in +Donald Lindsay's neat handwriting. Seemingly, according to those +figures, the roll of notes contained forty at £5, fifty at £10, +twenty-five at £20, six at £50, ten at £100; in all one hundred and +twenty-one notes of the value of £2500. The numbers were given of +every note of each denomination; Elaine's quick eyes perceived that +the numbers were by no means consecutive, from which she deduced that +they had not been issued from a bank all at one time, but had come +together at different dates, from various quarters.</p> + +<p class="normal">She perceived on the instant that the discovery of that roll gave the +situation quite a different character; she herself was conscious of +being surprised at the rapidity with which her brain was working. One +hundred and twenty pounds, even six hundred and twenty pounds in gold, +was one thing; two thousand five hundred pounds in notes was quite +another; the one might provide for her immediate necessities, with +the other she might be secure for life. Properly invested the +whole sum ought to bring her in three pounds a week--for ever; she +believed she knew of an investment in which it might bring her more +than that; much more. The point was, would it be safe to treat that +as--treasure-trove? She was inclined to think it would. Probably the +existence of the entire amount was known only to the dying man, if he +was dying. There was, of course, the risk that he might come back to +life again, in which case it might be awkward. But some ghoul-like +intuition told her that she might dismiss that possibility from her +mind; some dreadful voice within proclaimed that he was as good as +dead already; in some horrible way she was sure of it. It was a +heterogeneous gathering, that roll of notes; probably their owner +himself could not have told how most of them came into his possession. +The only record of their identity was on that sheet of paper; if that +vanished there was nothing by which they could be identified; that +seemed pretty obvious. The devil whispered that it would be just as +safe to take the notes as to take the gold; and she knew that she +would run no risk by taking that.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was still one point to be considered; she was clear-sighted and +logical enough to be aware of that. If Donald Lindsay was dying then +this money was, in all human probability, his child's, who was the +dearest friend she had in the world, Nora. She loved Nora, really +loved her; she was always telling herself that she really loved her. +Then Nora had done her nothing but kindnesses; how great some of those +kindnesses were only she and Nora knew. The idea that she would allow +any one to rob Nora was monstrous; that she should rob her herself was +inconceivable. Had any one accused her of being capable of such base +ingratitude even then she would have repudiated the charge with honest +indignation; nothing would ever induce her to do anything which could +injure Nora. She knew herself well enough to be assured of that. And +then she glozed the thing over with one of those patent glosses which +the devil provides when the occasion needs them.</p> + +<p class="normal">She argued this way; if her father died then Nora would be a rich +woman, immensely rich; rich, possibly, beyond the dreams of avarice. +She would never miss such a detail as, say, three thousand pounds; +such a sum would be a trifle to her, a nothing; especially if she +never knew that the sum had ever existed. There was that to be borne +in mind; we do not miss what we never had, especially if we do not +know it ever was. And in the case of a rich woman like Nora, with +twenty, thirty, forty, perhaps fifty thousand pounds a year, perhaps +even more, in such an income there were bound to be leakages; through +one of them such a drop in the ocean as three thousand pounds might +easily slip, and no one even be aware of it, least of all would the +knowledge ever come to Nora, or touch her in any way. No; certainly +darling Nora would suffer no injury if what was on the writing-table +was regarded as treasure-trove.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same time far be it from her--Elaine--to do anything which +could be regarded by any one as in the slightest degree unworthy. She +was seized with a sudden access of virtue. Take the money--she! Sully +her fingers by even touching it! who dare hint that she could do a +thing like that! The idea was really too ridiculous; it was not to be +taken seriously. It only showed what notions came to people when money +was left about. She had always maintained that it was wrong to leave +money about. Mr. Lindsay ought to have known better, putting +temptation in some weak-minded person's way; she did not stop to +consider that for that he could hardly be held responsible. What she +had to do was to see that temptation was removed; some servant might +stray into the room, and then what might not happen? The least she +could do was to see that the money was put out of sight, in a drawer, +or anywhere. She glanced about her, and was struck by a rather curious +notion. The door of a bookcase stood wide open. A book had obviously +been taken down from one of the shelves; a large volume, one of a set; +there it lay by her elbow on the table. She looked at it, without +clearly apprehending what the title was; she had a vague idea that in +it was something about law. Here was the very hiding-place she wanted; +no thief would be tempted to take money which was snugly hidden behind +a great book like that, if only for the simple reason that he would +never know that it was there. She slipped the loose gold into a big +blue envelope; then she placed it, and the canvas bag, and the roll of +notes, on that shelf in the bookcase. It so chanced that while the +backs of the set of books were plumb with the front of the shelf they +did not go right against the wall, so that there was space enough +behind them to enable her, after a little manipulation, to do what she +desired. When the volume had been returned to its place there was +nothing whatever to show that behind it were more than three thousand +pounds in notes and gold. She surveyed this result with satisfaction.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now," she told herself, "I've removed temptation from everybody's +way."</p> + +<p class="normal">The three half-sheets of paper on which Mr. Lindsay had noted the +several amounts she folded up together and thrust into the bodice of +her dress; possibly she thought that they would be out of harm's way +there. She had just done this, and had shut the bookcase door, when, +in the silence which prevailed, she distinctly heard the footsteps of +some one moving in the grounds without. Instantly she blew the lamp +out, and went fluttering through the open window. So soon as she was +on the terrace she stood still to listen. Her ear had not deceived +her. Some one, not far off, was moving along a gravel path; apparently +the sound proceeded from the other side of the house. Either her +perceptions must have been very keen, or there was something unusual +about the step; though it is strange how quick the ear is to recognize +a step with which one is familiar.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do believe," she told herself, "that it's his step." She ran along +to the end of the terrace; then stopped again. "It is!" she said. With +lifted skirts she tiptoed round the side of the house till she came to +where a path branched off among the trees, then, drawing herself under +their shadow, she stood and waited, smiling. The steps came nearer, +close to where she was. She moved out from under the shadow. +"Herbert!" she said.</p> + +<p class="normal">The man--it was a man--was evidently taken by surprise; he stepped +back so quickly that he almost stumbled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By George!" he exclaimed, "what a start you gave me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She laughed, half to herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did she frighten him, the poor thing! I heard you coming ever so far +off; I knew it was you. And pray what are you doing here at this time +of night?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I came upon the off-chance of getting a word with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With me--at this hour!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I've found you, and that's what I wanted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert!" She went still closer, almost as if expecting a caress; but +when he showed no inclination to take advantage of his opportunities, +she saw from his face, in the moonlight, that there was something +wrong. "My lord, what ails you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything; I've come up to tell you that what we were talking about +yesterday is clean off."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And of what were we talking--yesterday?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, about our marriage, and all that kind of thing. I can't marry; I +don't suppose I ever shall be able to; you'd better give me the mitten +right away. To begin with, I've found out--or, rather, I've had the +fact forced upon me, that I'm in a mess."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What kind of mess?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Money, of course; what else counts?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How much?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I don't get two hundred pounds--and where am I going to get two +hundred pounds? why, I haven't as many shillings--and get it pretty +soon, I shall have to----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He had left his sentence unfinished; he gave it a conclusion which one +felt had not been originally intended.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I shall be in Queer Street."</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused, and she was silent; she was thinking.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_04" href="#div1Ref_04">THE AVERNIAN SLOPE</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">When she spoke again a quick observer might have noticed that in her +voice there was a new intonation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two hundred pounds is not such a very large sum."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Isn't it? I'm glad you think so. It's a large sum to me; a lot too +large. I've about as much chance of getting it as I have of getting +the moon. And if I did get it I shouldn't be much forwarder so far as +marriage is concerned. What's the use of my talking of marrying when I +hardly earn enough to buy myself bread and cheese? and it's as certain +as anything can be that in this place I never shall earn enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For one reason, if for no other, because in this place there's only +room for one solicitor; and old Dawson's that one. He's got all the +business that's worth having; and, what's more, he'll keep it. Now if +I could buy old Dawson out--I happen to know that he's made what he +considers pile enough for him, and would be quite willing to retire; +or even if I could buy a share in his business, he might be willing to +sell that; then it might be a case of talking; but as it is, so far as +I'm concerned, marriage is off."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How much would be wanted?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I could lay my hands on a thousand, or fifteen hundred pounds in +cash, then I might go to Dawson and make a proposal; but as I never +shall be able to lay my hands on it, it would be better for both of us +if we talked sense; that's what I've come for, to talk sense."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does all this mean that you've found out that you made a mistake when +you told me that you loved me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It means the exact opposite; I've found out that I love you a good +deal more than I thought I did. If I didn't love you I might be +disposed to behave like a cad, and marry you out of hand; but as I do +love you I'm not taking any chances."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't quite follow your reasoning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't you? It's clear enough to me. I'm in a hole, and because I love +you I'm not going to drag you in as well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But suppose I should like to be dragged?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't understand, or you wouldn't talk like that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shouldn't I? Don't be too certain. You are sure you love me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I love you more than I thought I could love any one, and that's the +mischief."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it? I don't agree; because, you see, I love you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's no good; I wish you didn't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you? Then I don't. If you wanted me to, I'd marry you to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Elaine!" Then he did take her in his arms, and he kissed her. And she +kissed him. Suddenly he put her from him. "Don't! for God's sake, +don't! Elaine, don't you tempt me! I'm not much of a chap, and I'm +not much of a hand at resisting temptation--there's frankness for +you!--and I want to keep straight where you're concerned. I'll make a +clean breast of it; the only way I can see out of the mess I'm in is +to make a bolt for it, and I'm going to bolt; there you have it. I've +come up here to say good-bye."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-bye?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her voice was tremulous.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If ever I come to any good, which isn't very probable, you'll hear +from me; you'll never hear from me if I don't; so I'm afraid that this +is going to be very near a case of farewell for ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You say two hundred pounds will get you out of that mess you're in?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"About that; I dare say I could manage with less if it was ready +money. But what's the use of talking? I don't propose to rob a bank, +and that's the only way I ever could get it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if you had fifteen hundred to offer Mr. Dawson, what then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What then? Elaine, you're hard on me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How hard? I don't mean to be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To dangle before my face the things which I most want when you know +they're not for me! Why, if I had fifteen hundred pounds, and could go +to Dawson with a really serious proposition, the world would become +another place; I should see my way to some sort of a career. I'd begin +by earning a decent living; in no time I'd be getting together a home; +in a year we might be married."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A year? That's a long time."</p> + +<p class="normal">He laughed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I were Dawson's partner, with a really substantial share, we might +be married right away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How soon, from now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Elaine, what are you driving at? what is the use of our deceiving +ourselves? I shall become Dawson's partner when pigs have wings, not +before. What I have to do is bolt, while there still is time."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was an interval of silence. They were standing very close +together; but he kept his hands in his jacket pockets, as if he were +resolved that he would not take her in his arms; while she stood, with +downcast eyes, picking at the hem of her dress. When she spoke again +it was almost in a whisper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Suppose I were able to find you the money?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He smiled a smile of utter incredulity, as if her words were not worth +considering.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Suppose you were able to buy me the earth? Yesterday you told me that +you had not enough money to buy yourself a pair of shoes; in fact, you +said that your whole worldly wealth was represented by less than five +shillings."</p> + +<p class="normal">Once more she was still--oddly still.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The name was rather sighed than spoken. He saw that she was trembling. +The appeal was irresistible. Again he put his arms about her and held +her fast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Little lady, you've troubles enough of your own without worrying +yourself about mine. You'll easily find better men than I am who'll be +glad enough to worship the ground on which you stand, and then you'll +recognize how much you owe me for running away, and leaving you an +open field. The best thing that can happen to you is that I should +go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't think so. I--I don't want you to go."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a catching in her breath.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't want to go, but--I might find it awkward if I stayed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert, I--I want to tell you something."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it? By the sound of you it must be something very +tremendous."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her manner certainly was strange. As a rule she was a most +self-possessed young woman; now she seemed to be able to do nothing +but shiver and stammer. Not only was she hardly audible, but her words +came from her one by one, as if she found it difficult to speak at +all.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What I--said to you--yesterday--wasn't true; I--said it to try you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did you say to try me? Elaine, you're what I never thought you +would be--you're mysterious."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Suppose--you had fifteen hundred pounds--are you sure Mr. Dawson +would make you a partner?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I've never asked him, but I'm betting twopence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What would your income be if he did? You're not to laugh--answer my +questions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I'll answer them; although, as I've already remarked, I've not +the faintest notion what you're driving at; and that particular +question is rather a wide one. If I were to buy a share I should try +to do it on the understanding that some day I was to have the lot. I +should probably commence with an income of between three and four +hundred, which would become more later on; I dare say old Dawson is +making a good thousand a year."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A thousand? We might live on that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should think we might; we might start on three hundred; I should +like to have the chance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'd be willing. And how much would it cost to furnish a house?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've a few sticks in those rooms of mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know; I also know what kind of sticks they are--we shouldn't want +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There at last we are agreed. I suppose that to furnish the kind of +house we should want to start with would make a hole in a couple of +hundred--you probably know more about that sort of thing than I do. +But, my dear Elaine, what is the use of our playing at fairy tales? +You haven't five shillings in the world, and I've only just enough to +take me clear away, and to keep the breath in my body while I have one +look round."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again there was an interval of silence, which was broken by her in a +scarcely audible whisper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That--that was what I was trying to explain; what--I said to you +yesterday was--to prove you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What particular thing did you say? I haven't a notion what you mean."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every girl likes to be--wooed for herself alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course she does, and it's dead certain you'll never be wooed for +anything but your own sweet self; I've known you, and all about you, +long enough to be aware that you're no heiress."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's--that's where you're wrong."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wrong! Elaine, where's the joke?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I am an heiress; of course, in a very moderate way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you call an heiress? when yesterday you told me that you +didn't possess five shillings!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was said to try you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Raising her eyes she looked him boldly in the face; there in the +bright moonlight they could see each other almost as clearly as if it +had been high noon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To try me? You're beyond me altogether; Elaine, are you pulling my +leg?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have about two thousand pounds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two thousand pounds! Great Scott! where did you get it from? I didn't +know there was so much money in all your family."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, again, you were mistaken. I got it from an aunt who died--not +long ago."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When did she die?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, about six months ago."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What was her name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The same as mine--Harding."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was she an aunt by marriage?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She was my father's sister."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A spinster? But I thought you told me that none of your father's +relatives had two pennies to rub together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I thought; but I was wrong. At any rate, when she died she left me +about two thousand pounds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You've kept it pretty dark."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was staring at her as if altogether amazed; she smiled at him as if +amused by his surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have; I've told nobody--not even Nora."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Doesn't Miss Lindsay know?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She doesn't. Nobody knows--except you; and I shall be obliged by your +respecting my confidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll respect your confidence; but--of all the queer starts! What fibs +you've told!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know I've told some; in a position like mine, one had to. But I'd +made up my mind that you shouldn't know I had money, and--you didn't +know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I certainly did not; I scarcely realize it now; I wonder if you're +joking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I'm not joking."</p> + +<p class="normal">She shook her pretty head, with a grave little smile. Her face looked +white in the moonshine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you touch the capital? Is it in the hands of trustees? Or do you +only have the income?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not in the hands of trustees; it is entirely at my own +disposal; I can get it when I want."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All of it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"All of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">He drew a long breath, as if moved by some new and sudden strength of +feeling.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you--can you get two hundred pounds before next Tuesday?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can, and I will--if you want it. You are sure you want it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Elaine, if--if you will I'll--I'll never forget it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall have it on Monday if you like." He covered his face with +his hands, seeming to be shaken by the stress of a great emotion. She +drew closer to him, as if frightened; her voice trembled. "Herbert, +what--what is wrong?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncovering his face, clenching his fists, he stared straight in front +of him, resolution in his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing now--nothing!--and there never shall be anything +again!--thank-God. Thank God! Considering what sort of mess it was +that I was in, I didn't dare to ask God to help me out of it; but He's +done it without my asking Him. Elaine, upon my word I believe it's +true that God moves in a mysterious way." Elaine, hiding her face +against his shoulder, burst into tears, which surprised him more than +anything which had gone before. She was not a girl who cries easily, +yet now she was shaken by her sobs. Putting his arms about her, he +strove to comfort her, showering on her endearing epithets. "My sweet, +my dear, my darling, what troubles you? Don't you--don't you want me +to have the money? You have only to say so; I shan't mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I want you to have it! I only want it for you!--you know I +only want it for you! Herbert, are you--are you sure you love me? Tell +me--tell me quite truly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am as sure as that there is the moon above us; and now I dare to +tell you so; no man ever loved a woman better than I love you. I know +I am unworthy; I know how, in all essentials, you are infinitely above +me----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not--I'm not!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But it shall be my constant endeavour to raise myself to your +level----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't!--you don't know what you're saying! Don't!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do know what I'm saying, and I mean it; if God gives me strength I +hope, before I've finished, to prove myself worthy of the wife I've +won. You hear? Then make a note of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then there were divers passages.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert, I want you to go to Mr. Dawson tomorrow, and arrange about +that partnership. I'll find the fifteen hundred pounds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sweetheart, you've turned all my sorrow into joy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And--this, sir, is supposed to be spoken in the faintest +whisper--I--I think I'd like to be married pretty soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As soon as it is legally possible, madam, you shall be married, if +you choose to say the word."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't want it in quite such a hurry as that; but--you know what I +mean!--I don't want to have to wait a horrid year." Presently she +asked, "Do you know that Mr. Lindsay's very ill?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard it as I came along."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think he's dying. I suppose Nora'll be very rich if he does."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let's hope that he'll not die."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not die?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at him with such a strange expression on her face that he +smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, girlie, you don't want the father to die to make the daughter +rich!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; of course not."</p> + +<p class="normal">But, afterwards, she was not the same; it was as if he had struck some +jarring note. When they parted she went round to the back of the +house, along the terrace, towards the study window, which still stood +open. She paused upon the threshold.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Suppose he were not to die? suppose he doesn't?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The problem the supposition presented to her mind seemed to cause her +no slight disturbance; still she passed into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Which explains why, when Nora said she doubted if Mr. Nash was ever +really interested in anybody but himself, Elaine Harding had good +cause to wonder if the thing was true.</[> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_05" href="#div1Ref_05">PETER PIPER'S POPULAR PILLS</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">On the Monday, after Dr. Banyard had been gone perhaps a couple of +hours, Mr. Nash drove up to Cloverlea in a dogcart. Miss Harding met +him in the drive. At sight of her the gentleman descended; the cart +went on up to the house, to wait for him. So soon as it was out of +sight the lady, taking a packet from the bodice of her dress, gave it +to her lover.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's the two hundred; put it in your pocket; I want you to promise +that you'll not breathe a word to any one about the money having come +from me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I promise readily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nor about any other money which--I may find. I want you to keep your +own counsel; I want people to suppose that the money is your own; I +don't want them to think I'm buying a husband."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I certainly will neither do nor say anything to make them think so. +All the same, darling, I don't know how to thank you; you don't know +what this means to me. It seems to be all in gold?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He was fingering the parcel in his jacket pocket.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is; I thought you might find it more convenient."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think it's possible you're right; I believe you always are."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he had been coming along in the dogcart he had not seemed to be in +the best of spirits; now he was unmistakably cheerful; that package +had made a difference. A question, however, which she asked seemed to +annoy him more than, on the surface, it need have done.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What became of Mr. Peters?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They gave him six months--confound the idiots?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why confound them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The smile with which he accompanied his reply seemed forced.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A lawyer likes his client to be acquitted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Dr. Banyard says that he's a scoundrel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dr. Banyard! You can tell Dr. Banyard, with my compliments, that he's +a Pharisee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think nothing of the man; I think he's an interfering prig. I don't +like him, and he doesn't like me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which shows that he must be all kinds of a fool."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know about that; but I do know that I don't like him. By the +way, I suppose you understand what you're coming for. Everything here +is at sixes and sevens. Nora knows absolutely nothing about her +father's business affairs; he never told her anything; he kept his own +counsel with a vengeance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I gathered from your note."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She doesn't even know who his man of business was. She wants you to +find out; she thinks that if you look through his papers you will."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There should be no difficulty about that. If I have access to his +papers I ought to find that out inside ten minutes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose so. But even if you do find out I don't see why you +shouldn't keep the conduct of her affairs as much as possible in your +hands; I think it might be done; you'll have my influence upon your +side. You needn't say anything about there being an understanding +between us; we can't keep people from guessing; but don't let them +know--till it suits us."</p> + +<p class="normal">He saw something in her eyes which caused him to pay her what some +people would have regarded as an ambiguous compliment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By George, you're a clever one; you're the sort of girl I like!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm glad of that; because you happen to be the sort of man I like."</p> + +<p class="normal">He laughed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'd like to kiss you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite impossible, here. You see, it might be rather a good thing for +you to have the management of Nora's estate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, oh queen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then why shouldn't you have it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know of no reason."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no reason, if you take proper advantage of the fact that +you're first on the field." They had entered the house and were +standing outside the study door. She produced a key. "Nora's not +appearing; poor dear, she's more distressed than I ever thought she +would have been! so, on this occasion only, I am doing the honours. +We've kept this room locked up since the day on which Mr. Lindsay +was taken ill; no one has crossed the threshold; you'll find +everything in the same condition in which he left it." They entered +the room. So soon as they were in he kissed her, and she kissed him, +though she protested. "Hush! Nora's waiting for me! Remember what I +told you; there's no reason why you shouldn't have the management of +everything--if you like."</p> + +<p class="normal">He communed with himself when she had left him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wonder what she means, exactly; she's careful not to dot her i's. +She's the dearest girl in the world, even dearer than I thought. This +is something like a windfall." He took out the packet, fingering it, +smilingly, with the fingers of both hands. Then, replacing it in his +pocket, glancing round the room, he was struck by the state of +disorder it was in. "It's as well they kept the door locked; +everything seems to have been left about for the first comer to +admire. Lindsay must have been having a regular turn-out when he was +taken ill; I wonder why." On the writing-table the first thing which +caught his eye were some slips of blue paper secured by a rubber band. +He snatched them up. They were four promissory notes, payable at +various dates; they all bore the same signature, Herbert Nash. He +chuckled. "We'll consider those as paid, until they prove the +contrary; which they'll find it hard to do." He slipped them into his +breast pocket. Settling himself on the chair on which Mr. Lindsay had +been seated when death first touched him on the shoulder, he began to +go methodically through the papers which were about him, practically, +on all sides. He came on one, the contents of which seemed to occasion +him profound surprise. "What on earth is this? what the dickens does +it mean?" There was not a great deal on the paper; what there was he +read again and again, as if he found its meaning curiously obscure. +"This is queerish; I'd give a trifle to know what it does mean; it +might be worth one's while to inquire."</p> + +<p class="normal">Folding up the paper he placed it in his breast pocket, with the +promissory notes. Hardly had he done so than the door was opened, +without any warning, and Dr. Banyard came into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hallo, Nash! have you found anything? have you found out who his man +of business was?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash glanced up from the papers he was studying; if he was a +little startled by the doctor's unheralded appearance he gave no sign +of it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I haven't discovered his man of business; but I have found +something."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You haven't come upon anything which shows who it was he generally +employed; I understand you've been here some time."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash shook his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know how long I have been here, but I've come on nothing +which shows that he ever employed any one at all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He must have employed some one."</p> + +<p class="normal">The other shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've gone through a good many of his papers; I've not hit on one +which suggests it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You said you'd found something; what is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"His will; or, rather, a will."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is something."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Especially as, beyond a shadow of doubt, it's the last will he ever +made. It was drawn up on the third, last Thursday, probably just +before he was taken ill. It's in his own writing, brief, and to the +point, and apparently quite in order, since it was witnessed by +Morgan, the butler here, and Mrs. Steele the housekeeper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let's have a look at it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here it is, in the envelope in which I found it."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor examined the paper which he took out of the envelope; it +seemed that its contents gave him satisfaction.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see that, by this, he's left everything to his daughter +unconditionally."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is so, the intention's unmistakable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then she's safe; that's all right. It ought to be something handsome; +I wonder how much it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's the question."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose you've come across something which gives you, at any rate, +some vague notion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I haven't, that's the odd part of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I'm glad you've come."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why? what's up? Found the job too big to tackle single-handed? I +thought you would."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're mistaken; that is not what I mean. I've gone +through--hurriedly, but still thoroughly enough to have a pretty good +idea of what it is that they contain--all the available books and +papers; and, as you see, most of them seem available, everything seems +open; and I've not found anything which even hints that he died the +possessor of any property at all; with two exceptions. There is his +pass-book at the local bank, showing a balance of about a hundred +pounds, which may have been drawn on since; and there are the +Cloverlea title-deeds, there, in that deed-box."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That only shows that everything essential is in the hands of his +London lawyer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You seem to take the existence of such a person very much for +granted. He told me himself he hadn't one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Told you? when?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not long ago there was a little difficulty about a right of way; I +don't know if you heard of it. He came to me about it; I then asked +him who acted for him in town; he said no one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are sure?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am; for a man in his position it struck me as odd."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He must have had a man in town, you misunderstood him. You haven't +gone through all the papers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we shall come upon it; I'll help you with the rest. There are no +doubt papers elsewhere; probably in his bedroom, or at his rooms in +town. Have you found out what was his London address?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have found nothing which shows that he had one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But he must have had a London address; why, he spent quite a large +part of the year in town."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I happen to know that the only London address Miss Lindsay ever had +was the Carlton Club; they may be able to tell us there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course they'll be able to tell us. Found any cash?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a penny."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anything which stands for cash?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing; except what I have told you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He had said nothing about what was in his breast-pocket.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lindsay was a man of secretive habits; if he could help it he never +let his left hand know what his right hand was doing. When you come to +deal with the affairs of a man like that you're handicapped; but there +can be no sort of doubt that he was a man of considerable means. It +must have cost him something to live here; where did the money to do +that come from? It must have come from somewhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It seems that there are a good many debts; as you are possibly aware, +there is a good deal owing round here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was a man who hated paying."</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly the doctor glanced up from the papers he was examining to +glare at his companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look here, Nash, what are you hinting at?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am merely answering your questions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but you're answering them in a way I don't like."</p> + +<p class="normal">The younger man smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid that I didn't realize that my answers had to be to your +liking, whatever the facts might be."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor returned to the papers; he looked as if he could have said +something vigorous, but refrained. After a while he had to admit that +his researches, so far, had been without result.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, there seems to be nothing here, and that's a fact. These papers +seem to contain material for a history of the Cloverlea estate since +it came into Lindsay's possession; and that's all. Now for the safe."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've gone through that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll go through it also; though from the look of it, it doesn't seem +as if there were much to go through." He pulled out one of the small +drawers at the bottom. "Hallo, what have we here?" He took out an +oblong wooden box. "What's this on the lid? 'Peter Piper's Popular +Pills.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The exclamation came from Nash.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here it is, large as life, in good bold letters; there ought to be +something valuable in here." He opened the lid. "An envelope with +papers in it; what's this writing on it? 'Analyses of the constituent +parts of Peter Piper's Popular Pills by leading analytical chemists.' +What fools those fellows are! Lindsay's writing; he doesn't seem to +have had a high opinion of some one; let's hope there's nothing +libellous. What's here besides? A bottle purporting to contain Peter +Piper's Popular Pills; the man seems to have had them on the brain. +And--other bottles containing the ingredients of which they're made; +so it says outside them; as I'm alive! and the man kept this stuff +inside his safe! Nash, why are you looking at me like that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash was regarding the doctor with a somewhat singular expression +on his face; when the doctor put the question to him he started, as if +taken by surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Looking at you? was I looking at you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Glaring was the better word."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was unconscious. Are you--are you sure that they are Peter Piper's +Popular Pills in that box?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sure? As if I could be sure about a thing like that! what do I know +about such filth? look for yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash examined the box with a show of interest which its contents +scarcely seemed to warrant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How extremely--curious."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fancy a man like Lindsay harbouring such stuff as that! I should +think it was curious!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Though both men used the same adjective one felt that each read into +it a different meaning.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Mr. Nash started to leave the house he found that the dogcart, +which he supposed was still in waiting, had disappeared. He asked no +questions, but drew his own conclusions. As he passed down the avenue, +and perceived that Miss Harding was strolling among the trees, he +smiled. So soon as the lady saw him she began to ply him with +questions.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what's happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"One thing's happened, you've sent away my dogcart."</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at him with mischief in her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Walking will do you more good than driving; and it will cost you +less. Besides, it will give you an opportunity of exchanging a few +words with me. I hope you don't mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the contrary, I'm delighted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have you found?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've found his will; he's left his daughter everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything! How splendid! I'm so glad he's left her everything!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Harding's face could not have been more radiant had she received +a personal benefit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shouldn't be over hasty in offering her your congratulations if I +were you; it's quite possible that everything won't amount to very +much."</p> + +<p class="normal">She seemed struck by his tone even more than by his words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert! What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash kicked a pebble with his toe; then he whistled to himself; +then he said, just as her patience was at an end--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's a bit awkward to explain, but it's this way; Banyard and I have +been going through his books and papers, and everything there was to +go through; and there was a good deal, as you know; and we haven't +come on anything which points to money or money's worth. I've been +putting two and two together, and I rather think I understand the +situation; when all's over and settled I shouldn't be surprised if +Miss Lindsay would be very glad indeed to have your little fortune."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My--my little fortune?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm alluding to the snug little legacy left you by your venerated +aunt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's--it's impossible!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"More impossible things have happened; and I think I'm almost inclined +to bet twopence that her fortune's nearer two thousand shillings than +two thousand pounds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert! Herbert!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's the matter? Why, little girl, you mustn't take on like that; +what a sensitive little thing it is! it'll be through no fault of +yours if she's left penniless! She's never been over nice to me, and +I'm sure I shan't worry myself into an early grave if she is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't understand!" she wailed. "You don't understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">By the domestic hearth that evening Dr. Banyard addressed to his wife +some more or less sententious remarks, as he puffed at his pipe.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's something wrong up at Cloverlea, confoundedly wrong. I don't +understand what it is, and I don't like what I do understand. There's +a riddle somewhere, and I'm half afraid we're not going to find the +answer. Mind you, I've actually no grounds to go upon, but I don't +trust that man, Nash; I've all sorts of doubts about the fellow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Banyard looked up from her sewing, and smiled; as is the way with +wives of some years' standing she did not always take her husband so +seriously as she might have done.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor Mr. Nash! you never do like good-looking men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It isn't only that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; but it's partly that. You funny old man! It doesn't follow +because you're ugly yourself that all good-looking men are necessarily +worthless."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Generally speaking, a certain type of good-looking man is worth +nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And Mr. Nash represents the type? And do you represent Christian +charity? What do you suspect him of now? of having the answer to that +mysterious riddle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know; that's just it, I don't know; but I doubt him all the +same."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_06" href="#div1Ref_06">HER LOVE STORY</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">That night Nora dreamed again--the same dream. It was more real even +than before. She was lying in bed--she knew she was in bed, and her +father came in at the door. In some strange fashion she had expected +him; it was not that she heard him moving along the passage, yet, +somehow, she knew that he was there, that he was coming. And, before +he actually appeared, she knew that he was in great trouble; when he +opened the door, so noiselessly, and without a sound came in, and +closed the door again, also without a sound, she knew it even better +than before, and his trouble communicated itself to her. In such +trouble was he that he was even afraid of her. He remained close to +the door, looking timidly towards her as she lay in bed, not daring to +approach. So moved was she by his strange timidity that she sat up, +and held out her arms to him, calling--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father!" She was sure she called, because she heard her own voice +quite clearly; not as it mostly is in dreams, when one hears nothing. +But yet he came no closer. Then she saw that he was crying. She called +to him again, more eagerly. Then he went, step by step, timidly +towards her; until she had her arms about him, and whispered, "Father, +tell me what it is that troubles you." And he tried to tell her, but +he could not; he was speechless, and to him his speechlessness was +agony. If he only could speak she felt that all might be well with +him--and with her; but he was tongue-tied. She tried to think of what +it could be that he wished to say to her, and to prompt him; +whispering into his ear first this, then that; but it was plain that +none of her hints had anything to do with what was in his mind, though +once she thought that she might not be far off. When she whispered, +"Is it about what I am to do in the future?" his face changed; a sort +of convulsion passed all over him; he drew himself away from her, and +stood up, raising his arms, seeming to make a frenzied effort to +achieve articulation; it even seemed that speech had come to him at +last, when, just as words were already almost issuing from his lips, +he vanished, and she was alone in the darkness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Not the least strange part of it was that she was wide awake, having +no consciousness of being roused out of sleep; she was sitting up in +bed, the tears were streaming down her cheeks, her arms were held out, +with about them the oddest feeling of somebody having just been in +them. Indeed for a moment or two she could not believe that there was +not some one in them still. When she did realize that they were empty +she threw herself face downwards in the bed, crying as if her heart +would break, because of her father's woe.</p> + +<p class="normal">Donald Lindsay was buried on the Thursday--exactly a week after he had +been stricken with his death. On the Tuesday and Wednesday she had +variations of the same dream, and on the Thursday, the day of the +funeral, it was so terrible a dream that the agony of it remained with +her until the morning. For a long time afterwards some form of that +dream would come to her at intervals. She said nothing of it to any +one, though there was a moment when she was on the point of speaking +of it to Elaine Harding; but she had it sometimes even in her waking +thoughts. The course of events induced in her a kind of dormant +conviction not only that the dream was sent to her for some special +purpose, and that it had a meaning; but, also, that some day both the +purpose and the meaning would be made clear. She knew that it is +written that, of old, God spake to men in dreams; she believed it to +be possible that, in a dream, God might speak to her. The dream always +ended at the same point: just as her father, after an agonizing +effort, seemed to be about to speak. She fancied that, some night, it +might go on further, and that he might speak to her in his dream, and +that with his speaking the purpose and the meaning of it all would be +discovered.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the morning of the funeral, among the other letters, Mrs. Steele, +the housekeeper, called her attention to one in particular. No doubt +she was aware that, during the last few days, either letters had been +left unopened, or the task of opening them relegated to Elaine +Harding, who communicated their contents if she pleased.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Nora," she said, "this is a letter from Mr. Spencer."</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl caught eagerly at it; it was the first sign of eagerness she +had lately shown. So soon as Mrs. Steele had gone she opened it. It +was from her lover, Robert Spencer; a long letter, on three closely +written sheets of foreign note-paper. He was in Sicily; had sent her a +gossipy narrative of his wanderings among its ancient places, and +among its scenes of beauty. It was full of love, and life, and high +spirits; the sort of letter which makes a girl's heart beat happily; +which she cherishes amid her most precious possessions. He told her +how he wished that she was with him; that she at least was close at +hand, that they might see and enjoy, together, what was so much worth +seeing, and enjoying. In mischievous mood he added that when the great +day came, on which the sun would rise in their sky for ever, and they +were married, he humbly ventured to suggest that part of their +honeymoon might be spent where he was then--"that would be to invest +Taormina, which is already nearly all halos, with another, the +brightest and the best."</p> + +<p class="normal">To a girl's thinking there could be no pleasanter reading than such a +letter; she could desire nothing better of the future than that its +savour might remain unchanged, and that, throughout the years which +were to come, the love of which it was a sign might walk always by her +side.</p> + +<p class="normal">So great was its power that, for a moment, it charmed her to +forgetfulness. She saw in it her lover's face, and looked into his +eyes; his voice spoke to her from the pages, and sounded sweetly in +her ears. When he wrote of honeymooning the blood came to her cheeks; +her lips were parted by a smile; her heart seemed speaking unto his. +Even when she remembered, and recalled what day it was, and what +shortly was about to happen, the light did not quite fade from her +eyes, and the world was not all darkness. The match had been one of +the few things respecting which her father had expressed to her his +audible satisfaction. It was tacitly understood that the marriage was +to take place during the current year. Both lovers were young--Robert +Spencer had only just turned twenty-four. The only thing which could +be said against him was his lack of means. He had done well both at +school and at the university. Without being the least bit of a prig, +he was exempt from those vices which the facile standard of the world +in which he lived associates with youth. He was tall and strong and +handsome; easy-mannered, more than is apt to be the case with the +young Englishman of twenty-four; of fluent speech--he had been, in his +time, one of the stars of the Union; there was no apparent reason why +he should not make for himself, among the men of his own generation, a +great name for good. The chief obstacle with which he would have to +contend might be, as has been said, the eternal question of pence.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was the fourth, and youngest, son of the Earl of Mountdennis. +Everybody knows that his lordship had more children than money; four +sons and five daughters is a liberal allowance for any man; the Earl +and the Countess have that number living, and three of their children +are dead. At the period of which we are writing all the five daughters +were married, though by no means, from their mother's point of view, +all satisfactorily married. The Countess never attempted to conceal +the fact that only the first and third had done really well for +themselves. According to the same authority, the boys had not done all +that they might have done; the heir, Lord Cookham, in particular, +had been a bitter disappointment, having been--his mother called +it--wicked enough to marry a girl who had no money, and, practically, +no family, merely because he loved her. He had been perfectly well +aware that, in his case, marriage must mean money; it had been drummed +into his ears from his earliest childhood;--family was of no +consequence; he had family enough of his own. The one thing wanted was +money--sacks full. And the thing was made more cruel by the fact that +he might have had any amount of money, had he chosen. He might have +had an English girl with a hundred thousand a year, to say nothing of +several Americans with a great deal more; instead of which he married +a young woman whom he met, as the Countess put it, at "some horrid +foreign place," whose only qualification was that she was generally +admitted, by some excellent judges, to be delightful. What, as the +Countess pungently inquired, was the use of being delightful if she +and her husband had not enough money between them to pay off the +family debts, to say nothing of keeping up the family seats. And then +they actually started by having three children in less than six +years--all girls. It was too perfectly ridiculously absurd!</p> + +<p class="normal">Montagu, the second son, had refused to marry at all, so his mother +said; though it was not known that any girls had ever actually asked +him. It was understood that he had made money in Africa, though he +showed not the slightest inclination to squander it among his +relatives; he had even declined to what his mother termed "lend" her +five thousand pounds to be spent on "doing up" Holtye, which was the +seat the Earl and the Countess principally favoured. Such conduct, she +declared, was inhuman, but "so like Montagu." Arthur, the third son, +had done best for himself from at least a financial point of view. He +had married Mrs. Parkes-Peters, the widow of the contractor who left +three millions. It was true that nasty things had been said of some of +his most successful contracts; but, after all, the man was dead. It +was also true that no one knew who, or what, his widow was before he +married her; it was, if possible, even more true that she was older +than her second husband. She herself admitted that she was his senior +by ten years--the world said it ought to be twenty. But as she proved +to be an ideal wife from the point of view of the man who marries for +money, such trifles could hardly be said to count. Their friends +asserted that she gave him a thousand pounds every time he kissed +her--really no husband could want more.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet both his parents were aware that one need not be hypercritical +to be able to see objections even against Arthur's wife. There +remained, therefore, to them but one hope--their fourth son, Robert. +Theirs must have been a sanguine temperament--when one knew them one +felt as if they had only one between them--because, after all their +disappointments, they still built on him a castle in Spain, of their +own design. It really seemed as if that castle was to be actually +reared. Robert had set his affections on Miss Lindsay, and that +without the least prompting from either of them; as they knew, from +painful experience, in such cases one sometimes had to do such a lot +of prompting. They frankly admitted that, looking at the matter as a +whole, he could hardly have been expected to do better--to begin with. +Cloverlea was quite a nice place, and, as it were, next door to +Holtye; there were only nine miles between them. It was kept up in +excellent style; the Earl, who was supposed to know something about +such things, assured his wife that it probably cost Donald Lindsay at +least ten thousand a-year. It was true that its owner was by way of +being a curiosity; but then his eccentricities--if they could be +called eccentricities--were not of a kind which would be likely to +injure his daughter. And she was his only child. In her capacity of +young woman nothing whatever could be urged against her; the Earl and +Countess were entirely at one in agreeing with Robert that, in that +respect, she was all that there was of the most charming. Obviously, +when her father died, she would be more than comfortably off. The only +thing to be considered was, what would she have until he died--in case +she took unto herself a husband. On this point, also, everything was +as it should be.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Earl rode over to Cloverlea one day, when its master happened to +be at home, and had a talk with him--than which nothing could be more +satisfactory. Lindsay told his visitor, in that plain outspoken way of +his, that he was satisfied with the result of inquiries he had been +making about the Hon. Robert, and that, in consequence, five thousand +a year would be settled on Nora if he married her. Besides this, he +would present her, as a wedding gift, with a suitable house in town, +and all the furniture. He added, with one of his rare, grim smiles, +which the earl interpreted in a fashion of his own, that it was +possible that one day she would be much richer than people thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Earl told the Countess, on his return to Holtye, that he should +not be surprised if the man was a millionaire. Anyhow his offer was +most generous; especially as Robert was the youngest of nine, and had, +literally, nothing but himself and his family to bring his wife. The +Countess wondered vaguely if, on the strength of the matrimonial +alliance which was to unite the two families, Mr. Lindsay might not be +induced to advance what she described as "something decent" in order +that something might be done to Holtye, which was falling to pieces, +and where the furniture was in a scandalous condition. The Earl, who +knew that his wife had been searching for years for some one who would +play the part of fairy prince towards their family domain, merely +remarked that it would be time enough to think of all that kind of +thing when the pair were married.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora had not been actually informed of the arrangements which had been +made for the commercial success of her love-match, but she knew quite +well that it never would have entered the domain of practical politics +if they had not been satisfactory. Robert was perfectly frank upon the +point; he was frank with her about everything; it was his nature to be +frank. He told her that he had not a shilling of his own, and never +had.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My aunt paid for me at Eton, and, afterwards, at the 'Varsity; so far +as I know, she's paid for me ever since I was born; I believe she's +even bought my clothes. I don't know why, because we're not a bit in +sympathy; though she's a dear, on lines of her own, which are +peculiar. She's only just on speaking terms with my mother, who's her +own sister; and the things she says of my father are dreadful--he's +really the most inoffensive of men. She has never lived in England +since I can remember; she says she can't afford it. The truth is, +she's never happy except in pursuit of her health; she passes from one +'cure' place to another, in possession of a number of complaints which +nobody understands, but which suit her constitution admirably. She has +about two thousand a year of her own, and spends most of it on +doctors; though she declares, to their faces, that she never met one +yet who knew what he is talking about. Out of what is left after the +doctors are paid she is at present allowing me three hundred pounds a +year, which is very good of her; especially considering two facts, the +one being that I really have no claim on her at all, and the other +that the three hundred is sometimes nearly four; for instance, last +year she gave me fifty pounds as a birthday present, and twenty-five +as a Christmas-box. So you see that I really am a pauper, living upon +charity, and that I never ought to have dared to love you at all; only +I couldn't help it--who could?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She had laughed at him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lots of people. Of course, it's very sad that you should be so poor; +but I dare say, if we are careful, we can manage; and you know there +is such a thing as love in a cottage--would the prospect of such a +fate as that seem to you so very frightful?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frightful! I wouldn't mind it a bit; would you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I dare say I could put up with it for a time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It should only be for a time, I promise you. I'm handicapped by being +who I am, but I don't think I'm an utter fool. I've always taken it +for granted that I should have to make my own way, and, to the best of +my ability, I've provided myself with the necessary tools; I believe +that I could make my own way in the world as well as another man. You +have only to say the word, and I'll make it first and woo you +afterwards."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you; I'm content with things as they are; I'm sorry you're +not."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was said with a twinkle in her eyes which was meant to provoke +him to warmth, and it did.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nora! do you wish me to--shake you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">He did do something to her; but she was not shaken.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_07" href="#div1Ref_07">THE PUZZLE WHICH DONALD LINDSAY LEFT +BEHIND HIM</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Donald Lindsay was buried on a glorious afternoon, when all the world +seemed at its best and brightest. Carriages from all parts of the +district represented their absent owners, but only four mourners were +actually present. Nora and Elaine stood together on one side of the +grave, confronting Dr. Banyard and Mr. Nash. Afterwards the four were +again together in the room at Cloverlea which Nora regarded as in an +especial sense her own. The blinds at last were drawn; the windows +stood wide open; the April sun, warm enough for June, came streaming +in, but it brought no brightness to those within. Each of the +quartette seemed to be singularly ill at ease. It was not strange that +such should have been the case with Nora; it was her hour of trial. +But why Elaine Harding should have been unlike her usual self was not +so obvious. An impartial observer, knowing her well, would have said +that she had never appeared to such little advantage. Black never +became her; either because she was physically unwell, or for some more +obscure reason, that afternoon, in her mourning, she looked almost +hideous. Had she been at liberty to choose, she would have been +present neither at the funeral nor afterwards in Nora's room; but she +had not seen her way to refuse compliance with Nora's positive +request. Since Mr. Nash had told her of his, and Dr. Banyard's, +failure to find among the dead man's papers anything to show that he +had left any real provision for his daughter at all, she had been +living in what seemed to her to be a continual nightmare. Day +and night she was haunted by the three thousand one hundred and +twenty-seven pounds which she had regarded as treasure-trove. Had +she not taken it for granted that Nora would be a rich woman she would +not have touched a farthing; of that she was certain. It was the +conviction that such a sum would mean nothing to Nora which had been +the irresistible temptation. Had it been in her power she would have +replaced the money even then, and would have been only too glad to do +it, though it left her penniless. But she had learnt what has to be +learnt by all of us, how much easier it is to do than to undo. Any +attempt in the direction of restitution would mean not only exposure, +but ruin. Herbert Nash had to be considered. He had had two hundred +pounds of the money; what he had done with it he alone knew. Then he +had swallowed the tale of her aunt's legacy; she was perfectly well +aware that if it had not been for that supposititious two thousand +pounds she would never have been his promised wife. Was she to tell +him now that she had lied? What explanation was she to offer him if +she did? Would he not be entitled to regard her as some unspeakable +thing? She did not doubt that his love would turn to scorn; that he +would cast her from him with loathing and disgust.</p> + +<p class="normal">No; anything rather than that; for she loved him.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the other hand, if it was true that Nora had been left a pauper? +and she had robbed her of her all! Would that fact not be shouted at +her from out of the flaming sky for ever and for aye? would not the +face of God be turned from her through all eternity? And how often, +and how fervently, she had prayed that God might guide and bless her. +She dared not think of the punishment which must inevitably crown so +great a sin. She racked her brain to find some way out of the peril +which threatened her on every hand; if only she could light on some +plausible compromise. And at last she thought--she hoped--that she had +discovered something which would relieve the situation at the point of +its greatest strain. Three thousand one hundred and twenty-seven +pounds she had--found; she had told Mr. Nash that her aunt had left +two thousand. Her idea had been that she would have a good, round sum +in hand, unknown to him, which, in case of need, would be of service +in a tight place. What was to prevent her, should the tale of Nora's +impoverishment turn out to be correct, disclosing the existence of +that balance of over a thousand pounds; her fertile brain would easily +invent some reasonable explanation; though that tale of the legacy +would not do for Nora, who knew too much of her family affairs. Then +she might insist on Nora accepting it as--what should she call it? a +gift? a loan? It did not matter what she called it so long as Nora +took the money; and she would have to take it. In that case Nora would +regard her as her benefactor, instead of--what she was.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is wonderful with what ointments we try to salve our consciences. +At intervals Elaine was almost pleased with herself as she thought of +how, if the worst came to the worst, she was going to present Nora +with more than a thousand pounds. Yet that afternoon, in that pleasant +room, in which she and her friend had spent so many happy hours, she +was as one who knew not peace.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nor did it seem to be peace with Mr. Nash. If one might judge from his +physiognomy he did not appear to be at all inclined to congratulate +himself on the position which it seemed likely he would occupy, of +administrator of the dead man's estate. Such a position would mean +something for him, if it meant nothing for anybody else; in such a +case a lawyer always esteems himself worthy of his hire; and he sees +that he gets it. Yet he looked as if he would have preferred to have +been almost anywhere else rather than where he was.</p> + +<p class="normal">The same remark applied to Dr. Banyard; though even a superficial +observer might have guessed that the two men were troubled because of +different things. A keen judge of human nature might have perceived +that the doctor was troubled because of Nora; Herbert Nash because of +himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">The order of the proceedings was singular; it required pressure to +induce Nora to sit down.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would much rather stand," she said. "I don't know what you have to +say to me; but I hope that, whatever it is, it won't take long; I feel +as if I can't sit; I would much sooner listen standing if you don't +mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">But the doctor did mind; he would not have it; he made her sit. Then +nothing would satisfy her but that Elaine should sit by her; which was +agony to Miss Harding, who was in the condition which is known as +being all over pins and needles; it would have been a relief to have +been able to scream.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, Nash," inquired the doctor, when the two young women, looking, +in their several ways, pictures of misery, were seated on adjacent +chairs, "where are those papers? Let's get to business; and be as +brief and as clear as you can."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nash, with what was almost a hang-dog air, took some papers out of a +black leather bag. Untying the tape which bound them together he +began. His tale was neither very brief nor very clear; though his +meaning was plain enough when it was ended. The dead man had left +everything to his daughter; but he had nothing to leave; that was what +it came to. There was less than a hundred pounds at the bank; and +there was Cloverlea and the contents of the house. On the debit side +there were debts amounting, so far as could be ascertained, to several +thousand pounds; claims had come in from wholly unexpected quarters +for large sums. If they had to be paid at once that would involve a +forced sale of Cloverlea, and that would probably mean that very +little would be left for Nora.</p> + +<p class="normal">The faces of the two girls, as this state of affairs was being +unfolded, were studies. On Miss Harding's face there came, by degrees, +an expression of actual agony, as if her lover was playing the part of +a torturer, whose every word was a fresh turn of the rack, or of the +thumbscrew. Nora's face, on the other hand, as she began to perceive +the point at which Mr. Nash was aiming, suggested anger rather than +pain; the same suggestion was in her voice, as she addressed a +question to him, so soon as he showed signs of having finished.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you wish me to understand that my father has left no money?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash looked down, as if unwilling to meet her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Neither Dr. Banyard nor I have been able to find anything which +points to money, I am sorry to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You needn't be sorry." She turned to Dr. Banyard; with, as she did +so, something in her manner which was hardly flattering to Mr. Nash. +"If my father has left no money on what have we been living? Does Mr. +Nash mean that my father spent all his money before he died? because, +if he does, I tell him, quite plainly, that I don't believe it."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor got up. It was a peculiarity of his that, while he was +always anxious that others should sit still, he never could do so +himself when he was moved. Thrusting his hands into his trousers +pockets he began to fidget about the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's the point," he exclaimed. "It's a pity, my dear Miss Lindsay, +that your father didn't take you more into his confidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was entitled to do as he pleased."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Precisely! and he did as he pleased! and this is the result! that you +know nothing; that we know nothing; and, apparently, that we can find +out nothing. We have been in communication with his London club; they +tell us that he was an occasional attendant; that, so far as they +know, this was his only address; that sometimes, but not often, +letters came for him; but there are none awaiting him at present; they +can give us no further information, and we have not the dimmest notion +who can. Let me add a sort of postscript to what Mr. Nash has told +you, which will shed another sidelight on the position. It is now +about five years since your father bought Cloverlea. Ever since he +bought it he has paid three thousand pounds into the local bank four +times each year, always in notes and gold, which, as you are possibly +aware, is not a form in which such payments are usually made. His next +payment, if he intended to follow his usual rule, was due last week, +to be exact, last Friday; for four years in succession he has paid in +three thousand pounds, in notes and gold, on the first Friday in +April. He was taken ill, as you know, on Thursday; if he had intended +to make his usual payment on the following day the money would have +been in his possession; we should have found it; we have found +nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">Although no one seemed to notice it, Miss Harding looked as if she +were trembling on the verge of a serious attack of illness. Her face +was white and drawn, her eyes were half closed, her mouth was tightly +shut, her hand was pressed against her side, as if compelled to that +position by sudden pain. The doctor, oblivious of the fact that it +looked as if his services would presently be required, went +remorselessly on.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The only possible alternative is that the money was stolen, and that +after he was taken ill; you know what likelihood there is of that. But +in order to leave no room for doubt we have questioned every one +connected with the household; I am bound to say that we have +discovered nothing in the least suspicious."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course not; I wish I had known what you were doing, I would have +stopped it. The idea of supposing that any one here would rob me; +there is not a creature about the place I would not trust with my +life."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was Nora; her words were like poisoned darts to at least one of +her hearers. The doctor continued.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just so; but allow me to point out, Miss Lindsay, the inference which +may be drawn from what we have been able to learn of your father's +methods. He has paid twelve thousand pounds a year into the local +bank, invariably in notes and gold, never a cheque among the lot; does +not this suggest that he wished to conceal, even from his bankers, the +source from which the money came?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't see why you say that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If their ledgers contained the record of his having paid in even so +much as a single cheque we might have been able to trace the history +of that cheque, and in so doing might have lighted upon something +which would have served as the key to the whole puzzle; if, that is, +we could discover some one who ever paid him anything we might find +out why he paid, and so might chance upon a clue which in the end +might show us where his income came from. As it is we have nothing to +go upon; and I can't help thinking that he meant his bankers should +have nothing to go upon; whether he intended that you should be in the +same position is another question. The consequence is, as matters +stand, I am bound to say so, my dear Miss Nora, it is no use blinking +the truth----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please tell me what you believe to be the truth; pray don't what you +call blink it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a perfectly fair deduction to draw that he had come to the end +of his resources, whatever they may have been; quite conceivably the +immediate cause of his illness was the consciousness that it was so; I +am free to confess that, in this connection, the absence of the three +thousand pounds, his usual quarterly payment into the bank, and, +indeed, of any cash, is significant. I can only hope, Miss Nora, that +you know something which will place the matter in quite a different +aspect."</p> + +<p class="normal">When the doctor ceased there was silence. Mr. Nash, fidgeting with his +papers, seemed disposed to let his eyes rest anywhere rather than on +the faces of his companions. Miss Harding, judging from her +appearance, continually hovered on the verge of collapse; that no one +noticed her condition showed how the others were preoccupied. Of the +four Nora still bore herself as the one who was most at ease. She sat +up straight; well back on her chair; her hands lying idle on her lap; +a look upon her face which suggested an assurance which nothing they +might say to her could touch; when she spoke she held her head a +little back, with, in her wide-open eyes, what was almost the glint of +a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know what you call knowledge. I can only say that I am sure +that you have not yet got to the root of the matter; that there is +still something to be explained; because I am convinced that my father +has left behind him a great deal of money."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is more than probable you are right; nothing will surprise me more +than to learn that he hasn't; all that is wanted is a clue. Tell us on +what you found your conviction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not altogether easy, but I'll try." The faintest touch of +colour tinged her cheeks. "You know I am engaged to be married. My +father, in congratulating me, said that the fact that Mr. Spencer had +no money wouldn't matter, because I should have enough for both. I am +sure he would not have said that had it not been true; I know my +father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In other words, he practically told you that, after he was gone, he +would leave you well provided for."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was what it amounted to, yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He said nothing about the quarter from which the provision was to +come?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He said nothing except what I have told you; but, for me, that is +enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No doubt, Miss Nora, but what we want is something which will tell us +where the money which he spoke of is to be found."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will be found."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where? how? when? These questions must be answered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will be answered, in God's good time."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor gave an impatient gesture.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish to say nothing in the least impious; but if it is to be in +good time the answer must come now; before Cloverlea is sold, and you +are homeless."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cloverlea--sold?" The notion seemed to startle her. "Who talks of +selling Cloverlea?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear young lady, here's a creditor for over four thousand pounds, +who writes to say that if his claim is not settled at once proceedings +will immediately be taken against your father's estate----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Four thousand pounds! To whom did my father owe four thousand +pounds?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's the worst of it; it's a money-lender."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A money-lender?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The fellow holds your father's paper--promissory notes--to the amount +of nearly four thousand five hundred pounds, which is now overdue; and +he says he has other paper, which will mature shortly, to the extent +of another five thousand pounds. And he is not the only one; claims +have been raining in from similar gentry. It actually appears that +your father owed them at least thirty thousand pounds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't believe it."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I found it hard to credit; but--there are the bills, accepted by your +father; what do you suggest? that they are forgeries?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At present I suggest nothing; what can I suggest? But I do not +believe that my father ever borrowed money from a usurer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid that this is not a matter with which we can deal as a +question of belief; do you propose to contest these claims? If so, +notice must be given at once; you must clearly understand what that +would mean; you would have to prove that the signatures upon these +bills, which purport to be your father's, are forgeries; I don't know +in which event the consequences would be more serious, if you proved +it or if you failed to prove it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do the people who hold these bills pretend they got them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Guldenheim, who is the chief holder, is, in his way, a perfectly +respectable man, and enormously rich. I called on him yesterday to put +that question. He looked me up and down; and then observed that if +payment was not made this week he should commence proceedings, when he +would supply the Court with all the necessary information; then he +asked his clerk to show me to the door. I am afraid there was +something in the manner in which I asked the question which he +resented, and perhaps was entitled to resent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What will be the result if he does take proceedings?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Probably in a short time you'll have the sheriff's officers in the +house, and, perhaps before you've had time to turn round, you'll be +left without a roof to cover you. Whatever happens we must avoid +that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How are we going to avoid it? How are we going to find money with +which to pay these men?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My proposal is that the creditors should be called together all of +them; we will explain to them exactly how matters stand; and then I +think, for their own sakes, they will join with us in making the best +of what your father has left."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you say that Cloverlea is all that my father has left I presume +that means that, in any case, Cloverlea will have to be sold, that we, +my home and I, are at the mercy of a gang of usurers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid I don't see what else is to be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you; that is all I wish to know." She stood up, very erect; on +her face there was still no sign of bitterness, only a quiet calmness, +which was in strange contrast with the conspicuous lack of ease which +marked the bearing of the others. "Do not suppose," she said, in a +voice which was very soft and gentle, "that I am not grateful to you +both for all that you have done for me. I had thought it possible, Mr. +Nash, that the share you were taking in straightening out my small +affairs might be of permanent use to you; I hoped you would allow me +to retain you as my lawyer; but it seems that's not to be, that I'm +not likely to want a lawyer very long. I'm sorry for both our sakes. +For the trouble you have taken, doctor, no words of mine can thank +you; because you--you're my very dear friend, and I fear you'll insist +on making my sorrows your own, and--and that mustn't be." She stopped, +as if, for the moment, she was unable to continue; and then added, +"I'll think over all that you have said."</p> + +<p class="normal">Without another word she left the room. The trio neither moved nor +spoke some seconds after she had gone. Then Elaine Harding started to +her feet with what sounded like a sob of passion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's cruel!" she cried. "Cruel! I don't believe it's so bad as you +make it out to be, I won't believe it! If Mr. Lindsay were still alive +you wouldn't accuse him of the dreadful things you now pretend he's +done, you wouldn't dare to do it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She rushed away in what seemed an agony of tears. The doctor stared at +the door through which she had vanished; then he turned and stared at +Nash; then he laughed queerly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well! who'd have thought she'd such a temper! I like her better for +it, the little whirlwind! She might as well have accused us of +conspiracy to defraud Miss Lindsay; what do you think of that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Women," observed Mr. Nash, with downcast eyes, and a wry smile, "are +capable of anything."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_08" href="#div1Ref_08">A PHILANTHROPIST</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Nora went to her bedroom. It was a pleasant room; as it was then it +was practically her own creation; it represented her ideal of what her +sleeping chamber ought to be. She had even invested it with an air of +romance, as girls, when they are at the most romantic period of their +lives, sometimes will do. There are girls who regard their bedrooms as +if they were parts of themselves. Nora was one of them; she regarded +her bedroom as if it were part of herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">As she entered it that afternoon, it seemed to her that there was +something strange about it, as if something had come into the +atmosphere which was not present when she was in it last. It disturbed +her, until she understood that the change was in her; that she had +already unconsciously realized that this room, which had meant to her +so many things, which she supposed would be hers for ever, might, +probably, soon be hers no longer. With that feeling in her mind the +room could never again be to her what it had been before; she felt +almost as if she were a stranger in it then. Seating herself at her +writing-table, she took the Bible which lay on the little shelf in +front, and read in it, trying her hardest to concentrate her attention +on its pages; but it was not easy, even the sacred words came to her +through a mist. But when she closed the book, and went and knelt +beside the bed, pillowing her face on the coverlet, as she had done +again and again, times without number; alike in her infrequent moments +of sorrow--she knew then what pigmy things those sorrows had been! and +in her abounding hours of joy;--it was almost with a sense of terror +that it was borne in upon her what great happiness she in truth had +known--there came to her, as she continued to kneel, that peace which +she so earnestly desired; so that she arose from prayer refreshed, and +with that courage in her heart which refreshment brings. Placing +herself on the armchair which stood by the open window, resting her +arms on the sill, looking at the green world, perhaps without seeing +how green and beautiful it was, so far as she could, she thought it +all out.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the more she thought the more clearly she apprehended that life +for her--life as she hitherto had understood it--was at an end +already, before it had scarcely begun, if the things which she had +heard were true. She must depart from Cloverlea, and all that it stood +for, and go out into a world, of which she knew nothing, to earn her +own bread; she wondered, with an odd little smile, how she was going +to set about it; if the picture was as black as it had just been +painted. But was it? In her heart of hearts she doubted. Although she +had been in such slight communion with her father; although his +attitude towards her had been, in many respects, so unfatherlike; she +believed that she had understood him, and that they had had much more +in common than he had chosen to let it appear;--it would require a +great deal to convince her that she was wrong.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was fortified in her belief by a curious idea which, almost in +spite of herself, obsessed her more and more; that she understood him +better now that he was dead than she had done when he was living; that +she was closer to him now than she had been then; that she saw more +clearly into his very heart, and knew what manner of man he really +was; and she knew that he was not the kind of man he must have been if +the things which she had heard were true. He was incapable of +falsehood; in small things, as in large, the soul of honour; he had +not lied when he had told her that there would be enough for Robert as +well as for her. Even then she had gathered more from what he said +than his actual words; and she had understood that he had meant that +she should gather more. She believed that he had wished her to know +that in the future she would be a rich woman, and that his brief +speech had been intended to convey that meaning; she was persuaded +that he would not have meant it if it had not been true.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yet, how was she to reconcile these things with the facts as they +appeared at present? What explanation would make them harmonize? She +did not know; she admitted to herself that she did not know; still she +was convinced that, when everything was known, her father's truth +would be established.</p> + +<p class="normal">While Nora thought and thought; in the pretty bedchamber which had +been assigned to her as an honoured guest, Elaine Harding was +wrestling with troubles of her own, and her troubles were worse than +Nora's. In her dressing-case, under a false bottom, were nearly three +thousand pounds which did not belong to her; the dressing-case itself +had been a gift from Nora, who had shown her the false bottom with +glee, pointing out what a safe hiding-place it would be for any +special treasures she might desire to keep from prying eyes. Almost +the first use she had made of it had been to conceal the huge sum of +which she had robbed the giver.</p> + +<p class="normal">How she hated herself for what she had done! how gladly she would have +restored the money to its place upon the dead man's table! She +understood now what it had been doing there; doubtless it was the +amount which it was his custom to pay into the bank each quarter, +which it had been his intention to deliver on the morrow. God had +intervened on the one hand, the devil on the other; she had played the +devil's game;--fool! idiot! wretch that she had been! She realized +quite clearly that that money would never bring any good to her; that +it would lie like some obscene incubus on her whole life; even if she +bought a husband with the proceeds of her stealing, how could she +expect that such a marriage would be blest? The dressing-case itself +had become a sort of monomania; not only did she keep it locked, but +she hid it in her trunk and kept that locked; even then she was +continually haunted by fears that some one was taking liberties with +her property, as she had done with that of others. Suppose, by some +mischance, the secret of that false bottom was discovered, what would +happen then? She did not dare to think. What a fool she had been to +tell Herbert Nash that tale about the legacy. It was not only a +gratuitous, it was a foolish lie; she had seen that for herself almost +as soon as it was told. He had only to make the most superficial +inquiries, the falsehood would be discovered. She felt like biting her +tongue out every time she thought of it. Her only excuse was that she +had done it on the spur of the moment, without thinking; yielding to a +temptation which was stronger than her. If only she did not love him! +with so strange and violent a love that she had been willing to do +what she had done rather than that he should not love her, rather than +that she should not win him for her own! If, now, he were to find her +out--what she had done--for his sake, what would he think of her then? +But he should not find out; she would take care that he did not find +out; rather than he should find out she would continue as she had +begun, at whatever cost to herself, and to others.</p> + +<p class="normal">Therefore it seemed to her disordered, tortured, twisted brain, that +there was only one thing to be done, to make amends, to wipe off some +of the blackness from her sin. She had told him that her aunt had left +two thousand pounds. Well, he should have it. He had already had two +hundred; there would be fifteen hundred for a share in Mr. Dawson's +practice; the rest would be required to furnish a house, so that they +might be married at once--on that point she was resolved, that there +should be no delay about their being married; after what had happened +she would be in constant agony till she had become his wife, and, so +far, safe. He could not put his wife from him, even if he did find +out. She was inclined to make it a condition that he should marry her +before she gave him another farthing; in that way she would make sure +of him. Even then, after the whole of the two thousand had been +expended, more than a thousand pounds would still remain. It looked as +if a thousand pounds would be a fortune to Nora Lindsay; a windfall +from the skies; manna from heaven, which would at least preserve her +from starvation. Nora should have the superfluous thousand; she would +insist on it. It was true that such a sum would be most useful to a +young couple, just married; but what did that matter, in face of +Nora's pressing need? It was only too probable that they would be +occasionally pinched; Herbert had explained that his income from a +share of Mr. Dawson's practice would not, at the beginning, be large; +there were eventualities for which they ought to be prepared; but such +considerations were as nothing when one thought of Nora. She must be +considered before anything else; she who had been such a faithful, +such a generous friend; the whole of that thousand pounds should be +hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">By the time that Miss Harding had finally decided that this should be +so she had nearly worked herself into a consciousness of virtue. When +you looked facts in the face, from one point of view, it was generous +to give away such a sum as that, especially when you remembered how +much she stood in need of it herself; beyond a doubt that was how it +would appear to Nora. Nora would appreciate her beneficence; would +realize that this was the result of being kind to her humble friend in +the days of her prosperity; the knowledge that the bread which she had +cast upon the waters had returned to her after many days ought to make +her--well, it ought to make her more contented with the measure which +had been meted out to her; Elaine felt that it ought.</p> + +<p class="normal">What Miss Harding had to do next was to invent some plausible +explanation of how the money had come into her hands, and she was +aware that that was not easy. So hard, indeed, was it to find that +explanation that, in her despair, she nearly decided, after all, to +relinquish her philanthropic scheme. But she would not do that--she +could not do it; she had said that Nora should have the money, and she +should. The misfortune was that Nora knew so much about her; it would +be impossible to produce an aunt for her; Nora would refuse to swallow +that aunt. Being intimately acquainted with the family history, she +was pretty well aware that all the members of the Harding family would +not be able to produce a thousand pounds between them. And then--there +were other things. Only a short time ago Nora had "obliged" her, as +Elaine phrased it, with the "loan" of a ten-pound note; if Miss +Harding had had a thousand pounds laid by she would hardly have wanted +those ten sovereigns.</p> + +<p class="normal">So elusive did that explanation seem, so persistently did it refuse to +come at her bidding, that Elaine brushed back her pretty hair with her +pretty hands with what she intended to be a frenzied gesture, which +was certainly not unbecoming, and at that moment she formed a +resolution. She would go to Nora there and then, straight off, and +approach the subject gently, trusting to the inspiration of the moment +to provide her with the lie which would sound like truth, which it was +so necessary that she should find to aid her in her beneficent +purpose. No one knew better than she did how quickly her wits could +come to her assistance at a pinch; with characteristic courage she +took it for granted that they would not fail her when she was alone +with Nora, and heart was speaking unto heart. In so doing she +overlooked one factor--the unexpected. Experience had taught her that +when she was hard pressed her wits could be relied upon, but hitherto +she had always found herself in situations for which she was more or +less prepared. The immediate future had something in store for her +which was wholly unexpected.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_09" href="#div1Ref_09">THE BUTLER</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Elaine's room was at some distance from Nora's; they were in different +wings. Miss Harding, whose habits were, in some respects, peculiar, +always preferred that her room should not be too close to her +friend's; though Nora herself would have liked to have had her nearer. +To reach Miss Lindsay Elaine had to traverse a lengthy passage, which +was divided in the centre by a square opening, which was used +sometimes as a lounge. As Miss Harding moved along some one came out +of this recess, and addressed her. It was Morgan, the butler.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan was tall and fair--very fair. His face and eyebrows, and +eyelashes, and hair were all of the same colour; it had rather an odd +effect, which some people thought unpleasant. Many persons have an +uncomfortable habit of never looking you in the face; he had what some +felt was a nearly equally uncomfortable habit of never looking away +from your face; he regarded any one with whom he might be talking with +a fixed, impassive stare, which never faltered; there was a quality in +his light greyish-blue eyes which, under such circumstances, was +occasionally disconcerting. Miss Harding, who, in her way, was shrewd +enough, had never known what to make of him; more than once, during +her visits to Cloverlea, she had had a vague feeling that his +demeanour towards her was not quite all that it ought to have been; +the feeling came to her with unpleasant force as he stood before her +then. Yet nothing could have been more decorous than his bearing; +while he spoke with the softly modulated voice with which a +well-trained servant ought to speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon, Miss Harding, but can I speak to you for a +moment?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She said him neither yea nor nay, but put to him a question in return.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it, Morgan?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's about these."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was extending towards her, on his open palm, what she perceived +were three sovereigns. Whose they were, whence they came, what they +meant, she had not a notion; but all at once she was conscious, not +only of a curious fluttering of the heart, but of a desire to get away +from him as quickly as she could.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can't stop now; if you have anything you wish to say you must say +it later; I'm going to Miss Lindsay, she's waiting for me; and--I'm +not feeling very well."</p> + +<p class="normal">Why she added that last remark she did not know; a second after she +wished it had been left unuttered--he fastened on it with such +singular eagerness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're not looking well--I've noticed it."</p> + +<p class="normal">She was just about to hurry on, but there was something about the way +in which he spoke which induced her to pause; something impertinent, +which stung her, so that she regarded him with angry eyes, and replied +to him with scorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's very good of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've noticed that you've not been looking well--ever since last +Thursday."</p> + +<p class="normal">This time he spoke with a significance which startled her, though she +did not understand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why since last Thursday?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll tell you. I was in the study when you were. After you had gone I +found these three sovereigns. One was lying on the floor, and the +other two were lodged on the shelves of the bookcase. And ever since +then I've noticed that you've not been looking well."</p> + +<p class="normal">A great horror was stealing over her, which she tried to get the +better of, but failed. He regarded her with that impassive stare of +his, which compelled her eyes to be fixed on his, whether they would +or they would not.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I don't know what you--what you mean."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was strange how her voice trembled; his was steady enough, like the +voice of doom.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll explain. You remember last Thursday, the day on which the master +was taken ill? I don't think you're ever likely to forget it. It +occurred to me, after dinner, that the lamp had been left lighted, and +the window open; so I went to put out the one and shut the other. When +I got into the room, rather to my surprise, I found that the lamp was +out, though the window was still open. As I stood there, in the +darkness, I heard some one outside, coming along the terrace; +presently you appeared at the open window. The moon was shining +through the window, and you stood right in the moonshine, so that I +saw you as plainly as if it had been daylight. But in the room it was +darker; I expect that, coming in out of the moonlight, it seemed +darker to you than it did to me. You didn't know I was there; I +suppose that, being in a bit of a hurry, and with your thoughts all +fixed on one thing, you took it for granted that the room was empty. +It was rather funny--that's how it struck me at the time, and that's +how it's struck me more than once; but perhaps that's because I've got +a very keen eye for anything humorous.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You went right across the room towards the oak bookcase which stands +on the other side of the door, passing so close to me that I felt the +wind of your skirts against my trousers as you passed, and I guessed +that you knew what you were after before you came there, though I +never guessed for a moment what it was. The bookcase was in the +shadow, and mine not being cat's eyes, I couldn't see all that you +were doing; but I could hear; and there are times when the sense of +hearing conveys a good deal of information. I heard you takedown some +of the books, then a rustling, then the chink of money. By that time +you may be sure that I was all ears, and eyes--mine had almost become +cat's eyes before you'd finished. I saw that you had something white +in your hand, which I guessed was your pocket-handkerchief; and I +partly saw, and partly heard, that you were shovelling coins on it +which you were taking from one of the bookcase shelves. Either there +were too many coins for such a small handkerchief--those handkerchiefs +of yours are pretty, but they're small; I like one which is about the +size of a towel--or else you were a little clumsy; you're not, as a +rule, I know; I've often been struck by the natty way you have of +doing things; but perhaps being in such a hurry made you a trifle +nervous. Anyhow, as you're aware, you dropped some of the coins which +you were putting into the handkerchief; I heard them fall, and so did +you. You stooped to pick them up. I expected every second that you'd +strike a match, or get a light somehow; in which case you'd have seen +me, and it might have been funnier still. But you didn't. You felt, +and felt, and felt; I take it that you thought you'd felt everywhere, +and that as you could feel no more of the coins, that you'd picked up +all you'd dropped. Presently, whether satisfied or not upon that +point, you went out the way that you'd come in."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan paused, and Miss Harding tried to breathe. It seemed to her +that she was choking; that she was bound about as if with bands of +iron. If there was anything peculiar in her appearance the butler made +no comment; he went on in his easy, softly modulated tones.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard you return along the terrace; I waited till I could hear no +more of you; then I shut the window, and drew the curtains; then I lit +the lamp, and with its aid I subjected the room to a careful +examination, and in less than five seconds I found a sovereign on the +floor by the bookcase, and then two more on the shelves. Here they +are."</p> + +<p class="normal">He again extended his hand, with the three shining discs on the open +palm. She started back from them, gasping, as if they were dangerous +things, of which she stood in physical terror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've marked each coin--see? I want you to notice them carefully, so +that you may recognize them, if you see them again." He held up one of +the coins between his finger and thumb. "Of course when I found these +I knew what had happened; understood it all--better even than you did. +I knew some of the governor's little ways, which perhaps you didn't; a +man in my position has to keep a sharp look-out; it's part of his +duty--to himself. I knew all about the governor's habit of paying into +his banking account three thousand pounds every quarter, in notes and +gold, which Dr. Banyard has been telling you young ladies about, as if +it was news; I'd seen the money on his table, that afternoon when I +was helping to carry him away, the next day being his usual one for +paying in, I knew what it was there for. He was a man of regular +habits, was my late governor; though some of them were queer ones. +There wasn't any of it left, except these three sovereigns which, in +the dark, had escaped your notice. Because why?--because you'd taken +the lot. I consider that a remarkable thing for any one to do, +especially for a real young lady. Never before, in my experience, have +I known the friend of the house take instant advantage of the host's +sudden illness to play a game like that. Remarkable, I call it; most +remarkable."</p> + +<p class="normal">Each time that Mr. Morgan paused the girl before him gasped, as if the +mere cessation of his speech removed from her some sense of +constriction, which prevented the free play of her lungs.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't suppose," he continued, with what he possibly intended to be +affability, "that I am saying this to you in any unfriendly spirit; +because I'm not--nothing of the kind. I've always felt that there was +in you the makings of something remarkable, though I must admit that +you've gone beyond my expectations. I've always liked you, Miss +Harding; in fact, I've nearly more than liked you. I want you to +understand that you've made of me what you might call an unintentional +confidant; so why should there be any barriers between us? Socially +there are none to speak of. Your father's a poor country parson, mine +was a schoolmaster; there isn't much to choose between them; if I was +asked I should say that I don't think much of either. Pecuniarily the +advantage is all on my side, as I happen to know; and that in spite of +the three thousand pounds you have of somebody else's. Very +comfortable I could make a wife, if I had one; she'd be quite the +lady. I've no complaint to make about your manner towards me in +public; I humbly venture to hope that after this intimation of my +friendly feeling towards you, you'll be even affable when we're alone +together--if ever we are. It's all up with everything here; from what +I happen to know, I shouldn't be surprised if the house, and all +that's in it, was sold for what it will fetch in a surprisingly short +space of time. Then we shall all be parted. Miss Lindsay will go her +way--though I don't know what way that'll be; you'll go yours, and I +shall go mine. This will be my last taste of service. When you meet me +again afterwards you'll find me a perfect gentleman, whom you won't be +a bit ashamed to introduce to your friends; and I assure you I'll do +my best to earn their respect and esteem. I won't detain you any +longer, Miss Harding--you'll understand that I had to speak to you; +and that, situated as I am, I had to take the first chance that +offered. Now you can go to Miss Lindsay with a mind at ease. If an +opportunity offers you might inform her what a feeling of true +sympathy there is for her in the servants' hall. It's very hard for a +young lady, who has been brought up in the lap of luxury, to be all at +once left with hardly clothes enough to cover her, because, between +ourselves, that's what's going to happen to her; and down-stairs we +earnestly trust, if I may use the language of metaphor, that her back +will be broadened for the burden. There's many a young girl like her +who has to earn her bread in ways I shouldn't like to mention; let's +hope she won't come to any of those. You might mention, if you have +the chance, that we all of us wish her the very best of luck."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a slight inclination of his head, which might almost have been +mistaken for a nod, Mr. Morgan went past her towards the staircase. +She remained where he had left her, as if her feet were glued to the +carpet. Her inclination would have been to return to her own bedroom; +there she would at least be alone, to try to think; but the butler was +between it and her. As she glanced in the direction of her room, +looking over his shoulder he glanced towards her, and she ran towards +Nora's room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Without knocking she opened the door and entered; but so soon as she +had crossed the threshold she stood motionless, as if all her limbs +were locked together. Nora, seated on an arm-chair, was leaning on the +sill of the open window, trying, in her own fashion, to find light in +the darkness which threatened to encompass her round about; when she +turned it seemed, from the expression which was on her face, as if she +had found it. Certainly a stranger, observing the two girls, would +have said that it was Elaine Harding who stood most in need of +consolation; and so Nora seemed herself to think. That divine instinct +which, in some people, wakes to life in the presence of suffering, was +quick to perceive that here was trouble which was greater than hers. +She held out her arms, crying--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You poor child!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was enough; Elaine needed no further invitation. With eager, +tremulous steps, and a cry which was half gasp, half sob, she went +fluttering across the room, sinking in a heap at Nora's feet, +pillowing her head upon her lap, crying as if the violence of her +grief would tear her asunder. Smoothing her hair with her soft hands, +stooping down and kissing her tenderly, using towards her all manner +of endearments, Nora strove her utmost to assuage the passion of her +woe, in seeming forgetfulness of how much she herself was in need of +comfort. But Elaine was not to be consoled.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_10" href="#div1Ref_10">THE EARL AND THE COUNTESS</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Events moved quickly; as, at certain crises of our lives, they have a +knack of doing. During twenty years very little had really happened to +Nora; in a few crowded, bewildering days for her the whole world was +turned upside down. On the Friday--the day after the funeral--Nora +told Dr. Banyard that she was inclined to be of his opinion, that the +creditors had better be called together, and matters left in their +hands. She did not tell him that her faith in her father remained +unshaken. It was made clear to her that this was a question of hours, +possibly even of minutes, if something was not done to appease the +creditors at once then the worst would befall; it was no use +delivering herself of pious expressions of faith when action was +required. So she authorized the doctor to do his best for her, and +left everything to his discretion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Throughout that day she was puzzled by the singularity of Miss +Harding's behaviour; she had cares enough of her own to occupy her +mind, yet she could not help but notice that there was something very +strange the matter with Elaine. The young lady's outburst of the +evening before had not been explained. All day long she was in a state +of nervous tremor which was almost hysterical; such conduct was +unusual in Elaine, who had been wont to laugh at the idea both of +nerves and of hysterics. Nora did not know what to make of her. So far +as she could gather, from the cryptic utterances which the girl now +and then let fall, she was troubled about three things. First, because +of the poverty which apparently was in store for Nora; then because of +the various amounts, which together did not amount to a very large +sum, and most of which, to tell the truth, the creditor had herself +forgotten, in which she was indebted to Nora; and, in the third part, +because of a nebulous scheme she had for endowing Nora with unnamed, +but seemingly immense supplies of ready money. It was this scheme +which, apparently, was worrying her more than anything else; though +what it really was, was beyond Nora's comprehension. Elaine +talked--vaguely, it is true, but passionately, none the less--of being +in possession of funds which Nora knew perfectly well she never had +had, and probably never would have; and about which she waxed quite +warm when Nora smilingly asked if she was quite sure she was not +dreaming.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're not to laugh!" she cried. "You're not to laugh! You are to +have it! you shall have it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall have what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The money I'm telling you about!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what money are you telling me about? Elaine, you don't seriously +wish me to believe that you have money. Only this week you were crying +because of what you said you owed me; though I say you owe me nothing, +since all that has been between us has been for love's sake. And only +last week you told me that your pockets were empty, and you didn't +know where you were going to get something to put in them; don't you +remember?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I may know where money is!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, and so may I; there's money in the bank, but it's neither yours +nor mine; and I'm sure--don't you know I'm sure? you must be a goose +if you don't--that you've no more idea how, honestly, it's to be wooed +and won than I have; so what's the use of our pretending?"</p> + +<p class="normal">To the speaker's surprise Miss Harding glared at her for some moments +in silence; then, as if in sudden rage, she flung herself out of the +room without a word; sounds were audible as if she were sobbing as she +went.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What," inquired Nora of herself, not by any means for the first time +that day, "can be the matter with Elaine?"</p> + +<p class="normal">On the Saturday the storm broke on her from a quarter for which, at +the moment, she was unprepared. Word had been brought that the Earl +and Countess of Mountdennis were in the drawing-room, waiting to see +her. Her first impulse was to send an excuse; the mere announcement of +their presence made her conscious of a sinking heart; but it was not +her way to excuse herself because she feared unpleasantness; second +thoughts prevailed. She recognized that, from their point of view, +they were entitled to see her, even in these first days of her +bereavement. She needed none to tell her that the purport of their +presence was not likely to be an agreeable one; that they probably had +not come upon an errand of love; she had too shrewd a notion of their +characters. Under the circumstances the last thing she might expect +from them was sympathy; she was aware that they had a standard of +their own; and that according to that the more a person stood in need +of sympathy the less likely they were to vouchsafe it. Still they were +Robert's parents; it was for her to consider him rather than herself; +so, for the first time since her father was taken ill she ventured +into the drawing-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The frigidity of the reception which they accorded her was ominous; +she knew at once that so far from having deserved their sympathy she +had incurred their displeasure. The last time they had met they had +both of them taken her, not only metaphorically, but literally, to +their bosoms; showering oh her tokens of affection which erred, if +anything, on the side of redundance. Now the lady permitted her to +touch a fish-like hand, taking care not to allow her to approach too +near; while the gentleman merely bowed. It was he who spoke first, as +if he were addressing some one whose behaviour had both pained and +shocked him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We only learnt this morning, actually by the merest accident, that +your father was not only dead, but buried."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not only dead but buried!"</p> + +<p class="normal">This was the Countess. It was a standing joke that, if they were both +engaged in the same conversation, when he did not echo her she echoed +him. If they ever differed it must have been in private; in public +their agreement was so complete as sometimes to approach almost to the +verge of the exasperating.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We were not even aware that your father was unwell; we had received +positively no information on the subject whatever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Positively none whatever!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It seems to me--to us--a most extraordinary thing that you should not +have apprised us of the condition of your father's health; that you +should have given us no intimation of any kind; that you should have +kept us in utter ignorance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In utter ignorance!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask, may we ask, Miss Lindsay, why you have not treated us with +at least some approximation to that consideration which our position +obviously demanded?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our position obviously demanded!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To begin with, it was all very sudden; and then I didn't know where +you were.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you might have made inquiries, anybody would have told you; +almost, one might say, the first person you met in the street. We are +not the kind of people who hide ourselves in holes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, not in holes!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The moment we learnt what had occurred--learnt, as I have observed, +by the sheerest accident,--we rushed back to Holtye, that very moment; +though to do so involved us in the most serious inconvenience; but we +had no option."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We had no option."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because, not only were we informed, by accident, that your father was +dead and buried, but we were also told, at the same time, what struck +us as being so surprising as to be almost incredible, that he had not +left behind him even so much as a sixpence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not even so much as a sixpence!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will remember, Miss Lindsay--that is, I take it for granted that +information was given to you to that effect, that before sanctioning +my--our--son Robert's engagement to you I made a special point of +calling upon your father, who then and there informed, I may say, +assured, me that, on the occasion of your marriage, he would present +you with a house and furniture, and settle on you five thousand pounds +a year. On the strength of that positive and definite assurance +I--we--gave our consent, which, without it, we never should have +dreamt of doing. We have our duty to perform, not only to our son, but +to ourselves, and I may say, to our family, of which we are the +representatives; I therefore offer no excuse for taking advantage of +the first opportunity which arises to ask if your father has left his +affairs in a condition which will enable you to carry out that +assurance. On behalf of the Countess of Mountdennis, and of myself, I +beg you, Miss Lindsay, in answering that question, to be perfectly +plain and perfectly candid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perfectly plain and perfectly candid!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Earl, very tall, very straight, very thin, waved his hard felt hat +in one hand, and his gold-knobbed malacca cane in the other, in a +manner which was hardly so impressive as he perhaps intended; the +Countess, her gloved hands clasped in front of her, wagged not only +her head, but her whole body, as if to punctuate, and notify her +approval, of his remarks as they fell from him. Nora was silent. At +the back of her mind had been the consciousness that, sooner or later, +this question would have to be confronted; but she had not anticipated +that it would be addressed to her so suddenly, so brusquely, with such +a stand-and-deliver air. When she began to speak her lips were +tremulous; and, though she might not have been aware of it, her eyes +were moist; the feeling was strong upon her how different it all was +from what she had expected.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I'm sorry to say that, so far as we have been able to ascertain, +the state of my father's affairs is not--not altogether satisfactory."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the Countess who took up the running then; the Earl who played +the part of echo; but as her volubility was much greater than his she +did not give him so many opportunities to shine as he had given her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not altogether satisfactory! my good young woman, what do you mean? I +suppose all ideas of a house and furniture and five thousand a year +must be given up, though your father led us to expect that there would +be much more than that after he was dead; but the Earl has asked you a +plain question and what we want is a plain answer; how much has he +left you? If you can't give us the exact sum let's have it +approximately, in pounds, shillings and pence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm afraid that I'm not yet in a position which enables me to do +that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in a position? what do you mean, you're not in a position? are +you in a position to say that he has left you anything, except debts?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm certain that when he said he had that money he had it; I believe +he was a rich man when he died. Only he was very reserved; and, in +consequence, we have not been able to find where the money is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stuff and nonsense! you'd have found the money if there'd been any to +find; it's only when there is none that none's found! Have you any +sort of solid foundation for thinking that he did leave money?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He gave me to understand that I should be left well off; and I can't +believe he would have done so if it had not been true."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some people can't believe anything; I know a woman who can't believe +that her husband committed murder, though he was found guilty on the +clearest possible evidence, confessed his guilt, and was hung ten +years ago. Husbands and wives can't exist on the incomes they believe +they have; tradesmen want coin of the realm. I'm informed that by the +time everything's sold, and everything will have to be sold, and the +debts paid, there'll be nothing left for you; I want you to tell me, +plainly, please, if that's true."</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the Earl had his chance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, plainly, please, if that's true!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid that, as matters stand at present, it does seem as if it +were likely to be true."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Countess, putting up her lorgnettes, surveyed her fixedly, and +severely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must allow me to remark, Miss Lindsay, that you have a way of +fencing with a plain question which, under the circumstances, seems +peculiar, and which compels me to wonder if it can be possible that +you knowingly obtained my son's consent to marry you under false +pretences."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this Nora did fire up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How dare you say such a thing! I did not obtain his consent, he +obtained mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We know very well what that means. I have not arrived at my time of +life without understanding what are the wiles with which a young woman +of no position lures a handsome young fellow of good family; I have +not the slightest doubt that my son would never have asked you to be +his wife had you not made it quite clear to him that you wished him +to."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora stood up; one could see that the colour kept coming and going in +her cheeks; that she was trembling; that she seemed to be panting for +breath.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I think you'd better go."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Countess went calmly on; the girl's agitation seemed to make the +elder woman calmer, and more corrosive.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am going when it suits me; I assure you I have no wish to stay a +moment longer in this abode of misrepresentation than I am compelled +to. But before I go I wish to appeal to your sense of decency, if you +have any sense of decency----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How--how dare you! how dare you speak to me like this!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I say, if you have any sense of decency, to release him from the most +unfortunate position in which your father's misrepresentations, and +your own peculiar behaviour, have entangled him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has--has he sent you here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you persist in putting such a question I shall understand that you +have no sense of decency; surely any young woman with a spark of +honour in her composition, must perceive that in such a situation the +man would not be likely to send--that the initiative must come from +her, not from him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I simply wish to learn if Mr. Robert Spencer knows that you have come +to me upon this errand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He does not know; which gives you an opportunity to free him +gracefully before the true state of affairs does come to his +knowledge."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If he wishes to be what you call 'free,' do you suppose that for one +moment I would stand in his way?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not so much a question of what he wishes, as of what you wish. +If you wish, though ever so slightly, to hold him to his bargain, I +dare say he'll be held, even to the extent of making you his wife; +though he will regret it ever afterwards, and will probably live to +curse the day on which you first placed yourself in his path. Young +men have married undesirable women, who were in no way fitted to be +their wives, and who were thinking only of themselves, before to-day, +and will again; I have seen examples of it in my own family, to my +great sorrow. I intend, if I can, to save my son Robert from such a +fate, whatever you may say or do; the purport of my presence here is +merely to learn if you are, or are not, possessed of a shred of +principle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot conceive why you talk to me like this; what makes you think +yourself entitled to take up such an attitude towards me; what I have +done which causes you to address me in such a strain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's high-faluting, it's talk of that sort which makes me suspect +that you must be even worse than I supposed. Your father held you out +to the world as a young woman who was rich already, and who would be +still richer later on, and you tacitly endorsed his positive +statements; then he dies just in time to save himself from being made +a fraudulent bankrupt, leaving you worse than a pauper, and you have +the assurance to pretend to wonder why I and the Earl regard you--I +will be as civil as I can--askance. Talk sense, Miss Lindsay; don't +presume on our simplicity any longer. You are perfectly well aware +that, had we been aware of the truth from the first, we should never +have countenanced you in any way whatever. Your father's lies, +with which you went out of your way to associate yourself--I +know!--deceived us; and they deceived my son; there's the truth for +you, if you never heard it before."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora looked as if she could have said many things; but she only asked +a question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, precisely, is it that you wish me to do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish you to do something to, at least in part, undo the mischief +which you have done already, to atone for the evil of which you have +been the cause; I wish you to show by your demeanour your +consciousness of the miserably false position in which you have been +placed by others, or in which you have placed yourself, it doesn't +matter which. In other, and plainer words, I wish you to hand me my +son's letters and presents, and to sit down at once and write a +letter, which I will hand him, in which you express your appreciation +of the fact that he asked you to become his wife under an entire +misapprehension, and that now, since circumstances have turned out so +wholly different to what they were represented to be, your own +self-respect forbids you to allow any association to continue between +you; and that, in short, all is over between you, in every possible +sense of the phrase. I want you to put that down, as plainly, and as +finally, as it can be put, in black and white, because, Miss Lindsay, +I wish to save my son Robert, at the earliest possible, from the +danger in which he stands, and to do it while he is still absent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my dear mother," exclaimed the voice of some new-comer, "your +son Robert is not still absent, he is here."</p> + +<p class="normal">Looking round the trio saw that the Honourable Robert Spencer was +standing at the open window.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_11" href="#div1Ref_11">ROBERT</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Robert Spencer was not only, as his mother put it, a handsome young +fellow; he had more than good looks, he had that air of distinction +which goes with character. No one with even a slight knowledge of +physiognomy could see him once without perceiving that he was +physically, mentally, and probably morally, a strong man, and, what +was almost as much, a likable man. As he stood framed in the open +window, with the glory of that almost uncannily glorious April sun +lighting up the frame, each of those who saw him was conscious of an +impulse which, had it been yielded to, would have resulted in a scene +of tenderness. He was dear to his parents, and he knew it; they +themselves scarcely knew how dear, and that also he suspected. He was +dear, with a different sort of dearness, to the girl who moved towards +him, as if impelled by a power against which she was helpless; only to +start back, shrinking timidly, with frightened, longing eyes, and +cheeks on which the crimson faded to pallor. Yet, though he was dear +to all of them, there was not one of the three who would not rather he +had not appeared upon the scene just then. His mother, with +characteristic courage, gave expression to her feeling on the spot.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert! my boy! we don't want you. Where have you come from? and what +are you doing here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He smiled, and his was such a pleasant smile it did one good to see +it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, mother, I'm sorry to hear that you don't want me. I've rushed +from the station to tell Nora, what I've not a doubt she knows +already, that I hope she'll find in me some one who'll take the place, +at least in part, of him whom she has lost."</p> + +<p class="normal">When he advanced into the room his mother placed herself in his path.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert, my dear boy, you ought not to be here. Go back to Holtye, and +when I return I will explain to your perfect satisfaction why I say +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ought not to be here!--where Nora is! My dear mother! Nora, why +do--why don't--Nora, what's the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He made a sudden forward movement, but once more his mother was too +quick for him; again she interposed; if he did not wish to knock her +over he had to stand still.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert, I must beg you to do as I desire, and return at once to +Holtye."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear mother, I must beg you to stand aside, and let me speak to +Nora."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old woman turned to the girl.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay, you perceive how my son treats me; have you nothing +which you wish to say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course," replied the son in question, "Nora has something which +she wishes to say--I'm sure I don't know why you call her Miss +Lindsay; she's not likely to say it when addressed like that. I'll +make a suggestion, mother; you go back to Holtye, with the dad, and +I'll talk to Nora when you're gone, and I'll tell you some of the +things she says to me when I return to Holtye."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old lady stuck to her guns.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay, is there nothing that you wish to say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Mr. Spencer, there is something which I wish to say--your mother +is right; you ought not to be here." With a great effort she had +brought herself to the sticking-point. She was one of those women who +have in them an infinite capacity for suffering, yet who remain +unbeaten though they suffer. If she once saw what she believed to be +her duty straight in front of her, though her flesh might quail, her +soul would not falter; she would do her duty as certainly as any of +that great host who have died for duty, smiling as they died. The +Countess had not put things pleasantly, but it seemed to Nora that she +had put them correctly; she ought not to marry the man she loved, for +his own sake; and because she loved him with something of that love +which passes understanding, she would not marry him--to his own hurt. +She proceeded to make this as clear to him as she could. "There has +been a misunderstanding between us from the first; I don't know that +the fault has been altogether mine, but there has been. It is +necessary that we should understand each other now. When I consented +to become your wife it was under a misapprehension; I did not know it +then; I know it now. Now that I do know it, it is quite clear to me +that it is impossible that I should be your wife, and I never will be. +Therefore, since what your mother says is obviously correct, and you +ought not to be here, I would join with her in asking you to go."</p> + +<p class="normal">Robert Spencer stared as if he found it difficult to credit that this +formal, cold, somewhat pedantic young woman was the girl whom he had +found all love and tenderness; indeed he refused to credit it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nora, you're--not well."</p> + +<p class="normal">He said this with such a comical twist, and such a sunny smile, that +she all but succumbed, she loved him for it so; she was all of a +quiver, her heart seemed melting. It was possibly because she +perceived the girl's sad plight that the sharp-eyed old woman took +another hand in the game.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert, is it necessary that Miss Lindsay and I should retire? I +should not have thought that you would have required two women to ask +you to go, before you went. I repeat that you shall have all +explanations--from Miss Lindsay and from me--when I see you at +Holtye."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Robert still smiled, and he shook the handsome, clever head, which +the Countess ought to have known was too clever to be hoodwinked quite +so easily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It won't do, mother; I'm sorry to seem to run counter to your wishes; +but it's clear to my mind that it is I who am entitled to ask you to +leave me alone with Nora; it pains me to observe your seeming +reluctance to do what you know you ought to do. Dad, you'll +understand; won't you take my mother away?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Earl, thus appealed to, cleared his throat, and then observed--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert, you're a fool; leave this business to your mother; you come +and talk to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">He moved towards the window, as though inviting his son to accompany +him into the grounds, and to have that talk out there and then; but +Robert stood still.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, dad; it's very good of you, and I'll have all the talk +with you you can possibly desire--after I have had a talk with Nora."</p> + +<p class="normal">All at once the girl solved the question in her own fashion; she spoke +tremulously, yet in haste.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I think that if Mr. Spencer won't go, then--then it is better that +I should."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she did go, towards the door, and through it like a flash, before +the person principally concerned had a chance to stop her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nora!" he cried, the instant she had gone, and he went rushing +towards the door through which she had vanished; but again his mother, +showing an agility which, in a person of her years, was remarkable, +stood in his way.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert, I insist upon your conducting yourself like a gentleman! If +you will not show me the respect which is due to your mother, you at +least shall not behave in a stranger's house in a way which is +unbecoming to my son."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked at the old woman, who had planted herself in front of him, +upright and stiff as a post, and he drew back; this time his smile was +grave.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother, I trust that you are not forgetting that there is a respect +which a mother owes to her son. Why do you object to my having any +conversation with my affianced wife?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't you know that her father is dead?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly I know it; just dead, and just buried; it is on that +account that I feel so strongly that my place is with her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't talk nonsense!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother, when you were alone in the world, didn't you feel that my +father's place was with you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert, your brothers have behaved like fools, but I hope you won't; +you are all the hope I have left; it will break my heart if you do. +This girl's father has turned out to be an impostor!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"An impostor? Mother, in saying what you have to say to me will you +please remember you are speaking of the woman who is to be my wife, +and your daughter, and so choose language which does not convey more +than you intend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't presume to lecture me! that is going too far. I say he has +turned out to be an impostor--and he has!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In what sense?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He told your father he was going to give his girl a house and +furniture and five thousand a year, besides leaving her a rich woman +when he died; and now he hasn't left enough to pay his debts; if that +isn't being an impostor I don't know what is!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A good deal of water has gone over the mill since he said that; he +may have had money then, and yet have lost every penny of it since."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then he ought to have told you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why! you know perfectly well why. I believe it is your wish to +irritate me, when I'm very far from well, as your father here will +tell you. That man knew that you were not in a position to marry a +poor woman, and that we should never have given our consent if it had +not been for this distinct assurance that his daughter would be amply +provided for."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well! it's not well; there's nothing well about it! You shan't speak +to me like this--I won't have it! Robert, I want you to promise that +all shall be at an end between Miss Lindsay and you; she herself sees +the matter in the proper light----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does that mean that you have been talking: to her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly I have been talking to her; and I will say this, that she +did not take long to see where her duty lay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it possible that she took it for granted that I should behave like +a blackguard--at my mother's bidding?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert, how dare you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not I, mother, who dare; I dare not. I asked Miss Lindsay to be +my wife when her father was alive, and a rich man and all was well +with her. If, now that all is not well with her, I attempt to +repudiate the solemn engagements into which I then entered----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fiddle-de-dee! solemn engagements indeed! You entered into no solemn +engagements, and I'll take care you don't. Robert, you are the only +creature I have left to love."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't see how that can be, since you have eight other children and +a husband."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My boy, my boy, don't you be so cruel as to pretend that you don't +understand! You're my youngest born, the child of my old age, my +baby--you're dear to me in a special sense, as you know very well. If +you marry this girl, who is not only penniless, but who is in honour +bound to pay her father's debts, and who'll drag you down into the +gutter, because your aunt will never give you another penny when she +knows the facts, on the day of your marriage I'll commit suicide."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will, so now you're warned; and she shall know why I do it. I'll +not live to be mocked by all my children; I've had nine of them, as +you say, and if not one of them will try to please his mother--then +God help us mothers."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man turned to the Earl.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you associate yourself, sir, with my mother in this matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly I do--most distinctly I do; with what she says respecting +this young woman most emphatically I do; I can't conceive of a +rational creature doing anything else. As matters have turned out the +girl's impossible--absolutely out of the question. If you can't see +it, Robert, you're a fool."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, sir." The young man regarded his plain-speaking sire with +a wry little smile. "I think it probable that when you have thought +things over, sir, you will modify your views; but while you hold them +so warmly, plainly it is desirable that I should restrict myself to a +bare announcement of the fact that they are not mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">He moved towards the window; his mother called out to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert, where are you going? You will return with us. We came in the +landau; there is plenty of room. I beg you will give us your company; +indeed, if it is not sufficient for a mother to beg of her son, then I +insist upon your doing so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me, mother, but I am not going to Holtye; I have taken a room +at the 'Unicorn.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The 'Unicorn!' Robert! Harold, will you be so good as to ask him what +he means?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Earl did as he was bid.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert, what do you mean by saying that you have taken a room at the +'Unicorn'?--an inn!--a mere tavern! at the gate of your father's +house!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The 'Unicorn' can hardly be said to be at the gate of Holtye, since +it is at a distance of a good five miles."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stuff, sir! Five miles or fifty, what does it matter? Holtye is your +home, and you will be so good as to come home; we've been expecting +you; we've been looking forward to your return; I trust that the day +is far distant on which you will cease to regard Holtye as your home."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unless he wishes to break his mother's heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">The interpolation was the lady's.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So no nonsense, sir; get into the carriage and we'll drive you home."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are very kind; permit me, sir, to finish. It is plain that my +mother and you have made up your minds that Miss Lindsay shall not +become my wife; you will probably leave no stone unturned which will +keep us apart. I appreciate your motives, and though I think them +unworthy, I know you think they're for my good; but I have made up my +mind that she shall be my wife, and I will stop at nothing which will +bring about that desirable consummation. Under these conditions +obviously the more we are together the more friction there will be; +and therefore, equally obviously, it is desirable that, for the +present at least, I should not come to Holtye. But I promise you this, +that when she's my wife I'll come--and I'll bring her with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'll do nothing of the kind; if you ever do marry her you'll never +set foot inside the door again."</p> + +<p class="normal">This, of course, was the Countess; her son laughed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You hear my mother, sir! Isn't that conclusive?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He passed through the window and out of sight, the Earl and the +Countess staring at the place where he had been. The Earl was the +first to speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Jemima, what on earth was the use of saying a thing like that? Don't +you know him better than to threaten?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What am I to say? what am I to do? Who'd have children!--they're the +cause of suffering and sorrow to their mothers from their cradles to +their graves! I wish I'd never had one!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Jemima, I dare say, also, you wish you had two heads, but you +haven't. For my part, I don't know that I regret the line he's taken +up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Harold! Do you wish to see him ruined?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all; quite the other way; that's exactly it. In cases of +this sort, when the man throws over the woman there's a certain +amount of odium attached to his conduct--I realize that as clearly as +he does; but when she throws him over that's another thing. Robert's +pig-headed----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Like his father!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And his mother! he's no worse on that account, Jemima, not in the +sense in which I use the word. You'll not move him, but you will the +girl; there's your objective. In her way, unless I'm mistaken, she's +as pig-headed as he is. He may use all the eloquence he has at his +command, but, after what you said to her, and the way in which you +put things, I doubt if she'll marry him though he pleads till he is +dumb--they are a pair of Quixotes; when it comes to rank, downright +Quixotry, she'll beat him on his own ground."</p> + +<p class="normal">And the lady considered her lord's words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shouldn't be surprised," she admitted, "if you are right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know I'm right," he said. "I haven't come to my time of life +without being a student of human nature."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_12" href="#div1Ref_12">IN THE WOOD</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">On the Sunday morning Nora went to church alone. Miss Harding, who did +not appear at breakfast, sent word that she had a headache and hoped +that Nora would excuse her; which Nora was glad to do; she preferred +to go alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the first time for some days the sky was overcast; the sun was +hidden, as if the clerk of the weather desired to show that he was in +sympathy with the girl's feelings. Certainly the girl's mood was not a +sunny one. The church was distant from the house about a mile. The way +to it was through the grounds; along a footpath through the wood, +across Farmer Snelling's thirty-acre field, into the copse on the +other side, where the first daffodils were always found; when you were +out of the copse almost in front of you was the Rectory Lane; a +hundred yards along the lane, turn sharply to the left, there was the +lych-gate under which, aforetime, more parish coffins rested than men +had count of. As she went the familiar way, amid the many evidences of +the hasting spring, the spirit of the morning seemed to enter into +her, so that, as she passed into the church, and knelt where she had +knelt so many times in happier days, the peace of God came into her +soul and she knew, with an abiding sense of comfort, that indeed all +things are in His hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">She never forgot that morning's service; the last at which she was +privileged to be a worshipper in what she had thought would always be, +in a special sense, her own church; the memory was with her, as a +sweet savour, in the still darker days which were to come. It was Palm +Sunday, for Easter was late that year; the hour of the Church's +mourning was close at hand; the appointed service for the day seemed +to be peculiarly suited to her own case; before it was at an end her +thoughts ceased to be centred on herself; her head, and her heart, +were both abased before a sorrow that was greater than hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">When she came out, at the close of service, she was surrounded by +people, villagers and others, for there was not a creature in the +parish, good or bad, high or low, with whom she was not on terms of +intimacy; unconsciously she illustrated the doctrine that--</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-6pt"> +"He prayeth best who loveth best</p> +<p class="t2">All things, both great and small;</p> +<p class="t0">For the dear God who loveth us,</p> +<p class="t2">He made and loveth all."</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">They had all a word of sympathy to offer, crude words some of them +were, but she knew that all of them were well meant, and that was +something; what was hidden from her, and from them, was knowledge of +the fact that to most of those who clustered round her, and who +waylaid her as she went, the words which were uttered were words of +farewell; that before another Sunday came round she was to be parted +from them as by a great sea. At the church porch, in the Rectory Lane, +in the copse across Farmer Snelling's field, she found some one who +had at least a word to say; sometimes it was an ancient, sometimes a +toddling child. She had gained the stile which one had to climb to get +into the wood before she was able to feel that the last of the +interviewers was done with; she did not guess that on the other side +of that stile lurked the most irrepressible of them all.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although there was a right of way through the wood it was one which +was seldom used, except by the household at Cloverlea; and how often +they went that way was shown by the untrodden moss which almost hid +the track. And yet it was a pleasant wood, and an inviting path; it +had only to be followed a very little way, there were delicious nooks +and dells. Most of the trees were old, and many of them were stately; +yet they were excellent company, if one chanced to be alone. As Nora +had found, many a time. She loved that wood; it was to her as a dear +friend; so often had she come to it to dream, waking dreams, and to be +alone in it, with her joys. The season, that year, was early. The +chestnuts--there were not many in the wood, only about a dozen, but +they were all fine trees--were already nearly in full leaf; the elms +were showing green; there was promise of green upon the beeches; only +the oaks were still bare; in all the wood, somewhere, was the gleam +and glow and glory of that lustrous, delicate, fleeting green which is +spring's greatest marvel. And though the sun still was hidden, she +felt how beautiful it was, and how good to be in it there alone; until +she came upon a man who was leaning against a tree, the finest +chestnut in the wood, the splendour of whose leafing branches formed a +canopy above him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The man was Robert Spencer; the tree was just round a bend in the +path, so that she was almost up against him before she had the +faintest notion that any one was there. To judge from her demeanour +the sight of him alarmed her; she drew back with a half-stifled cry, +staring at him as if he were some dangerous thing. He, on his side, +was all smiles, as if he was very conscious that she was the +pleasantest thing he had seen that day. He held out both hands, with +his cap in one.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nora! at last! I was afraid you were never coming!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no mistake about the joyous ring which was in his voice. On +her part she seemed not to know what to say, or do, or make of him, as +if his presence there was a possibility of which she had never +dreamed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Spencer, you--you ought not to be here; I--I must beg of you to +let me pass."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, my dear Nora, of course I'll let you pass; do you suppose I want +to block the way? But why do you call me Mr. Spencer? and why do you +keep out of kissing distance? Do you know how long it is since I had a +kiss? and how often of late I've pictured the delicious moment in +which I was to have another? Nora!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The colours chased each other across her cheeks in rainbow hues; she +strove her utmost to look dignified; but, to his thinking, she only +looked more delightful; her very severity he thought became her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Spencer, you--you have no right to talk to me like this. You have +had my letter----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your letter? what letter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The one I sent you yesterday; it ought to have been delivered this +morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It wasn't; I've had no letter of yours which you sent me yesterday; +where did you send it? to what address?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I addressed it to you at Holtye."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then that's why I've not had it; possibly I never shall have it. You +rushed off in such a flurry, before I could speak a word to you, that +I had no chance to tell you that I wasn't staying at Holtye."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not staying at Holtye? then where are you staying?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At the 'Unicorn,' I've taken a room there; it's only another +illustration of the truth of what I've so often told you, the more +haste the worse speed. I can see now that you'd go tearing off if I'd +let you; but I won't. I want to explain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I'd rather you explained through the post."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I wouldn't; and I'm not going to. When people wish to understand +each other in matters of real importance I hold that they'd better do +so face to face; I've no faith in pen and ink; microbes breed in +ink-bottles, which breed all sorts of misconceptions. Now I can see +that you're rushing at your fences again. You're taking it for granted +that I wish to speak to you on one subject, when I principally wish to +speak to you about your father. I want to tell you something about him +which you ought to know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her voice was faint, as if she felt that unfair engines of war were +being used against her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your father hoped that we should marry; he knew that I loved you, and +would always love you; and he thought you loved me, and would always +love me; and therefore----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What were you going to tell me about my father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She perceived that he was trenching on dangerous ground, and tried to +get him off it; he came off with much agility.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I met him on the morning on which I was starting for Cairo----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You never told me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had an idea that he didn't wish me to mention that I'd met him, so +I didn't. We lunched together; he gave me a most excellent lunch----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm glad he gave you an excellent lunch."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, Nora! that's much more like you! thank you! It was an +excellent lunch; it was after lunch he said he hoped that we should +marry, because, as I have already observed, he knew that----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; we'll take that for granted; please go on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm going on as fast as ever I can; but it'll only be another case of +more haste worse speed if you won't let me tell my tale my own way, +because, if I don't, I'm nearly sure to leave out essential details. +Among other things he remarked that, one day, you'd be a rich young +woman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're sure he said that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite; your father could express himself clearly enough if he chose; +and he expressed himself clearly then."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But--I don't understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait a bit; I'm going to make you understand, if you'll have a little +patience. Later, I cannot say that he said so clearly, but he +intimated, that he obtained his income from some business with which +he was connected, and which represented to him a large sum of money."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Business! I didn't know that he had anything to do with any business."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mind, he didn't state definitely that he had; and I asked no +questions, but that was what he hinted. Then he said something which, +in the light of recent events, appears to me to have been rather +remarkable. He observed that life was always uncertain; that one could +never tell the hour when one would die, and that, therefore, since I +was going to be the husband of his only child, he would like to place +in my hands directions as to what he would desire to have done, in +case death took him unawares; or before he completed certain +arrangements which he then had in view."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a strange thing for him to say!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see how necessary it was that I should see you face to face, and +how difficult it would have been to put this on to paper? Nora, I love +you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you--are you really telling me what my father said?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm going to tell you everything he said, if you'll give me time +enough; only don't suppose for a moment that you're going to keep me +from saying that I love you; especially as it was because he knew I +loved you, and believed that you loved me, that he told me what he +did."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I wish you'd go on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"After I'd been a few days in Cairo there came a package in which +there was a note from him; a brief and characteristic note, to this +effect. 'Dear Robert,' you see he called me Robert." He paused, as if +to challenge her. "Nora, I wish you'd call me Robert; it's a stupid, +ugly, vulgar, clumsy name, but you don't know how I long to hear it on +your lips."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I don't know that it's any of the things you say it is; I--I don't +know that there's anything particularly the matter with the name."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's very sweet of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I don't think it's either fair or kind of you to try to take +advantage of me like this!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take advantage of you! is your sense of justice so warped that you +can say a thing like that! In what sense am I supposed to be trying to +take advantage of you, Nora?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're pretending to tell me about my father, and--and you keep +trying to tell me about other things instead."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The only tie which bound me to your father, the only reason he had +for placing his confidence in me, was his knowledge of my love for +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well; if you like we'll take that for granted----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't like."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me what was in the note!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Dear Robert, referring to our conversation of' such and such a date; +at this moment I can't give it you exactly----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It doesn't matter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"'You will find in envelope enclosed herewith the instructions of +which I spoke. It is understood that it is only to be opened in the +event of my demise; and that, should I for any reason whatever desire +its return, you will at once hand it me intact. In acknowledging +kindly state that you understand.--Faithfully yours, DONALD LINDSAY.' +That was the note. With it was a sealed envelope, inscribed, 'To +ROBERT SPENCER. Not to be opened until after my death.--DONALD +LINDSAY.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And have you opened it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's the gist and point of the whole affair--I haven't it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't understand; I thought you said----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did say. What's that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Spencer's question referred to a sound like the rustling of +bushes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's only a rabbit, or a hare."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must be a large specimen of either animal, and an awkward one, to +make a noise like that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What were you going to say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I placed the sealed envelope in my suit-case, together with my other +most valuable possessions; which, with the exception of some of your +dear letters, were worth about twopence; at the moment I'd nowhere +else to put it. When I left, the suitcase was placed, with my other +luggage, on the train, and, I presumed, transferred from the train to +the boat; yet, when I went down to my cabin, after the boat was fairly +off, the suit-case wasn't there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What had become of it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's the problem which I have still to solve, and which I'm going +to solve. Either it was left behind at my aunt's, which she denies, or +it was left on the train, which the railway company denies, or it was +taken by mistake to somebody else's cabin, which every one denies, or +it was stolen, of which I haven't the faintest proof. Anyhow, it was, +and, at present, it isn't; as yet that's as far as I've got."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then my father's letter to you is lost."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But it's not going to continue lost; I have lost things before, but +I'm not going to lose the only thing I ever had worth losing; I've a +ridiculous sort of fatalistic feeling that, as matters have chanced, +if I lose that letter--really, and truly, and finally lose it--I may +lose you; you don't suppose I'm going to sit down quietly and endure +that loss with equanimity? You don't know me, my lady, if you do. What +is that? Don't tell me that that's either a rabbit or a hare."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps it's a fox."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Foxes don't set the whole countryside in a clatter when they start +moving; they're of much too retiring a nature. It's some one making +off through the bushes, that's who it is. Hi! you there, who are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no reply to his call.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps it was some one who came upon us unexpectedly, and--and +didn't wish to disturb us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps so; we're obliged to his taste for self-effacement if it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose you've no idea what was in the envelope."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've been putting two and two together, and I've formed a hypothesis +which I'm convinced can't be very far out. Your father was not a man +to say the thing which is not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm sure of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I also; he did not say you would be a rich woman without cause. The +hypothesis I've deduced is this. Your father was a gentleman of the +old school; he didn't like commerce; he didn't wish people to think +that he had anything to do with commerce; yet all the while he was +drawing his income from a business with which he had probably been +associated more or less unwillingly. At the time I saw him he was +making arrangements to dispose of it; whether or not they were +completed I cannot say; that envelope contains the clue. When he spoke +of the suddenness of death he was possibly aware that he had a +congenital predisposition towards the end which was actually his; and +that envelope contained the secret--which he was even perilously +anxious to preserve in life--of what was the source of his income, and +of the fortune which he had built up for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All this, of course, is surmise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know it's more than surmise; you know that you're a rich woman, +as you stand there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know, from the only facts which as yet are established, that, at +present, I'm a pauper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, we're both of us paupers; all the better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't agree."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're taking your cue from my mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should prove myself very foolish if I need take such a cue from any +one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's a wisdom of the foolish which is sometimes wonderful. If you +were to marry me tomorrow----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As if I should!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'd make my fortune!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"When, as you've told me again and again, you live on charity; and +directly you married me that charity would stop?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know a way by which I could earn two or three hundred a year right +off; before long I'd be earning thousands; I'm not incapable, I only +need a spur; to work for the woman I love! I ask for nothing better. +If I marry a woman with money the probability is that I should never +earn a penny."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, but you'd earn a name for yourself instead; one can earn +something better than money."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And she'd be proud of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even supposing that you're not buttering me up----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As if I would!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As if you would! as if you haven't done it over and over again! I +know! I say, even granting I'm a swan of the very finest plumage----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Spencer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay; since you will interrupt me; and will descend to +surnames; though, Nora, you're a darling."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's no use our indulging in abstract discussions. I've no doubt +you'll be able to clothe charming sentiments in the very best +language. I know how clever you are."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks very much."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what's the use, since my mind's made up that I won't marry you +while I'm a pauper?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Acting on my mother's instructions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you like to put it that way; though I wouldn't even if your mother +hadn't interposed; if I'd thought I was going to be a pauper I'd never +have said I would."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Although you love me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I love you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nora! You're going to make a mess of things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm going to try not to make a mess of things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're starting the wrong way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen. I don't think you've behaved well about that envelope my +father sent you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you imagine that I think I have? do I look it? How my countenance +belies me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There appear to have been some letters of mine in that suit-case; I +didn't think you'd have left my letters lying about."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nora!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You seem to have left the suit-case lying about, so I suppose you +left my letters too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of all the--of all the----! Well, I deserve it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think you do. When you find that envelope you can come and show me +what is in it; until then--good-bye."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you mean that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope that I am like my father in not saying what I don't mean; I do +mean it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll find that envelope!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I hope you'll find my letters."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll find them too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope there was nothing in them very--very amusing; it isn't nice to +feel that strangers are reading one's--one's private letters."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You rub it in."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's not my intention; would you like to feel that people you know +nothing about were reading some of the letters you wrote to me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know what you mean; I'll find the letters and the envelope, and the +suit-case; and if any one has opened that suit-case I'll--I'll make +them smart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-bye."</p> + +<p class="normal">Already she was moving off; he exclaimed--"Like that! Nora! won't you +even give me your hand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She stopped, and turned; with something on her face which, in his +eyes, made her very beautiful.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you'll promise only to take my hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I promise; I'll take only what you're willing to give." They stood, +for some seconds, hand in hand, eyes looking into eyes, as if they +found it difficult to speak. Then he said, "Don't suppose I don't +think you're right; I know you're doing this for me, and I know you're +always right. This good-bye is only the prelude to a time of waiting, +and hope, and work. First of all I'll find that envelope, then if +there's nothing in it to show that you're a millionaire, I'm going to +work and be a millionaire--I'll win you in my own way. I'm not afraid +of waiting; you'll not marry any one but me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't think I shall."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't think you will either."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's something I'd like to ask, if you won't misunderstand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll not misunderstand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'd like to kiss you before I go, only--I don't want you to kiss me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nora!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She moved closer to him, and, while he stood still, she touched her +lips to his, a butterfly kiss, then, turning, went quickly down the +path. He stood and watched her as she went.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_13" href="#div1Ref_13">LOVERS' TIFFS</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Nora had not long been gone to church before Miss Harding became +sufficiently cured of her headache to permit of her quitting her own +apartment. Perhaps she was of opinion that fresh air would do it good; +and, notoriously, fresh air is good for headaches; certainly she +looked very far from well. She donned her smartest hat, and one of her +prettiest frocks, relinquishing, for the nonce, the black dress she +had been wearing for her lately departed host. She attired herself +with the greatest care, giving minute attention to those small details +which mean so much; possibly she was under the impression that costume +might have something to do with a cure--yet all her care could not +conceal the fact that she was looking ill. When she saw how white she +was, and the black marks under the eyes--and actually wrinkles in the +corners, and how thin and worn and pinched her face seemed to have +suddenly become, she could have cried, only she was painfully +conscious that tears had already had too large a share in bringing her +to the state in which she was. If she could she would have "assisted +nature," only she had nothing with which to do it. Nora's opinions on +the subject of "aids to beauty" were strong; Elaine had frequently +declared that hers were even stronger. That was the worst of being in +the position of "humble friend"; one had sometimes to pretend that one +thought what one really did not think, or so it seemed to her. If she +had only had a little "something," in a jar, or in a tube, or a stick, +or anything--but she would not have dared to run the risk of allowing +Nora to find such a thing in her possession. Moreover, until then she +had never wanted it. Still, if she had been left alone--that was how +she put it--she might have had it by her. Now that she really wanted +something, she had absolutely not a thing--obviously the fault of that +was Nora's.</p> + +<p class="normal">The consequence was that when at last she sallied out into the grounds +she was conscious that she was not looking her best, in spite of her +hat and frock--she knew that there was nothing amiss with them; and +that morning it was so very desirable that she should look even better +than her best, because she was going to meet Mr. Herbert Nash, and was +particularly anxious to twist him round her finger. Every one knows +that, where a man's concerned, the better one looks the easier that +operation is apt to be found. Miss Harding made one slight error; she +ought to have remembered that when one is not looking one's best +matters are not improved by being in a bad temper. Good temper may +almost act as an "aid to beauty," bad temper certainly won't; and, +unfortunately, Miss Harding was so conscious of her defects that her +temper suffered.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nor was it mended by the fact that the gentleman kept her waiting. +Perhaps that headache of hers had had something to do with the +accident that she had an appointment to keep. She had asked Mr. Nash +to let her see him somewhere on Sunday morning, where they could be +alone, and he had told her he would be by the fish-pond at such and +such an hour. She herself was a little late at the trysting-place; her +toilette had taken longer than she had intended; still she was first. +She waited--she had no watch, but it seemed that she waited hours, +yet he did not come. By the time he did appear her mood was hardly +lover-like; nor, it seemed, was his. He came strolling leisurely +through the trees, his hands in his jacket pockets, a cane under his +arm, a big cigar in his mouth, his hat at a rakish angle--quite at his +ease; there was something in his appearance which would hardly have +induced the average client to select him as his legal adviser. Elaine +always had a more or less vague feeling that this was so; the feeling +was stronger than usual as she watched him coming; yet the man had for +her such an intense physical fascination that she deliberately refused +to let her eyes see what they would have perceived plainly enough if +she had only let them. More or less, it was possibly because she +realized that that Sunday morning he did not look quite so desirable +an example of his sex as he might have done that her greeting was +hardly saccharine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You've taken your time in coming."</p> + +<p class="normal">He planted himself in front of her, without removing his hands from +his pockets, his cane from under his arm, his cigar from his mouth, or +his hat from his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what's the hurry? I had to see a man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You knew I was waiting; you might have let him wait."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I might; but I didn't. Hello! what's wrong?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He was looking her up and down in a way which made her tingle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean--what's wrong?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You look--no offence intended--but you look as if you'd been up all +night--a hot night too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have a headache, and waiting for you hasn't made it any better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A headache? My mother used to have headaches, and, my word! when she +had them didn't she use to make it warm for us. I used to say----"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stopped, and laughed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did you use to say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I used to say--again no offence intended--that I'd never marry a +woman who had headaches."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not subject to headaches--don't suppose it; I scarcely ever have +them; in fact, I don't ever remember having had one before; only--I've +been worried."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you? that's bad. Don't do it; be like me--don't let yourself be +worried by anything." He took out his cigar and surveyed the ash. "I +read somewhere the other day that it's worry makes people grow old +before their time; I don't believe much I read, but I do believe that. +No matter what goes wrong, don't worry, it will come right; that's my +theory of life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's very easy to talk, it's harder to do. You don't seem very +pleased to see me now that you have come."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't I? I am; I'm as pleased as Punch."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't show it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do you expect me to show it? By taking you in my arms and kissing +you out here in broad daylight, with you don't know what eyes enjoying +the fun? If you'll come over the stile into the wood you shall have +all the kissing you want--before lunch."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall do nothing of the kind, and I expect you to do nothing of the +kind, as you very well know; only----" She suddenly changed the +subject. "Did you see Mr. Dawson yesterday, and arrange about the +partnership?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I saw him, but I can't say I did much more than see him. He didn't +seem to be so enthusiastic about the idea of having me for a partner +as I expected, and--I can't say I'm very enthusiastic."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean? The other day you said it was just the thing you +would like to be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, in a sense--in default of something better; but I don't want to +be premature; since the other day something has occurred to me which +may turn out to be better than a partnership with the venerable Mr. +Dawson--who, between ourselves, is as supercilious an old beast as I +ever want to meet--a good deal better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it, Herbert?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She was observing him with--in her eyes, and on her face--an +eagerness, a something strained, of which he seemed unconscious, and +of which, no doubt, she was unconscious also.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excuse me, but that's exactly what I can't tell you--not at the +present moment. It's still, as you may say, in the embryo--in the +making; but it's there."</p> + +<p class="normal">He touched his forehead with his finger, as if to denote that the +something in question had a safe location in his brain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can't--can't you give me some idea of what it is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It depends on what you call an idea. I'll tell you this much; I'm +meditating a coup--a great coup; if I bring it off it'll mean a really +big thing; how big I can't tell you, not just now--I don't know +myself; but something altogether beyond anything a partnership with +old Dawson would mean.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert, I hope it's nothing risky."</p> + +<p class="normal">She had run such a risk herself she wanted him to run none; she had +had enough of risks, for ever.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That depends again on what you mean by risky. I'm not sure that I +shall go in for it; I haven't quite finished turning it over in my +mind; I don't altogether see my way; but if, by the time I have +finished turning it over in my mind, I do see my way, why, there you +are; I'm a starter. Of course there's always the risk of my not +bringing it off, though you may bet I'll do my best"--he said this +with a very curious smile; a smile which, for some reason, seemed to +bring a sense of chill to her heart. "But I shall be no worse off if I +don't--there's no risk in that sense. Then will be the time to join +myself in partnership with dear old Dawson."</p> + +<p class="normal">She drew a long breath. The position was becoming complicated. She had +not dreamed that he would have formed a scheme of his own, which she +was to be kept out of, or she would not have gone, the second time, +through the study window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will--will any money be wanted for what you're thinking of?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; not, at least, from you; of course, money will be wanted, but--it +will come from some one else, if it comes at all; that's the idea; +plenty of it too."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again that curious smile came on his face; that, this time, it +positively frightened her, showed what a state her nerves were in.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert, of what are you thinking?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm thinking--of a real big thing."</p> + +<p class="normal">As she watched him some instinct warned her not to push her curiosity +too far; yet there were certain things she must know.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How long--will it take you to make up your mind?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's something else I can't tell you; I never may make it up. You +see, I'm only mentioning this so that you can understand why I'm not +anxious to press old Dawson, just yet awhile. There's nothing to be +lost by waiting; I'm in no hurry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How about our marriage?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean--how about our marriage?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She would have liked to have told him just what she did mean--that she +had invented her aunt's legacy simply because she wanted to be married +at once. But she could not do that; she had to get to the point some +other way.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You said if you had enough money to buy a partnership in Mr. Dawson's +business we might be married at once; that's why I told you about my +aunt's legacy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's all right; the legacy'll keep; what's the harm?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The harm is--it's not nice of you to make me say so, though--you +ought to be--you ought to be flattered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am flattered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're not! I don't believe you care for me one bit, or--or you'd +know I want to be married."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So you shall be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, when I've had time enough to find out where I'm standing; say in +a month or two."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert, you should never have had that two hundred pounds if you +hadn't promised me that we should be married at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you call at once?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Next week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Next week! why, that's Easter!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, why shouldn't we be married at Easter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good gracious! Where do you propose to set up housekeeping? in my +rooms?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not necessarily in your rooms; but in some rooms--nice rooms, for the +present; they needn't be just about here. I've money enough to go on +with--plenty of money; and you might think over what you've been +talking about, and come to a decision, while--while we're on our +honeymoon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again he took the cigar out of his mouth, and again he regarded the +ash; it was white, and long, and firm; it seemed it was a good cigar; +and while he was still regarding the ash, he observed--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Young woman, there's more in you than meets the eye. There's +something in what you say; I admit there's a good deal in what you +say. I'll give it my serious attention."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your serious attention! Won't you understand? Any day I may have to +leave this place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's true enough, unless you propose to remain on the premises +while the catalogue s being drawn up, and the lots are being +ticketed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert! What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing to speak of; only I happen to know that the principal +creditors don't mean to wait for their money a moment longer than they +can help. Either the estate will have to be administered in +bankruptcy, or Miss Nora Lindsay will have to agree to the whole thing +being sold--lock, stock and barrel, for what it will fetch."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As a matter of fact, they want to come into the place and start the +catalogue to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what will become of Nora?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where will she go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where will she?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Couldn't she--couldn't she come and live with us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Couldn't she--live with us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who's us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With you and me--just for a time--when we're married?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash looked the lady straight in the face, significantly; his tone +was as significant as his look.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear, I don't think you care for Miss Nora Lindsay one snap of +your fingers, and I'm sure I don't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You've no right to say that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fancy that you've a sort of notion that you ought to behave +prettily to her because she's let you come and liven her up when she +hadn't a soul in the place to speak to. So far as I can see, she's at +least as much under an obligation as you are. She'd have been deadly +dull without you; she'd have had to pay a companion, and pay her well, +if it hadn't been for your society. You got nothing for your services; +seems to me she owes you. Don't talk about her living with us! I +wouldn't live under the same roof as Miss Nora Lindsay, not for a +million a year. I don't like her--never did--never could; she's not +the kind of girl I care about. What does it matter to me what becomes +of her? Do you think she'd trouble if I came to eternal grief? Very +much so! I fancy I see her at it! No, if you're going to take up with +Miss Nora Lindsay you've done with me. There never has been any love +lost between us, and now if I had my way I'd never see her or speak to +her again. So if your sentiments are different I'll hand you back the +two hundred pounds you so kindly threw into my face just now, and +we'll cry quits. I'm not going to start by letting the girl who's +going to be my wife mix herself up with people who are objectionable +to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The expression which was on the girl's face, as she looked at him, was +pitiful; had he been aware of the emotions which seemed to be tearing +at her in a dozen different places at once, even he might have been +moved to pity. Had his words been lashes they could hardly have hurt +her more. She stood trembling, hardly able to speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I'd no idea you--you felt like this--about--Nora."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hadn't you? Well, you know now; and as perhaps you'd like to have a +little time to get the idea well into your head, I'll say good-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert, you--you mustn't go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mustn't go? Why mustn't I go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How about our marriage?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How about our marriage?--when just now you were talking about her +coming to live with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I--was only--suggesting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then let me tell you that the suggestion's made me feel sick. I don't +want any words--I hate them; and as I'm not going to be bustled, when +I know that I ought not to allow myself to be bustled, as I remarked, +I'll return you the money which you threw into my face just now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I didn't mean to throw it in your face."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then what did you mean? You as good as said that I'd been up for +sale, and that you'd bought me; but as I didn't understand that I was +being bought, I'll hand you back the purchase price, then perhaps I +shall be able to call my soul my own."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I--Herbert, don't--don't let's quarrel. I--I--you don't know how I +love you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, then, and I love you; so that's all right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure you love me? If I were only sure!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may be dead sure; at the same time you must allow me to speak a +few plain words. There's something the matter with you, and there has +been for some little time; I don't know what it is--it may be a +headache, as you say, but if it is it's the kind of headache which, if +I were you, I should take something for. You've changed altogether +during the last few days; the little girl I used to know wouldn't have +tried to bully me into marrying her at a moment's notice, when I told +her that I thought it would be better, for both our sakes, that we +should wait a little. I promise you that as soon as I see my way I'll +come and ask you to name the day, and I hope you'll name an early one. +But, in the meantime, where's the hurry? So far as I know you'll get +no harm by waiting; it isn't as though I was asking you to wait +long--a month or two at most; and it isn't as though you were hard up; +you've got the cash, not I. As for leaving the place, I should say the +sooner you leave it the better; you've got a home to go to--what's +wrong with your home? You can write to me, I can come and see you; or, +if I can't manage to come, after a bit you might step over to see me; +you might find quarters with a mutual friend--why not? My present +advice to you is to take a dose of medicine, that is medicine, and lie +down, and sleep it off; then when you're feeling more like yourself +you'll see that I'm quite right; and then you might let me know, and +we can have another little talk together. In the meantime, as I +observed before, I'll say good-day. By the bye, if you do want that +money back again, you've only got to let me have a line, and you shall +have it."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_14" href="#div1Ref_14">THE PARTING OF THE WAYS</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash strolled leisurely off, lighting another cigar as he went. +Elaine could have done nothing to stop him, had her entire future +depended on her making the effort. Indeed she only dimly realized that +he was going; something seemed to be pressing on her brain, and +numbing it; until all at once the pressure lightened, and, with a +start, she perceived that he had gone. For a second or two she stood +staring about her on all sides, as if, just roused out of sleep, she +was wondering where she was. When she understood that he had left her, +and had passed out of sight, and that she was alone, oblivious of her +smart hat and pretty frock, she sank down on to the grass, just where +she was, and hid her face in her hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">She stayed like that some time; she herself did not know how long; +then, uncovering her face, again she looked about her; and, possibly +recognizing that nothing was to be gained by behaving like that, she +scrambled to her feet, shaking herself, touching herself here and +there, where she thought that her costume might stand in need of a +touch, then she started to return to the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had just got on to the path which wound among the trees when she +encountered the person she would have most wished to avoid--the +butler, Morgan. Elaine had never before seen him attired in anything +but what might be described as his official garments; such was her +mental confusion that, at her first sight, in his well-cut, neat grey +suit, she hardly knew him; it had to be admitted that in it he looked +more like a gentleman is supposed to look than Mr. Nash had done. He +carried himself with less swagger than Herbert Nash; what was still +more marked, he uncovered when he saw Miss Harding, showing all those +signs of outward respect which a gentleman is supposed to show in the +presence of a lady, but which Mr. Nash had entirely ignored; yet Miss +Harding shrank back from Mr. Morgan as if he had been some noxious +thing. Nothing could have been more deferential than the air with +which he addressed her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With your permission, Miss Harding, I should like to speak to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked as if she was afraid that he would whip her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not--not now; I'm afraid I shall be late for lunch; I--I don't want +to keep Miss Lindsay waiting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We don't lunch on Sunday; you forget, Miss Harding; we take early +dinner; I assure you you shan't be late; they can't begin without me, +and I'm always punctual. Pray don't be distressed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I can't stop now; I--I'm not feeling very well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're not looking very well, I'm sorry to say; as Mr. Nash informed +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">She started.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr.---- What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You were so engrossed with each other that you had no eyes for +anything but yourselves; or you would certainly have noticed me. I was +so close that I actually heard everything you said."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you always spying?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Candidly, I very often am. I regard it as my duty to keep at least +one eye on everything that's going on; that's a high ideal, but I do +my best to live up to it. When I had that little conversation with you +with reference to the three thousand pounds you found, I endeavoured +to assure you that you might rely implicitly on my discretion; but, at +the same time, I did not bargain that you would throw the money away +on such a man as Herbert Nash."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan! you--you forget yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all, Miss Harding, not at all. When first I saw you together +my feeling was one of resentment; but, when I heard what was said, my +resentment grew less; for one reason, because I perceived that I might +be able to work with Mr. Nash, as well as with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You might work with Mr. Nash? What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not obvious? As you are doubtless aware, Mr. Nash is a young +man of many possibilities."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Possibilities?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will remember that I told you that I saw possibilities in you, +which have become facts. In the same sense I see possibilities in +Herbert Nash, so that I may be able to work with him. We shall be a +united trio."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you--do you dare to hint----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes? do I dare to hint? pray finish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me pass! I'll have nothing to say to you! Get out of my way!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still one moment, Miss Harding, if you please. I heard you ask Mr. +Nash to marry you, which was rather 'coming on,' to use a kitchen +phrase, wasn't it? Luckily he declined; the anxiety was plainly all on +your side; or I should have objected."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would have objected! Do you suppose I should ask your +permission?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you didn't, and I did object, on your wedding-day I'd have you +arrested at the church door; and if your husband was Herbert Nash that +would be the last you'd see of him. When you came out of jail he'd +slam the door in your face, unless I mistake the man, and he'd stick +up a notice in his front garden, 'No convicted felons need apply.' +It's not my wish to be disagreeable, Miss Harding, quite the other +way; but I've a feeling that you don't want to treat me fairly; and in +matters of this sort both sides expect fair treatment, it's only +natural. I can tell you, at this moment, exactly what I propose, as +Herbert Nash put it; I want time to find out where I'm standing; as +you must see for yourself, everything's at sixes and sevens. But I can +tell you what I don't propose; that you should hand over that three +thousand pounds to a man who doesn't deserve it. You catch what I +mean? I fancy you will if you think it over." He glanced at his watch. +"Now I am afraid that I must go; if you go straight home you'll have +plenty of time to tittivate; and I do trust, Miss Harding, that, at +dinner, you'll be once more the charming, lively, high-spirited young +lady I've always loved to rest my eyes upon."</p> + +<p class="normal">When the gong sounded for dinner Miss Lindsay was informed, by the +butler, that although Miss Harding had been out, and had returned, she +had sent down word that her headache was still so bad that she wanted +nothing to eat, and preferred to remain in her own room. Whereupon +Nora went up-stairs to make inquiries on her own account. She found +the young lady's door was locked. Having tapped twice without +eliciting a response, the third time she knocked more peremptorily, +exclaiming--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Elaine! please let me in! it's Nora."</p> + +<p class="normal">A shrill voice cried out within.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can't let you in! I won't! I only want people to let me alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">Wondering, Nora let her alone, and went down to a solitary dinner; +while Elaine lay face downward on the bed, wildly asking herself if +suicide was not the best way out of it.</p> + +<p class="normal">That night there came to Nora still another variation of the dream +which she had dreamed before. Throughout the day she had been +conscious of a sense of curious depression; as if she was realizing, +for the first time, how wholly alone in the world she was, and was +likely to remain. She had said good-bye to the man she loved; Mr. +Spencer's story of the envelope which her father had sent him was an +odd one; but the envelope was lost. She resented with a bitterness of +which she had not imagined herself capable the fact that he had lost +it; she had not put her bitterness into words, she had not wished to +reproach him; it was contrary to her nature to reproach any one; but +it had seemed to her the hardest blow which fate had dealt her yet, +and that it should have come from him! If the envelope were found it +was possible that it might contain the key to the mystery of Donald +Lindsay's money; so that it would be shown that she was, after all, +pecuniarily, in the fortunate position her father had led her to +suppose she would be. But, to begin with, it had to be found. It +seemed that its loser had already been making strenuous efforts to +recover it, without success; if it was to be retrieved surely it was +most likely to be the case when the scent was hot. What reason was +there to suppose that the search which had failed when the conditions +were more favourable was likely to have a more satisfactory result now +that everything was against it? Even if the envelope was regained +there was still the--should she say probability, or possibility?--that +its contents might lead to nothing after all. Disappointments had +crowded on her so fast lately that it would only be in the natural +order of things if she was to be visited by yet another.</p> + +<p class="normal">Almost worse than all the rest; suppose the envelope was recovered, +and it was found that she was indeed an heiress, still to her the +world would never again be what it was; in her heart of hearts she +knew it; it was that knowledge which, that Sunday, weighed on her so +heavily. During the last few days disillusions had come to her from +every quarter. Whatever the future might have in store for her the +attitude taken up by the Earl and Countess of Mountdennis was one +which she never could forget. That her position as an heiress had +heightened her charms in their eyes she had known; but she had +supposed that they had cared for her a little for herself. That bubble +was blown. Common decency, it seemed to her, would have bade them +extend to her at least some show of sympathy. Plainly such an idea had +not occurred to them. All they had done was to revile her for having +lost everything she valued most, father, home, all; as if the fault +was hers, and she had been engaged in a conspiracy to bring about her +own destruction; they had made it so hideously clear that, from the +first, and all along, they had only thought of her as a representative +of so many pounds, shillings and pence; not a creature of flesh and +blood, who was one day to stand to them in the place of a daughter, to +be loved and cherished by their son. Though to-morrow millions were to +come tumbling into her lap her lovers' parents could never now be what +she had once hoped they would become; with their own hands they had +rent into nothing the veil of illusion through which she had seen +them.</p> + +<p class="normal">That Robert was not as they were she admitted, gladly admitted. Yet he +was their son; if she became his wife she would be in duty bound to +regard his parents, in a sense, as hers; how could she pretend filial +attachment and respect for such persons as they had shown themselves +to be? Hers was the young girl's high ideal of marriage; husband and +wife ought to be one; they ought to have a common community of +interest; what was dear to the one should be dear to the other; how +would that ideal work out if she were to marry Robert Spencer? +Obviously, it would not work at all; he would be on one side; his +parents--not improbably all his relatives and friends--would be on the +other side, against her. It would begin in dissension, and end--where? +Even the discovery that she was rich would make but little difference; +she was not going to buy a husband from his father and mother, well +knowing that all they wanted for the light of their countenance was +their price, and that they would only consent to receive her into the +family circle if she came plastered with gold. Rather than become a +wife upon those terms she would remain a spinster all her life. She +knew her weakness; if she came within reach of Robert her love--his +love--might prove greater than her strength; that morning it had been +all that she could do to keep herself out of his arms. Next time--and +she was pretty sure that if Robert was in the neighbourhood there +would be a next time before very long--she might succumb, and regret +it ever afterwards. Better that she should leave Cloverlea than run +such a risk.</p> + +<p class="normal">The probability that she would have to go--whether she wanted to go or +not--had been continually in her mind since she had heard Dr. +Banyard's statement of her affairs; and with it there had been a hazy +sort of notion that, when the moment of parting came, she might find +temporary refuge in Elaine Harding's home in the west country, as a +guest in her father's vicarage. Elaine had asked her often; it was +true that the invitations had been coupled with intimations that the +vicarage was but a humble one, and would seem but a poor place to the +heiress of Cloverlea. But now circumstances had changed; to Nora any +place seemed desirable where she would be welcome; especially her dear +friend's home, however modest it might be. Although she would not +confess it even to herself she had vaguely expected that Elaine would +have spoken to her on the subject before now; Elaine had always been +so full of protestations of what she would do--of what she would love +to do--for Nora, if opportunity ever offered, in return for all that +Nora had done for her. But now that opportunity did offer, and Elaine +was well aware of the plight which Nora was shortly likely to be in, +not a hint had she dropped of a disposition to be of service to her in +any way whatever. More, it seemed to Nora that Elaine was avoiding her +as if misfortune had made of her a pariah. It was true that she +excused herself by alleging illness; and Nora was not prepared to say +that her illness was diplomatic. But during all the time they had +known each other Elaine had always enjoyed excellent health; so far as +Nora knew--and they had been intimate for years--she had not endured +an ache or pain until the moment arrived when it seemed likely that +she might be able to render some slight services to the friend who had +done so much for her.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not strange that Nora took it for granted that she need expect +nothing from the dearest friend she had in the world; and that that +feeling did not tend to lighten the load of depression which, that +Sunday, weighed on her so heavily.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the evening she took stock of such possessions as, in any case, she +might be entitled to call her own. She had it strongly in her mind +that she and Elaine might soon be parted; just how close the hour of +parting was she could not tell, but she felt that, whenever it came, +it would be as well that it should find her ready. There had been, she +knew, a meeting of the creditors yesterday; exactly what course they +had decided to pursue she had not learnt; and, again, that troubled +her; she felt that either Dr. Banyard or Mr. Nash might have let her +have some sort of intimation. But, anyhow, from what she had gathered +it seemed likely that before long there would be strangers at +Cloverlea; when they came she must go, practically on the instant. +Even if their coming was postponed it appeared to her that she must +go. It cost money to keep up Cloverlea; since the little money which +her father had left belonged to the creditors, when she came to +consider the matter calmly, it seemed to her that she had no real +right to remain another hour. Her continued stay in that huge house +involved the expenditure of money to which it had not yet been shown +that she had any claim; even if money enough had been discovered to +keep it going for another week, which she doubted.</p> + +<p class="normal">No; it seemed to her, from whatever point of view she regarded the +position, that the hour was close at hand for the parting of the ways; +and that it behoved her to be ready for it when it came.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_15" href="#div1Ref_15">'SO EARLY IN THE MORNING'</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">So she took stock of such things as, whatever befell, she felt that +she would have a right to take away with her from Cloverlea; it seemed +to her that, since God had opened her eyes to her actual situation, He +would forgive her for undertaking, on the Sabbath evening, what He had +shown her was a work of necessity. A pathetic business that +stocktaking was, and a queer one, and not a very heavy one either.</p> + +<p class="normal">She began with the money. She concluded that such cash as her father +had given her for her own separate and private use she might still +call her own, and use as her own. Had she been dealing with a sum of +any magnitude she would have hesitated; for this young woman was a Don +Quixote in petticoats, and would rather starve than eat food which she +even fancied belonged to others; but she was not dealing with a sum of +any magnitude. Her father had always made her a generous allowance, of +which she had always made a generous use; regarding herself as, in a +sense, her father's almoner, she used far the larger part of it in +works of charity. Since she left school it had been his custom to give +her, four times a year, a sum of one hundred and twenty-five pounds, +always in gold. It had been one of his peculiarities that he had never +given her either cheques or bank-notes, but always sovereigns. One of +the quarterly sums had always been handed to her during the first week +in April; she had been expecting it when her father had been taken +ill. As a matter of fact, it was her hundred and twenty-five +sovereigns, plus two more, which had formed that little heap of gold +which was on the study table when Elaine Harding first adventured +through the window. So, as that little heap had never found its +way to her, all she actually possessed was what was left from last +quarter--and the first three months of the year always were such +expensive months. During the winter there was apt to be so much want +and suffering; sometimes she found it hard to make both ends meet, +even though she spent scarcely anything on herself at all. However, +that winter quarter there had been something over; that something +represented her entire fortune, nearly nine pounds; to be exact, eight +pounds fourteen and eightpence. Even the most clamorous creditor might +have suffered her to go out to face the world with that. Especially as +beyond that Nora had very little of a portable nature which she +considered she would be justified in regarding as her own, except her +clothes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Among the other things to which he had objected Donald Lindsay +included jewellery. He wore none himself; had he had his way he would +have called no man an acquaintance who did. He disliked to see +jewellery even on a woman. On an elderly woman he esteemed it bad +enough; like the cynic he was, he held that the average elderly woman +very properly felt that she was only worth the net value of what she +had on her. On a girl, to his thinking, it was impossible; if ever he +encountered, under his own roof, young women who were, as they +fancied, ornamented by products of the jeweller's art, he was apt to +make such plain-spoken comments that Nora always endeavoured to warn +her girl acquaintances to put aside their ornaments while, at any +rate, her father was about. Nora herself had only had four pieces of +jewellery in her life. One was a plain gold watch, which her father +had given her when she was at school, which she then wore attached to +a plain black ribbon; another was a gold locket, in which was her +father's portrait, which she had worn on the same black ribbon. The +other two articles had been presents from Robert Spencer--her +engagement ring, and another locket, in which was his portrait. These +she had returned to him on the previous day, together with his +letters. So that all the jewellery she now had was the gold watch and +the locket with the portrait of her father. These, she decided, came +in the same category as the eight pounds fourteen and eightpence; she +was entitled to regard them as her very own.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her wardrobe presented difficulties. She had heaps of pretty dresses; +quantities of all sorts of pretty clothes; the puzzle was, what to +take and what to leave. She knew, from experience, that if her +garments were turned into cash they would not fetch a great deal, +however much they might previously have cost, or however little they +might have been worn; so that if she took all her clothes she was +aware that she would not be depriving her creditors of an appreciable +sum of money. It was the difficulty of selection which troubled her. +Obviously elaborate and costly evening dresses consorted ill with a +fortune of eight pounds fourteen and eightpence, which represented +both capital and income; in that sense the daintier and prettier they +were, the more undesirable they were. Yet--she loved her pretty +frocks; only a woman could understand how hard it seemed to her to +have to part from them. With them were entwined so many associations; +she wore this one on that never-to-be-forgotten night when Robert +first asked her to be his wife; that when he slipped the engagement +ring upon her finger; how pretty she had thought it! how she had +kissed it when she was alone! She blushed at the memory.</p> + +<p class="normal">After all, those were sentimental considerations which reached back to +the life with which she had done for ever. It was quite another sort +of life which was in front of her; she must be equipped for that. +Three Or four plain, substantial dresses would be sufficient; the +rest--those triumphs of the dressmaker's art--she was not likely to +require garments of that sort again, ever. So she packed the few +clothes she thought she would require into a trunk, together with her +Bible, her writing-case, and a few odds and ends; looking round the +room, she decided that all her other things, which she had so +treasured, must remain behind. She undressed, feeling as if she was +undressing in a room peopled with ghosts, all of them memories of the +many-sided Nora of the days which were gone; then, all radiant in her +white attire, she knelt in prayer; supposing, as she poured forth all +the dear, secret things which were in her heart, that she was a woman; +but God, who heard her, knew that she was a child; and, as she prayed, +He breathed peace into her soul; so that hardly, at last, was she +between the sheets when she fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">And in her sleep she dreamed the dream which she had dreamed before; +of her father, stealing timidly into her room, filled with a great +longing to tell her something, which he would have given much that she +should know, yet speechless. And to him the knowledge that he was dumb +was agony, and to her; so that she put her arms about him, and +whispered in his ear words which were meant to assist him in the +efforts he was making to say what he so yearned to tell her. But +struggle as he might, speech would not come; until, all at once, in +the exceeding bitterness of his grief he made her understand that, +because he had been still so long, and so had sinned, God would not +let him speak now; He would not forgive him for the opportunities he +had wasted. Mingling her anguish with his, she held him closer, +crying--</p> + +<p class="normal">"God will forgive you, father! God will forgive you!" and, with her +own crying, she woke herself up, to find herself in the darkness, +alone, and the sound of her own voice in her ears.</p> + +<p class="normal">As before, the delusion of her father's presence was so real that, at +first, she could not believe it was delusion. She put out her hands to +feel for him; when they found nothing, she whispered--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father!"</p> + +<p class="normal">When none answered she got out of bed, and crossed the room, and stood +at the open door, listening for the sound of his retreating footsteps; +she had heard them so plainly when he entered. When she remembered +that he was dead, and that it must have been a dream, she began to +tremble all over; she did not dare to ask herself if this dream had +been sent to her of God; she was afraid.</p> + +<p class="normal">Throughout the remainder of the night she lay awake. Day had scarcely +dawned when she rose and dressed. Recollections of the awe which had +obsessed her spirit were with her still. She was conscious of an +uncomfortable feeling that something unusual was about to happen. So +soon as she was dressed she left her own room and went to the bedroom +which had been her father's. As she crossed its threshold she had an +odd sensation of having come again into his presence. Impelled by she +knew not what motive of curiosity, she examined methodically all that +the room contained, opening drawers and wardrobes, going through their +contents. It seemed to her that they were emptier than they used to +be. Her father had accumulated clothes until every store-place he had +was filled to over-flowing; she had told him not long ago that if he +would keep on getting more, without ridding himself of some of those +he had, he would require another room to put them in. She knew he had +got rid of nothing, yet drawers and cupboards in bedroom and +dressing-room were nearly empty. Certainly more than three-quarters of +them were gone; what were left were scarcely more than odds and ends. +And not only clothes; as she looked about her she began to miss all +sorts of things. Both rooms had been nearly stripped of all her +father's personal belongings. By whom had they been taken? who had +given the necessary authority?</p> + +<p class="normal">From the bedroom she passed through the still silent house to the +rooms below, and presently to her father's study. Here again was some +subtle suggestion of its late owner. He seemed to be standing by her +as she touched this and that, moving from one familiar object to +another. Nor had she been there very long before she perceived that +here also things were missing; and, in this case, they were things +which mattered. A pair of bronzes had gone from the mantel, for which +her father had paid a large sum, and which he valued highly; some +ivory antiques, fine specimens of the carver's art, which he had +brought with him from China, had also vanished; a Satsuma vase, two +costly examples of powder blue, even prints and pictures from the +walls, all kinds of curiosities, the possession of which would gladden +a collector's heart, had disappeared. Of course their absence was +capable of a natural and legitimate interpretation; they might have +been put out of sight for safer keeping. Still--they were there on +Saturday; she was sure she had noticed them when she came in a moment +for some ink; why should they have been removed during the course of +yesterday?</p> + +<p class="normal">While she stood looking about her, feeling a little bewildered, the +door was opened suddenly, and Morgan, the butler, came hastily in. He +stared at her as if she was not at all the person he had expected to +see; indeed, he said as much.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon, Miss Lindsay, I thought--" He left his sentence +unfinished, and began another. "I heard some one moving about below, +and knowing that the household was still upstairs, I thought it might +be some one who had no business here, so hurried down to see who it +was."</p> + +<p class="normal">He made as if to withdraw, but Nora stopped him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan, who has been interfering with my father's things?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon; I don't quite follow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where's the Satsuma vase? and the powder blues? and the bronzes? and +all sorts of things?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have they been removed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can see for yourself that they've been removed; who has taken +them? where are they?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Morgan glanced round the room with, in his air, as it seemed to Nora, +almost a suggestion of amusement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They do seem to have been removed, don't they? As you say, all sorts +of things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Didn't you know they had been removed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps Mr. Nash has had it done; or Dr. Banyard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should they? Besides, neither of them has been here since +Saturday; and the things were here then, because I saw them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, if you saw them that doesn't look as if they could have had it +done, does it? But--may I ask, Miss Lindsay, how it matters?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How it matters, Morgan--the things are worth a great deal of money."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Isn't that all the more reason why they shouldn't be allowed to fall +into the hands of--I don't wish to cause you pain, Miss Lindsay--of +those who are coming?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't you know? Then, in that case, Miss Lindsay, I will have +inquiries made, and will inform you, at the earliest possible moment, +of the result."</p> + +<p class="normal">He slipped out of the room so rapidly that she had not a chance to +question him further, leaving her more bewildered than he had found +her. What did he mean? what could he mean? She did not like to suspect +him of impertinence, or even something worse; yet--what had he +implied? That it would be just as well that these most valuable +possessions of her father should be kept out of the hand--of those who +were coming? She did not doubt that the state of affairs was known to +the household; could he have been referring to the creditors? was he +suggesting that they should be defrauded of what might go some +distance towards settling their claims, and that she should connive at +such a fraud? If he had not meant that, what had he meant? Her impulse +was to call him back, and insist upon an explanation there and then.</p> + +<p class="normal">But she reflected that, whatever his meaning might have been, she had +made herself quite plain; his manner had shown it. His error, perhaps, +had been one of over-zeal for her service; though that was not a fault +of which she had supposed Morgan would have been likely to be guilty. +Still, that was how it might have been. If so, now he understood--that +that was not the sort of zeal which she desired. If--as, in spite of +his evasions, she thought was possible, he knew where the missing +articles were to be found--she gave him an opportunity to restore +them, in his own fashion, to their former places, no doubt, when +she returned again to the study, she would find them where they had +always been. With some vague notion of giving him such an opportunity, +there and then, she opened the French window which led into the +grounds--through which Elaine Harding had made that entry she was +never to forget, which had changed the whole face of the world for +her, as well as for others--and, hatless, passed out into the morning +air.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although she did not know it, she was setting out on what was to be +her last walk through the familiar places she had known so long, and +loved so well.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_16" href="#div1Ref_16">GULDENHEIM</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was hardly the morning she would have chosen for such a jaunt. A +change was impending in the weather. Fickle April seemed to be of +opinion that the world thereabouts had already had too fair a taste of +summer, and that the time had come for quite a different sort of +thing. Heavy banks of cloud scudded across the sky, blown by a cold +north-easterly wind, which at times almost amounted to a gale. But +Nora was heedless of the weather; her mood was in tune with the wind, +wild and vagrant. The chilly breezes blew her hair this way and that, +she cared nothing. Now and then a splash of rain was dashed on her +uncovered head; she paid no heed. She walked rapidly, delighting in +the sensation of striding swiftly through the open air, careless of +all else. How far she walked, or how long, she did not know; she kept +no count; one could walk some distance without quitting the grounds of +Cloverlea; but even she awoke to the fact, at last, that she had +better seek shelter, or else go home. The rain threatened to fall in +earnest; without hat or jacket, or protection of any sort, she would +soon be soaked to the skin.</p> + +<p class="normal">She stood up under the shelter of a tree; as much to enable her to +take her bearings as for anything else; and had just realized that the +road ran on the other side of the hedge which was close at hand, when +a trap came bowling along it, whose driver, seeing her peeping out +from behind her tree, brought his horse to a sudden standstill. It was +Dr. Banyard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, Miss Nora," he exclaimed, "you're early abroad. And have you +joined the anti-hat brigade that you venture so far afield without one +on, and in such weather? I'll give you a lift, I'll get you home now +before the rain; and if I don't Sam and I between us will find +something which will keep you dry. There's a gate a little further on; +if you hurry I'll be there to meet you."</p> + +<p class="normal">She shook her head; and stood closer to the tree.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're very good; but I'd sooner walk if you don't mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Walk! but it's going to pour! and you haven't even so much as an +umbrella!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's not going to be so much, only a shower; I can see blue sky +there."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor looked in the direction to which she pointed, and, seeing +the peeping blue, perceived that, probably, after all, it was only +going to be an April whimper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're a refractory young person; if you catch a cold don't look for +sympathy from me; and, I say, I want to speak to you. In fact, I've +been wanting to speak to you since Saturday; but of course the parish +chooses the wrong moment to get itself ill, I haven't had a moment to +call on you. I've been up practically all night, and when I do get +home I expect I'll be dragged out again directly; I know them! But you +will have heard from Nash."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have heard-nothing from Mr. Nash since I saw you last."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No? How's that? I told him to communicate with you in case I +couldn't, and he said he would."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again she shook her head. Leaning over the side of the trap he eyed +her with his shrewd grey eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In that case, here, Sam, take the reins, and drive a little way down +the road; I'll call you when I want you; I have something which I wish +to say to Miss Lindsay, in the rain." As a matter of fact when he +alighted, and the trap had gone on, the shower had already nearly died +away; she stood close up to the hedge on one side and he on the other. +"I am sorry to be the first bearer of the bad news, I had hoped Nash +would have broken the ice. I was present on Saturday at the meeting of +Guldenheim and his friends." He did not tell her at what inconvenience +he had been present, and of how, in consequence, all his work had got +into confusion. "I said all we had arranged that I should say; but I +am sorry to have to inform you that the only terms on which they would +consent not to throw your father's estate into bankruptcy were that +everything should be realized at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">She smiled, a rather wintry smile, but still it was a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you; it is very kind of you to take so much trouble; but would +you mind telling me exactly what that means."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm afraid it means that Guldenheim and his friends, or their +representative, may arrive at Cloverlea to-day. They seem to be hot +against your father with a heat I confess I don't understand, and +declare they won't wait a moment longer for their money than they can +help."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They need not; I am quite ready to go."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her pale face grew perhaps a little paler, and her lips were closed a +little tighter; but the girl still smiled. He seemed to be more moved +than she was.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you take my advice, my dear young lady, you'll at once get +together as much as you possibly can, and have the things removed from +the premises before they come; you can have them sent over to us if +you like. Anyhow you're entitled to personal belongings; and in a case +like yours the law takes a liberal view of what that term covers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think I've packed up everything already, practically."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope you've treated the situation broadly, and have not been unduly +generous to persons who you may be quite sure will show no generosity +to you." She nodded; she did not care to tell him, in so many words, +that what she chose to regard as her personal belongings were all +contained in one small trunk. "And of course you'll come over to us +till you have had time to look round; things may turn out much better +than at present they promise; you never can tell. The wife is taking +it for granted that you're coming, you can take that from me; but, if +you think it's necessary, so soon as I get home she'll come and fetch +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Perhaps it was because that was the first offer of real assistance she +had received that her voice was tremulous.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you; you--you know I thank you and Mrs. Banyard; but--I can't +come, I've made other arrangements."</p> + +<p class="normal">He eyed her suspiciously; his tone was brusque.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What arrangements have you made?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just for a while they're private."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you going to be married? It would be the best thing you could +possibly do, to get married out of hand; I hear your young man's back +again, and I've no doubt he's willing; Robert Spencer's not a fool."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her voice sank nearly to a whisper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not going to be married."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then what are you going to do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you don't mind, doctor, I prefer to keep my own counsel for a +while."</p> + +<p class="normal">He broke into alliterative violence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're contemplating some feebly foolish female knight-errantry. I +know you! But it won't be allowed; directly I get home I'll send my +wife to talk to you; she'll do it better than I can. Your best friends +are here; it's they who have your best interests at heart; and you're +going to consider their feelings whether you like it or not; you're +not going to be allowed to ride over them roughshod, young lady. Sam, +bring that pony." He discharged a parting shaft at her as he climbed +into the trap. "You understand, my wife will come and talk to you as +soon as she gets her hat on; or whatever it is she does put on when +she goes out visiting. And I hope you'll have the grace to listen to +what she says."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora re-entered the house through the open study-window. As she passed +through the room she saw that the butler had taken her hint; the +missing articles had been replaced. As she was sitting at her lonely +early breakfast--for it seemed that Elaine Harding had not yet +sufficiently recovered to put in an appearance at so matutinal a +meal--she commented on the fact to Morgan.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am glad to see that the study is again as it always has been. I +wish everything, throughout the house, to remain exactly as it was +when my father was alive; nothing is to be touched. Let the servants +understand that this is my wish."</p> + +<p class="normal">Morgan slightly inclined his head, as if to express both perfect +comprehension and his readiness to carry out her directions. Then, +when, feeling that she preferred to be alone, she told him that he +need not wait, he returned straight to the study, gathered together +the articles which he had only recently replaced, and walked off with +them to a hiding-place of which he flattered himself he alone knew the +secret.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She's had her way," he told himself, as he was stowing them in what +he hoped was a place of safety. "Always let a woman have her way, if +you can, especially if she's young and good to look at; now it's my +turn. She's not likely to go back to the study for a bit; it's worth +chancing, anyhow, these things mean quite a heap of money; from what I +hear others are likely to get here before she does, and they can look +after themselves. At a time like we're going to have every one has to +look after himself. If the things are missed, why they can be +produced, and everything explained; if they're not missed, and I don't +see how they're going to be, if there's a little management, there's +no reason why I shouldn't have them, instead of that pack of thieves. +I have got some artistic taste; it's born in me; I doubt if they've +got any."</p> + +<p class="normal">He grinned, as he wrapped the Satsuma vase carefully in a large white +silk handkerchief.</p> + +<p class="normal">Having finished breakfast Nora went up to her own sitting-room; but +had not been there very long before a servant first knocked shakily, +then entered hastily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you please, miss, there's a lot of men downstairs; they didn't ask +for you, and I don't know what they want, but they've got such a free +and easy way about them that I thought I'd better let you know that +they were there; Morgan let them in; they came in a wagonette."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora went down without a word. In the hall there was quite a little +crowd of men; ten or twelve of them there seemed; among them some +sufficiently rough-looking customers. None of them had troubled to +remove their hats; but at sight of Nora one of them, a big fat man, +beautifully dressed, with a red face, a large nose, and curly shining +black hair, removing his hat, advanced to meet her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you Miss Lindsay?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke with a curious nasal utterance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm Guldenheim, you know all about me; and these are my friends, who +are in the same boat with me, you've heard about them; and these are +our chaps. I suppose you know we've agreed not to make a fuss on +condition that you give us possession of everything, to cut up between +us so that we can get a bit of our own back again, what there is of it +to cut up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, we've come into possession." As he looked at the girl and saw, +dimly, what manner of girl she was, he seemed to think that he owed +her some sort of apology, which he offered in a fashion of his own. "I +dare say it seems hard to you, our coming in like this, but you must +know that your father had our money, and my friends' money, and we +can't afford to lose it, it isn't to be expected that we should; you +must understand that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I quite understand," said Nora.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then that's all right," said Mr. Guldenheim.</p> + +<p class="normal">About that time some one was rapping at Miss Harding's bedroom door, +on the other side of which Miss Harding was completing her toilette.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who's there?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's me, Morgan; here, come closer to the door, I want to speak to +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">She went so close to the door that even a whisper of his would have +been audible.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The bailiffs are in down-stairs, the whole show's burst up. You'd +better pack up--you know what, as soon as you can; and everything else +you've got as well; and anything you see lying about worth packing; at +a time like this anything's any one's. Only get a move on you; they +may be up here directly, there's a lot of them, and there's no telling +how they're going to do things, those sort of people can make +themselves very nasty if they like; you don't want to have them +superintending your packing; don't you let them in, if you can help +it, till you've got your boxes locked. I thought I'd just give you a +tip, so that you might look lively."</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Harding acted on Mr. Morgan's "tip," beginning, so soon as he had +gone, to pack everything she had got, and doing it with feverish +haste; but had not proceeded far when something came rattling against +the window-panes, something which sounded as if it were a handful of +gravel. She drew aside the curtain and looked out. Mr. Nash was below, +he waved his hand; apparently it was he who had saluted the window. +Hurriedly throwing a dressing-jacket over her bare shoulders, she +raised the sash sufficiently to enable her to put her head out, +apparently oblivious of the fact that her black hair was streaming +loose; she had been engaged in "doing" it when Morgan had knocked at +the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert! Did you throw those stones at my window? What do you want?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The reply from below was hardly an answer to her question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I say! Now you are worth looking at! Now you're what I call something +like a picture!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her cheeks were flushed with excitement; there was a light in her +eyes; the streaming locks certainly were not unbecoming; nor did the +blush with which she received his words detract from the general +effect.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert, you naughty boy, you don't mean to say you nearly broke my +window simply to make me put my head out, and I'm in this state!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, not exactly; though it would have been worth breaking a window +for. I chucked that gravel up at your window because I've something to +say to you which has got to be said now, if it's to be said at all; +only don't shout."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I shouting?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought I'd just give you the hint in case you felt as if you'd +like to. Somehow, do you know, the more I look at you the more I seem +to want to; if I could only get at you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's lucky you can't; what do you want to say? Do you know I'm +freezing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You remember what we were talking about yesterday?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I likely to have forgotten?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've been thinking things over, and I've come to the conclusion that +if you're game I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Game? game for what? what do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash glanced round, as if to ascertain if any one was in sight, +then dropped his voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To marry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her heart seemed to leap into her mouth, as if the word, coming from +his lips, touched a spring and made it bound.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You said you'd like the marriage to be at once; what do you say to +our being married to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At the moment she could only trust herself to repeat his name, she was +in such a curious state of tremblement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know that Guldenheim and his crowd are in the house?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've just heard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A nice lot they are; you can't stop in the house with them; you'll +have to clear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told you I should."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'd better pack everything you've got and I'll send a trap for you; +they may object to your taking anything out of the stable; it's quite +possible that they've laid hands on the lot. Anyhow I'll send +something for you; how long'll you be?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Half-an-hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not more?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can't tell you to the exact moment how long I'll be; don't be +absurd. You send the trap in half-an-hour, and I'll be as quick as +ever I can. Where's it going to take me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To the station; I'll meet you there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why at the station?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You poor little thing! we're going off together; it's going to be a +regular elopement."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert! How are we going to get married?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How soon can you get some of your aunt's money?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've got enough by me to go on with."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How much do you call enough?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, about ninety pounds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You sly little thing! Who'd have thought you were stuffed with money +like this? It's not so long ago since I pointed out a big hole in your +glove, and you said you had to wear old gloves, because you couldn't +afford to buy yourself a pair of new ones."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I dare say; that was a hint to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was it? then it was thrown away, because if I possessed the price of +a pair of gloves it was as much as I did have; though in the sweet by +and by I'm going to be a millionaire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You haven't said how we're going to get married."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm going to get the licence the other end, and we're going to be +married to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure we can get married to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I'm sure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In church?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In church; in St. Paul's Cathedral if you like; though to arrange +that might take a little longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't want to be married in St. Paul's Cathedral; I want to be +married quietly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's what I want; so there we are agreed; hooray!" This cry of +jubilation was uttered in a sepulchral whisper. "Now you quite +understand? Trap's coming in half-an-hour; you're to be ready; you're +going to meet me at the station; we're going to elope; we're going +together to get the licence; and to-morrow we're going to be married +together; is that perfectly clear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't be silly! Are you glad?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What for?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That we're going to be married; you know!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I'm glad; how do you want me to show it? would you like me +to stand on my head and dance?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; I only want to know you're glad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You wait; you shall have all the knowledge you feel you stand in need +of."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_17" href="#div1Ref_17">NORA GOES</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">When Elaine brought back her head into the room, the window was +closed, Mr. Nash had vanished; the young lady was in such a state of +palpitation, that for some seconds she was incapable of continuing the +operation of packing, conscious though she was of how time was +pressing. Half-an-hour is not long. She was not yet fully dressed; it +seemed that now she was to dress to meet her lover, to elope with him; +if she had known that before she would have arrayed herself in some +quite different garments. There was no time to change now; it was out +of the question. Really, there was not time even to finish packing +properly; her things would have to be squashed in anyhow; if she could +get them in at all she would have to be content. There was one +comfort, she would buy herself an entirely new outfit when she had +once got clear away. Herbert need not think--no one need think--that +she was going to do without a trousseau; she was not. She was going to +have a proper trousseau; a complete trousseau. Only it seemed that in +her case the various articles would have to be purchased after +marriage instead of before; but she would have them.</p> + +<p class="normal">While such thoughts chased themselves through her excited little head, +she returned to the process of packing with still greater zeal than +before. Cherished garments received unceremonious treatment; if they +could have felt they would have wondered why their mistress was using +them as she had never done before. Rolled up anyhow; squeezed in +anywhere; no regard paid to frills or dainty trimmings; plainly +Elaine's one and only desire was to get her things in somewhere, +somehow. Yet as if it was not enough to have to pack against time, she +was not allowed to pack in peace; she was doomed to interruption. Just +as the first box seemed full as it could hold, and she was wondering +if her weight would be enough to induce the hasp to meet the lock, +there came a tapping at the bedroom door. The sound was to her an +occasion of irritation; her voice suggested it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now who's that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is I."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a voice she knew--at that moment it seemed to her--too well. So +entirely was this young woman a creature of mood that there was only +room in her for one mood at a time, and while that possessed her she +forgot everything else; before she heard that voice she had forgotten +Nora. And it was Nora who stood on the other side of the door. +Elaine's selfish little soul shook with fear when the sound of the +voice without recalled her friend's existence to her recollection.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What am I to do?" was the question which instantly sprang up within +her. She could scarcely put her off with an excuse now. Nora was +probably at her wit's end; all the seas of trouble had been opened on +her unprotected head. If ever there was a moment in which she was in +need of friendly service it was this; unless some one held out to her +a helping hand she might sink in the deep waters, never to rise again. +In the box which she had just been packing was the money which Elaine +had "found" on the study table; that huge sum which, of course, was +Nora's. Here was a chance to show that, after all, she was not +altogether the worthless wretch she had seemed to be. Should she?</p> + +<p class="normal">No, she told herself, Herbert would not like it; then there was +Morgan, and the trousseau, and the honeymoon; if she kept all the +money she might have the kind of honeymoon of which she had so often +dreamed; and--there were other things. All the uses she might have for +the money crowded into her brain, treading on each other's heels. She +dropped the lid and ran to the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm awfully sorry, Nora, to keep you waiting, but----" She stopped, +to stare. "Why, you've got your hat on; where are you going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora was dressed for travelling. It was Elaine's cue to be surprised +at everything; she meant to be so surprised that the mere force of her +surprise should drive all other things clean out of her. Nora came +into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see you are packing."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a second Elaine was slightly embarrassed, but she quickly got over +that.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I've had a letter from papa this morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A letter from your father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The calm eyes looked Elaine straight in the face. The girl turned +away; the glib tongue began to reel off lies.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just now--I should think I ought to have had it yesterday; I don't +know why I only had it to-day. He wants me to come home; of course he +feels I'm frightfully in the way; and then it seems Polly has the +scarlet fever, and Jennie looks as if she were sickening for it, and +there are the other children, and papa has no one to help him--he +can't afford a nurse; so you see I must go; the poor man writes as if +he were half distracted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course you must go; and, perhaps, in a way it's as well you must, +though I'm so sorry to hear about Polly and Jennie; but I'm afraid +that in any case I should have had to ask you to go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nora! Am I so much in the way as that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not only you who are in the way; we both of us are, both you +and me. Mr. Guldenheim and his friends have come, and, in consequence, +I also am leaving Cloverlea."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nora! What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nothing could have been more eloquent than the amazement on Elaine's +face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You knew that they were going to sell everything to pay what it +appears were my father's debts; well, it's come a little sooner than I +expected, that's all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But where will you go? What will you do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Something; don't fear. 'God's in His heaven, all's well with the +world.' I don't doubt there's a place in it somewhere for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Nora, if I could only take you home with me! But it's such a poor +place, and so small; and now it's like a hospital, with all the +children ill of that dreadful fever, and papa writing that he's nearly +penniless; what do you think yourself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was rather a neat way of passing on the responsibility.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think it's out of the question. With that poor father of yours +already nearly borne down beneath his troubles, do you think I'd add +to them? What I'm wondering is if you've enough money to take you +home."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Papa hasn't sent me any--I'm afraid he's none to send; but I've been +reckoning--I've just enough, with a squeeze; but then I'm used to +squeezing. Nora, I do hope you've plenty of money."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've enough to go on with. Can I help you with your packing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The idea! As if I'd let you, you poor dear!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, Elaine, if you won't mind very much----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora stopped, as if at a loss to find words with which to clothe her +thoughts. Miss Harding was gushing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shan't mind anything, my darling. What is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It--it's only, if you won't think me very unkind, that I'd--I'd like +to catch a train which starts almost at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">She was thinking, perhaps, of Dr. Banyard's promise to send his wife +to talk to her, and desired to avoid that talking. Miss Harding leapt +at the hint.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you want to get away immediately? And do you think I'd wish to +stop you from doing anything you want to do?--you sweet! Good-bye, +Nora, my darling! God bless you! I hope everything will turn out all +right yet; I feel sure it will; it's bound to. And mind you write!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will--when I am settled."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what address will find you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll let you know that also, when I'm settled."</p> + +<p class="normal">So they parted, with fond embraces, many kisses, words of endearment, +tears in their eyes. Nora's heart was very full, and Elaine felt hers +ought to be. So soon as Nora had left the room Elaine banged her foot +against the floor; clapped her hands together with such violence that +she actually stung her tender palms, and cried--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a little beast I am! what a little beast!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then, instantly, she resumed her packing, remembering that the trap +was coming in less than half-an-hour, but not with quite so much zest +as before. There was a vague consciousness in her somewhere that her +conduct had not been--and still was not--altogether without reproach.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Nora got down-stairs she found the hall door open, a dog-cart +without, a footman keeping guard over the single trunk which he had +brought from her room, and Morgan, as it were, keeping watch and ward +over him; otherwise the hall was deserted. Nora recognized the fact +with something like a pang. She knew then that she had hoped that at +least some of the servants would have been gathered together to wish +her God-speed; then she told herself, with the quick philosophy which +was eminently hers, that it did not matter after all.</p> + +<p class="normal">Morgan greeted her with a question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is there any more luggage?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; none."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What directions are there as to what is to be done with the contents +of your own rooms--your two rooms, bedroom and boudoir? Perhaps I may +be allowed to remark, Miss Lindsay, that I believe you've a right to +whatever is in your own rooms; no one's a right to touch anything +that's in them except you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, Morgan; there are no directions. By the bye, if you like I +will write you two or three lines, before I go, which you will be able +to use as a reference when you are applying for another situation. I +don't wish you to suffer by what has happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, Miss Lindsay, you are very good; but I don't propose to +seek another situation. I am giving up service. I trust, Miss Lindsay, +that in the future everything will turn out as you would like it to."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, Morgan, I hope it will. Say goodbye to the others for me, +and say I wish them all well."</p> + +<p class="normal">The butler inclined his head with his most deferential air. The trunk +had been lifted into its place at the back of the cart, the footman +had ascended to the driver's seat, and Nora was climbing up to his +side, when a seedy-looking man came shambling along the drive, +apparently in a state of some excitement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here, what's all this!" he cried. "This won't do, you know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What won't do?" inquired the footman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What you're doing of--that won't do. I'm in charge of the stable, and +that horse and cart have been took out of it; can't have that; +nothing's to be took off the premises without the governor's express +permission."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Isn't it? We'll see about that; and so will you see if you don't +watch out."</p> + +<p class="normal">The footman evinced an inclination to use his whip with some degree of +freedom. Nora laid a restraining hand upon his arm. She addressed the +seedy-looking man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The dog-cart is only going to drive me to the station; it will be +returned to the stable, uninjured, probably in less than half-an-hour. +You need fear nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">There she was mistaken; the man was in imminent peril of being run +over. The footman flicked the mare on the shoulder, she gave a +startled bound, then went dashing down the drive; if the fellow had +not sprung nimbly aside both the mare and the cart might have gone +right over him.</p> + +<p class="normal">And that was how Nora left Cloverlea.</p> + +<p class="normal">While the vehicle was still in sight Mr. Morgan addressed a few +outspoken remarks to the seedy-looking man on his own account.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're a fool, my lad, that's what you are; you don't know when +you're well off. You and your governor have no more right to be where +you are than you have to be in the moon. That young lady's been badly +advised. If she'd had your governor, and his friends, thrown out of +the house, and dragged down the drive, and deposited in the high +road--your governor, for one, wouldn't have wanted much dragging; he +knows enough to get in out of the rain--he'd have taken to his heels +as fast as ever he could, to save himself from something worse. As for +your laying your hand upon her horse, and her cart--because they are +hers, and hers only--if she'd had you locked up you'd have got six +months, and serve you right. I call you a low down thief, because +that's exactly what you are; and I call your governor a low down +thief, because that's exactly what he is; and if I have an opportunity +so I'll tell him. Taking rascally advantage of a fatherless girl. Poor +young lady! it goes to my heart to see the way she's being put upon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan ascended the steps with an air of virtuous indignation +which caused the other to stare at him open-mouthed, as if an assault +from that quarter was the last thing he had expected.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before many minutes had passed a trap drew up before the hall door, +from which Mrs. Banyard alighted. She was received by Morgan; her air +was a trifle imperious; she had come, as her husband had promised she +should come, to talk to Nora.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is Miss Lindsay? I wish to see her; take me to her at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">The butler was affable, but unsatisfactory.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid I cannot do that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean? Why can't you? Has she given instructions that she +doesn't wish to see me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay has gone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gone! Gone where?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I apprehend that Miss Lindsay has left Cloverlea for ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You apprehend! Man, you're dreaming! How long is it since she has +been gone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She glanced towards the trap, as if she meditated jumping into it, and +starting in instant pursuit; but if she entertained such an idea +Morgan's answer put an end to it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Possibly an hour, possibly not quite so much; I cannot say exactly +when she started."</p> + +<p class="normal">He must have been aware that she had not been gone ten minutes; +possibly he wished to spare his late mistress the indignity of being +chased--even by a friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where do you say she's gone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The directions were to drive her to the station."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To the station? Then what address has she left?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"None with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She must have left an address with some one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not with any member of the household."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But where are her letters to be forwarded?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I cannot say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Man! why did you let her go?" Probably this time the expression of +surprise which was on Morgan's face was genuine. "I'm afraid I don't +understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh-h-h!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She clenched her fists, and, so to speak, she ground her teeth; she +looked as if she would have liked to have beaten the butler; only just +then another dog-cart drew up, from which the Hon. Robert Spencer +descended. He hailed the butler.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan, I want to speak to Miss Lindsay; where is she? I'll show +myself in." Then he saw the doctor's wife. "Oh, Mrs. Banyard, how are +you? But I needn't ask, you're looking so well." He returned to the +butler. "Morgan, where is Miss Lindsay?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay, sir, has gone."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Spencer did what Mrs. Banyard had done--he echoed the butler.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gone! Gone where?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Banyard took it on herself to explain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The headstrong girl has gone to the station, and probably to London, +and as she's left no address she's gone goodness only knows where. But +I know--I understand perfectly well. She's got some Quixotic notion +into her head, and because she's got it she's bent on suffering +martyrdom, and she will too, if somebody doesn't stop her; though who +for, or what for, nobody knows."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Spencer laughed, as if he thought the doctor's wife was joking; +but he seemed to do it with an effort.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If she's gone we'll find her, wherever she's gone; don't let your +imagination paint any very frightful pictures, Mrs. Banyard. I'll +undertake to find her, and save her from the martyrdom at which you +hint--well, I'll be on the safe side, and say within four-and-twenty +hours."</p> + +<p class="normal">But he was undertaking more than he was able to perform.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_18" href="#div1Ref_18">MISS GIBB</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Nora's knowledge of London was as slight as the average young lady's, +who has lived mostly in the country, is apt to be; yet, when she left +Cloverlea, she went straight to London, with eight pounds, four and +twopence in her pocket, intending to live upon that sum until she had +discovered some means of earning more. There was some method in her +madness. She had been reading a story lately about a young woman who +had struggled to make a living in town, and she had had rooms in +Newington Butts. Nora had gathered that, while Newington Butts was not +an abode of fashion, nor a particularly salubrious neighbourhood, it +was within reasonable distance of places where young women could earn +money; and, above all, that thereabouts lodgings were both plentiful +and cheap.</p> + +<p class="normal">The train deposited Nora at Paddington. Had she known her way about +she would have left her trunk in the cloak-room, and crossed London by +one of half-a-dozen different routes, for a few coppers; when she had +found lodgings the box would have been delivered at her address for a +few more coppers. What she did do was to charter a four-wheeler. It is +some distance from Paddington to Newington Butts; to Nora, an +unaccustomed traveller, already tired with her journey, hungry and +thirsty, the way seemed interminable. She began to wonder if the +driver quite knew where he was going; he seemed to go on and on and +never get there. At last, a little desperate, she put her head out of +the window and asked him--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure this is the right way?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The cab stopped. The driver screwed himself round in his seat, and he +observed, in the tone of one who is offended--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You said Newington Butts, didn't you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hers was the voice of deprecation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well then; I'm driving you to Newington Butts. If you think you +know the way better than I do you can come outside and I'll get +inside. I've been driving this cab two and twenty years, and if +there's any one who knows the way to Newington Butts better than I do, +I should like to know who it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">She drew her head back and subsided on the seat, doubting no longer. +She felt that a man who had been a cabman for two and twenty years +ought to know the way to Newington Butts better than she did. The cab +went on. There was another period of seemingly interminable jolting; +it seemed likely that the springs had been on that cab as long as the +driver had. Once more the vehicle stopped. This time the driver asked +a question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What address?"</p> + +<p class="normal">As Nora put her head out again hers was the tone of anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is this Newington Butts?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It used to be when I was here last, but perhaps it's been and gone +and turned itself into something else since; you might ask a policeman +if you think it has been up to any game of the kind. There's one +standing over there; I'll call him if you like; he might know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you; I--I don't think I'll trouble you. The fact is I want +lodgings; do you know of any round here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lodgings? I shouldn't have thought there was any round here to suit +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I'm so sorry; why not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's about two hundred thousand, I dare say, so perhaps one of +them might suit. Anyhow, I'll show you a few samples. Only, mind you, +I'm not engaged by the hour, nor yet by the week."</p> + +<p class="normal">When next the cab stopped the main thoroughfare had been left behind, +and they were in a street of private houses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here you are; here's a street pretty nearly full of them; all you've +got to do is pick and choose."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora, getting out, perceived that in many of the windows there were +cards announcing that there were rooms to let. She began her search. +At some houses they asked too much; at others they did not take +ladies; and there were rooms in which she would not have lived +rent-free; perhaps she tried a dozen without success. The cabman, who +had followed her from house to house, did not appear to be so +disheartened by this result as she did.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's nothing," he declared, as she regarded him with doubtful eyes. +"Sometimes people go dodging about after rooms the whole day long, and +then don't find what they want. There's more round the corner; try +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora went round the corner, the cab moving at a walking pace beside +her. The first door at which she knocked was opened by a girl, a small +girl, who looked about twelve; but she wore her hair in a knob at the +back of her head, and there was something in her manner which seemed +intended to inform the world at large that she was to be regarded as a +grown woman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What rooms have you to let?" asked Nora.</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl looked at her with sharp, shrewd eyes; her reply was almost +aggressive.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We don't care for ladies, not in the ordinary way we don't."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora had been told this before. Though she had not understood why a +woman should be objected to merely because she was a woman, she had +meekly withdrawn. But there was that about this child--who bore +herself as if she were so old--which induced her to persevere.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sorry to hear that. If you were to make an exception in my case +I would try not to make myself more objectionable than I could help."</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl remained unsoftened.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may be; but you never can tell. Some give more trouble than +they're worth, and some aren't worth anything; this is a respectable +house. Still there's no harm in letting you see what we have got."</p> + +<p class="normal">On the upper floor were a small sitting-room in front and a still +smaller bedroom behind; barely, poorly furnished, with many obvious +makeshifts, but scrupulously clean.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What rent are you asking?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ten shillings a week, and not a penny less; it ought to be fourteen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm afraid I can't pay fourteen shillings a week just yet, but I +think I can manage ten; I like the rooms because they seem so clean."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are clean; no one can say they're not clean; I defy 'em to."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can I see the landlady?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My mother's the landlady; she's not very well just now; I can make +all arrangements."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then in that case don't you think that if I were to take the rooms +for a week on trial, at the end of that time we might find out if we +were likely to suit each other?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We might; there's no knowing. When would you want them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At once; my luggage is at the door."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then mind you make the cabman bring it up before you pay him; I know +them cabmen."</p> + +<p class="normal">But the cabman would not be made; he pleaded inability to leave his +horse. An individual had appeared who offered to carry up the box for +threepence; so Nora let him. After the cabman had been paid there +remained of her capital less than eight pounds. When they were again +up-stairs she said to the girl--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's your name? I'm Miss Lindsay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm Miss Gibb."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora smiled; the child said it as if she wished the fact to be +properly appreciated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I meant, what is your Christian name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Angelina; though I'm generally known as Angel, you see it's shorter; +though I don't pretend that there's anything of the angel about me, +because there isn't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fancy I'm tired, my head aches; do you think you could let me have +some tea?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Course I could; are you going to do for yourself, or are we going to +do for you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm afraid I don't understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are we going to do your marketing, or are you going to do it for +yourself? If you take my advice you'll do it for yourself; it'll save +you trouble in the end, and then there won't be no bother about the +bills. The last lodger we had in these rooms he never could be got to +see that he'd had what he had had, there was always a rumpus. Quarter +of a pound of tea a week he used to have, yet he never could +understand how ever it got into his bill. I'll let you have a cup of +tea, and some bread and butter, and perhaps an egg; then afterwards I +dare say you might like to go out and lay in a few stores for +yourself." The girl turned as she was leaving the room to supply the +new-comer with a piece of information. "Number 1, Swan Street, Stoke +Newington, S.E., that's the address you're now in, in case you might +be wanting to tell your friends."</p> + +<p class="normal">In Swan Street Nora continued to reside, while the days went by, +though she never told her friends. From Cloverlea, and the position of +a great heiress, with all the world at her feet to pick and choose +from, to Swan Street and less than eight pounds between her and +beggary, was a change indeed. Used only to a scale of expenditure in +which cost was never counted she was incapable of making the best of +such resources as she had. Miss Gibb took her to task, on more than +one occasion, for what that young woman regarded as her extravagance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't want it again? What's the matter with the bread? Why, there's +the better part of half a loaf here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but I had it the day before yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora spoke with something like an air of timidity, as she stood rather +in awe of Miss Gibb when that young person showed a disposition to +expand herself on questions of domestic economy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Day before yesterday? Let's hope you'll never be wanting bread. I've +known the time when I'd have been glad to have the week before last's. +Then look at those two rashers of bacon you told me to take away +yesterday, what was the matter with them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They weren't--quite nice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not nice?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I didn't think they were--quite fresh."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not fresh? I know I cooked them for my dinner and there didn't seem +to be anything wrong about them to me. Then there was that lump of +cheese which you said was all rind, it made me and Eustace a handsome +supper. Of course I know it's none of my business, and of course any +one can see you're a lady from the clothes you send to the wash; but +if there's one thing I can't stand it's waste; perhaps that's because +I've known what want is."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora had been in the house more than a week without seeing or hearing +anything of her landlady, or of any managing person except Miss Gibb. +She made constant inquiries, but each time it seemed that Mrs. Gibb +was "not very well just now," though what ailed her Miss Gibb did not +explain. One afternoon, as she was removing the tea-things, Nora was +struck by the look of unusual weariness which was on the +preternaturally old young face; something in the look determined her +to make an effort to solve the mystery of the invisible and inaudible +landlady.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Angel, whenever I ask you how your mother is you always say she's not +very well just now; but the only person I've seen or heard moving +about the house is you. I'm beginning to wonder if your mother is a +creature of your imagination." Angel said nothing; she continued to +scrape the crumbs off the tablecloth with the blunt edge of a knife. +"Are you alone in the house?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Course I'm not; how about my brother, Eustace? You've seen and heard +him, haven't you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eustace, it appeared, was only slightly his sister's senior, and +almost as old; though Nora felt that no one could really be as old as +Angel seemed; she admitted that she had seen Eustace.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well then; he don't go till after nine and he's back most days +before six, so how can I be alone in the house?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know about Eustace; as you say, I've seen him. But I was thinking +of your mother. Where is she; or have you reasons why you would rather +not tell me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean by have I reasons?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The light of battle came into the child's eyes; it was extraordinary +how soon it did come there.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was wondering if, for any reason, you would prefer to keep your own +counsel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We don't all of us care to turn ourselves inside out; seems to me you +don't for one."</p> + +<p class="normal">The accusation was so true that Nora was routed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon, Angel; I didn't mean to seem to pry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No harm done that I know of; bones aren't broke by questions." She +folded the tablecloth. As she placed it in its drawer, and her back +was turned to Nora, she said, as with an effort, "Mother's paralyzed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Paralyzed? Oh, Angel, I'm so sorry; where is she?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Gibb faced round, again all battle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is she? This is her own house, isn't it? In whose house do you +suppose she'd be if she wasn't in her own? I can't think what you mean +by keeping on asking where is she?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora was properly meek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, I only asked because I never hear her moving about; I never +hear any one but you, and Eustace."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mean I make a clatter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Angel! you know I don't. You are nearly, as quiet as a mouse; but +your mother is so very quiet. I hope the paralysis is only slight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's the trouble, it isn't. It's been coming on for years; during +the last three years it's been downright bad; and during the last +twelve months she's hardly been able to move so much as a finger."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora reflected; how old could the child have been when the mother was +taken "downright bad"?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can she do nothing for herself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can't even feed herself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how does she manage?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean, how does she manage?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who does everything for her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never heard such questions as you do ask! Who do you suppose does +everything for her? Isn't there me? and isn't there Eustace? Me and +Eustace always have done everything for her; she wouldn't have anybody +else do anything for her not if it were ever so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has she any income of her own?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish she had; that would be heaven below."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But on what do you live?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't we let lodgings? What do you think we let 'em for? We live on +our lodgings, that's what we live on; leastways mother and me; Eustace +keeps himself, and a bit over now that Mr. Hooper's started giving him +his old clothes. I only hope he'll keep on giving him them. The way +Eustace wears out his clothes is something frightful; it always has +been Eustace's weakness, wearing out his clothes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Later Nora did a sum in arithmetic. Miss Gibb had previously told her +that, including rent, rates, and taxes the house cost more than forty +pounds a year. Nora paid ten shillings a week; Mr. Carter, on the +floor below, paid twelve and six; which meant twenty-two and sixpence +a week, or fifty-eight pounds ten shillings a year; so that when rent, +rates, and taxes had been paid under eighteen pounds per annum were +left for the support of the Gibb family, or less than seven shillings +a week. And this when times were flourishing! The rooms Nora had had +been vacant more than a month before she came; small wonder Miss +Gibb--as she would have put it--had "chanced" a lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">More than another week elapsed before Nora was permitted to see her +landlady. She found her in the front room in the basement, which was +used by Miss Gibb as well as herself to live and sleep in. There, +also, were performed most of the necessary cooking operations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother," explained Miss Gibb, "always does feel the cold; we can't +have a fire going both in the kitchen and in here, so that's how it +is. Besides, mother likes to see what's going on, don't you, mother?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mother said she did; for she could talk, and that was the only thing +she still could do; it seemed to Nora that even the faculty of speech +was threatened. Mrs. Gibb spoke very quietly and very slowly, and +sometimes she paused, even in the middle of a word; as she listened +Nora wondered how long it would be before that pause remained +unbroken. Her landlady lay on a chair bedstead. Miss Gibb and her +brother, between them, had contrived a method, of which every one was +proud, by means of an arrangement of sloping boards, to raise her head +and shoulders, when she desired to be raised. Nora was not surprised +to find that, in common with the rest of the house, she was spotlessly +neat and clean; but she was conscious of something akin to a feeling +of surprise when she observed the expression which was on her face; +and the more attentively she observed the more the feeling grew. +Although she seemed so old--the cares of this world had pressed +heavily on her--still, in a sense, she seemed younger than her +daughter; for on her face was a look of peace, as on the face of those +who are conscious that they also serve although they only stand and +wait.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have nothing of which to complain," she told her lodger; +"only--it's hard on Angelina." Nora noticed that she always referred +to her daughter by her full Christian name. Angelina remonstrated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, mother, don't you be silly; if you are going to say things like +that I shall have to send Miss Lindsay away."</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother looked at her daughter with a look in her eyes which, when +she saw it, brought the tears into Nora's; there was in it an +eloquence which she wondered if, with all her wisdom, Angelina +comprehended. If she had only been able to take the burden of the +mother off the daughter's shoulders, how gladly she would have done +it. But the days when she was able to bear the burdens of others were +gone; it seemed not unlikely that she would be crushed out of +existence by her own.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_19" href="#div1Ref_19">A YOUNG LADY IN SEARCH OF A LIVING</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The more Nora sought for means to earn her own livelihood, the more +they seemed to evade her. In her time she had heard a good deal about +how difficult it sometimes is to earn one's own living, but she never +realized what that meant until she started to earn hers. To begin +with, she had only the very vaguest notions of how to set about it. +She could not serve in a shop; at least she did not feel as if she +could; she was conscious that she was not qualified to be a governess; +she had no leaning towards domestic service, though she would have +preferred that to serving in a shop; she had no woman's trade at her +fingers' ends, so that she was unfit for a workroom. What remained? It +seemed to her very little, except some sort of clerkship; she had +heard that thousands of women were employed as clerks; or if she could +get a post as secretary. That was the objective she had in her mind +when she left Cloverlea, a secretaryship; for that she believed +herself to have two necessary qualifications--she wrote a very clear +hand, and she had some knowledge of typewriting. She had once started +a typewriting class in the village; she had taken lessons herself. She +had bought a machine and practised on that, until she gave it away to +one of the pupils, who wished to take advantage of the information she +had acquired to earn something for herself. That was nearly a year +ago; she had not practised since; but she did not doubt that if she +came within reach of a machine it would all come back to her; and she +had attained to a state of considerable proficiency.</p> + +<p class="normal">So she bought the daily papers and answered all the advertisements for +secretaryships which they contained. There were not as many as she +would have wished; some days there were none; and the only answers she +received were from agents, who offered to place her name upon their +books, in consideration of a fee, which she did not see her way to +give them. The way those eight pounds were slipping through her +fingers was marvellous; when three weeks had gone she had scarcely +thirty shillings left, between her and destitution. Of course, she had +been extravagant--monstrously extravagant, as Miss Gibb occasionally +told her; but when you have been accustomed all your life to an +establishment kept up at the rate of some twelve thousand pounds a +year, to say nothing of having five hundred a year for pocket money, +it is not easy, all at once, to learn the secret of how to make a +shilling do the work of eighteenpence; that is a secret which takes a +great deal of learning; by many temperaments it can never be learnt at +all.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had been a month in Swan Street; had paid three weeks' bills; the +fourth lay in front of her. It was such a modest bill--Miss Gibb's +bills were curiosities; yet when it was paid she would not have six +shillings left in the world. It frightened her to think of it; the +effort to think seemed to set her head in a whirl; her heart was +thumping against her ribs; it made her dizzy. What was she to do? +where was she to go? She could not stay in Swan Street; she had not +enough to pay next week's rent, to say nothing of food. Yet, what was +the alternative? With less than six shillings in the world what could +she do?</p> + +<p class="normal">In a sense, since her coming to Newington Butts she had kept herself +to herself. She had this much in common with her father, she could not +wear her heart upon her sleeve. She had kept her own counsel; told no +one of the straits she was in, of the efforts she was making to find a +way to earn her daily bread. But it was plain even to her, as she +regarded her few shillings, that the time had come when she must take +counsel of some one. If she had to go out into the highways and +byways, with her scanty capital, she must learn of some one what +highways and byways there were for her to go out into; of herself she +knew nothing. As she cast about in her mind for some way out of her +trouble, it seemed to her that the only person to whom she could +unbosom herself was Miss Gibb.</p> + +<p class="normal">She rang the bell, paid her bill, and as she watched Angelina, with +her tongue out and her head on one side, making magnificent efforts to +affix her signature to the receipt, she prepared herself for the +ordeal. When the receipt was signed, and Angelina was about to go, +Nora stopped her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you have nothing particular to do just now, and you don't mind, +there is something which I should like to say to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know that there's anything you might call particular that +I've got to do, but there's always something."</p> + +<p class="normal">Which was true enough; from the first thing in the morning to the last +thing at night, Miss Gibb was always doing something; and sometimes +also, Nora suspected, in the silent watches of the night. Nora +hesitated; she found the subject a difficult one to broach.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm in rather an uncomfortable position; I--I'm afraid I shall have +to leave you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why? Aren't we giving satisfaction?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I give you as much satisfaction as you give me there'd be no +trouble on that score."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, you give us satisfaction all right enough; although, of course, +any one can see you're several cuts above our place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are likely to be several cuts above me; I am having to leave you +because I have not money enough left to pay you next week's rent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not enough money left? How much have you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Five and eightpence halfpenny, to be precise." Miss Gibb changed +countenance. "Five and eightpence halfpenny! That's not much."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one can appreciate the fact better than I do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But however come you to have so little?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hadn't much when I came, and I suppose I've been extravagant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have been that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see,"--despite herself Nora sighed--"I haven't been used to +economy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Any one could see that with half-an-eye; I shouldn't be surprised to +learn that you're one of those who've been used to spend as much as +five pounds a week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm afraid I am.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then of course there's excuses. We can't get out of ways like that +with a hop, skip and a jump; it's not to be expected. But haven't you +got any friends who'd help you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I haven't a friend to whom I can apply for help."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should have thought you were the kind who'd have had lots of +friends. Have you fell out with them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought my father was a rich man; but when he died--it was only a +very little while ago--it appeared that he wasn't; so I have to make +my own way in the world, and that is how I came to Swan Street."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know them fathers; I had one of my own, and he wasn't of any +account; though I will say this, I always liked him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have been trying to find something by means of which I could earn +enough money to keep me. I hoped to have found it before now, but I +haven't, and that's the trouble."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What sort of work have you been looking for?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've been endeavouring to get a post as secretary, among other +things, and I've answered no end of advertisements, but nothing has +come of one of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Secretary? what's that? The notices that the water'll be cut off if +it's not paid for, they're signed by a secretary; I always took him to +be some kind of a bailiff."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora endeavoured to explain, but her explanation was not very lucid, +and Miss Gibb was not extremely impressed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that the only kind of work you want?" she asked; "a secretary?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed it isn't; I should be glad to do anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some people, when they say they'd be glad to do anything, mean +nothing, which is about all they're good for; I know. How would you +like to go out charing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Charing? Well, I may be glad to have an opportunity of doing that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, no doubt; I fancy I see you at it! you charing! My word! Strikes +me you're the kind who'll find it difficult to get work of any sort."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're not very reassuring."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Facts is facts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's true enough; and it's no use blinking them. I fear you're +right; I shall find it hard; anyhow while I'm looking for work it's +clear that I can't continue to be your lodger. That's what I wanted to +explain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And pray why not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Isn't it pretty obvious? With five and eightpence halfpenny, and no +prospect of more, how am I to pay you next week's rent?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did think you'd have talked better sense than that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Angel!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If there's one thing I cannot stand it is to hear people talk +right-down silly; I never could stand it, and I never shall. I +wouldn't take this week's bill if it wasn't that we were so short; but +if that there poor-rate isn't paid next week we shall have the brokers +in, so paid it must be; them there poor-rates is demons; they'll turn +me grey yet before I've done. But as for your next week's rent--we'll +talk about that when it's due."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you proposing that I should run up debts with you, which I may +never be able to pay? Do you call that sense?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As it happens that's not what I'm proposing; though if I were as sure +of most things as I am of that you'll pay me first chance you get, it +might be better for me; but you can hardly say you've got no money +when you've got plenty of things you can get money on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look at your clothes--lovely some of them are; you can get money on +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Get money on my clothes? How?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, bless me, aren't there pawnbrokers? What do you think they're +for? Taken to the proper place, by the proper person, you'd get a lot +of money on those things of yours; I know. I always say that so long +as you've something to pawn it's like having money at the bank."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was to Nora as though Miss Gibb's words had opened out to her a new +world, of which she had not dreamed. In none of the country towns +within miles of Cloverlea was there a pawnshop; to her knowledge she +had never seen one; there were plenty within an easy stroll of Swan +Street; she had passed and re-passed them, but her attention had not +been called to what they were; they had escaped her notice. In her +mind the word pawnshop stood for almost the lowest word in the scale +of degradation; it was the drunkard's last hope; the friend of the +felon; the resource of those to whom there was no resource left; that +gate into the unthinkable which was associated only with despair. And +that it should be suggested to her that she should enter a +pawnbroker's den--she had heard it spoken of as a "den"--to "raise" +money on the clothes she had worn yesterday, and had hoped to wear +again to-morrow--in her blackest hours she had not anticipated such a +fate for herself as that. The proposal actually appalled her; filled +her with a fear of she knew not what; shamed her; hurled her from a +pedestal into a morass. She stammered as she replied, conscious of the +crass banality of what she was saying--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I don't think I--I should like to pawn any--any of my things +if--if I could help it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Gibb's scorn was monumental, as if she resented something which +the other implied, though it had been left unuttered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And who do you think does like to pawn their things if they can help +it? Do you suppose people pawn their boots because they've got their +pockets full of money? I am surprised to hear you talk, I really am; +should have thought at your time of life you'd have known better. +Wouldn't you rather pawn your clothes than starve?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you--if you put it in that crude way, I suppose I would."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora smiled; a horrible libel on what a smile ought to be. There was +no pretence of a smile about Miss Gibb; there never was; she was +always like a combatant, who, armed at all points, is ever ready for +the fray.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, then; you say you've got no money, and I say how do you +make that out when you have got things that you can pawn? If you like +to go hungry rather than put away a lace petticoat--which you can get +out again, mind you, whenever you've a chance--all I can say is I +don't; I've known what it is to be hungry, I have."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I fear that I--I shouldn't know how to set about pawning a lace +petticoat even if I wanted to save myself from going hungry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who said you would? Who said anything about your setting about it? +Not me; I do hope I have more sense than that. Why, you'd be worse +than a baby at the game; it needs some knowing. I'll do all in that +way that's wanted; if I don't know pretty well all about pawning that +there is to know I ought to, I've been pawning pretty nearly ever +since I could walk. What's more, I've pawned pretty nearly every +blessed thing that there is to pawn, down to a towel-horse and a +kitchen fender. Mother and Eustace and me would have been a case for a +coroner's inquest long ago if I hadn't; and I will say this for them +there pawnbrokers, that, considering the class they've got to do with, +and that they have got to make a living, they've got as much of the +milk of human kindness in them as most. You're going to stop here, +that's what you're going to do, and mother and Eustace and me will put +our heads together to see about finding you some work to do, though I +don't know about that there secretary. Only for goodness' sake don't +you lose heart; no one ever gained anything by doing that. I've seen +as much of the world as most, and I know from my own experience that +when things are tightest is just the moment when help comes. Mother +says it comes from heaven; but I don't know, it may or it may not; but +it comes from somewhere, and that often from where you least expected +it. When next week's bill comes due, if nothing's turned up, you give +me something, and I'll take it round to Mr. Thompson--he's about as +good as any--and I'll get as much on it as ever I can, and you'll be +able to pay all right; you see, I'm not concealing from you that we've +got to live as well as you, and them poor-rates there's no shirking. +But don't you fear; mother and Eustace and me will have found you +something to do between us long before you've spent all the money +you've got in the bank; but whatever you do do, don't you go losing +heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">So the child taught the woman, who was learning rapidly that age is +not measured by the years one has lived; Miss Gibb was a century older +than she was, though she was only just in her teens. Two visits were +paid to Mr. Thompson, each time with a petticoat. Nora lived on the +proceeds of those two petticoats for nearly another month, during +which all the members of the establishment were putting their heads +together in endeavours to find her something to do. The heart-sickness +it meant for her; the consciousness of wasted effort; the sense of +shame; the realization of her own futility; she had aged more during +the time she had been in Swan Street than in all the preceding years. +She had long ceased to confine herself to attempts to find a post as +secretary, or as clerk. She tramped half over London in her desire to +answer, in person, advertisements of all sorts and kinds, always in +vain. Any one but a sheer ignoramus--Miss Gibb's ignorance outside her +own sphere of action was colossal--would have told her at a glance +that her efforts were foredoomed to failure. And why? The idea of such +a one as she was occupying some of the situations for which she +applied was in itself an absurdity; her appearance, her bearing, her +manners, her dress, all were against her; perhaps her dress +handicapped her worst of all. She did not know it; she thought her +frocks were as simple as they could be; and so they were, in the sense +of the great costumier, with the simplicity which is the hall-mark of +the dressmaker's art. There was not one of them which had not cost her +ten or fifteen guineas. The would-be employer saw this at once, and +decided that the applicant was unsuited, which she was; so Nora was +sent sorrowing away.</p> + +<p class="normal">So with Nora the world went from bad to worse; until, as if to +justify Miss Gibb's prophetic instinct, when things seemed really at +their "tightest," help came to her from a quarter--as Angelina had +foretold--from which she had least expected it.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_20" href="#div1Ref_20">KING SOLOMON</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">John Hooper, Esquire, barrister-at-law, of Fountain Court, Inner +Temple, was the employer of Mr. Eustace Gibb, who was the brother of +Miss Gibb. It is not easy to define the relation which Mr. Gibb +occupied with regard to Mr. Hooper. Mr. Hooper, although, presumably, +learned in the law, had never held a brief in his life, and, to be +frank, did not particularly want one; only his uncle worried. He had a +small income of his own, and great expectations from his uncle; as his +expenditure always exceeded his income, he regarded it as of the first +importance that he should continue to stand in what he called his +uncle's "good books," since he looked to that gentleman for sufficient +financial assistance to enable him to what he termed "rub along." To +please his uncle, who appeared to think he ought, very shortly, to be +sitting on the woolsack, since he could get no briefs of his own he +worked on those of other people; in other words he devilled for a +gentleman who was always promising to do more work than, as he knew +very well, he could do, and who, therefore, allowed Mr. Hooper, among +others, to do some of the work which he was paid to do, but for which +he paid Mr. Hooper nothing; there was not so much of this as Mr. +Hooper chose to allow his uncle to imagine; still, from his point of +view, there was emphatically enough.</p> + +<p class="normal">What position Mr. Gibb filled in his chambers he himself occasionally +wondered. To those whom he wished to impress with his legal standing +he spoke of him as his clerk; to those whom it was impossible to +impress, and they were many, as his office boy; while in his own +circle of intimates, which was of rather a peculiar kind, he generally +referred to him as King Solomon. Mr. Gibb generally referred to +himself as Mr. Hooper's right-hand man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm his right hand man, that's what I am," he was wont to tell any +one who showed interest in the subject; whereat the listener whistled, +or did worse, and wondered, if he stopped at that. His duties appeared +chiefly to consist in sitting, if Mr. Hooper was in his chambers, in a +sort of lobby, which opened on to the staircase, which he called his +office, and where he did nothing; or if Mr. Hooper was not in his +chambers, he went out, as far out as he thought was discreet, and did +nothing there. Sometimes when, as was not infrequently the case, both +employer and employed had nothing to do, Mr. Hooper would summon Mr. +Gibb into his inner room, and would talk to him--and Mr. Gibb would +talk to him. It was the words of wisdom which Mr. Gibb would casually +let drop in the course of these conversations which induced Mr. Hooper +to allude to him, in the privacy of his own circle, as King Solomon; +the barrister declared that it was worth his while to pay Mr. Gibb ten +shillings a week, which he with difficulty did, merely on account of +the benefit which he derived from hearing him talk.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was during one of these conversations that Mr. Gibb touched on a +subject which was foremost both in his heart and head. He had taken a +strenuous part in the family endeavours to find for Miss Lindsay some +employment by means of which she could at least provide herself with +the wherewithal to keep herself alive. He had entered on the search +with sanguine zest. Apart from any feeling which he might himself +entertain for the lady he felt that his reputation was at stake. He +had pledged himself to find for her at least half-a-dozen ways of +earning a living in a ridiculously short space of time; and as yet he +had not found her one; and she herself still searched. He was aware of +the visits to Mr. Thompson; they troubled him nearly as much as they +troubled Nora; he felt almost as if he was himself responsible for +their continuation. He knew that any day another might have to be +paid; the knowledge made him desperate. He had had, for some time, a +vague intention of speaking to his employer on the matter; but he was +aware that Mr. Hooper did not always take him seriously, and he was +curiously unwilling to have Miss Lindsay made the subject of that +gentleman's chaff. Yet the thought of that further impending visit +pressed heavily on his mind; so that presently the barrister perceived +that in his air there was something singular.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're not up to your usual mark, Mr. Gibb; those pearls of wisdom +which I love to cherish as they drop from your lips don't seem +dropping; stock run out?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Gibb looked up at the ceiling, then down to Mr. Hooper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The fact is, sir, I've got something on my mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it possible? My good Mr. Gibb, do I ever allow anything to stop on +my mind? Get it off!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's easy to talk, sir, but I don't seem as though I can."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps it would do your mind good to tell me what's on it; I have +known that prescription work a cure. Give your mind its head, Mr. +Gibb, let her go."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Gibb hesitated; he was trying to find fitting words in which to +express what he had to say.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's like this, sir; I know somebody who very much wants to find the +means of earning a living."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not an uncommon character, Mr. Gibb. I suppose there are the usual +requirements, large salary wanted, and very little work."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all, sir, not in this case. The person to whom I'm alluding +would be only too glad to do any amount of work, for very little +wages."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is unusual; I fear an effort has been made to impose upon your +innocence. Who's the gentleman?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's not a gentleman, sir, it's a lady."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A lady? I say, Mr. Gibb! warnings out all along that coast; if at +this period of your existence you get yourself mixed up with a lady, +especially one who is on the look out for means of earning a living, +your whole career may be blighted. She may look upon you as her +living, and then where are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No fear of that, sir; this is a lady born and bred; she's as high as +the heavens above me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is she? Then she's tallish. Old?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir; in her early prime."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Meaning?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I couldn't say exactly, sir; I should say somewhere about twenty. You +could tell better than me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What on earth do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you saw her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I saw her! Look here, Mr. Gibb, have you got anything at the back +of your head?" Mr. Gibb sighed. "Is she hideous?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir; she's the most beautiful young lady ever I set eyes on; and +I've seen a few."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have, Mr. Gibb, I admit it; still as I don't know what your type +of beauty really is your remark conveys little to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would convey more, sir, if you were to see her. You wouldn't want +to see her twice to know that she's the most beautiful young lady ever +you set eyes on. I feel sure of it. I wish you would see her, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask, Mr. Gibb, what it is you're driving at? Why should I see +her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So that you might understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Understand what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How what is? I'll trouble you, Mr. Gibb, to be a trifle more +explicit. Where's this lady of birth and breeding, who's as high as +the heavens above you, to be found?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She's lodging at my mother's. Yes, sir, I don't wonder you look +surprised; I know it's no place for a lady, especially one like her; +and that's the trouble, she is a lady; I know a lady when I see one as +well as I know a gentleman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must forgive me, Mr. Gibb, but I'm wondering if you do; it's not +every one who can tell a lady by the look of her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps not, sir; but you can. If you saw her you'd soon tell. She'd +have found something long ago she could have turned her hand to if +she'd been one of your common sort; but that's the mischief, she's a +lady; and I happen to know that she's in a very bad way. She lost her +father and her mother, and she doesn't seem to have a friend in the +world; if she doesn't find something soon by which she can earn a +little money I don't know what will become of her. I wish you would +see her, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What good do you suppose will be gained by my seeing her? What sort +of work does she want?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She has been trying for a secretaryship; but she's tried, and tried, +and nothing's come of it; and now she'd be only too glad to do +anything by which she could earn money. You see, sir, you know all +kinds of people, and I thought that if you saw her, so that you might +know what she's like, and how it is with her, you might think of some +one who could give her work; I know you wouldn't regret it if you +did."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Gibb, you're a--you're a person of a Mephistophelian habit! Mind +you, I've no more chance of putting anything in the way of your lady +born and bred, who's as high as the heavens above you, than the man in +the moon; but I've got plenty of time on my hands; I'm always ready to +see any one; and I've no objection to see her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, sir. Will you see her to-morrow morning?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look here, Mr. Gibb, are you trying to bustle me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well,' sir, you see she's pawning her things----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pawning her things! and you say she's a lady."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir, she is pawning her things, and she is a lady; and it's +because I've reason to know that she may have to pawn something else +either to-day or to-morrow that I've mentioned her to you at all; +because when she's pawned all she's got what will she do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you want me to lend her some money? or to give her some?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Gibb smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When you've seen her, sir, you won't need to ask me that. Then you'll +see her to-morrow morning?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now don't you go putting any false hopes in her head, you'll only be +doing her a disservice if you do; nothing will come of my seeing her, +I'm only doing it to oblige you; let that be clearly understood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir; thank you very much."</p> + +<p class="normal">When Mr. Gibb got home he rushed straight up to Miss Lindsay, who was +commencing the nondescript apology for a meal which served her as tea +and supper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay, I believe I've found you something which may lead to +something."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Eustace! have you? what is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's my chief." Mr. Gibb never would refer to him as "governor," as +other clerks did; he thought it vulgar. "It's Mr. Hooper!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Hooper?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I happened to mention to him to-day that you were looking out for a +secretaryship, and he said would you call round and see him to-morrow +morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Eustace! how shall I ever thank you? Is it for himself he wants a +secretary?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I can't say; but if you'll take my advice you'll call and see +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I'll call and see him; I'm--I'm all trembling! as if I +wouldn't call and see him! Do you think I've any chance?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That also I can't say; but if you'll allow me to give you what I +should describe as a hint----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please do! What is it? You are so clever!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I were you I should put on your prettiest frock, and your +prettiest hat, and the prettiest everything you've got."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eustace! Why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Gibb put his hand up to his mouth, and coughed discreetly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fact is, Mr. Hooper's more of an eye for female beauty than he +thinks, and if you come to him looking as I've seen you look, you'll +knock him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Knock him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Gibb was apologetic.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's not often that I do use words of that kind, but, asking your +pardon, this time I mean it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But--I don't understand what you do mean. You can't mean that Mr. +Hooper would engage me as his secretary merely because I happened to +be wearing my prettiest frock?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't say anything of the kind; not at all. I don't know that he +wants a secretary; I only know he told me to ask you to call. You want +to make a good impression when you do call, don't you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly; of course you do! What I say is don't leave anything undone +which will help you to make a good impression; and that's all I do +say."</p> + +<p class="normal">When Mr. Gibb went Nora was left blushing, trembling, excited, and +slightly bewildered; she continued her meal without having any clear +idea of what it was that she was eating.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's a queer boy," she said to herself, more than once.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Gibb was a queer boy; which was why his "chief" occasionally +alluded to him as King Solomon.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_21" href="#div1Ref_21">NORA FINDS SOMETHING TO DO</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Hooper had not long arrived at his chambers, on the following +morning; he was lounging in his chair, his hat still on the back of +his head, his pipe between his lips, studying, in the newspaper which +he held out in front of him, reports of cricket, golf, and similar +legal matters, when the door was opened and Mr. Gibb came in.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lady to see you, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Hooper started.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lady? What lady?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lady you made an appointment with yesterday, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lady I made an appointment with yesterday?" Mr. Hooper seemed to be +making an effort to collect his wits, which Mr. Gibb's announcement +had scattered. "You young scoundrel! I'd forgotten----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Fortunately he had got no further; because, even as he was speaking, +the lady entered; whereupon Mr. Gibb vanished with a degree of haste +which was almost suspicious. Mr. Hooper dropped his newspaper, removed +his hat with one hand, his pipe with the other, and sprang to his +feet, to stare; forgetful altogether, for the moment, of his manners, +so completely was he taken by surprise. What he had expected to see he +could not have said; what he actually did see, standing</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p style="text-indent:21em"> +"in his room,</p> +<p class="t0">Making it rich and like a lily in bloom,"</p> +</div> + +<p class="continue">was the most beautiful girl he ever had seen. She was tall and most +divinely fair, perfectly dressed, in a long, trailing black gown, +which became her slender form, and a big black hat, which threw into +strong relief what seemed to him to be the almost ethereal beauty of +her face; and she held herself daintily erect, like the great lady he +could have sworn she was. The fact that the bowl of his pipe was +burning his hand recalled him to his senses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I beg your pardon; I'm afraid I've been smoking; if you'll allow +me I'll open the windows."</p> + +<p class="normal">He opened them; the three windows the room contained.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are Mr. Hooper?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her voice was just the kind of voice it was fitting should be hers, +soft, clear, sweet; it was to him like the sound of music which he +loved; and, when he heard it, off went his wits again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, that--that is my name; yes--exactly--I--I am Mr. Hooper--yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am Nora Lindsay."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nora! That was one of his pet names; as she pronounced it it seemed to +him to be the sweetest name a woman could have; like everything about +her, it became her so.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I--may I offer you a seat, Miss Lindsay? I--I am very glad to see +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">She sat down, with what seemed to him almost awful calmness; but she +was all tremblement within, a maze of conflicting emotions, for +already it was clear to her that this was quite a singular young man; +only she was able to exhibit more outward self-control than he was. +When she saw that he showed no immediate disposition to touch on the +subject on which she had come, but seemed to be able to do nothing but +fidget, she began on the theme herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eustace tells me that he mentioned to you that I am looking for a +post as secretary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eustace? Oh, you mean King Solomon--that is, young Gibb. Young Gibb's +a curious boy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Curious? I think he's delightful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Delightful? Yes, so--so he is; a--a most valuable acquisition for a +man like me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you yourself require a secretary, Mr. Hooper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do I--require a secretary--myself? I--I--the fact is----" A wild idea +was germinating in the erratic young gentleman's brain. "What are your +qualifications, Miss Lindsay?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can work a typewriter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you? That's splendid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At least I could about twelve months ago, and I dare say I could +again, after a little practice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course you could; not a doubt of it. And--and can you write +shorthand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I can't write shorthand; is that indispensable?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, not--not indispensable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can speak and write French, and I know some German."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those--those are decidedly advantages."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I write a very clear hand; I don't think any one would have any +difficulty in reading what I write; I will show you a specimen if you +like."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's--there's not the slightest necessity; not the least; I feel +sure you write a clear hand. And--when are you disengaged?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At once; I should like to begin as soon as I possibly could; I am +very anxious to begin." Something which she fancied she saw on his +face seemed to trouble her. "Isn't the secretary wanted at once?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, the fact is, it's this way----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could come for a week on trial, so that you might see if I suited."</p> + +<p class="normal">The idea of this divine creature coming to his chambers, day after +day, for a whole week, made his brain whirl round.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm sure you'd suit; I--I've not the slightest doubt about that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can't be quite sure; but I'd try to please you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I--I----" He was about to remark that there was not the slightest +necessity for her to try, since she could not help but please him, +whether she tried or not, when a sudden fear came to him that his +remark might be misconstrued; so he pulled himself up in time. +"The remark I was about to make is, since--since I desire to +be quite plain, in order that we may not commence with--with a +misunderstanding; what it is I wish to point out is that the post may +be of a purely temporary nature."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That doesn't matter; it would be something; and that's better than +nothing. How long would it be likely to last?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's--that's not easy to determine; the fact is it's really a +jobbing secretary that's wanted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is a jobbing secretary?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"One who works by the job."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By the job?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me explain. Say there's a job--that is, a piece of work--wants +doing; when that's done there may be an interregnum before more's +required."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see. And--will the secretary be paid by the job?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Paid by the job?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Or--by the week--or how?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That--that reminds me." It seemed to Nora that Mr. Hooper drew in a +long breath, as if he desired to lay in a stock in case of emergency. +"What honorarium were you thinking of asking, Miss Lindsay?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was thinking of asking two guineas a week." She fancied his jaw +fell; so she hedged, quickly. "But, of course, if that's too much----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all; not in the least; practically it's less than I expected." +Although he had not the faintest notion where the money was to come +from, if it had to come from him, he was thinking that if she proposed +to keep herself on two guineas a week it would be some time--slight +though his knowledge of such matters was, before she would be able to +buy another dress like the one which she had on. "Well, Miss Lindsay, +we'll leave it like this; I will think it over and let you know my +decision."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Couldn't you decide now? I've found that when people say they'll let +me know their decision they mean no. Please--please give me a trial; +do let me try. If--if you'll give me a chance I'll--I'll do my very +best, so that you--you shan't regret it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Unless he was mistaken, something very much like tears stood in her +eyes; they affected him in a way nothing ever had done before; he +would have liked to have knocked his head against the wall.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Miss Lindsay, you altogether misunderstand me--entirely +misunderstand me; I shall be delighted to offer you the +post--delighted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Hooper! Do you mean it? Really?"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was worth two guineas a week to see the look which came into her +face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly I mean it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But--what did you mean when you said you'd let me know your +decision?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I meant my decision with--with reference to--to when your duties are +to commence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! Will it be very long before you want me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Emphatically no. As to wanting you, I--I want you immediately. Shall +we say----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-morrow? If you could let me begin tomorrow!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Undoubtedly you can begin to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At what time?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall we put it--at eleven? or would you prefer to make it twelve?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Twelve! But Eustace comes at ten."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Eustace comes at ten; but I don't want to put you to any +inconvenience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't want to put me to any inconvenience!" She got up from her +chair with something in her way of doing it which frightened him. "But +I don't want you to study my convenience; in the future it will be my +duty to study yours; please understand that, before all else, I wish +to do my duty. I want to do a man's work and to earn a man's wage--to +deserve a man's wage. Of course I know I shan't deserve it at first; +but I'm going to try hard, and if you'll only give me a chance, and +treat me as if I were a man, I think you'll admit that I do deserve it +before very long. I know that being a woman is against me----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really, Miss Lindsay, I can't admit that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I know it is--I learnt that long ago; and only when I have +succeeded in making you forget that I am a woman shall I know that I +am beginning to earn my wage--as a man. Then I am to come to-morrow +with Eustace, at ten."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With Eustace? Oh yes; quite so--that is--certainly; that will suit me +very well."</p> + +<p class="normal">She went out of the room without another word; he stood staring at the +door through which she had passed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is uncommonly awkward; ought I to have opened the door for her +or not? It wouldn't have been treating her like a man, and she might +have resented it. She has a way of speaking, to say nothing of +looking, which takes the stiffening right out of me. I'd have given +anything to have dared to ask her to lunch; but--if I had dared, +anything might have happened. One thing's certain, I've been and +gone and done it. I've given myself two problems to solve; one thing +is, what am I to find for her to do?--for even a jobbing secretary +must do something, especially when she's full of enthusiasm to the +bursting-point. And the other is, how I am going to find the cash to +pay her for doing it; I'll be hanged if I know which of the problems +is likely to prove the most insoluble."</p> + +<p class="normal">When Nora reached the office Mr. Gibb assailed her with questions; her +answers seeming to amaze him in an ascending scale.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what did he say to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He's engaged me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Engaged you? What for?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As jobbing secretary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As jobbing secretary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who to?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, to himself, of course."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He's engaged you as jobbing secretary to himself? What are you going +to do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can I tell? I suppose he has something very important which he +wants me to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has he? Oh! When are you going to start on it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-morrow!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-morrow? What's he going to pay you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two guineas a week; isn't it splendid?" The announcement seemed to +startle Mr. Gibb out of the faculty of asking further questions. She +went on. "And I have to thank you for it! Only think! if it hadn't +been for you such luck never would have come my way; you dear, dear +boy! I should like to kiss you for it; and I will!" And she did, quite +heartily too, though she had to stoop to do it. "And out of my first +two guineas I'll buy you something; what shall it be?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing you could buy could ever equal what you've given me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What I've given you? what have I given you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A kiss; I never shall forget you kissed me as long as I live."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eustace, you are--you are a queer boy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She went out, all blushes. When she had gone Mr. Gibb did what his +employer had done; he stared at the door through which she had passed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I call this of the nature of a startler; she must have knocked +him. His jobbing secretary! What's he going to find for her to do, +when there's nothing for him to do? or, for the matter of that, for me +either. And two guineas a week! When the other day he sent me out to +change his last fiver, and told me he'd have to make it do till +quarter day, and there's still three weeks to that. Looks to me as if +he'd rather overdone it."</p> + +<p class="normal">The door of Mr. Hooper's room was opened; his voice was heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Gibb, come in here!" Mr. Gibb went in there.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_22" href="#div1Ref_22">MASTER AND MAN</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">When Mr. Gibb entered he found Mr. Hooper in a state of agitation; +there was nothing very amazing in that, as he had found him in that +condition on previous occasions; but it seemed to Mr. Gibb that, in +his agitation then, there was a quality which was new. Mr. Hooper +assailed him the moment he was past the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, Mr. Gibb, you have been and gone and done it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Done what, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think it's extremely possible that you've laid yourself open to an +indictment for conspiracy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have I, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You brought Miss Lindsay here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excuse me, sir, but if you'll remember you told me to ask her to +come."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You put me up to it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I merely happened to mention that she was looking for something to +do, and so she is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No she isn't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Isn't she, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, she's found it! And that's where I'm in a position to prove +conspiracy. Mr. Gibb, do you mean to tell me that Miss Lindsay has +been pawning her things?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope you won't let it go any further, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think I'm---- What do you think I am?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I haven't thought, sir; only it happened to come to my knowledge, and +it seemed to me to be a sad thing for her to have to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All I can say is that she hasn't pawned all her things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir, but she soon would have done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you any idea of how much that dress cost which she had on? to +say nothing of the hat!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not exactly, sir, I haven't; but my sister told me that some of her +things must have cost a good bit of money."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That dress cost every penny of five-and-twenty or thirty pounds, and +I dare say the hat cost another tenner; and she's been walking about +in those kind of things her whole life long, I'm sure of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told you, sir, she was a lady born and bred."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Gibb, you see advertisements for a lady, as barmaid; when I think +of that I don't want to think of Miss Lindsay as a lady; she's on a +different plane; she's of heaven, not of earth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told you, sir, she was high as the heavens above me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So she is; you were right there; although the construction of your +sentence is faulty, Mr. Gibb. She's a divinity among women; a poem +among girls; the ideal which a man sets up for himself of what a woman +may be when God chooses."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is she, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look at her! how she walks, how she moves, how she bears herself! And +what a voice! had Orpheus had it he'd have needed no warbling string +to aid him to draw 'iron tears down Pluto's cheek!' Then what beauty's +in her face; but there's in it what not one beautiful woman in a +thousand has, there's a soul! Mr. Gibb, I've only seen Miss Lindsay +about twenty minutes, but I regard her as 'a perfect woman, nobly +planned'; and I may add 'she was a phantom of delight, when first she +gleamed upon my sight,' therefore I say you were guilty of conspiracy +in luring me on to ask her to come here; because what has the result +been?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What has it, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The result has been that I've made an idiot of myself; a complete and +perfect ass."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't like your tone, Mr. Gibb, it exacerbates. It is in itself +enough to prove your guilt. Had you not been engaged in a conspiracy +you would have been surprised beyond measure at the wholly unforeseen +result. But, as it is, I put it to you, Mr. Gibb; are you surprised?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sir, in a way I can't say I am, not exactly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There you are! there you are! Do you know, Mr. Gibb, that I've given +Miss Lindsay to understand that I've retained her services as a member +of my staff?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She told me you'd engaged her, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, she did, did she? What did she tell you I'd engaged her as?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As jobbing secretary, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And pray what is a jobbing secretary?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's what I was wondering."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She asked me what a jobbing secretary was; and I explained as clearly +as I could under the circumstances, and considering that I don't know +myself. When you reflect on the fact that I have engaged her to be +something which I never heard of before you will have grasped the +initial difficulty of my position; which is complicated by the further +fact that she is, what she certainly is, a divinity among women. If +she'd come, say, about twelve and leave before one; or if she'd spend +a few hours daily in intellectual conversation with me in here; or if +she'd come out with me to enjoy the air, say on the top of an omnibus; +or even if she'd go out with you, for a little pedestrian exercise, +from two to six; the situation might be lightened. But she'll do none +of these things; she's as good as said so. She told me, with a +delicious seriousness which took all idea of resistance clean out of +me, that she meant to do a man's work for a man's wage. Now, Mr. Gibb, +in this office I don't see how it's going to be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm sure I don't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't do a man's work."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir, you don't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do still less."</p> + +<p class="normal">On this point Mr. Gibb was discreetly silent; he seemed to be turning +something over in his mind, of which he presently gave Mr. Hooper the +benefit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think, sir, I've got an idea of something you might give Miss +Lindsay to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let's have it; you know, Mr. Gibb, any pearls of wisdom which you may +drop are always welcome."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You remember, sir, when I first came you gave me some papers which +you said I might copy when I'd nothing else to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have some dim recollection of something of the kind. Well, have +they been copied?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir, they haven't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How long have you had them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, rather more than two years."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then it's time they were copied. What papers are they?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never could make out, and I don't think you could either; they're +counsels' opinions, or judges' rulings, or something like that. I know +when I asked you what they were you told me not to ask any questions; +so I knew you didn't know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Gibb, you have a way of your own of arriving at conclusions. I +think I recall those papers; they were here when I came into +possession; they'd been stuffed up the chimney to keep out the draught +or something."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was thinking, sir, if you could think of nothing else, that you +might get Miss Lindsay to copy them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's--there's something in the idea. Could we pass them off as +genuine?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As how, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are they of an appearance, and character, which would enable us to +induce Miss Lindsay to believe that they really are papers of +importance?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should think so, sir; I know it took me ever so long before I found +them out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah; then it might take her a week. By that time we may have hit upon +something else. Where are those papers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They're in my desk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then get them out of your desk. Have them cleaned, tidied, made +presentable; Miss Lindsay shall commence on them as soon as she +arrives. And I tell you something else I'll do. Miss Lindsay tells me +she can work a typewriter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can she?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll get her one. I think I should prefer to have good, clear +typewritten copies of those papers, Mr. Gibb; they'll be so much more +accessible for reference. I--I suppose a typewriter can be hired."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes, sir; I believe from about half-a-crown a week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That doesn't seem to be a prohibitive figure; I'll hire one; I'll go +out this afternoon to see about it. You see, Mr. Gibb, how one thing +leads to another. I propose to increase my staff; the mere proposition +adds materially to my own labours. I know no more about typewriters +than I do about sewing-machines; of which I know nothing; so I foresee +that my afternoon will be fully occupied. By the way, Mr. Gibb, a +further point; you have found an idea which has been of assistance in +one direction, perhaps you might find a second which would be of some +service to me in another."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you put it to me, I take it that you will allow it to go no +further; but, between ourselves, I have undertaken to pay Miss +Lindsay, as jobbing secretary, since she proposes to do a man's work +for a man's wage, an honorarium of two guineas a week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So she told me, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So she told you, did she? Oh! Then I suppose she expects to get it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I expect she does, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then in that case I think that, perhaps, I had better make it +perfectly clear to you how, precisely, the land lies." From a drawer +which he unlocked in his writing-table Mr. Hooper took three +sovereigns and some silver; he displayed the coins to the best +advantage on the table. "This choice, but small, collection of bullion +has to last me, Mr. Gibb, to quarter day. There are still three clear +weeks. I have to pay you thirty shillings; being three weeks' wages at +ten shillings a week; out of the balance I have to pay Miss Lindsay +six guineas, and keep myself; besides having to meet certain small +liabilities which must be met. I should be glad, Mr. Gibb, if you +would give me some idea of how it is to be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think, sir, if I were you, I should let me explain to Miss +Lindsay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Explain what, Mr. Gibb?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What kind of gentleman you are."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And pray, in your opinion, what kind of gentleman am I?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, considering how you've gone and done it with Miss Lindsay I +shouldn't think you'd want much explaining, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's true, Mr. Gibb, most true. Still, I'm curious to hear what +you'd tell her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wouldn't give you away, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wouldn't you? Oh! What would you do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should simply tell her, sir, that you'd been thinking things over, +and that you'd come to the conclusion that two guineas a week was too +much to pay her at the start; and that you thought--should I say +fifteen shillings ought to be enough at the beginning, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fifteen shillings! And I promised her two guineas!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir, you promised her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What kind of a person do you suppose she'd think I am?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't see how it matters, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't see how it matters!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sir, you can't pay her two guineas a week, no matter what +she thinks of you; and you might manage to pay her fifteen +shillings--somehow. I expect you'd find she'd sooner have fifteen +shillings in cash than two guineas in promises."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Gibb, you appear to have a high opinion of me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have, sir; I couldn't have a higher."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Couldn't you? you young scoundrel! Pray when did I make a promise to +you which I didn't keep, to the letter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"When I came, sir, you gave me six shillings a week, now you give me +ten; but there's a difference between ten shillings and two guineas."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Mr. Gibb, and there's a difference between you and Miss +Lindsay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't I know it, sir? There's all the difference in the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you say, there's all the difference in the world. Miss Lindsay is +a divinity among women."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's exactly my opinion, sir; and has been from the first."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has been your opinion, has it, Mr. Gibb? Then allow me to inform +you that when I enter into an undertaking with--with a divinity among +women, to do a certain thing, I do that thing. I have undertaken to +pay Miss Lindsay two guineas a week; I will pay her two guineas a +week. The money shall be found; I will find it. Be so good, Mr. Gibb, +as to look up those papers you spoke about, and see that they are in a +presentable condition, so that Miss Lindsay can begin on them directly +she arrives."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_23" href="#div1Ref_23">A JOBBING SECRETARY</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The next morning Nora did not start for Fountain Court with Mr. Gibb; +he positively forbade her, explaining that he had certain duties to +perform immediately on his arrival which he preferred, and which Mr. +Hooper preferred, that he should perform before anybody else appeared +upon the scene; so he started at half-past nine, and she followed +thirty minutes later. When she reached Fountain Court the door was +promptly opened by Mr. Gibb, who called her attention to a curtained +recess, with the remark--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please hang your hat and coat up there."</p> + +<p class="normal">Behind the curtain she found three pegs and a looking-glass; which +articles, if she had not been too nervous to observe closely, might +have struck her as being even suspiciously new. She had no coat on, +but she had a hat, which she hung upon one of the pegs, with a +breathless feeling, as if the simple action, in that strange place, +stood to her as an emblem of the passage she was about to take from +the old world to the new; as she hung up her hat, with Mr. Gibb's +stony gaze fixed on her coldly from behind, it almost seemed to her +that with it she hung up her freedom, and passed into servitude. Nor +was this feeling lessened by the unaccustomed, and unnatural, rigidity +of Mr. Gibb's bearing; she being unaware of the fact that Mr. Hooper +had informed the young gentleman, not ten minutes before she came, +that if he did not treat her with the profound and distant respect +with which a divinity ought to be treated, the consequences would be +serious for him. While she was still touching her hair with her +fingers, as a girl must do when she has just taken her hat off, he +inquired, with what he felt to be cutting coldness--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you quite finished?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Eustace, I--I think I have--quite, thank you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then Mr. Hooper is waiting to see you; kindly step this way."</p> + +<p class="normal">She stepped that way, Mr. Gibb moving as stiffly as if he had a poker +down his back. She found Mr. Hooper seated at a table which was +littered with a number of papers and documents which were of a most +portentous looking nature, over one of which he was bending with an +air of earnest preoccupation which, it is to be feared, had been put +on about thirty seconds before she had entered the room, and would be +taken off in less than thirty seconds after she had left it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay has come, sir." As Mr. Gibb made this announcement Mr. +Hooper looked up with a start, which was very well done, as if nothing +could have surprised him more; he rose, a little doubtfully, as if the +professional cares of this world were almost more than he could bear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay? Yes, yes, quite so; Miss Lindsay, of course. I hope, +Miss Lindsay, I see you well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite well, thank you."</p> + +<p class="normal">She ignored the hand which he extended, possibly in a moment of +absence of mind, in a manner which seemed to him to be marked; he +trusted Mr. Gibb had not noticed it before he left the room. He +continued to be as professional in his manner as he knew how.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay--eh--might I--eh--ask you to take a seat?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, sir, I prefer to stand."</p> + +<p class="normal">Really this young woman was trying; she was reversing the positions; +it was she who was keeping him at a distance, not he her; there was +something in the way in which she said "sir" which made him wince; +however, he was still professional.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite so, Miss Lindsay, quite so--whichever you prefer. Now, Miss +Lindsay, here are some papers of a--of an abstract nature; privacy +with regard to them is of the first importance; serious consequences +might result were their character to become known outside these +chambers." The jobbing secretary inclined her head; he thought she did +it very gracefully. "Now, what I require are copies of these papers; +you understand, copies--perfectly clean copies. How long do you think +it will take you to let me have them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There seem to be a good many."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are--oh, there are; quite a number; only they are not all of +the same character. Now, for instance, how long will it take you to +let me have a perfectly clean copy of that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out what looked like a musty document, consisting of several +foolscap pages, covered with close writing on both sides of each page. +She turned it nervously over.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it--is it to be typed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly; oh yes, emphatically."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What--what machine have you?" He mentioned the maker's name; +fortunately it was on one of the same maker's machines she had learnt. +"I told you that I had not used a machine recently; I fear, therefore, +that I may be rather awkward at first, so that I can hardly tell how +long it will take me to let you have a perfectly clean copy of this. +There--there appears to be a good deal of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There does--oh yes, I admit it, there does--and of course I shouldn't +want an absolutely clean copy." She looked at him; there was something +in her look which caused him to look away, with some appearance of +confusion; he realized that he had made a mistake. "By that I--I +should wish you to understand that--that I shouldn't require you to +destroy the entire document merely--merely because of one slight +error."</p> + +<p class="normal">She spoke with what seemed to him to be magisterial severity; he felt +that there was more than a touch of that severity in her demeanour.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You said that you wanted perfectly clean copies, and you shall have +perfectly clean copies; I quite understand that only perfectly clean +copies will be of the slightest use. I hope you do not think that I +wish you to put up with indifferent work. I merely wished to point out +that I am afraid that I may be a little clumsy at first."</p> + +<p class="normal">She turned to go.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The--the typewriter's in the next room."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I saw it as I came in."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray--pray allow me to open the door for you." But she would not.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you don't mind, sir"--the stress upon that "sir"!--"I would rather +open it for myself; and I do hope that you won't allow a difference in +sex to alter the relations which ought to exist between employer and +employed. You wouldn't open the door for Eustace Gibb; I would like +you to regard me in the same light as you do him."</p> + +<p class="normal">No, he certainly would not open the door for Eustace Gibb, but the +idea of regarding her in the same light as Mr. Gibb was preposterous; +the trouble was that he could only see her through a golden haze. The +typewriter was in the next room to Mr. Hooper's, with beyond it the +lobby which Mr. Gibb termed his office; the room was known to Mr. Gibb +as the waiting-room, though no one had ever been known to wait in it. +It was furnished with an old wooden table, and three older wooden +chairs, and nothing else. On the table was the typewriter, and a +plentiful supply of paper. After about an hour's interval, Mr. Hooper, +who felt as if he were a prisoner in his own rooms, began to find +himself in a state of fidgetiness which was beyond endurance. It was +ridiculous to suppose that he did not dare to venture into the +presence of his own jobbing secretary, yet--he did not dare. What was +worse, he found himself incapable of smoking in the room next to her, +and that in spite of her expressed desire that he should treat her as +he treated Mr. Gibb. When the tension had reached a point at which he +could stand it no longer, snatching up his hat, he burst into the room +with an air of haste, seeming, when he was in it, to realize her +presence there with a touch of surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay!--oh yes, yes, quite so. And--and how are we getting on?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The moment he had asked he saw that he had made another mistake. This +time there was something on her face which moved him in a manner which +really did surprise him. She looked as if she had at least been near +to tears, and still was not far off.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I'm not getting on at all well," she said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've not the slightest doubt, Miss Lindsay, that you are getting on +much better than you imagine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I suppose I ought to know how I am getting on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But your--yours is such a strenuously high standard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I've spoilt I don't know how many sheets of paper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What does it matter how many sheets of paper you spoil? The more you +spoil the better I'll be pleased."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you? Then all I can say is that if I--I spoil many more I shall +know that I'm not fit for the situation which you've been so kind as +to offer me, and--I shall go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really you must not talk like that." He picked up one of the +ominously numerous sheets of paper which lay at her side, all of which +had plainly had at any rate some slight acquaintance with the machine. +"Now this is not at all bad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are three errors in the first line."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are there? So many as that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And five in the second."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed! you don't say so!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the third line's wrong altogether."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That only shows that with a little practice you'll regain all your +old facility."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not sure that I ever had any facility; I can see that now; I'm +afraid I only used to play at typing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then in that case you shall copy them by hand; I'm disposed to think +that perhaps good clear writing is best after all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Copy them by hand?" Suddenly a look came on her face which actually +frightened him; his words had evidently been to her an occasion of +serious offence. "I applied for your situation, Mr. Hooper, in the +belief that I could work a typewriter; you gave it me on that +understanding. If, now, it turns out that I cannot work a typewriter +it would look as if I had applied for your situation under false +pretences; do you suppose that I will continue to hold it knowing that +to be the case, and that you are paying me for something which it +turns out I cannot do? Either you shall have perfectly clean +typewritten copies, Mr. Hooper, or I must resign; I will not go +through the farce of pretending to occupy a position for which I have +been proved to be unfit."</p> + +<p class="normal">He could have answered her many things, but he answered her nothing; +he was afraid. Instead, he shuffled out of the room, excusing himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've a most pressing appointment, Miss Lindsay." He was longing for a +pipe; the appointment was to smoke, all by himself, in the Temple +Gardens. "When I return I've no doubt you'll have advanced beyond your +expectations. Rome wasn't built in a day; you must persevere, +persevere!" In the office Mr. Hooper, placing his hand on King +Solomon's shoulder, whispered in his ear, as if anxious not to be +overheard, "Mr. Gibb, I am inclined to the opinion that having a +divinity on the premises is not all lavender."</p> + +<p class="normal">To which Mr. Gibb replied, with a sigh, as if he himself was vaguely +conscious of a feeling of being "cribbed, cabined and confined"--</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir; that's what I was thinking."</p> + +<p class="normal">For two days Nora continued to wrestle with the typewriter, and on the +third something happened which ultimately resulted in another upheaval +of the world for her. She had found the "document" which she had to +copy--it was one of those which Mr. Hooper had discovered stuffed up +the chimney--not easy to decipher, which perhaps was not surprising; +she was puzzling over a part of it which seemed even worse than usual +when the office door was opened, and a masculine person came striding +in who had not even troubled to remove his hat. At sight, however, of +the girl poring over that refractory passage, with her pretty brows +all creased, off came his hat; but no sooner was he uncovered than, +with something in his bearing which almost suggested that he was +unconscious of what he was doing, he stood and stared. The girl +glanced up and looked at him. For some seconds there was silence; +then, seeming to come to himself with a start, he ejaculated--.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon; I--I'd no idea!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He did not stay to explain what he had no idea of, but passed into Mr. +Hooper's room beyond. As he entered Mr. Hooper rose from his chair; +then stared in his turn, as if this was not at all the kind of person +he had expected to see.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frank!" he exclaimed. "What on earth has brought you here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentleman addressed as Frank replied to the question with a +statement which was sufficiently startling.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Jack, I've seen a ghost!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Hooper, as was not unnatural, stared still more.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You've seen what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I don't mean that I've seen an actual ghost, but I feel as +if I had."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's given you such a very curious feeling at this hour of the +morning? And what's brought you here, anyhow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentleman addressed seemed genuinely disturbed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll tell you, what's brought me if you'll give me time; I'm in a +frightful mess, that's what's brought me; but before I tell you +anything, you tell me who--who's that girl in the next room?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Hooper's bearing betrayed annoyance, which was perhaps caused by +the singularity of the other's demeanour.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The lady in the next room, whom you speak of as 'that girl,' is----"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a tapping; the door was opened; the girl in question +entered, the "document" over which she had been puzzling in her hand. +She crossed to Mr. Hooper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon if I am interrupting you, but there is something +here which I cannot make out; I thought that perhaps you would not +mind telling me what it is before you become really engaged."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Hooper took the paper which she held out to him, with a glance +towards the gentleman who had just now entered, in which there was a +hint of mischief.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you allow me to present to you my cousin, Mr. Frank Clifford? +Frank, this is Miss Lindsay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lindsay!" Mr. Clifford was staring more than ever. "Lindsay! +Not--not--I beg your pardon, but--would you mind telling me if you are +related to Mr. Donald Lindsay of Cloverlea?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am his daughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His--daughter? Thank you; thank you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He sank on to a chair as one who had been dealt a crushing blow. +Nora's bearing was frigid; the stranger's unexpected question had +touched in her a chord of memory which hurt her more than she would +have cared to say. She returned to Mr. Hooper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you tell me what that sentence is? One or two of the words seem +quite illegible."</p> + +<p class="normal">He explained, to the best of his ability, which was not much greater +than hers. When she had gone back to her own apartment, Mr. Hooper +said to his visitor, with what was possibly meant to be an air of +politeness--</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I venture to inquire if that is how you generally behave when +you're introduced to a lady, Frank? because if it is I shall know +better than to attempt to introduce you to another."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Clifford's reply was remarkable.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told you that when I first saw her I felt as if I had seen a +ghost; now I know my instinct was right; I have seen a ghost. If you +knew--what I know, and had had to go through what I've had to go +through, and still have to go through, you would understand how +meeting Donald Lindsay's daughter like this makes it seem to me as if +the hand of God had been stretched out of the skies."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_24" href="#div1Ref_24">MR. MORGAN'S EXPERIENCES OF THE UNEXPECTED</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was a shock to Mr. Morgan when he learnt that Miss Harding had +quitted Cloverlea without a word to him. At first he could not believe +that she had gone; that she could have gone without his knowledge. +When belief was forced on him his language was unbecoming. While he +was engaged in little matters of a sort which demanded privacy, and +which had to do with the safe storage of certain articles which he had +brought himself to believe were his own property, a wagonette arrived +at the front door, which, the driver explained to the footman who +appeared, had come to fetch Miss Harding. The footman, with the aid of +a colleague, had borne the young lady's belongings down the stairs; +for which she liberally recompensed them with a sovereign apiece; and +she and her possessions were safely away before Mr. Morgan had a +notion she was going. Mr. Morgan abused the footmen for not having +said a word to him; which abuse they, having no longer the fear of him +before their eyes, returned in kind. The butler had to console himself +as best he could.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Given me the slip, have you, Miss Harding?" That was what he said to +himself. "Very well, my dear, we'll see; I'm not so easily got rid of +as you may perhaps suppose. You're a pretty darling, upon my Sam you +are!"</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as circumstances permitted--at Cloverlea there were a great +many things which he thought it desirable that he should do that +day--he went out on a little voyage of discovery. He learnt at the +local station that Miss Harding had not taken a ticket for her home in +the west country; she had not taken a ticket for herself at all, Mr. +Nash had taken one for her, and another for himself; they had gone up +to London in the same compartment, and both had luggage. This news +added to Mr. Morgan's pleasure.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear me, has she? And I meant her to be Mrs. Morgan, and so she would +have been if I'd put on the screw when I'd the chance. As my wife she +might have come to something; but as his wife--I'll show her, and I'll +show him. If she thinks she's going to hand over to him, by way of a +dowry, that nice little lot of money, and leave me out; if that really +is her expectation she'll be treated to another illustration of the +vanity of human wishes. That sweet young wife will have an interrupted +honeymoon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan called at an inn which it was his habit to honour with his +custom in quest of something to soothe his ruffled feelings. There he +met a friend, George Wickham, the Holtye head groom. Mr. Wickham had a +grievance, in which respect, if he had only known it, he resembled Mr. +Morgan. It seemed that he was the bearer of letters which had been +addressed to the Hon. Robert Spencer at Holtye, which he was carrying +to that gentleman's actual present address, the Unicorn Hotel, +Baltash. It was supposed to be Mr. Wickham's "night out"; he wanted to +spend his hours of freedom in one direction while Baltash lay in +another.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Might as well have sent 'em by post, or by one of the other chaps; +but no, nothing would please the old woman"--by "old woman" it is to +be feared that he meant the Countess of Mountdennis--"but that I +should go. I had half a mind to tell her I'd an appointment."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan was sympathetic; he explained that he was going to Baltash, +and even carried his sympathy so far as to offer to take the letters +for him. The groom hesitated; then decided to take advantage of his +friend's good-nature.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's thirteen letters," he pointed out, "five post-cards, four +newspapers, eighteen circulars, and these parcels, about enough to +fill a carrier's cart."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan laughed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall make nothing of that little lot," he said. "And I'll charge +nothing for carriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">On the way to Baltash he leaned against a gate to light a cigar; it +was one of his peculiarities to smoke nothing but cigars; he held that +a pipe was low. When the cigar was lighted he remained a moment to +glance at the letters he was carrying. He noticed that one of them was +from the London offices of a steamship company; the name of the +company was printed on the envelope. While Miss Lindsay had been +talking to Mr. Spencer in the copse on the preceding Sunday morning +Mr. Morgan had been quite close at hand; the lady had supposed that +the noise he made among the undergrowth was caused by a hare or a +rabbit; had Mr. Spencer proceeded to investigate the cause of the +noise the butler would have been discovered in a somewhat ignominious +position. As it was Mr. Morgan, remaining undetected, heard a good +deal that was said; among the things he heard Mr. Spencer's story of +the letter which Donald Lindsay had sent to him at Cairo, which was +only to be opened after the writer's death, which Mr. Spencer had put +in his suit-case, and which suit-case Mr. Spencer had lost, containing +not only Mr. Lindsay's letters, but also some more intimate epistles +from that gentleman's daughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan remembered the story very well; he had a knack of +remembering nearly everything he heard, and he managed to hear a good +deal. He was struck by the fact that the letter which he held in his +hand was from the steamship company by one of whose boats Mr. Spencer +had travelled on his homeward journey; it might contain news of the +missing suit-case. On the other hand, emphatically, it might not. +Still! It is notorious how carelessly some envelopes are fastened. +Here was a case in point; the gummed flap only adhered in one place, +and there so slightly that Mr. Morgan had only to slip the blade of a +penknife underneath and--it came open. It was as he had guessed. The +steamship company wrote to say that the missing suit-case had turned +up. It had strayed among the voluminous luggage of an American family, +where it remained unnoticed until the luggage had been divided up +among the members of the family; the explanation seemed rather lame, +but it appeared it was the only one that steamship company had to +offer. Now the suit-case was at Mr. Spencer's disposition, and the +company would be glad to hear what he wished them to do with it.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Mr. Morgan enjoyed his cigar, and leaned against the gate, and +looked up at the glories of the evening sky, he indulged in some +philosophical reflections.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's an extraordinary world; extraordinary. To think that George +Wickham's burning desire to see that red-headed girl of his at +Addlecombe should have thrown a thing like this right into my hands. +It's quite possible that that suit-case may turn out to be worth more +to me than that nice little sum of money with which Miss Elaine +Harding erroneously supposes she's going to set her husband up in +life. Beyond a shadow of doubt things are managed in a mysterious +way."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan faithfully delivered those letters at the Unicorn Hotel at +Baltash, with the exception of one letter; and on the morrow he +treated himself to a trip up to town. He took a bedroom at a quiet +hotel in the neighbourhood of the Strand, and he sent a messenger boy +to the steamship company's office with an envelope. In the envelope +was the Hon. Robert Spencer's visiting card; on the back of which was +written--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your letter duly received; please give suit-case to bearer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Some one at the office gave it to the bearer; who took it to the +hotel, where it was sent up to Mr. Spencer's room; it happened that +Mr. Morgan had registered as Robert Spencer. Mr. Morgan opened it with +difficulty; none of his keys fitted the lock, which was of a curious +make; but he did open it; he was an ingenious man. And when he had +opened the suit-case he found that the letter, for whose sake he had +taken so much trouble, was not in it. It was a painful shock; he was +loth to believe that a man of the Hon. Robert Spencer's character +could have played him such a trick; to say nothing of the deceit +which, in that case, he must have practised on Miss Lindsay. He turned +the contents of the case over and over, subjecting each article to a +close examination. No, there was nothing there which in any way +resembled the letter which he had heard Mr. Spencer describe. What was +almost worse, as showing the lover's utter unreliability, there were +none of Miss Lindsay's letters either. Mr. Morgan had distinctly heard +Mr. Spencer tell Miss Lindsay that in his missing suitcase were not +only her father's unopened letter, but also some letters of hers. What +confidence could be placed in the man who, at such a sacred moment, +made such a gross mis-statement to the woman whom he professed to +love? It was dreadful; Mr. Morgan was pained beyond measure. In the +future he would never be able to believe anything he overheard; even +though his ear was glued to the keyhole. He was a dispirited man.</p> + +<p class="normal">He did not return at once to Cloverlea. As a matter of fact he had +brought with him to town a number of packages of various shapes and +sizes. He had some trouble in removing them from Cloverlea; but he had +removed them, having dared Mr. Guldenheim and his friends and minions +to do anything to try to stop him. He devoted a few days to the +bestowal of these trophies in a safe place. When he did return to +Cloverlea he put up at the village inn, whence he kept an eye on the +doings of the neighbourhood. Having succeeded in screwing out of Mr. +Guldenheim more than was due to him for wages, and in lieu of notice, +he attended the sale with melancholy feelings, going so far as to +purchase some lots for which he felt a sentimental interest, and which +he had reasons for knowing were going for much less than they were +worth.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was only after the sale that he ascertained what he thought was +likely to be Miss Harding's present address. He had made regular, and +persistent, inquiries at Mr. Nash's office; but nothing had been heard +of that promising solicitor by his staff, which consisted of a weedy +youth of seventeen summers, with whom Mr. Morgan was on terms of the +closest intimacy; until there came one morning a curtly worded request +to forward any letters which might be awaiting him to Mr. Nash at an +address which he gave. Mr. Morgan saw that address; a couple of days +after he called there.</p> + +<p class="normal">The address was at that charming south-coast seaside resort, +Littlehampton, 27, Ocean Villas. Ocean Villas proved to be some quite +picturesque cottages fronting both the common and the sea; 27 was, +perhaps, the most picturesque of them all. The front door was open in +the confiding way one finds at seaside resorts, and which saves the +trouble of having to open it; Mr. Morgan, entering, rapped on the +floor with his stick. A diminutive maid instantly appeared who, +without waiting for him to state his business, instantly broke into +breathless speech.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you've come after the rooms, sir, if you please Mrs. Lorrimer's +not in, but if you'll wait half-a-minute I'll fetch her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan explained that he had not come after the rooms; he asked if +Mrs. Nash was in.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mrs. Nash is out, sir, along with Mr. Nash; I did hear them say they +were going to Arundel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll wait till they return; which are their apartments?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is their sitting-room, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">She opened the door of what, for a lodging-house, was quite a pleasant +room. Mr. Morgan entered; the maid went; the moment he was alone Mr. +Morgan did what he always did do when he found himself alone in a +strange apartment, he treated everything it contained to a rigorous +inspection, and was still engaged in doing so when the diminutive maid +reappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you please, sir, I'm going out to do some errands, and if there's +anything you want would you mind letting me know before I go; though I +really shan't hardly be five minutes before I'm back again."</p> + +<p class="normal">On the visitor assuring her that he was not likely to require her +services during the next five minutes she departed to do those +errands; scarcely was her back turned than Mr. Morgan started on what +might have been a tour of curiosity through the house. He got no +further, however, than the room behind the sitting-room, which proved +to be a bedroom; unmistakably the sleeping apartment of Mr. and Mrs. +Nash. Against the window stood a large trunk, a lady's; Mr. Morgan +tried it; it was locked. He surmised as he eyed it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's the betting that in there isn't that nice little sum of money? +I wonder if she's told her loving husband that she's got it, and where +it is; if she has I wonder how much he's left her. It might be worth +my while to look and see; but I think I can manage to get all I want +without what would look to the ignorant eye like dabbling in felony. +What's that?" "That" was something which lay on the floor just +underneath the bed; something which resembled a letter-case. He picked +it up. "I rather fancy that this is the property of my friend Nash. +Looks as if it had fallen out of his pocket while he was putting on +his coat, and that he hadn't noticed it had fallen; extraordinary +how careless some people are about things of that kind. It is a +letter-case; let's hope there's nothing in it which he would not like +to meet the public eye. What have we here? Papers which, apparently, +are of value only to the owner. What's in this?" In one of the +compartments of the case was a single paper. Mr. Morgan took it out, +unfolded it, read it, not once only, but twice, and again a third +time. The contents of the paper seemed to puzzle him; he stared at it +hard, rubbing his forehead as he did so, as if he hoped by the mere +force of vision to get at its meaning. Then he smiled, as if suddenly +a light had dawned on him. "So that's it, is it? To think of his +leaving a thing like this lying about on the floor! What a foolish +man! I never had a high opinion of Herbert Nash; but that he should +leave a thing like this for any one to find, and borrow; dear, dear! I +never should have thought it. Let's replace these papers which are of +no value to any one but the owner. And the case we'll put upon the +mantelpiece; so that he'll see it directly he returns, when he'll +understand the risk he's run." The letter-case which he had picked up +from the floor he put on the mantelpiece, in plain sight; but the +paper which he had taken from it he slipped into a case of his own; +and that case he placed in his own pocket. When the diminutive maid +returned with a basket full of parcels, she found him lounging on the +doorstep. His manner to her was affable; as it nearly always was to +every one. "You've been rather more than five minutes, haven't you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir, I'm afraid I have; but they kept me at the grocer's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did they? Ah! I don't think I shall wait for my friends to return." +He grinned as he said "friends." "Tell them that Mr. Morgan called; +Mr. Stephen Morgan, of Cloverlea. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir; Mr. Stephen Morgan, of Cloverlea."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly. And you can also tell them that I shall call again; I can't +say quite when, but I certainly shall call again before they leave +Littlehampton. You understand that also?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir; you'll call again; you can't say quite when, but certainly +before they leave Littlehampton."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's it; you have it just right. Mind you give them the messages as +I gave them you; and here's a shilling for your trouble."</p> + +<p class="normal">He presented her with a shilling; and left the maid all smiles.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_25" href="#div1Ref_25">ON THEIR HONEYMOON</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Mr. and Mrs. Nash had been spending the afternoon in Arundel Park. +When they returned to their rooms at Littlehampton they were met by +the diminutive maid with a message.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you please, Mr. Stephen Morgan of Cloverlea called."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr.---- who?" asked Mr. Nash. Mrs. Nash changed colour. The maid +repeated the visitor's name. "She must mean Morgan the butler; what +does he mean by coming here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I can't think."</p> + +<p class="normal">She was conscious of that sudden sickness which she had experienced +once before; all at once the room seemed to be whirling round and +round. The maid went on.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He said he'd call again; he couldn't say quite when, but he'd +certainly call again before you left Littlehampton."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Like his impudence! What on earth can the fellow mean? By the way, +Louisa, have you seen a letter-case of mine lying about?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir, that I haven't."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash went into the next room, hurriedly. So soon as he was through +the door he saw the letter-case upon the mantelpiece, where Mr. Morgan +had left it. The sight of it seemed to surprise him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who put it there? I'll swear I didn't. Louisa, have you been in here +since I went out?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir; not once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has Mrs. Lorrimer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't think so, sir; she's been out; she only come in just before +you did."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was searching the letter-case, turning it literally inside out. +Suddenly he went to the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Louisa, come here!" Louisa came. He spoke to her in lowered tones, as +if he did not wish what he said to be heard in the next room, where +his wife still was. "Who was in when Mr. Morgan came?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you please, sir, I was; Mrs. Lorrimer, she was out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where you in all the time that he was here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir; I had to go out and do some errands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And was he alone in the house while you were gone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir; he was outside the front door when I came back; it was then +he gave me the message about his calling again."</p> + +<p class="normal">So surprising a look came on Mr. Nash's face that the girl shrunk +back, almost as if she had been afraid that he would strike her. He +went back into the bedroom, shutting the door with a bang. He stood +glaring about him, as if beside himself with rage. Then, with an +effort, he steadied himself. Again he turned the letter-case inside +out, going carefully through the papers it contained. Then he searched +the room so methodically that even a pin could hardly have escaped his +notice, moving every article it contained, his wife's trunks, his own +boxes, even turning down the bedclothes and looking under the pillows, +going down on his knees to peer under the bed. When all his hunting +came to nothing he leaned his elbows on the mantelpiece and shut his +eyes, as if suffering physical pain.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the next room his wife was fighting a fight of her own. So soon as +he left her she dropped on to a chair, as if her legs refused her +support. A curious change had come over her face, and her lips were +twitching; she looked furtively about her, as if she was afraid of she +knew not what. When she heard the bedroom door banged, and she knew +that her husband had dismissed the maid, she called, "Louisa," softly; +so softly that one wondered if she wished to be heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Louisa did hear, appearing with a startled visage in the doorway.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who--who did Mr. Morgan ask for?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The question was put so softly that it was nearly whispered; the +speaker's tongue and lips seemed parched.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please, ma'am, he asked for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For me? What--what did he say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please, ma'am, he said 'Is Mrs. Nash in?'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mrs. Nash? You're sure he said Mrs. Nash?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, ma'am, quite sure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And when you told him I wasn't in, did he ask for Mr. Nash?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, ma'am; he said he'd wait."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How--how long did he wait?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Maybe twenty minutes, maybe half-an-hour; please, ma'am, I couldn't +say exactly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And did he seem angry?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, ma'am; quite pleasant. He gave me a shilling as he was going."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A shilling! Oh! Now tell me, exactly, what was the message he left."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you please, ma'am, he told me to tell you exactly what he said, so +I took particular notice." She repeated word for word what Mr. Morgan +had said; Mrs. Nash listening with singular intentness, as if her +attention was fixed not so much on the actual words as on what was +behind them. When the girl had finished she sat still, as if +pondering. Louisa roused her. "If you please, ma'am, can I lay for +supper?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Nash rose with a little jump.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Supper! of course; how silly I am! I was quite forgetting about +supper. Certainly, Louisa, you can lay for supper; I--I think I'm +quite ready for it." When she went into the bedroom her husband was +still standing with his elbows on the mantelpiece and his face to the +wall. As she entered he looked round with a start; the pair stood +looking at each other as if each was taken aback by something which +was on the other's face. She spoke first, in a voice which seemed to +tremble. "Herbert, what--what's the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The matter?" He laughed, a forced laugh. "Nothing's the matter; why +do you ask what's the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're--you're looking so strange."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's your imagination, my dear. What is the matter is that I've got +a touch of headache--one of my mother's headaches; you remember what +I've told you about the headaches she used to have. I fancy the sun +was stronger than I thought."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I didn't notice it; you said nothing about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; I didn't notice it at the time. I expect that what I want is my +supper; it'll be better after I've had something to eat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you found your letter-case?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes, yes; I've found my letter-case; I must have dropped it out of +my pocket as I was putting on my coat--very stupid of me; but I've +found it all right. Anyhow there wasn't anything in it of very great +consequence, so it wouldn't have mattered much if I hadn't."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a curious meal, that supper of theirs. It was as if ghosts sat +with them at the table; phantoms of horror; one by his side, and one +at hers, whose presence each hoped was hidden from the other. +Conversation languished, and they were in general so talkative; the +efforts they made to disguise their incapacity for speech were +pathetic. Their appetites were as poor as their talking powers, and +that although each had professed to be ready to make an excellent +meal. He ate little, and what he did eat was with an obvious effort; +she ate still less, each mouthful seemed to choke her. When the +make-believe repast was at an end Mr. Nash got up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm afraid my headache isn't much better; I think I'll go for a turn +on the front; the night air may do it good."</p> + +<p class="normal">She also rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It won't take me a minute to put on my hat; I'll come with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was not so pleased at her suggestion as he might have been.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think, if you don't mind, I'll go alone; I don't feel as if I were +in a mood for company."</p> + +<p class="normal">She seemed hurt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Herbert, don't leave me behind! I won't keep you waiting; I'll +come without my hat."</p> + +<p class="normal">But he still professed unwillingness for her society, speaking almost +roughly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't I tell you I'd sooner go alone? Can't you take a hint?"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the first time he had spoken to her like that since they had +been married, which was not so very long ago. Had he struck her he +could not have hurt her more. When he had gone, without another word, +or a kiss, or a sign of tenderness, she sat staring at the nearly +untouched meal, and shivered, although the night was warm. What had +happened to Herbert, to have produced such a change in his manner? +Could Morgan have left a note for him, or a message for his own +private ear; or dropped a hint; or communicated with him without her +knowledge? As Louisa cleared away the supper things she cross-examined +her. The girl told all that she had to tell again; Elaine could find +nothing in her story which would account for the singularity of her +husband's demeanour; but on one point she fastened, when the maid told +her that she had left the visitor in the house alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">With Mr. Morgan in sole possession of the premises, Elaine saw instant +possibilities. What might he not have been doing while Louisa was out? +He might--he certainly might have intruded himself in her bedroom; if +he had gone so far he might have gone much farther. At the thought of +what he might have done she felt inclined to shake Louisa for giving +him the chance of doing it; instead, however, of assaulting the maid +she hurried off to learn, if she could, what he had done.</p> + +<p class="normal">Apparently nothing. So far as she could perceive everything in the +bedroom remained untouched, just as she had left it. She opened her +trunk, and took out her dressing-case, to make sure; she kept her +dressing-case in her locked trunk for greater security. Herbert +laughed at her for her caution, but she did not mind; she knew its +secret, he did not. After all it was perhaps as well he had left her +behind; she never had a chance of peeping at her hidden hoard while he +was there. Morgan had not touched that; that was safe enough. She +examined it with feverish fingers, fearful every moment of her +husband's return. The tale of the money was correct; nothing was +missing there.</p> + +<p class="normal">When she had done counting she hesitated, and thought, a big bundle of +notes in her hand. She slipped some of them into the bosom of her +dress--notes for a hundred pounds. Now that Morgan had thrust himself +again upon the scene they might be wanted; anything might happen; she +might not be able to get at her store at a moment's notice, with +Herbert always hovering round. She was just as anxious to keep the +secret of her hiding-place from her husband as from Morgan, or from +any one.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had not long returned the dressing-case to the trunk, and locked +the trunk, and placed the notes representing a hundred pounds in a +more convenient spot than her bodice, when her husband returned. As he +came bustling into the bedroom she perceived at once that his mood had +changed. He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her, rather +boisterously; his breath told her he had been drinking.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hello, old girl! that headache's better; the stroll has done it +good."</p> + +<p class="normal">She wondered if it was the stroll or the refreshment he had taken; she +had already discovered that stimulants made of him another man; even +after one bottle of ale he was not the same man he had been before. +Her cue was to ignore the part which alcohol might have played in +affecting a cure.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am so glad you're better, dear; I know what it is to have a +headache; I believe I've got one. Please mayn't I go out on to the +common now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He laughed at her, lifting her off her feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll carry you," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he did; out of the house, across the road, not putting her down +till he had borne her on to the grass; then, running the risk of what +eyes there might be about to see, she gave him a kiss to pay for +porterage. Presently they were, outwardly, on proper honeymooning +terms again, each making a gallant, and not wholly unsuccessful, +effort to shut out from actual vision the ghosts which kept step at +their sides. When they had retired to rest Herbert Nash said to his +wife--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know, I think I have had about enough of Littlehampton; what +do you say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I say what you say; only the question is, wherever shall we go to? +and when?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are heaps of places we can go to; and as for when, we can leave +this to-morrow. I'll think it over."</p> + +<p class="normal">He thought it over; all through the night he lay thinking, with +wide-open eyes, and so did she. But they did not leave on the morrow, +nor the next day. And on the morning of the third day there came a +letter addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Nash," which Mr. Nash, being +first at the breakfast table, opened. It ran--</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">Dear Friends</span>,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:5%">"Mrs. Lorrimer's servant will have told you that I called to see you, +and also that I propose to call again. Apart from the pleasure which I +anticipate from meeting you once more, I have something of the utmost +importance which I wish to say to both of you. As I believe you have +no pressing engagements, I confidently hope that you will not leave +Littlehampton till I have had an opportunity of saying it. I will let +you have a wire, advising you of my coming, and shall be glad if you +will leave word at the house where, at any moment, you are to be +found, as I should not like to miss you a second time.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Adding my congratulations to the numerous expressions of goodwill +which, I do not doubt, you have already received on the auspicious +occasion of your marriage, believe me to be,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:35%">"Yours most sincerely,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:45%">"<span class="sc">Stephen Morgan</span>."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash was reading this epistle a second time when his wife came in.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have you got there?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked up with a frown, seeming to hesitate about what to say, then +answered--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's from that fellow Morgan; the most insolent, presumptuous scrawl. +What he's driving at I can't imagine; the fellow must be stark, +staring mad."</p> + +<p class="normal">If Mr. Nash had been in an observant mood he might have noticed that +the smile which had been on his wife's face gave way to quite a +different expression, and that she shivered, as she always did do when +Mr. Morgan's name was mentioned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What does he say? Let me look at his letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was folding it up, as with the intention of consigning it to his +pocket unseen by his wife; at her point-blank request he seemed to +hesitate, then tossed it to her across the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you can explain what the fellow means by sending a letter like +that I can't; it's beyond me altogether." As she read he commented. +"Fancy calling us 'Dear friends.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What an extraordinary thing for him to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A butler!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's quite inexplicable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What on earth has he to say to us which is of the least importance?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's it; what can he have?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He practically orders us not to leave the place till it pleases him +to come."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It does--it does amount to that, doesn't it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fancy his telling us to let them know in the house where, at any +moment, we're to be found, as if the one thing to be considered was +his sovereign pleasure!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is really remarkable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Remarkable! I should say so; remarkable is a mild way of putting it. +I've half-a-mind to pack directly after breakfast and leave the place +this morning; the idea of his attempting to dictate to us! As I say, +the only explanation I can think of is that the fellow's stark, +staring mad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That--that must be it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash continued to comment on Mr. Morgan's insolent epistle while +he trifled with his breakfast; but it was noticeable that he only +trifled. If he had had an appetite it had vanished; it seemed as if +the man's impertinence must have affected him more than he would have +cared to own. It was the same with his wife, she had no appetite +either. Indeed, when one came to think of it, neither of them had +eaten much since they had first heard of Mr. Morgan's call. The fact +had even been noticed by the landlady.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can't think what's the matter with them all at once," she declared +to her diminutive maid, Louisa. "They used to eat heartily enough; as +you know, I remarked on it to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Mrs. Lorrimer, that you did."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But these last couple of days they've scarcely touched a thing. +There's been nothing the matter with the food, and I'm sure there's +been nothing the matter with the cooking; it must be them that's +wrong."</p> + +<p class="normal">When breakfast was finished--such a breakfast as it was; even the +soles went out practically as they came in--Mrs. Nash went to put on +her hat preparatory to going out with her husband on to the front, as +she usually did on fine mornings; he with a newspaper, and she with a +book. That morning the process was a lengthy one; she seemed +preoccupied, as if her mind was so full that there was no room in it +for her hat. She moved restlessly about the room, as if her thoughts +kept her in motion. All at once it seemed that she arrived at a sudden +resolution.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know what I'll do; I'll get Herbert to go; we will go, before he +comes; we'll go to-day. I'll talk to Herbert directly we get outside. +I believe he wants to go as much as I do; though I--I don't know why. +And this time we won't stay in England; we'll go abroad, as far away +as ever we can; somewhere where that wretch can't get at us; and--and +we'll leave no address behind."</p> + +<p class="normal">While the lady so resolved the gentleman--unconscious of her +resolution--waited for her on the doorstep. As he waited he saw, +advancing towards the house on a bicycle, a telegraph boy. Some +instinct induced him to leave that doorstep and move to meet him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Got a telegram for me--Nash?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nash? Yes, sir." The boy jumped off; he produced the familiar yellow +envelope. "Herbert Nash."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's for me; that's all right. Wait while I see if there's an +answer." He tore the envelope open; this was the message it contained: +"Coming by the train due 12.28. You had better meet me at the station +alone.--STEPHEN MORGAN." "There is no answer," Mr. Nash informed the +boy.</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy got on his machine and rode away. Mr. Nash read that telegram +again, then stuffed it into his jacket pocket, swearing beneath his +breath. He looked quite ugly when he swore. He glanced at his watch, +as if to make sure about the time, then returned to his place upon the +doorstep. He said nothing about the telegram to his wife.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_26" href="#div1Ref_26">AN OFFER OF FRIENDSHIP</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash was at the station when the 12.28 came in, and alone; it +might have been by some sort of coincidence that he happened to be +there just then, but Mr. Morgan seemed to take it for granted that he +had come to meet him, an inference which Mr. Nash apparently resented. +Mr. Morgan came up to him smiling in the most friendly fashion, and +with hand held out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Nash, how are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no smile on Mr. Nash's face, and he ignored the proffered +hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, Mr. Morgan, I am well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And my good friend, your dear wife? blooming, eh?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not aware that Mrs. Nash ever was a friend of yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! my dear fellow! when we were so often under the same roof +together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do the servants of a house always regard their master's friends as +their own?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Nash, if you hadn't said that I should have said it was meant +to be nasty. I was in the service of the head of the house, and your +wife was a sort of attendant of the daughter's.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you dare to say that my wife was ever Miss Lindsay's attendant?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unpaid attendant, my boy, unpaid; sort of hanger-on--poor companion. +I received a regular income; she got an occasional frock; some article +of clothing; now and then a few pounds; as it were, the crumbs which +fell from Miss Lindsay's table. Of course, pecuniarily mine was much +the better position of the two; but I always have been one to overlook +a mere financial difference, and I hope I always shall be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look here, Morgan, if you're come down with the express intention of +being insolent, I'll wring your neck, here, in the station."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash looked as if he were capable of at least trying to perform +that operation on Mr. Morgan there and then, but Mr. Morgan only +smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Nash! the idea! Nothing can be further from my wish than to +be insolent to you; as I'll show you before I've done. Where can we go +where we can be quiet, and have a little chat together? And afterwards +if you'll take me to 37, Ocean Villas, and offer me a little lunch, +and give me an opportunity of renewing my acquaintance with your +charming wife, I think you'll find that we are on better terms than +you seem to suppose. Where are you going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash was striding out of the station.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To the golf-links; you say you want to go somewhere where we can be +quiet; you'll have the quietude you want there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you; I don't think we need go quite so far as the golf-links, +really; nor is that exactly the sort of solitude I was thinking of. +You come with me; I'll be conductor." He opened the door of a fly +which was by the kerb, and stood with the handle in his hand. "Step +in."</p> + +<p class="normal">The two men looked at each other, as if each was measuring the other's +strength. Then Mr. Nash said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where do you think you're going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan spoke to the driver.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take us to the east end of the promenade, right to the extreme end." +Then he turned to Nash. "We shall have all the quietude we want there. +After you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nash hesitated, then entered the fly; Morgan followed; the fly drove +off. As it rumbled along Mr. Morgan beguiled the way by spirited +attempts at conversation; but he had all the talking to himself; not +once did his companion open his lips. Mr. Nash sat with unbending +back, stiff neck, grim face, looking straight in front of him; Mr. +Morgan might not have been in the same vehicle for all the notice he +took of him. Under the circumstances his unruffled affability did the +latter gentleman credit. The vehicle set them down not only at the +extreme end of the promenade, but beyond it. When the fly had gone Mr. +Morgan called his companion's attention to their surroundings.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see! where could we have more privacy, even on the golf-links? +Not a creature within many yards of us. We can sit on the beam of this +groyne--could it be at a more convenient height?--and talk at our +leisure."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again Mr. Nash seemed to be measuring the other with his eye; his +bearing did not point to his being at all in the conversational frame +of mind which Mr. Morgan's words suggested; indeed he said as much.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, my man, if you have anything to say, out with it; I've not the +dimmest notion what it is you think you've got to say; to be quite +frank, your whole conduct looks to me like infernal insolence; but, +whatever it is, make it short; and take my advice, and be careful how +you say it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Nash, I assure you that no one could be more careful than I +shall be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And don't you call me your dear Nash! you swollen-headed butler! I +don't propose to allow a servant to treat me as an equal, nor do I +propose to consort with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't you? Now that shows how different we are. I don't mind with +whom I consort; I'm even willing to consort with a thief."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What--what the devil do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash's eyes blazed; but they blazed out of a face which, +consciously to himself or not, had suddenly grown pale. Mr. Morgan +smiled as affably as ever; he offered Mr. Nash his cigar-case.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Try one of my cigars; I think you'll find them something rather +exceptional."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Confound your cigars! I don't want your cigars! What do you mean by +what you said just now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know what I mean as well as I do. There are moments when it's so +unpleasant to have to dot one's i's; surely this is one. Then isn't it +rather childish to pretend that you don't know what I mean when you +do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you going to tell me what you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, if you insist; but is it wise?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan, am I to knock you down?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can try if you like; I dare say I can put up as good a fight as +you can."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again they seemed to gauge each other, eye to eye; Nash as if half +beside himself with rage, Morgan all smiles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you tell me what you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Morgan looked away from the other's face, up into the air. He blew a +ring of smoke from the cigar which he had lighted, following it with +his eyes. Nothing could have been pleasanter than his manner, or more +affable than his smile; he spoke as one who meditated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I happen to know that you borrowed certain sums of money from the +late Mr. Donald Lindsay, for which you gave him notes of hand, +amounting altogether to a little over a hundred pounds; a flea-bite to +him, but a deal to you. When you were going through Mr. Lindsay's +papers, on behalf of his daughter, you came upon those notes of hand; +you put them into your pocket; you concealed their existence; in +plainer words, you stole them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's--it's an infernal lie!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Nash, I saw you do it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You saw me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did. If you like I can describe to you, in detail, how you found +them, and where, and how you looked to an unprejudiced observer, and +precisely what you did when you had found them; but is it necessary?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why--why don't I knock you down?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because you have more sense. Pray don't indulge in heroics for my +benefit, I beg of you; I know! I know! I also saw you steal another +paper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What other paper?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's what I said to myself; what can that other paper be? I confess +that I was gravelled; and I continued gravelled until I called on you +the other day at Ocean Villas, and found it in your letter-case."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You--you scoundrel!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's a hard word, from one who is both a scoundrel and a thief. +Don't let us bandy epithets. Here is the paper--gently! I should have +said, here is a copy of the paper. You and I know how desirable it is +that so important a document should be in safe keeping. I have +arranged that if I don't turn up at a certain place, at a certain +time, the actual letter--you know it is a letter--will be posted to +Dr. Banyard, together with a history of how it came into my +possession, and particulars of those notes of hand you stole; so let +us hope, for your sake, that no accident will happen to me. I will +read you the copy I made of the letter; you will possibly have +forgotten the precise wording, and the precise wording is of such +importance--</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">'<span class="sc">Dear Sir</span>,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:5%">'Referring to the acceptances of yours which we hold, and which fall +due on the 7th inst., they reached us, in the ordinary course, through +a client with whom we have done business before; who informed us that +they came to him from Mr. Frank Clifford, of Marlborough Buildings, +Farringdon Road, E.C., who, we presume, discounted them for you. We do +not know that we are called upon to furnish you with this information, +and, as your inquiry is an unusual one, we shall be glad to know why +you make it.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:45%">'Your obedient servants,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:55%">'<span class="sc">Guldenheim and Co</span>.'</p> +<br> + +<p class="continue">Now that, my dear Nash, is the letter which you found; I don't know if +your memory will enable you to recognize the accuracy of the copy." +Mr. Nash was silent, presenting a curious picture of indecision; of +the man who lets "I dare not" wait upon "I would." Mr. Morgan went +affably on, diplomatically ignoring the singularity of the other's +attitude. "To the superficial eye there is nothing in that letter; +it is a mere routine business communication; in fact, however, as +matters were, you could scarcely have found anything more important. I +take it that you recognized this, or you would hardly have +appropriated it; but I fancy that you only recognized it dimly. Your +whole after-behaviour seems to point to it." Mr. Morgan glanced round +at the moment, in time to catch the ghost of a smile, which seemed to +flicker across Mr. Nash's face; Mr. Morgan's comment on that +flickering smile was characteristic. "Perhaps not so dimly as I +supposed; the springs of human action do lie so deep. Perhaps, after +all, it has occurred to you, as it has to me, that that letter killed +Donald Lindsay. You remember where you found it? Lindsay's was a +pedestal writing-table; it was on the floor, under one of the +pedestals, with one corner of the paper just showing. I think that was +the last letter Donald Lindsay ever read. He had read it again and +again before, and was re-reading it; but that re-reading was just the +one too many. The strain of that cumulative shock was greater than he +could bear; something snapped; he fell forward; the letter slipped +from his fingers, under one of the pedestals, where it might have +remained but for your sharp eyes." Mr. Morgan held the paper out in +front of him with the air of one who is explaining something which he +desires to make quite plain. "Now what is there in this letter which +could have produced so extraordinary an effect upon a person possessed +of so much self-restraint as Donald Lindsay undoubtedly was? What does +the letter itself tell us? It tells us that Messrs. Guldenheim, as is +the custom, I have reason to know, of a certain type of usurer, had +written to advise him that certain acceptances of his, which matured +at a certain date, had come into their hands. I'll bet sixpence that +Lindsay was a man who never in his life put his name on a piece of +paper which was likely, in the ordinary course, as they put it, to +fall into the hands of carrion like the Guldenheims; that first +communication of theirs must in itself have been a shock to him. But +he was a cautious man; he liked to move gently; whether he already had +suspicions I cannot say; evidently he wrote a non-committal letter, +asking them from whom they had obtained acceptances of his. This was +their reply; they informed him that originally the acceptances came +from Mr. Frank Clifford, of Marlborough Buildings, Farringdon Road, +and that information killed him. Is that how it occurred to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never mind what occurred to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite so, I won't; I'll content myself with telling you what occurred +to me. I've only known what was in this letter a couple of days, and, +with its aid, I have already learned that, when he died, Donald +Lindsay was, probably, one of the richest men in England. Have you +learned that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I had my doubts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you hadn't verified them? I see. Other matters interfered; for +instance, your marriage. Now, my dear Nash, pray understand that I +congratulate you, from the bottom of my heart, on what is, in all +respects, an auspicious event; but you must forgive my saying that you +were one of the last persons I should have associated with a love +match. Now I happen to know that neither Miss Harding nor you had +money, or prospects. Indeed, I've been wondering how you managed +between you to pay the marriage fees, to say nothing of the expenses +of your honeymoon. Did a good fairy drop down from the skies?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It strikes me, Morgan, that you are constitutionally incapable of +seeing how infernally insolent you are."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I? Perhaps; you should be a better judge of insolence than I. And +believe me that I quite understand that a man is entitled to keep his +own counsel; I don't wish to pry into your secrets; only I was +wondering if you had a secret. However, to return to business. Do you +know that this letter means a fortune for you, and incidentally, +perhaps, also one for me; but certainly a fortune for you. All we have +to do is to pull together; treat each other as friends, not enemies; +although I say it, you'll find my friendship well worth having, from +every point of view. Don't let the accident of my having once been a +butler stand in the way; that's nonsense. Let me tell you that the +butler at Cloverlea had a better position, in every respect, than the +average clerk in a government office; as for your banks, and such +dustbins--pah! he was better off than many a solicitor; though I know +that's a delicate subject. But don't let's cut each other's throats +for the sake of a merely imaginary social distinction; let's be +friends, and I'll undertake to make your fortune. That's the +proposition I've come down to Littlehampton to make."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_27" href="#div1Ref_27">A ROYAL ROAD TO FORTUNE</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash considered. The expression which had been on his face a few +minutes ago had nearly vanished. The ex-butler had expressed himself +in terms which the solicitor felt might justify him in modifying the +attitude he had been disposed to take up. That Morgan had been, and +still was, presumptuous went without saying; at the same time, as +matters were turning out, it seemed that there were things which might +be said on the other side; at least so it appeared to Herbert Nash. On +the whole, he was inclined to concede as much. He took a few steps, to +and fro, beside the groyne; then planting himself directly in front of +Morgan, he told him his mind, rather in sorrow, perhaps, than in +anger; indeed his bearing altogether was very different from what it +had been.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I tell you what it is, Morgan, your conduct, from first to last, has +been bad."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan smiled at him, affably.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has it? That's good, coming from you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's where you've got the wrong end of the stick; whatever I've +done I've done nothing to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; and therefore you think that I've no right to put a finger in the +pie you've found."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'd no right to force yourself into my place, and run the rule over +my things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was luck, Nash, pure luck. I didn't call intending to run the +rule over your things; is it likely? But if you will carry papers in +your letter-case, you shouldn't leave your letter-case lying about."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Idiot that I was! I found what I'd done soon after I'd started, but I +was fool enough not to come back for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You weren't an idiot; not at all; it was the best thing that could +have happened for both of us--that I should find it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm afraid I can't agree. To begin with, see how awkward you've made +it for me with my wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have I?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She can't understand what I have done which gives you any title to +call yourself my friend--you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can't she?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how am I going to explain? I may only be--as you suggest--a poor +brute of a country solicitor; but you forget that she's a lady."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not for one moment. Mrs. Nash is a perfect lady; none knows that +better than I do. But, if I help you to make your fortune; if we +become partners in, say, a mercantile speculation; if I show you how +to pour gold, and all the pretty things gold can buy, into her lap, +will she require any better explanation? I think not. My dear fellow, +you exaggerate the difficulties she will make; believe me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You talk very largely, but how are you going to do these things? I +had the letter, and I didn't see my way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You didn't? Then that shows how fortunate it was that you +communicated the contents of the letter to me; because I do. Tell +me--now be frank; I'll be perfectly frank with you; it's to our common +interest to be frank with each other--how far did you go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I looked up Mr. Frank Clifford."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And found?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That Marlborough Buildings is the head office of Peter Piper's +Popular Pills; of which business Clifford's the managing director."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what else?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's as far as I got; I meant to go on after--after----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"After the honeymoon? I see; I've got a great deal further than that, +a great deal. I take it you're aware that Peter Piper's Popular Pills +is one of the medicines of the hour; the profits are stupendous; +sometimes amounting to a hundred thousand pounds in a year, possibly +more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I dare say; that doesn't want much finding out, everybody knows it; +but what's it to do with us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A good deal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We're going to have a share of the business, and of the profits, and +probably of former profits also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are we indeed? How are we going to manage it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know who the proprietor was?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the two men eyed each other; this time as if Nash was trying to +read in Morgan's eyes the answer to his question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was Donald Lindsay of Cloverlea."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't mean it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perfectly. He called himself Joseph Oldfield; he was a bachelor; he +was a reserved man, standoffish, of secretive habits. He had a flat in +Bloomsbury Square, I've seen it, where he was supposed to spend most +of his time in thinking out new advertising dodges; the present +position of Peter Piper's Popular Pills is principally owing to clever +advertising. The proprietor was his own advertising agent, he was a +master of the art. He called himself, as I've said, Joseph Oldfield in +town, and in the country he was Donald Lindsay of Cloverlea."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The old fox!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't think you can exactly call him that; there was nothing in the +opprobrious sense foxy about him. He was one of those men who live +double lives, owing, one might say, to the pressure of circumstances; +there are more of them about than is supposed. He bought the pill +business when it was at a very low ebb; he hadn't very much money +himself, at that time, and I dare say he got it for a song. Mrs. +Lindsay was just dead; his girl was with her nurses, or at school; for +business purposes he called himself Oldfield; it isn't every man who +cares to have it known that he's associated with a patent medicine; in +England it's quite a common custom for a man to carry on a business +under an alias, under half-a-dozen aliases sometimes. As time went on +I take it that his secretive habit grew stronger; he became less and +less disposed to have it known that Donald Lindsay had anything to do +with pills, which do rather stink in people's nostrils; and so he +drifted into the double life. That's the word, drifted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You seem to have got up his history."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have a way of finding out things; people have noticed it before. +Now take Mr. Frank Clifford; I can tell you something about him. He's +a young man, a <i>protégé</i> of Oldfield's--we'll call him Oldfield. +Oldfield had faith in him, he'd have trusted him with his immortal +soul. That's how it was that it was such a shock to him to learn that +he had been taking liberties with his name."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But had he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Had he what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Been taking liberties with Lindsay's name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He forged those bills which Guldenheim and his friends got hold of."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's what I guessed; but guessing's one thing, proof's another."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course it is; I've the proof. I have some of the bills; I got hold +of them rather neatly, though, as a matter of abstract right, I've as +much title to them as anybody else. When you show Mr. Clifford one of +them he won't deny he forged it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; when I show it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly. I said when you show it to him; and you're going to show it, +if necessary, that's part of the scheme; though it mayn't be +necessary, since it's quite possible he'll capitulate at once. My dear +chap, at the present moment, to all intent's and purposes, Mr. Frank +Clifford is the sole proprietor of one of the finest businesses in the +world, and one of the largest fortunes in England, while the actual +owner is starving in town."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's hard upon Miss Lindsay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's the fortune of war. A little starving won't do her any harm; and +I dare say she won't starve long. I never liked the girl."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nor I."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then there you are; why worry? She's too superior for me, too good; +knocking about in the gutter may bring her down to your level, and +mine; I've known it pan out that way where a young woman's concerned. +I don't like any one to be too good, it makes me conscious of my own +deficiencies; you see, I'm candid. However, she's a factor with whom +we may, or may not, deal later. At present we've to concentrate our +attention on Clifford; think of the possibilities for him, and for us. +No one knows of the connection between Oldfield and Lindsay; no one +even knows that he's dead. Clifford already has powers to draw cheques +in the name of the firm, within certain limits; a man capable of +committing forgery will soon be able to make those limits wider; +there's no reason why he shouldn't appropriate to his own use every +penny that comes in; as things stand nobody'll be able to call him to +account for it; there's no reason why he should not lay hands on the +whole of the old gentleman's investments; and they're--you may take it +from me that they're magnificent. We're the only persons on this side +of the grave who can stop him, and there's no reason why we should, if +he gives us a proper share; in other words, if he takes us in as +partners."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's playing with fire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a bit of it; it's playing with nothing that's in the least +dangerous, if it's managed as I propose to manage it. You think it +over. And now you take me in to lunch, and let me have the pleasure +of meeting that charming wife of yours again; I'm starving! And if by +the time we've done lunch you haven't formulated a scheme of your own +I'll tell you what mine is, and then you'll see that without the +slightest danger to either of us, without the shadow of a shade of +danger--there's no reason why we shouldn't, within a very short space +of time, be worth a quarter of a million apiece."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A quarter of a million!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At least; we're going to deal with big figures, my boy. It'll pay +Clifford, pay him handsomely, to split it up into three parts; and let +me tell you that a third ought to come out at a good deal more than a +quarter of a million."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herbert Nash hesitated--for his credit's sake let it be written that +he did hesitate--but he took Mr. Morgan home with him to lunch. And +when his wife saw the visitor coming she would have been almost glad +if the earth could have opened to swallow her up; it was as if she +beheld avenging fate advancing towards her in the shape of a +policeman. Her husband was late; it was long after their usual hour +for lunch; he had left no word as to where he had gone; half beside +herself with anxiety, she would have liked to send the town crier +round in search of him; she had been along the pavement to the corner +of this street and the corner of that, to and fro across the common +for a glimpse of him along the front; these manœuvres she had +repeated again and again, and, standing on the doorstep, was +frantically debating within herself as to what could have become of +him, as to what she should do, when she saw him coming with Morgan at +his side. Then, if she could, she would have run away, but she could +not, her feet were as if they had been shod with iron weights, she +could not lift them; she could not move; when they came to her she was +a white-faced, shivering, terror-stricken little wretch; a poor ghost +of the sunny-faced, light-hearted Elaine Harding of such a little +while ago.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash offered a pretty lame explanation of his appearance with the +man of whose presumption in claiming his acquaintance he had spoken +with such scorn in the morning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is Mr. Morgan; he is going to have some lunch with us; we have +business to transact together. You remember Mr. Morgan, Elaine?"</p> + +<p class="normal">As if she ever could forget him! How she would have prayed for the +power to forget him if she had dared to hope that such prayers were +answered. She hardly heard her husband's words; her white face was +turned towards Morgan, as the convicted criminal has eyes only for the +judge who is to pronounce his doom. Yet nothing could have been less +judge-like than Mr. Morgan's bearing; nothing more affably respectful +than the manner of his greeting. He stood before her with uncovered +head, without even presuming to offer his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is indeed an honour to be permitted to meet you again. May I +venture to hope that you will allow me to offer my congratulations on +the fortunate event which has occurred since I saw you last?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She had to moisten her parched lips with her tongue before she could +speak at all. Then--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you," was all she said to him; and to her husband, "I--I was +wondering what had become of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nash replied--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Morgan had something which he wished to say to me." He led the +way into the house; his wife and Morgan followed. He paused at the +sitting-room door. "Take Mr. Morgan in there," he said to her. "I will +join you in a minute."</p> + +<p class="normal">Dumbly she obeyed; not realizing that he wanted what she did, a few +minutes' solitude to enable him to pull himself together. He meant to +have them, she had to do without; so that when she was in the room, +and the ex-butler, coming after her, closed the door behind him he had +her wholly at his mercy. She was still limp and helpless, having had +no chance to recover from the shock and horror of encountering him +again; a fact of which he, instantly perceiving, took prompt +advantage. As he pulled the door to behind him a subtle change took +place in his manner; he still smiled, but neither respectfully nor +affably. He addressed the cowering woman in front of him as if she +were some base creature.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A pretty trick you played me, slipping away like that and leaving no +address! Sneaking off with the man you'd paid to marry you, when, if +it hadn't been for me, you'd have been in jail; and you call yourself +a lady! and I'd treated you as one! Never again, my beauty, never +again need you expect me to treat you like a lady, because you've +shown me what you are. Now you listen to me! You'll give me five +hundred pounds before I leave, or to-night you'll sleep in +Littlehampton jail; and when your husband's told what kind of a +character he's been diddled into marrying by way of a start he'll +throw you out into the road. Now then! that five hundred pounds!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out his hand, as if he expected her to give him the money +there and then. She presented a pitiable spectacle; being scarcely +able to stammer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I--I can't--can't give it you now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No lies! I'm off them! How much have you got in the house?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I--I might----" Her voice failed her; there was a hiatus in her +sentence. "A hundred pounds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you'll give me a hundred pounds within half-an-hour after lunch, +and you'll send another four hundred to an address I'll give you +within four-and-twenty hours, or I promise you that, in less than an +hour after, the man you've bought shall kick you out of this house +into a policeman's arms."</p> + +<p class="normal">Before he could speak again, or she either, the door opened to admit +the diminutive maid; how she managed to open the door, as she +apparently had done, was a mystery, since she was carrying a tray +which was nearly as big as herself. And Mr. Nash presently appearing, +the three sat down to lunch.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_28" href="#div1Ref_28">TO BE--OR NOT TO BE--POSTPONED</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Daisy Ross was annoyed, almost indignant, and with reason. As she said +to Mr. Clifford--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's really too ridiculous! One's wedding day is an occasion of some +importance, even to a man." Mr. Clifford admitted that it was. "While +to a woman it involves a frightful strain." Mr. Clifford again agreed. +"Very well, then; a little consideration surely should be shown; Mr. +Oldfield's conduct is absurd."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He certainly is placing me in a very awkward position."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should think he was; considering that the bridesmaids' dresses are +practically finished, and that two of them have to go away on the day +after the one we fixed, how are we going to postpone the wedding?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm sure I don't know; but what am I to do? His conduct's most +mysterious."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Frank, his conduct's not only mysterious, it's monstrous; and +I don't care what you say. He knows you are going to be married."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course he does; he's known about it all along."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He knows when you are going to be married."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, I asked him to be present; he gave me to understand that +probably he would be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then probably he will be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But suppose I see or hear nothing of him in the meanwhile?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is a most exasperating man. How long is it since you have heard +anything of him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"About two months; rather over than under."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Something must have happened to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know his ways; I've told you about them often enough. When he +leaves the office, unless he volunteers the information, I never know +when I shall see him again, and unless I've some pressing reason for +wanting to know I never ask; I've more sense. He dislikes being +questioned about anything, and he's always shown what I've felt is +really a morbid objection to being questioned about his movements; +it's only quite recently that I've known his private address. It isn't +as if this sort of thing hadn't happened before; it has, again and +again. One evening, about a couple of years ago, he left the office +quite late, after being in regular daily attendance, early and late, +for some weeks; I expected he would come on the following day in the +ordinary course, but I never saw or heard anything of him for close +upon four months; then one morning he walked in, and, without offering +a word of explanation, took up the thread of affairs just where he had +left it, and, what's more, showed quite a good knowledge of what had +been going on during his absence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what a state things would have got into if it hadn't been for +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite so; that's just the point, he trusts me. In the ordinary course +of business I have complete control of everything. If anything unusual +turns up, which is of importance, I hold it over for reference to him; +but in the general way I run the entire show; which, after all, isn't +saying so very much, because, when all is said and done, he's a +first-rate man of business and a splendid organizer, so that it's +quite easy for me to do. And you know, Daisy, he treats me very +generously, and always has done; I've practically a share in the +concern, which is a free gift from him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose you're worth what he gives you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All the same, I never put in a penny--I never had one to put; and +there are hundreds, I dare say thousands, of men who could do all I +do, and who'd be only too glad to do it, for a tenth part of what he +gives me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I were you, I shouldn't tell him so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He knows, my dear, he knows. He's the same with everybody about the +place; it's a principle of his to treat everybody generously who does +honest work for him; he wouldn't be happy if he thought that a man +wasn't getting a fair share of the fruits of his own labours. In spite +of his little eccentricities he's a magnificent fellow, and I couldn't +do anything to annoy or disappoint him--not--well, I wouldn't do it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Ross sighed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You hadn't arranged to be married during that four months' absence of +his."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I certainly hadn't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Suppose the wedding-day had been fixed for two months after he had +gone, and he had known it, would you have postponed it indefinitely, +till he condescended to turn up again?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know what I should have done, I really don't; but I tell you +what we might do--that is, if you wouldn't mind very much."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, never mind what I mind; my wishes aren't of the slightest +consequence; I shall begin to wish that I wasn't going to be married!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Daisy! don't say that, even in jest. It's as hard upon me as it is +upon you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Honestly, Frank, I don't see it. To a man, having his wedding-day +postponed, and that indefinitely, is, of course, rather a nuisance; +but to a woman, it's--it's quite a different thing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I'm not going to suggest that it shall be postponed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then what are you going to suggest? What have you been suggesting for +the last--I don't know how long?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's because the idea never occurred to me until just now; I don't +know why; I suppose it's because I'm stupid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now what idea have you got into your head?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think I see a way out of the difficulty; that is, if you'll agree."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Agree to what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The great thing for us is to be married, isn't it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know that I'm prepared to admit it till I know what you're +leading up to."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, then, as one of the parties I'll admit it; the one thing +for which I'm living is to be married to you; when I am married I'll +be happy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you; that's very nice of you; but I'm not going to admit +anything till I know what it is you've got at the back of your head."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We're going to be married on Thursday--that is, this day week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We were to have been married on Thursday; I know my wedding dress is +coming home on Wednesday."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And after the wedding we're to start for a three months' tour on the +continent, something like a honeymoon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We were to have started for a three months' tour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's what I arranged with Mr. Oldfield. I said to him, 'Mr. +Oldfield, after my marriage--at which I trust you'll be present--I +hope to go abroad with my wife for a month, if I can be spared from +the office.' He said to me, 'Clifford, why not make it three months?' +I stared; he went on: 'A man isn't married often!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frank!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's what he said; and it's true. 'Therefore there's no reason why +he shouldn't make the most of it when he is; you take your wife abroad +for three months, I'll see you're spared from the office.' And that's +how it was arranged."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, and then he goes and disappears, and I'm not to be married at +all, and that's how it's disarranged."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a bit of it; the wedding needn't be postponed; the more I think +of it the less reason do I see why it should."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frank! Then what ever have you been talking to me about ever since I +don't know when!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Oldfield's continued absence needn't prevent my sparing a day to +get away from the office to be married."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Needn't it! I'm sure it's very nice of you to talk about sparing a +whole day for a trifling thing like that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In any case, all that need suffer is the three months' tour. If Mr. +Oldfield hasn't turned up by Thursday, after we're married we'll go +for a weekend honeymoon. I'll return to the office on Monday. The +house is ready, all it needs is its mistress; you'll be installed a +little sooner than you thought, and when Mr. Oldfield does appear +we'll go for our three months' tour."</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Ross sat looking at him with rather a complicated expression on +her pretty face, as if she did not quite know what to make of his +proposition.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frank, why didn't you think of it before? instead of worrying me, and +making my hair come out by handfuls, by keeping on saying that if Mr. +Oldfield didn't return in time, you couldn't possibly desert Peter +Piper's Popular Pills, and that therefore the wedding would have to be +postponed till you didn't know when."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know; but I didn't. I fancy, sweetheart, that it's because I +was so looking forward to that scamper through Europe. It's so long +since I had a real holiday--and such a holiday--with you! If you only +knew how often I have dreamed of it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you think I haven't dreamed of it too?" They were sitting very +close together; she looked at him with almost comic wistfulness as she +added, "A week-end honeymoon will be rather a comedown, won't it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Compared to that elaborate tour, which we have so carefully planned, +in which we were to go to so many delightful places, and do so many +delicious things, rather! But it won't spoil by being kept; we'll have +it; and in the meanwhile a week-end will be better than nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frank, I'll tell you something. Rather than that the wedding should +be put off I'd go straight home with you to our home, from the church +doors; or I'd return with you to the office, and sit on a stool, till +your day's work was done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sweetheart!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was an interval, during which more was done than said. Then she +observed--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now let me clearly understand; even if Mr. Oldfield returns on +Wednesday we go for our tour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even if he puts in an appearance in the church."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, let's hope he won't put it off till quite so late as that; +because, though perhaps you mayn't be aware of it, there is such a +thing as packing; one doesn't pack for a week-end just as one packs +for three months on the Continent. But, in any case, the wedding is +not to be postponed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not to be postponed. Let me put it like this. You talk it over +with your father----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frank! don't be absurd! I fancy I see myself talking it over with +papa. Why, do you know what he says? He says he can't see why a girl +need make such a fuss about such a little thing as being married; he +wonders why she can't go in a 'bus to the nearest registrar's, and +then go, in a spirit of meek thankfulness, to her new home in another +'bus, and start darning the old socks which her husband has been +storing up against her coming."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, there's something in it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is there? At any rate, I'm not going to talk it over with papa; he +wouldn't talk it over with me if I wanted him to."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then talk it over with your mother, and--and the rest of the family."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a matter for my decision, not for theirs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Precisely; only there's no harm in observing certain forms. And I'll +make another effort to see if I can find out something which will +point to Oldfield's whereabouts. I'll go round to his flat in +Bloomsbury Mansions; they sometimes do hear something of him there; +then I'll try every other place I can think of--there aren't many +places, but there are some--then I'll come round to-morrow and tell +you the result of my efforts, and you'll tell me the result of the +family consultation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can tell you that before you go; the wedding is not to be +postponed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course the wedding is not to be postponed; but still there are +things you'll like to talk over with them--they'll expect it; and then +they can talk them over with me--you know the sort of thing. And +anyhow I hope you don't object to my coming again to-morrow, if only +to be told once more that the wedding is not to be postponed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I don't object to your coming again to-morrow; you'll hear +of it if you don't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But in case I should be prevented, don't you think you'd better give +me an extra kiss or two?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frank! I'm always kissing you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not always; sometimes I'm kissing you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'll soon grow tired."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I? Be careful what you say! you'll be punished if you say it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope you never will grow tired."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sweetheart, you mustn't even say it in jest!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The rest was that sort of talk which we have most of us talked once; +those of us who haven't are to be pitied; it is a kind of talk which +is well worth talking. Then Mr. Clifford went on to Bloomsbury +Mansions, which was Joseph Oldfield's London address; indeed, so far +as his manager knew, it was the proprietor of Peter Piper's Popular +Pills' only address. As usual he found the porter in the entrance +hall; of him he made inquiry.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Coles, any news of Mr. Oldfield?"</p> + +<p class="normal">In the porter's manner, as he replied, there was a significance which +Mr. Clifford did not understand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can't say that there's any news of Mr. Oldfield exactly; but +there's something going on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Going on? What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In his flat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In his flat! What's going on in his flat?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's more than I can tell you, sir; but there's some one in there; +in fact, there's two people in there. One of them says he's Mr. +Oldfield's solicitor; I don't know who the other is, but he may be +another solicitor for all I can tell; he looks as if he might be +something in that line."</p> + +<p class="normal">Frank Clifford opened his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His solicitor? What solicitor? What's his name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Seemed to me he was shy about giving his name; but when I made it +clear that he wasn't going up unless he did, he said his name was +Nash--Herbert Nash. He's quite a young chap--younger than the other, +though he's not old."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nash? Herbert Nash? I never heard Mr. Oldfield speak of a solicitor +named Nash; but of course he may have a dozen solicitors of whom I +know nothing. How did they get in? Did you let them in?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not me; they brought Mr. Oldfield's own key; Mr. Nash had it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That looks as if they'd at least heard from Mr. Oldfield quite +recently, which is more than I have. It's lucky I happened to come +just now. Take me up, Coles; I should like to see Mr. Nash."</p> + +<p class="normal">The porter said, as they were stepping into the lift--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope, sir, there's nothing wrong with Mr. Oldfield--that he's not +ill, or anything like that; but it looks odd his solicitor coming +instead of him, and that without giving any notice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It doesn't necessarily follow, Coles, that there's anything wrong +with him on that account; most probably Mr. Oldfield is abroad, and +has sent his solicitor instructions, in order to carry out which Mr. +Nash has to visit his flat."</p> + +<p class="normal">The lift stopped; the porter pointed to a door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope you're right, sir; I should be sorry to hear that anything had +happened to Mr. Oldfield; to my thinking he's the pleasantest +gentleman we've got in the Mansions, and I don't care who hears me say +so. That's his flat, sir. You'll find them in there now. Shall I ring, +sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; I'll ring."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Clifford rang.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_29" href="#div1Ref_29">IN JOSEPH OLDFIELD'S FLAT</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The idea was Morgan's.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We're going to call at Bloomsbury Mansions to begin with; that's to +be the first move in our plan of campaign." Herbert Nash looking a +note of interrogation, Mr. Morgan condescended to explain. "How many +times am I to tell you that Bloomsbury Mansions was where Mr. Joseph +Oldfield lived when he was in town? When he was there he was Peter +Piper's Popular Pills; when he wasn't there if you'd talked to him +about pills I dare say he wouldn't have known what you meant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But why should we go to Bloomsbury Mansions?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Doesn't your own common-sense tell you, my dear Nash, that the more a +man knows about the game he's going to play the better chance he has +of winning? Certainly it does, because you're one of the cleverest men +I know. Very well then; if you and I can manage to be alone together +in that flat for, say, half-an-hour, there's very little about Joseph +Oldfield which, at the end of that time, we shan't know. Unless I'm +mistaken, that's where the key to the situation is; it must be +somewhere, and I tell you it's there. That's where all his business +papers are, which you and Baynard couldn't find at Cloverlea; his +books, his accounts, the lists of his securities; perhaps some of the +securities themselves; and, what's more, the whole financial history +of those immortal pills. We shall be able to find out what exactly Mr. +Frank Clifford's position is, and how we shall best be able to get at +him. I'm no gamester; I object to gambling on principle; yet I'm +willing to bet a trifle that after I've been there half-an-hour I'll +be in a position--with the aid of what I know already--to squash Mr. +Frank Clifford between my finger and thumb; and between us, my boy, +we'll have Peter Piper's Popular Pills, and the pile they represent, +lying at our feet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I tell you again, Morgan, what I've told you before, that I think you +pitch your anticipations too high; there are all sorts of difficulties +in the way which you don't seem to appreciate. Anyhow how do you +intend to get into this flat? do you propose to commit burglary?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I a criminal? a felon? I've been an honest man all my life, and I +mean to die an honest man. No, my dear Nash, we're going in through +the front door, in broad daylight, before the eyes of the whole staff +of the Mansions, if the whole staff chooses to look on, and, as about +flats they're mostly a prying lot, they may do; we're going to let +ourselves in with Mr. Joseph Oldfield's own private and particular +latch-key, and a very private and particular latch-key it is. I +lay--betting again! you see, Nash, how a bad habit, once indulged in, +grows on one--that, knowing what kind of people they are about flats, +he had both lock and key specially made for him; and here that key +is."</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out a small and curious-looking key, of the Bramah type. Mr. +Nash eyed it dubiously, as if it were something which he would rather +leave alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do you know it is the key? and where did you get it from?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Question No. 2 first, as to where I got it. When the late Donald +Lindsay was seized with that most unfortunate stroke I assisted in +undressing him; afterwards I folded up his clothes and put them away, +and, in the ordinary course of my duty, I examined the pockets. In a +small and ingeniously placed pocket inside his waistcoat--which the +commonplace searcher would have overlooked--I found this key, +secreted. That set me thinking. You will observe that on the tiny ring +to which it is attached there is a number. When I learnt certain facts +I caused inquiries to be made of a firm which I happen to know +manufactures keys like this, asking how long it would take them to +make Mr. Joseph Oldfield a duplicate key to his fiat in Bloomsbury +Mansions, quoting this number. They replied to the effect that they +could let him have another key in four-and-twenty hours; so that's how +I know that this is the key to the flat in Bloomsbury Mansions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You've a roundabout way of your own of finding out things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Roundabout ways are sometimes the shortest, and the safest. Now, my +dear Nash, you and I are going together to Bloomsbury Mansions; you +will be the bearer of the key; you will show the key to the porter who +we shall probably find there; you will tell him that you are Mr. +Oldfield's solicitor--which you are; let us keep to the strict and +literal truth; he will say 'Walk in!' and, when we have walked in, I +think that the rest you can leave to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herbert Nash did not like Mr. Morgan's little plan; he disliked it +very much, and said so with considerable force of language, which the +gentleman to whom it was addressed did not at all resent. He simply +smiled, and persuaded Mr. Nash; having means of persuasion at his +command which that person seemed most unwillingly to feel that he was +not in a position to resist; the result being that, as we have heard, +the pair did gain access to the flat in Bloomsbury Mansions; the +porter, as Mr. Morgan had prophesied, looking on as they went in. When +they had entered they found themselves in a fair-sized hall.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wonder," said Nash, as if struck by the silence of the place, "how +he managed for servants."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The flat people provided service, I expect; they cater, and do +everything for tenants if they're wanted to."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you mean to say that he lived here all alone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Generally, I fancy; though when the humour took him he may have kept +up any sort of an establishment for all I know; I'll be able to tell +you more on that head when I've been over the place. Now let me see. +From what I know of the arrangements of flats I should say that that +room over there was his own particular apartment." He moved to the +door to which he referred. "Locked; however, there's the key in the +lock, and it turns quite easily." He threw it open. "Right I am! Nash, +this is Joseph Oldfield's Ali Baba's treasure-cave; perhaps presently +you'll be fingering some of his precious things. But before we start +at that let's see what's behind these other doors; I always like to +know the lay of the land before I commence actual operations." Mr. +Morgan began opening door after door, glancing at what was behind +each, then shutting it again; Herbert Nash stood in the hall and +watched. "Looks like a drawing-room; what did he want with a +drawing-room, a lone-lorn bachelor? Seem to be some nice things in it +too. A bedroom, furnished up to the knocker. My word! that bed cost +money; he lay well. Bathroom; spared nothing even over his bath. +Dining-room; nothing cheap about that either; he spent money upon this +place; I suppose he walked straight out of the bath to his food. +Another bedroom; everything in the palest pink; that's meant for a +woman's occupation I'll swear. I wonder who it was meant for? Looks as +if it had never been lived in. What are those over the way? Domestic +offices, I take it; kitchen; yes, and the rest of it, I know; we'll +pay attention to you perhaps a trifle later. Now we'll return to Ali +Baba's treasure-cave. Come along, Nash."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash followed him into the room; he entered with what seemed +dragging footsteps, glancing round, when he was in, with a shame-faced +air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan," he protested, "I don't like this; I don't care what you say, +I don't like it; if we're not committing burglary, we're doing +something which is not far off."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't talk nonsense; you a lawyer! and talking about burglary! stuff! +If you imagine, Mr. Nash, that I'm the sort of person who would commit +burglary you're mistaken. Haven't you got all your explanations pat? +You've as much right to be here as any man on this side the grave. +Very nice room I call this; very nice; well adapted for a gentleman's +occupation. The late Oldfield had a pretty taste in bric-a-brac; like +Mr. Donald Lindsay, he'd a good eye for a promising investment. I'm a +bit of an authority on the subject myself, so I know. There's a pair +of powder blue vases over there--both Oldfield and Lindsay seem to +have had a liking for powder blue--which wouldn't be out of the way at +a thousand. And unless I'm mistaken that cabinet in the corner is a +genuine Boule; Oldfield wasn't likely to have anything imitation about +his place; if it is I should like to have the coin it's worth in my +pocket; perhaps we shall have it in both our pockets before very long, +eh, Nash? What do you think? My dear boy, the contents of this room, +the mere trimmings, so to speak, are worth a small fortune in +themselves, you can take it from me; I was quite right in calling it +Ali Baba's treasure-cave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan, look at this!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look at what? Hello! what's that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nash was pointing to a large framed photograph, which stood upon a +centre table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's Miss Lindsay; it's his daughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So it is; and a fine photograph too; and a good likeness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She--she was with him even when he was here."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was an odd catch in his voice; Mr. Morgan was as unmoved as +ever.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mean her effigy was."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And--and look at that portrait over the mantel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rather a fine bit of painting; quite decent; good colour; clever +drawing; face seems alive."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can't you see who it is? It's his wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never saw the lady; but I shouldn't be surprised; there's no +mistaking the likeness to the girl. So while he was living a double +life he was living it with his wife and child; queer thing human +nature."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan, I feel as if those women were looking at us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Looking at us? What do you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I'm sure they can see us; look how they're staring!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Staring! Nash! Stop that! One would think you'd been drinking; or +perhaps it's a nip of something you want; there ought to be a decanter +somewhere about."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want nothing; it would make no difference."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then let's get to business. I've a theory; you listen, and tell me +what you think of it. From what we know of the late Oldfield I rather +infer that when he left the flat he left the keys of all these +drawers, and cupboards, and things, behind him; that's the kind of +thing he would do; and I know that they weren't at Cloverlea; I'm +guessing that they're somewhere about the place at this moment. Now +what's your idea of the kind of hiding-place he'd choose?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know; and I don't care."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean by you don't care? You seem to be in a nice mood, my +lad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll not touch a thing here; nothing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Won't you? Then don't! Who asked you? I'll do all the touching that's +wanted; only--mind! if you shirk now you'll pay for it when the time +for sharing comes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not quite the scoundrel you take it for granted that I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, you're another and a worse kind, you're a white-livered cur. You +do the sneak game, when you think it's safe, for pennies; but when it +comes to the man's game, for something worth having, you whine. I can +see that I shall have to talk to you as I haven't done yet before you +really do begin to find out where you are; but I haven't time to do it +now. Where's he likely to have put those keys? Anyhow we ought to be +able to get at his writing-table drawers without them; I shouldn't say +that there was anything very special about their locks." He took +something out of his pocket which he inserted in the keyhole of the +top drawer. "It only wants a little--a little management. I thought +so; that's done it; drawer No. 1." He drew the top drawer open, and +instantly pushed it back again. "What's that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was the sound of an electric bell.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's--it's somebody ringing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it's somebody ringing; I'm not deaf, am I? I don't need you to +tell me that it's somebody ringing; but who's ringing? Who knows that +we're here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps it's the porter; or somebody connected with the Mansions."</p> + +<p class="normal">The two men stood staring at each other; Nash white-faced. The bell +was heard again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You go and see who's there; if it's the porter, or any one of that +sort, you bluff him off. And mind, if you make a mess of things +through funk, it'll be you who'll pay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not afraid, Mr. Morgan; at least, not in the sense you mean."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herbert Nash went to the front door; Morgan remained in the room, +listening. Without was a young man; behind him was the porter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon," said the young man; "but the porter tells me that +Mr. Oldfield's solicitor, Mr. Nash, is here; are you Mr. Nash?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Clifford--Frank Clifford; I +am Mr. Oldfield's manager--at Marlborough Buildings; possibly he has +mentioned my name to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">A voice came from within--Morgan's.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly he has mentioned your name to us, Mr. Clifford; we know it +very well, and all about you. Step in, you're the very man we want to +see. Nash, let Mr. Clifford in."</p> + +<p class="normal">After what seemed to be a moment's hesitation Mr. Nash drew the door +wider open, so as to permit of Clifford's entering. When he was in the +door was shut.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_30" href="#div1Ref_30">WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"Come in here, Mr. Clifford; it's a very fortunate chance your +dropping in on us like this; you couldn't have arranged it better if +you'd tried. I've no doubt Mr. Nash is glad to see you, and I'm quite +sure I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">As Clifford followed Morgan into the sitting-room he eyed him a little +askance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To whom have I the pleasure of speaking?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm Mr. Oldfield's most intimate friend; I know more about his +affairs than any man living."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask your name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan; Stephen Morgan."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you also a solicitor?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet, exactly; I think I may describe myself as Mr. Oldfield's +confidential agent. Come in, Nash; don't stop out there; then we can +have the door closed--it'll be snugger."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Nash had stayed in the hall, as if unwilling to associate himself +with Morgan's reception of the new-comer; indeed from his bearing one +might almost have suspected him of an inclination to march out of the +flat, and leave Morgan to deal with Mr. Clifford; possibly he was +deterred by the prosaic accident that his hat was in the sitting-room. +When Morgan bade him go in he went in, and Morgan closed the door +behind him. Clifford looked from one to the other, as if there was +something in the attitude of the two men which he could not make out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask what you gentlemen are doing here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may ask; but, so far as I can see, it's no business of yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite so; still--at the same time----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Mr. Clifford; at the same time?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wondered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's no harm in your wondering, Mr. Clifford; none at all."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Clifford turned to Nash, as if he preferred his appearance to +Morgan's.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you tell me, Mr. Nash, where Mr. Oldfield is? or how I can +place myself in communication with him? As you are possibly aware, he +has not been at the office now for some time, and his continued +absence--and I may add, silence, because I have heard nothing from +him--is occasioning much inconvenience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To whom?"</p> + +<p class="normal">This was Morgan. Clifford seemed to hesitate, then replied--"To me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To you? Mr. Oldfield hasn't been in the habit of studying your +convenience, has he, Mr. Clifford?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The new-comer flushed, as if he felt that the other's words were meant +unpleasantly. When he answered he looked the speaker straight in the +face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Oldfield has been in the habit of studying not only my +convenience, but every one's convenience, Mr. Morgan; if you suppose +the contrary, I know him better than you do. And, just now, the +circumstances are peculiar. I am to be married next week, and I can +hardly carry out in their entirety the arrangements I have made unless +I know what Mr. Oldfield's movements are likely to be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see; you are to be married next week?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Oldfield knows that I am to be married next week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does he? What's the lady's name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Oldfield also knows the lady's name; I told him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you? Then I fancy he's forgotten."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never knew Mr. Oldfield forget anything that was of importance to +any one in whom he was interested; so I take leave to doubt your +fancy, Mr. Morgan."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan looked at the speaker, for some moments, in rather a +peculiar way; then he thrust his hands deeper into his trousers +pockets, leaned back his head, and laughed. Clifford flushed again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the jest, Mr. Morgan?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Jest? Clifford, you're a funny one! you're all the jest I want."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give you my word, my dear fellow--" Morgan advanced, with the +apparent intention of laying his hand upon the other's shoulder; +Clifford retreated; Morgan stared. "What's the matter? Why do you draw +back?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Clifford's manner was courteously frigid.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will be able to say anything you wish to say to me from where you +are."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes, I'm quite able to say to you all I wish from where I am; or +from anywhere. Don't you think, Mr. Clifford, you're cutting it a +trifle fine?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No? Surely you're not dull. I beg you to believe I'm not. Haven't I +told you I'm Mr. Oldfield's confidential agent?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have, sir; though what especial interest that fact should have +for me I still fail to understand; and yet I believe that I am not +dull beyond the average man. Mr. Nash, while Mr. Morgan is +endeavouring to find words with which to convey his meaning to my +comprehension, may I again ask you how I can place myself in immediate +communication with Mr. Oldfield?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Before Nash could answer, Morgan made a hasty movement towards the +speaker, crying--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You miserable hypocrite! trying to play the innocent with us! asking +how you can place yourself in communication with Mr. Oldfield, when +you know he's dead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dead! Mr. Oldfield dead, Mr. Morgan!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stop that game of pretending, or I shan't be able to keep my hands +off you! Not only is Mr. Oldfield dead, and you know it, but you +killed him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Killed him! I! Mr. Nash, is your friend sane?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did ever rogue play the hypocrite so brazenly? and actually I've one +of the weapons with which he killed him on me! and here it is. You +killed him, Mr. Clifford, with that."</p> + +<p class="normal">Morgan held out a slip of blue paper on which there was some writing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With that? And what is that? It looks to me rather a singular weapon +with which to commit murder."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does it? you sneering villain! When Brown does all in his power to +make of Smith an honest man, and Smith turns out to be a blackguard +and a thief, do you think that isn't a blow to Brown? It was that kind +of blow killed Joseph Oldfield; it was the shock of learning that you +were a forger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Learning that I was a forger! Mr. Morgan, you--you said just now that +you found it difficult to keep your hands off me; now I'm finding it +difficult to keep mine off you. What justification have you for the +statement you have just made, that I am a forger?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Isn't that justification enough?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Again Morgan held out the slip of paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I repeat the question I put to you just now--what is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's news to you that it's one of the bills you forged?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"One? Do you charge me with forging others?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know what you got for them, Mr. Clifford, but you forged +bills to the face value of over forty thousand pounds. Are incidents +of the kind of such frequent occurrence in your career that it is +necessary to recall this one to your recollection?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you seriously accuse me of forging bills for more than forty +thousand pounds? Was ever anything heard like it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Often; there have been plenty of scoundrels before you, if you find +that any consolation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't imagine that because I endeavour to retain my self-control in +the midst of this--this sudden nightmare that I am incapable of +showing resentment; if that is what you imagine, you are wrong, Mr. +Morgan. What grounds have you for asserting that I forged that bill, +or any bill?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Clifford, drop the mask; the time for bluff has gone; try to be +candid. You see, Mr. Nash and I know all about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you? It so happens that I don't. I ask you again, what grounds +have you for asserting that I've committed forgery? Don't be vague; be +specific."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I happen to know the man to whom you gave the bills."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you? What's his name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir Henry Trevor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir Henry Trevor? Harry Trevor? Do you venture to affirm that Harry +Trevor says he got forged bills from me, or any bills?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He took them to the discounters; when they asked where he got them +from, he said they came from you. What he got for them, or what share +you had of the plunder, I can't say; at present I'd rather not know; +these are details which may come out at the Old Bailey."</p> + +<p class="normal">Up to then Frank Clifford had kept his countenance to a wonderful +degree; but when Mr. Morgan spoke of the Old Bailey his lips +flickered, as they might have done had he been suddenly attacked by +St. Vitus' Dance; the movement passed, he was calm again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you let me look at that bill you're holding? I'll not touch it; +I merely want to look."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll take care you don t touch it. You can look at an old friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the signature it bears?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't know? I'll tell you. Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea? And who is Donald Lindsay, of +Cloverlea?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really, Mr. Clifford, when you didn't become an actor what the stage +lost! and now-a-days there are so few actors who are to the manner +born. It's the very gist of your offending, you sly scamp, that you +made such use of the knowledge you had surreptitiously obtained that +Joseph Oldfield, of Peter Piper's Popular Pills, was Donald Lindsay, +of Cloverlea."</p> + +<p class="normal">Clifford stared, as if the other had been speaking in a foreign +language.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's that? Would you mind saying that again?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll not say it again; I'll not pipe to your dancing, you brazen +vagabond!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you hinting that Joseph Oldfield is, or was, I don't know which +it ought to be, a pseudonym? that he had, or has, another name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that the trick you're trying to play? You wish it to be believed +that you didn't know there was such a person as Donald Lindsay; that +he and Joseph Oldfield were one and the same; and that in putting the +name upon a bill stamp you did it innocently, in ignorance that was +childlike and bland. The idea is ingenious; as, I fancy, Mr. Clifford, +most of your ideas are; but you won't find a judge or jury quite so +simple."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ignoring Mr. Morgan, Frank Clifford, to the unprejudiced observer, +seemed to be engaged in reflections of his own; to which he presently +gave shape in disconnected words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Donald Lindsay? I seem to have heard the name."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shouldn't be surprised."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Donald Lindsay? Why--it can't be!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That conscience is pricking you at last? No, it can't be that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Harry Trevor wouldn't--couldn't--he couldn't do a thing like that; +and yet----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet? So it's Harry Trevor now; as usual, everybody's guilty +except the man who did it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Morgan, I'm willing to believe that you don't realize what a +confused nightmare I seem all at once to be moving in, and that that +explains your attitude. If you did realize how wholly you have taken +me by surprise----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do realize that; I quite think that you're altogether the most +surprised man I've lately met. I don't know what you did expect when +you rang that bell, but I don't suppose that you expected this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not; though you speak in one sense, and I in another. With +reference to what you say about those bills, a horrible--I can only +call it fear, has come into my mind, of which I scarcely dare to +think, lest I should be guilty of heinous injustice; and before I +speak of it----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would like to have time to think it over?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you shall have it; that's what I'm coming to. You will be at the +office to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You had better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You need not tell me that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Needn't I? I think I need. Mr. Nash and I are administering Mr. +Oldfield's estate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you an executor?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am; the only executor. I do not know that I ought to say so, but +you will understand that I am not committing myself, and that I speak +without prejudice; but, at present, it is our wish--Mr. Nash's and +mine--not to prosecute."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Prosecute!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Prosecute. Do you wish me to believe that you were unaware that +forgers are occasionally prosecuted? Our first consideration is, and +must be, the business; we fear that it may do the business no good to +have the manager sent to penal servitude for forgery. These bills have +been taken up, in the first place under a misapprehension, at a very +heavy cost; we will tell you all about that to-morrow; you will have +to make that loss good."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will; do you imagine that you are to escape scathless? You are a +truly remarkable person. But, as I have said, we will discuss that in +the morning. I only trust that no further irregularities may be +brought to light."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Morgan!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please drop that tone; it makes me sick; nothing is so nauseous as a +futile hypocrite. My advice to you is, think things over, carefully, +seriously; in the morning make a clean breast of everything; the more +candid we find you the better it will be. Now, as Mr. Nash and I have +much to attend to, I must ask you to leave us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I am willing to do; but so far you have done all the talking; +but, before I go, there are some remarks which I wish to make."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We wish to hear nothing now--nothing; think first, Mr. Clifford, +think."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not necessary to think before making simple statements dealing +with plain facts, and you will have to listen, willingly or not; I +have had to listen, now it is your turn. What I have to say is this; +that I did not know Mr. Oldfield was dead; that I did not know that he +had any name but Oldfield; that I had no knowledge of his connection +with Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea; that this is the first time I have +been made aware that there ever was such a person as Donald Lindsay; +that I never before saw the bill of exchange which you showed me just +now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have proof to the contrary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's impossible. That there may be a mystery about that bill, and +about the others of which you have spoken, I admit; between this and +to-morrow I may be able to institute inquiries which will throw light +on it; but I assure you, Mr. Morgan, I am as incapable of forgery as +you are. If Mr. Oldfield really did believe that I was capable of such +conduct he was a much worse judge of character than I believed he was. +Now, Mr. Morgan, I will go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With a lie upon your lips."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir, not with a lie upon my lips. You will either give your +authorities for the statements you have made, or, in the morning, you +will apologize. You will find that you will have to make many +apologies, Mr. Morgan. I notice, Mr. Nash, that you have not +associated yourself with the charges Mr. Morgan has made, nor with the +language he has used; when I lay the facts before you in the morning, +as I hope to be in a position to do, you will have no cause to regret +your attitude."</p> + +<p class="normal">With that Mr. Clifford marched out of the room, and through the front +door. When he had gone Mr. Morgan leaned against a corner of a table, +with his hands in his trousers pockets, and whistled; then he looked +at Mr. Nash, and smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Got a face, hasn't he? He can bluff. We may find him rather a harder +nut to crack than I imagined; it's just possible that we may have to +change our plan of operations; the line he has taken up is a little +unexpected. What do you think?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't think, Mr. Morgan; I know."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan purposely ignored the peculiarity of the other's tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you know, my dear Nash?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know one thing; that if you do go to Mr. Clifford's office in the +morning you will go alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I? How's that? Got a previous engagement?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here, and now, you and I part company; you go your way, I go mine; +under no circumstances will I associate myself with you again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Steady, Nash, steady; do you know where talk like that will lead +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will lead to honesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will lead you to jail, and pretty soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will it? I'll take the risk. It is not necessary for you to remind me +that on a certain occasion I behaved like a blackguard, and perhaps +worse; I have only regretted it once, and that's been ever since."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Regrets, in a case like yours, are useless; they simply mean that you +regret that you're found out. Of course you do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'll find that my regrets mean more than that. I've behaved badly +since; I've acted like a coward in allowing you to use your guilty +knowledge."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Guilty knowledge?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your guilty knowledge, as you'll discover if you're not careful; +I've let you use it as a lever to drive me into further misdoing. +You've threatened me with the consequences of my misconduct; I've been +afraid to face them. That's over now; I'm going to face them, if only +as the lesser of two evils."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me, Nash, what's started you in this conversational strain?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's brought me to the sticking-point is your conduct to Mr. +Clifford. He's an innocent man; of that I'm absolutely certain; every +insult you flung at him stung me; it shamed me to feel that I was your +associate. I'll be your associate no longer. I'll have no part or +parcel in your attempts to entangle Mr. Clifford as you've entangled +me. I believe they'll fail; but if they do or don't, I'll have no +share in them. Henceforward you and I are strangers; I'm going; if you +stay, you stay alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Going, are you? Oh no, you're not!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Morgan moved between Nash and the door. The two men confronted each +other; there was something on Herbert Nash's face which made of him a +new man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Morgan"--even in his voice there was a new tone--"more than once +my fingers have itched to take you by the throat, and choke the life +half out of you. If you are wise, you will not attempt to detain me, +or I may find the temptation too strong."</p> + +<p class="normal">Possibly Mr. Morgan was conscious that there was something unusual +about Herbert Nash; his manner continued to be so conciliatory.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, my dear fellow, don't let us fall out about nothing at all. I'm +quite ready to listen to anything you have to say; only, before you +take a step there's no retracing, do listen to reason."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, thank you; I've heard too much of what you call reason already; +I'll hear no more. Stand out of my way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nash, Nash, don't be hasty! If you'll only let me speak a dozen +words, you'll view the situation in quite a different light."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I? Then I'll not let you speak them. I see the situation now in +the only light I mean to see it. Stand out of my way."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nash, moving forward, gripped Morgan by the shoulders; either the +assault was unexpected, or he used great force. Swinging Morgan round, +he sent him reeling backwards half across the room; until, coming into +unlooked-for contact with a chair, he fell heavily on to the floor. +Before he could recover Nash had gone from the room, and was out of +the flat. Picking himself up, although he seemed a trifle dazed, +Morgan went rushing after him. When he reached the landing he heard +Nash's voice come up the well of the staircase, from the floor below.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Porter, the man Morgan, whom I have left in Mr. Oldfield's flat, has +no right whatever to be there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hasn't he, sir? How's that? He seems to have done something to upset +Mr. Clifford."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When he comes down, if you find that he has anything on him belonging +to the flat--papers, letters, anything--they have been stolen. If you +allow him to leave the building with them on him, possibly you will be +held responsible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I? He shan't leave here with anything on him that doesn't +belong to him, I promise you; there are two or three people about the +place who'll see to that."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Morgan waited to hear no more. He slunk back into the flat and +shut the door.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_31" href="#div1Ref_31">HUSBAND AND WIFE</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">When Herbert Nash quitted Bloomsbury Mansions he went straight back to +Littlehampton, by the last train of the day to reach that primitive +place. When he arrived at Ocean Villas it was past ten o'clock. His +wife had gone to bed; or, at least, she had retired to her bedroom. As +a matter of fact, she felt as if she never wanted to go to bed again; +unless going to bed was synonymous with eternal sleep. If only she +could go to sleep and never wake! She was of opinion that she was the +most miserable woman; many women think themselves that with less cause +than she had. She was half-undressed, and, crouching on the floor, +rested her head against the bed. In her hands was a telegram, which +she had read again, and again, and again, until it seemed to have +branded itself upon her throbbing brain so that she could not get it +out of her sight even for a second. It had come to her earlier in the +day, and, as telegrams are apt to be, was curt.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"Send another five hundred immediately. No excuses will be accepted.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:65%">"<span class="sc">Morgan</span>."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Only a day or two ago she had given him a hundred pounds; then sent +him another four hundred, and here already he was demanding five +hundred more. The inference was plain; he would persist in his demands +until he had wrung from her all that she had found on Donald Lindsay's +table. Though he stripped her of every penny she would still be at his +mercy; what would he demand from her then? Whatever it might be, how +would she dare refuse him then, if she dare not refuse him now?</p> + +<p class="normal">In a sense, indeed, she had refused him, as it was. He had bade her +send the cash "immediately." That she had not done; she had purposely +not sent it by the night's post; and now was racked by fears of the +measures he might take to show her his resentment. Suppose he told her +husband, as he had threatened to do? If he did! if he did! Had she not +better hide in the sea before Herbert came back again?</p> + +<p class="normal">His opportunities for telling were so numerous; he and Herbert were +away together at that moment. That was another of her burdens. What +was the meaning of this sudden, ill-omened connection which had sprung +up between them? Why, all at once, had her husband become the +inseparable companion of the man who had been wont to stand behind her +chair? He had resented, so hotly, the fellow's presumption in even +venturing to write to him; yet now they might be bosom friends; he +even expected her to receive him as an equal. What did it mean?</p> + +<p class="normal">Nothing kindles the imagination like a coward conscience. All sorts of +hideous surmises had tormented her. A dozen explanations had occurred +to her; every fresh one more unsavoury than the last. She could see +that her husband had changed; in himself, as well as to her. He was +not the same man; he was always brooding, irritable, depressed. Of +late, not only had he not spoken to her a tender word, he had only +addressed her when compelled, and then with scant civility. What did +such conduct on his part portend? All kinds of doubts afflicted her; +yet among them one was foremost. Was it not possible that Morgan had +poisoned her husband's mind against her? He, perhaps, had not told him +everything, she did not believe he had; but, with diabolical +ingenuity, he might have hinted just enough to make Herbert afraid of +hearing more. In that case her husband might be working Morgan's will +under the delusion that, by so doing, he was protecting her; and all +the while the man was wresting from her all that she had risked so +much to gain--for Herbert's sake.</p> + +<p class="normal">As, on the floor in the bedroom there, she wrestled with wild beasts +of her own creation, on a sudden she heard the front door open, and a +familiar step come into the house. It was her husband. She sprang to +her feet, not with joy, but with terror. Why had he come back? He had +told her that he would not return that night; perhaps not on the +morrow. Why had he returned--when he had said that he would not +return--without notice, at that hour of the night? for it seemed to +her that she had been in her bedroom hours.</p> + +<p class="normal">She heard him go into the sitting-room; finding it in darkness, no +one there, he came towards where she was. As she heard him take the +half-dozen steps which divided the two rooms, she stood by the +bedstead, trembling from head to foot; it might have been her +executioner, not her husband, who was coming. A wild, frenzied impulse +came to her to turn the key in the lock, and so gain time; but before +she could do it he had opened the door, and was standing in the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">It did not need such a rarefied vision as hers was then to perceive +that with him all was not well. She seemed to see him in a blaze of +lightning, phantom-haunted, as she was. It was borne in on her that he +saw her as the hideous thing she saw herself to be, and that that was +why he stood there, white and terrible. If she could she would have +dropped to the floor, and crawled to him, and hung about his knees, +and cried for mercy; but she could not; she had to stand there, +straight and rigid, waiting for him to speak. When he spoke his voice +sounded strange in her ears, as indeed, though she was not aware of +it, it did in his own.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see you guess why I am here!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Guess? How--how can I guess?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has Morgan told you nothing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan? What--what could Morgan tell me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hasn't he told you that I'm a blackguard and a thief?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The words were so wholly different from any she had expected him to +utter that, in the stress of her agitation, they conveyed no meaning +to her mind; she stared at him like one bereft of her senses, as, in +fact, for the moment she was. He misconstrued her look entirely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Elaine," he cried, "don't look at me like that, don't! If you only +knew what I have suffered, what I've gone through, you'd pity me, +you wouldn't look at me as if I was something wholly outside the +pale. I know you've guessed that there was something wrong ever since +that--that brute came; you knew I wouldn't breathe the same air with +him if I could help it; but it mayn't be, Elaine, it mayn't be so bad +as you suppose. I don't ask you to forgive me; I don't even ask you to +continue to regard me as your husband; I know I've forfeited all +claims I may have had on you. All I ask of you is to believe that, at +last, I'm going to try to be a man. I've come to tell you that, and to +tell you that chiefly. I'm not going to stay; you need not fear that +I'll contaminate the house which shelters you; but before I go I think +I ought to tell you just what I've done, and what the temptation was; +not to excuse myself, but so that, whatever happens, you, at least, +may know the truth. I felt that I could not let the night pass without +telling you the truth, if only because I have kept it from you so +long, and in the morning it may be too late; I may not have the chance +of telling it to you, face to face, again."</p> + +<p class="normal">The longer he spoke, the more her bewilderment grew.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I--don't understand," she stammered.</p> + +<p class="normal">He made her understand, telling his tale as straightforwardly, as +clearly, as it could be told; as it might have been told even by an +impartial witness; the man that was in him was coming to the front at +last.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see," he said, "I was at Morgan's mercy, or he thought I was; +and, for a time, I thought so too; I was such a coward! And before +long I should have been wholly at his mercy, had not the sight of that +man, Clifford, roused me to a consciousness of what a coward I really +was; then I knew that the only way to be free was to tell the truth, +and let Morgan do what he likes. I've come to tell you the truth, +first of all; and to-morrow I'm going to tell Frank Clifford the +truth; and when I've found Miss Lindsay, I'll tell her the truth. If I +have to suffer for it, I'll suffer; but at any rate I've escaped from +Morgan. What a weight would have been off my mind if I'd escaped from +him before!"</p> + +<p class="normal">As she began to grasp the drift of what it was that he was telling +her, she had sunk on to the edge of the bed, and, with distended eyes +and gaping mouth, sat staring at him as if at some thing of horror. He +mistook the meaning of her attitude.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't wonder you look at me as if I were some repulsive object; I +couldn't be more repulsive to you than I am to myself; I understand +what you feel, what you think; I know I deserve it. I know you never +would have married me if you had known me to be the thing I am; I have +wronged you more than any one. I can't undo the bonds which bind us, +that is not in my power, and I'm afraid the law will not help you. But +this I can do, and I will; I'll take myself out of your life as +completely as I can. Your aunt left you enough to live on; I think you +had better sink it in an annuity; you'll be safer that way; and when I +can I'll contribute what I can. I don't wish to be released from any +of my obligations; on the contrary, I wish to fulfil them both in the +letter and the spirit, and I will. So soon as I am earning money you +shall have your proper share; but in any case it will be a comfort to +me to feel that, in any case, you are provided for. And, in time, when +I've done something towards regaining my self-respect, and--and you +send for me, I'll come to you again, if only for just long enough to +show that I am still alive. But you're rid of me till then. Good-bye."</p> + +<p class="normal">He moved towards the door, as if the whole thing was at an end; as if +husband and wife could be sundered quite so easily. She stopped him as +he was going.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert!" She spoke in the queerest whisper, as if something had gone +wrong with her vocal chords, the effect of which was to leave her +partially strangled. She held out the telegram she had still in her +hand. "Look at that."</p> + +<p class="normal">He took it reluctantly, as if he feared it was a weapon which she +aimed at him. Glancing at it, he read it aloud.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"'Send another five hundred immediately. No excuses will be accepted.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:65%">'<span class="sc">Morgan</span>.'</p> +<br> + +<p class="continue">What--what does this mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It means that I'm worse than you; much worse than you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Elaine!" She tried to speak, but could not; her voice was strangled +in her throat; it was not nice to watch her struggles to regain the +use of it. He moved towards her, startled. "Elaine! what's the +matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm--I'm--I'm going to tell you, only I--I---- Give me--something--to +drink--there's some water--in the bottle." She pointed to the +washstand. He brought her some water; but she could not drink it. She +could not hold the glass in her own hand; she could not swallow when +he raised it to her lips. He put the glass down on the floor. Her +condition frightened him. Although he had just been speaking of +leaving her for an indefinite period, now he knelt beside her on the +floor, and, putting his arms about her, held her close, soothing her +as best he could. It was while he held her that she told him; she +confessed in her agony; the words being wrung from her as if they had +been gouts of blood. He continued to hold her all the time. When, in +his turn, he began to understand her story, he was man enough to +realize that it was only his support which gave her the strength she +needed; that but for his encircling arms, and the consciousness that +they were his arms, she would collapse. As, by degrees, her meaning +was borne in on his understanding, the fashion of his countenance was +changed, and he kept his face averted, but he never moved. When, in +disconnected sentences, the root of the matter had been told, she did +what he had not done; she began, in a manner, to excuse herself. "It +was--because you said that you wanted money, and--that we couldn't be +married without it, that I went back and took the money--which was on +the table. And Morgan saw me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan saw you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the first time he had spoken; there was a curious contrast +between his voice and hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was in the room all the time--but in the darkness--I never knew +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So Morgan has held us in the hollow of his hand; both of us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I gave him five hundred pounds the other day, and now he's +telegraphed for more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor Elaine! It seems, after all, that we're a well-matched pair, +both thieves and cowards."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She spoke as if she shrieked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear, do let us look facts in the face now that we are trying to +make ourselves known to each other."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--shouldn't have taken the money--if I hadn't thought--Nora was +rich--and it would make no difference."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm afraid that the question of Miss Lindsay's wealth or poverty +could make no difference to the thing you did."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know that--now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When it seemed that Miss Lindsay was a pauper did you give her back +any of the money you had taken under a misconception?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I meant to--but I never did--I meant to give her a thousand pounds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's a pity you didn't; it might have caused the residue to appear a +little less dingy. We're a pair of beauties! God help us both; we need +His help!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--haven't dared to ask for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">But she did dare that night; they both of them dared. Already, since +they had been married, they had had some strange days and nights; but +that was the strangest night of their strange honeymoon.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_32" href="#div1Ref_32">A FORGOTTEN COAT</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Lady Jane Carruthers was one of those elderly ladies who are never +quite well, yet seldom actually ill. She was a great believer in what +she called "air."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you breathe the right air you're all right; and if you breathe the +wrong air you're all wrong, and there's the whole science of medicine +in a nutshell; believe me, my dear, because I know; mine's the +teaching of actual experience. So long as I'm well in a place I stay +there; I know the air's right; but so soon as I begin to feel a little +out of sorts I know the air has ceased to be right, I go away at once; +the consequence is that there are very few people who move about as +much as I do."</p> + +<p class="normal">It chanced that, in one of her pursuits after the right air, Lady +Jane went to Littlehampton; and, being there, with nothing to do +except breathe the right air, by way of doing something she sent for +her nephew, the Hon. Robert Spencer. She dispatched to him this +telegram--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come down to me this afternoon. I wish to speak to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">When he received the telegram the Honourable Robert pulled a face; he +happened to have a good deal to do. His impulse was to wire back--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can't come. Speak on."</p> + +<p class="normal">However, he felt that the result of such a message might be +disastrous; so, instead of sending it, he obeyed his aunt's commands, +and went down to Littlehampton.</p> + +<p class="normal">On his arrival, in response to his inquiries, Lady Jane informed him +that the local air was still on its trial; she was not yet quite sure +if it was, or was not, all right. It was true that she had had a touch +of indigestion; but she was not certain if that had anything to do +with the lobster salad she had had for luncheon three days running, or +with some peculiarity in the neighbouring atmosphere. It was true that +too much ozone was a disturbing influence; on the other hand she +admitted that yesterday she had eaten rather more of the salad than +she had meant to eat. Certainly the local lobsters were delicious; she +had determined so much; but, for the present, the question of the +quality of the local air was in suspense. The nephew knew his aunt. He +was aware that if he asked her if there actually was anything which +she wished to speak to him about she would look at him with chilly +gaze, and inquire if she had not been speaking to him on matters of +the most serious import already. Was he a Christian? Was he void of +all human feeling? Did he take no interest in her health? Then what +did he mean? As he did not wish to be asked what he meant in a tone of +voice he had heard before, he listened to her ladyship doubting, now +the lobsters, now the air, with the best grace in the world; for the +Honourable Robert Spencer really was an excellent fellow. And, in +course of time, his virtue was rewarded.</p> + +<p class="normal">After dinner--at which there was no fish at all, as if it had been he +who had suffered from the lobsters--she assumed a portentous air, and +requested him to bring a dispatch-box, which stood on a side table, +and place it in front of her; which he did.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert," she began, "I regret to have to tell you that you are one of +the most careless persons I have ever encountered." He admitted it; +inwardly wondering of what act of carelessness he had been guilty this +time, and what the dispatch-box had to do with it anyhow. Her ladyship +went on. "When you were staying with me in Cairo, after you left me, +you lost a suit-case; or, at least, you said you lost a suit-case."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear aunt, I not only said, I actually did lose a suit-case; and a +most important loss it was; for all I can tell it may have transformed +the whole course of my life; and--and somebody else's life as well. By +some stroke of good fortune you haven't come across it, have you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Robert, I have not; nor do I imagine that anybody ever will, in +this world." Whether she thought it likely that somebody would in +another world was not quite clear. "I do not know if you are aware +that, apart from your suit-case, you lost something else when you were +staying with me at Cairo. I imagine, from your manner, that you have +not discovered your loss even yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's very possible; I seem to have such a genius for losing things +that sometimes I don't know what I do lose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am grieved to hear you say so; it amazes me. It only shows how +incapable a man is of looking after his own belongings; as I have +always maintained. I never lost anything in my life, except a pair of +house-shoes, which I left at Horsham House, and which have never been +returned to me to this hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope it was nothing very important I left."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It depends upon what you call important. There are different +standards in such matters; though you appear to have none. I should +call it important; but then my wardrobe is limited. You left a coat +and waistcoat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I rather fancy that my wardrobe is more limited than yours; +but--I don't recall that coat and waistcoat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not surprised; after what you have just said, nothing would +surprise me. Baker brought them to me after you had gone; an admirable +servant, Baker. Were I to repeat to her what you have admitted she +would credit it with difficulty; she knows my ways. In the inside +pocket of the coat were some papers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Papers? Aunt! What papers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Lady Jane unlocked the dispatch-box; took from it a small packet; and, +placing her glasses on her nose, proceeded to read what was written on +half-a-sheet of note-paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is an inventory of what was contained in the pockets of your two +garments. Unlike you, fortunately, or I don't know where I should be, +I am a creature of method; I do everything by rule. I drew up this +list after Baker had searched the garments in my presence. In the +waistcoat were three pockets; which contained, one penknife; two +toothpicks--which I threw away; one pencil, or, rather, part of a +pencil; three wax matches, loose, which were most dangerous, and which +I had destroyed; a cigar-cutter, or, rather, what I presume is a +cigar-cutter, Baker didn't know what it was; four visiting-cards, +three of them your own, and the fourth somebody else's, and all of +them shockingly untidy; and the return half of a ticket from Brighton +to London, which was then more than three months old. In the coat were +five pockets; it has always been a mystery to me what men want with so +many pockets; judging from what was in yours I am inclined to think +that they use them merely as receptacles for rubbish. Some of the +things which were in yours I had thrown away; the following are +what I have kept. One pocket-handkerchief; one pair of gloves; one +tobacco-pouch; one pipe, a horrid, smelling thing which I had boiled +in soapy water, but which still smells; one matchbox--empty. I suppose +it was meant to contain the matches which were loose in your +waistcoat; a cigar-case; a golf ball; while in the inside pocket were +the papers of which I have told you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't suppose they're anything very serious, after what you've just +been reading."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't you? Then you must have your own ideas of what is serious; if I +had thought they were of no interest I shouldn't have troubled you to +come to Littlehampton."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my dear aunt, what are they? You--you do keep a man on +tenter-hooks."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know why you say that. I am going to tell you what they are; +but, as you are of opinion that they are not serious, I should have +imagined that you were in no hurry. There are letters written to you +by Miss Lindsay; there are nine of them; some men would have thought +them serious."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he took the packet which she held out to him his countenance +changed in a manner which was almost comically sudden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Letters written by---- Why, they're Nora's! But--I thought----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never mind what you thought, Robert; you see what they are. As this +envelope is sealed, and is inscribed that it is not to be opened till +after the writer's death, some persons might have thought that that +was of interest also."</p> + +<p class="normal">He regarded the envelope she offered as if he found it difficult to +believe that his eyes were not playing him a trick. "Aunt, it's--it's +the envelope which Donald Lindsay sent me, and---- But I don't +understand; it's incredible! Aunt, why didn't you let me know this +before?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should I? It was in a coat of which you thought so little that +you didn't even know you'd lost it; the natural inference was that you +were hardly likely to leave anything of the least importance in the +pocket of a coat which you valued at nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But--I thought I put it in my suit-case--I've chased the case half +round the world. Aunt, what have you done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have I done? You mean, what have you done? If anything has been +done I trust it is something from which you will learn a lesson. I +said to myself, if these are of the least consequence, he will ask for +them; since he has been guilty of such culpable carelessness I'll wait +till he does ask. But I waited, and I waited, and you never asked, you +never once alluded to them. What could I conclude? At last they +slipped my memory, as sometimes trifles will do; I came upon them, by +mere accident, as I was looking through this dispatch-box last night; +so I sent for you that I might give them to you in person, though, +naturally, I had long ago come to the conclusion that they were not of +the slightest importance."</p> + +<p class="normal">He drew a long breath.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, this is the most extraordinary thing that ever has happened to +me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If that is the case I can only hope that it will teach you not to +leave papers in the pockets of a coat which you fling down anywhere, +anyhow, and instantly forget."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--I hope it will teach me something of the kind. As this envelope +may contain a communication of much consequence, may I ask you to +excuse me while I go to examine it at once?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why is it necessary that you should leave me? Why can't you examine +it here? You know what an interest I take in all that concerns you. +Sit down; open your envelope; see what's inside; you need fear no +interruption from me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then--if you don't mind--I will." Inside the envelope were two sheets +of large letter paper, closely covered, on all eight sides, with +Donald Lindsay's fine handwriting. Robert Spencer had not read far +before he broke into exclamation. "What the--I beg your pardon, +aunt--I didn't quite--but this is most extraordinary." As he read on, +more than once he punctuated his reading with interjectional remarks; +evidently what he read occasioned him profound surprise. When he had +finished he looked about him as if he was not quite sure where he was. +When he perceived Lady Jane he started from his chair in evident +perturbation; as good as her word, she had not interrupted him by so +much as a movement, and now sat eyeing him grimly. He turned to her +with a laugh which did not sound very natural. "Well, aunt, we've done +it, you and I, between us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray attribute nothing to me; I decline to accept any responsibility +for your criminal carelessness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can only say that while Nora Lindsay has been treated like a +fraudulent pauper, turned out of house and home, sent out into the +world to earn her bread, she may be starving for all I know; I've left +no stone unturned, but I've been able to find no trace of her; all the +time the letter has been lying in your desk which shows that she is +one of the richest women in England, and I verily believe that her +father owed no man anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If that is so, Robert, then I don't envy you your feelings when you +reflect that Miss Lindsay's sufferings are solely and entirely the +result of your own misconduct."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you had only let me know you had the letter!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you attempting to fasten blame on me? For your monstrous and +incredible negligence in doing nothing, and less than nothing, to +safeguard a document which you now assert is of such importance!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what's done's done! And Nora has had her home taken from her, +and the things she cared for scattered to the four winds; it's been +one of the greatest steals on record! and she's been shamed in the +face of all the world, and she may be eating out her heart in some +last refuge of the destitute, and all the while---- It's a pretty +story, on my word!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It all comes from your mother and father taking it for granted that +the girl was a beggar; I nearly had a serious quarrel with your mother +because I told her I shouldn't be surprised if, after all, she was +mistaken; but your mother's like her son."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, aunt; my mother only took for granted what others took for +granted. I've heard you say some severe things about Miss Lindsay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've simply said that you're not in a position to marry a penniless +girl; and you're not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I could only have found her I'd have made her marry me, though she +hadn't a shoe to her foot, nor a penny in her pocket; I'd not have let +her go until she did. Thank God, she knew it, and that's why she's +hidden herself. Poor Nora! Will she--will she ever forgive any of us! +It's a tragedy I've never heard the like of; and all through some +one's blundering. But, as I've said, talk's no healer. I can't go +to-night, there's no train; but I shall go up to town in the morning +to investigate some of the statements which are contained in this +letter; and now, if you don't mind, aunt, I must get out of doors; I +must have what you're so fond of--air."</p> + +<p class="normal">He wanted something more than air; he wanted a vent for the feelings +which filled his breast, as it seemed to him, to bursting point. He +tore up and down the front; he had it to himself at that hour, so that +the unusual pace at which he strode along did not attract inconvenient +attention. The promenade at Littlehampton is not a very long one, but +he walked ever so many miles before he had done with it. It was easy +enough to blame Lady Jane; he felt strongly that that lady had not +behaved so well as she might have done; keeping a letter from him +while the weeks stretched out into months seemed to him to be a course +of action for which there was no excuse; but, all the same, he was +perfectly well aware that the fault was originally his. The parable of +the grain of mustard-seed came into his mind as he thought of the +Upas-tree of disaster which had sprung from a beginning which was +apparently so insignificant; he thought he had put the letter in his +suit-case and he had left it in one of his pockets instead; because of +that slight misadventure ruin had come to Nora; such ruin! His aunt +had punished him severely. He could not recall the coat even then; the +only explanation of which he could think was that he had supposed he +had packed the coat itself in his suitcase. If Lady Jane had but +dropped so much as a hint! He did not know how much cause he had to +rejoice because the letter was not where he had believed it to be; if +Mr. Morgan had only found it when he reclaimed the suit-case it might +have provided him with the means of keeping Nora Lindsay out of her +own for an indefinite length of time; the tragedy might have become a +tragedy indeed.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the morning, when Mr. Spencer reached the station, on the platform +were two familiar figures. He advanced to greet them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, Mr. Nash, and Miss Harding! this is an unexpected pleasure; I +didn't expect to find such pleasant memories of Cloverlea at +Littlehampton."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Harding," exclaimed the gentleman, "is now my wife; she is Mrs. +Nash. We"--he hesitated, and then went on--"we are just finishing our +honeymoon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Spencer's face expressed astonishment which was hardly flattering +to either of the parties concerned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You--don't say so; then--that's another unexpected pleasure. Mrs. +Nash, you must allow me to offer you my congratulations."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was about to go with some of the banal remarks which are made on +such occasions when he was struck by the look which was on the young +wife's face, and by the singularity of her attitude. She seemed to be +in mortal terror. Shrinking back, cowering, she clung to her husband's +arm, as if she was afraid that Spencer would have struck her. Nor did +Herbert Nash wear the expression of beatitude which is supposed to be +proper to a bridegroom who is returning from his honeymoon. It was +apparently with an effort that he said to Robert Spencer--</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you are going up by this train, Mr. Spencer, will you allow my +wife and me to travel with you? If--if we can get a compartment to +ourselves we have something to tell you, touching Miss Lindsay's +affairs, which--which I think we ought to tell you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The separate compartment was found; and, as a consequence, between +Littlehampton and London, Robert Spencer read human nature, as it +were, by flashes of lightning. Both husband and wife laid bare their +breasts to him; and what they left unsaid he saw between the lines. It +was a journey neither of the trio ever forgot. By the time the train +entered the terminus his soul shuddered at the thought of the mountain +of wrong which had been laid upon the woman he loved; who, after all, +was the merest girl. Yet, acutely though he felt for her, he felt also +for the miserable pair who were in front of him; already they had +probably suffered even more than Nora; and the worst of their +sufferings were still to come.</p> + +<p class="normal">The three got into a four-wheeled cab and drove to Memorial Buildings. +Mr. Clifford was out. Then, the clerk who received them asked if they +were Messrs. Morgan and Nash.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is Mr. Nash," explained the Honourable Robert, "but my name's +Spencer. Has Mr. Morgan been here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">No, he had not. Mr. Clifford had been at the office till eleven +o'clock; and had then left word that if Messrs. Nash and Morgan called +in his absence they were to be informed that he had gone to Mr. +Hooper, of Fountain Court, Temple, where they would find him if they +liked to follow.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_33" href="#div1Ref_33">THE AUTOGRAPH ALBUM</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Hooper, leaning back in his chair, surveyed his cousin as if he +were some strange animal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Although your conduct strikes me as--shall I say?--abnormal, I don't +wish to insinuate anything disagreeable, my dear Frank; still, if you +are sane I wish you'd prove it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Clifford passed his handkerchief across his brow, as if he found +the temperature trying.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's all very well to laugh--if you're supposed to be laughing--but, +if you were in my position, you'd find it no laughing matter. I'm to +be married next week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a prospect calculated to turn the strongest brain; granted!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look here, Jack, I'll throw something at you if you talk like that; +I've come for sense, not idiocy. Under the circumstances Mr. +Oldfield's continued absence--and silence--was pretty bad to bear; and +now to be told he's dead----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dead? you don't mean to say that Oldfield's dead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I was informed last night by two men, one named Nash, and the +other Morgan. Nash introduced himself as Oldfield's solicitor, and +Morgan said he was his sole executor. A more unclubable man than +Morgan I never met; he's not even a good imitation of a gentleman; how +Oldfield came to appoint him as his sole executor is beyond my +comprehension."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can you expect from a pill-man? I should take anything as a +matter of course from the proprietor of Peter Piper's Popular Pills."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They're a sound, wholesome medicine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course; we won't flog a dead donkey. And when did Oldfield die? +and what of? did you know that he was ill?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hadn't the ghost of a notion. And the best--or rather the worst--of +it is that Messrs. Nash and Morgan seem to take it for granted that I +knew all about it; especially the man Morgan."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should he do that? And what's the harm if he does?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Clifford was drumming on the table with his finger-tips, nervously; as +a rule he was one of the coolest and most collected of men; now his +embarrassment was obvious.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's one of the charms of the position; showing that one man may +know another for a long time, and yet know nothing at all about him. +According to the two gentlemen Joseph Oldfield lived a double life, +and his name wasn't Oldfield at all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There you are again, the pill-man! It at least looks as if he had the +saving grace of being ashamed to have it known that he was connected +with his own pills."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I admit it does make it look as if he were ashamed, though I don't +see why he should have been; since, as I say, they are a sound and +wholesome medicine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No doubt; the elixir of life; cure all ills; see advertisements."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no reason why a man should be more ashamed of being +associated with an honest medicine than with the profession of the +law, which is not all honesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, O king! Still, however, let's pass on. If his name wasn't +Oldfield, what was it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can't you guess?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can't I--would you mind saying that again; only let me warn you that +if you've come here to ask riddles there'll be ructions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't be an ass, if you can help it! I saw the girl who's in the next +room in his room, yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You saw her? I don't believe it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At least I saw her likeness; it was on his writing-table. She seemed +to be looking at me during the whole of a very unpleasant scene; it +was odd how the feeling that she was looking at me affected me; the +excellence of the likeness is proved by the fact that I recognized her +as the original the moment I saw her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then do you mean----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I mean that, according to Messrs. Nash and Morgan, Oldfield's real +name was Lindsay, Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea. What's Miss Lindsay +doing here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was Mr. Hooper's turn to look surprised. As was his custom, when at +all moved, getting up from his chair, he began to wander about the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why--she's typing, very badly, some absolutely worthless rubbish, for +the magnificent payment of two guineas a week, which I can't afford to +pay her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That sounds involved. Do you mean that she acts as your typewriter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir; she's my jobbing secretary; though I don't know what that +is; nor does she. And in that position she's earning two guineas a +week; which is more than I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's the idea?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The idea is that she's a lady; and that she wanted to earn her daily +bread, desperately badly. Mind, you're not to breathe a word of this +to her, or she'll go away at once, and probably never forgive me into +the bargain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It strikes me that you've been entertaining an angel unawares. She +says she's the daughter of Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What she says goes. That girl wouldn't tell a lie--well, she +wouldn't."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then in that case she must be worth piles of money. I don't +understand why she's here; unless---- Is it possible that she doesn't +know of the connection between Lindsay and Oldfield?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frank, there's a mystery about that girl; I've suspected it all +along; now suspicion's growing to certainty. Let's ask her to come in, +and we'll put her in the box. I'd give--more than I am ever likely to +have, to be to her a bearer of good tidings."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Jack! Is it like that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You idiot! I've only known her about two minutes; besides, she'd +never look at the likes of me; I feel it in the marrow of my bones. +But that's no reason why, if you have good news for her, she shouldn't +know them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"One moment! The point on which I've come to consult you I haven't yet +reached; and a very nasty one it is; all the same, my dear Jack, we +must leave Miss Lindsay till we've discussed it. I'm accused of having +committed forgery."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frank! you're jesting!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be a grim jest if I were; but I'm not. Yesterday Mr. Morgan +charged me, point-blank, with having forged--and uttered--bills, for +over forty thousand pounds; more, he seemed amazed because I did not +at once confess my guilt and throw myself upon his mercy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The man's a lunatic!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Nash did not directly associate himself with Mr. Morgan's +charges; on the other hand, he did not dissociate himself. His +attitude puzzled me. I fancy that he had no doubt about my guilt until +he met me, and that, afterwards, his judgment was in suspense."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what foundation had either of these men for such a monstrous +accusation?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's the difficulty; Morgan professes to believe he has a sound +one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whose name are you supposed to have forged?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Donald Lindsay's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you never heard it till yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is so; but Morgan called me a liar, right out, when I said so; +and appearances may be against me. Jack, I'm in an awkward position."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't see why; you can bring Mr. Morgan to book, and there's an end +of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's more in it than you suppose; it's not so simple. Let me +explain; or at least try to. You've heard me speak of a man named +Trevor, Harry Trevor?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know! Sir Henry Trevor! He's a blackguard!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm afraid he's not all that he might be, but that has only begun to +dawn upon me lately. At one time he and I were intimate. When I was +last in Paris I met him one day on the Boulevard. Although, somehow, +we'd drifted apart; our paths in life lay in different directions; +still I was very glad to see him, and we chummed up at once. He was +living in Paris; had an apartment on the Champs Elysée, at the top +there, near the Arch. He knew everybody; took me about; I had a royal +time. One night I dined with him in his rooms, he and I alone +together. Now I'm reluctant to make a direct charge, because I've no +proof to offer, but I wondered then, and I've wondered still more +since, if he hadn't done something to his wine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How--done something?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know I'm an abstemious man, I don't care for wine; as a rule I +drink nothing at meals, not even water. But on an occasion like that +it was different. I had one glass of champagne, one of those small +tumblers; when the servant began to fill it up I stopped him; not that +there was anything wrong with the champagne, I feel sure there wasn't. +After dinner, with our fruit, we had some port; I wanted neither the +port nor the fruit, but Trevor insisted. The servant had left the +room; he himself took a bottle out of a cupboard; he laid it in a +cradle; he drew the cork; you know the fuss some men make about +drawing a cork of what they allege is a remarkable bottle of wine. He +made all that fuss, he insisted upon my sampling it; of course after +all the business he had gone through, I had no option; he poured me +out a glassful. Now I believe that wine was not all he pretended."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What makes you think it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As soon as I tasted it I didn't like it, I told him so. He said +I should change my opinion by the time I'd finished the glass; +so--merely to get rid of it--I finished the glass in a hurry, and I +liked it less than ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did it affect you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It upset me; I was conscious that I was not in a condition in which I +should care to do business."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you say anything?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told him that I thought the wine had a very funny taste; but he +only laughed and said it was evident that I was no judge of port."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You only had one glass?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"One only; nothing short of physical force would have induced me to +touch another drop."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then what did you do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We went into the other room, his sitting-room. He took out an +autograph album, it seemed that he collected autographs; though that +was the first I'd heard of it. He began to talk about imitating +people's handwriting, how good some were at it. Now it's a fact that +I've always had an unfortunate facility for imitating handwriting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is, as you say, an unfortunate facility; one not overmuch to be +desired."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When I was at school I used to imitate the masters' writing, the +other fellows' writing, anybody's writing; it used to give me a sort +of importance in the eyes of the other boys, and I'm afraid I +sometimes used my gift in ways which weren't altogether to my credit; +you haven't forgotten what boys are. Trevor was at school with me, so +he knew all about it. As he turned over page after page of his album, +he kept saying that I couldn't imitate this writing, and I couldn't +imitate that; I hadn't tried my hand since I had left school; I didn't +know if he was right or wrong, and I didn't care. Finally he came to a +signature which, so far as I remember, was on a scrap of paper which +might have been torn off the bottom of a letter; the name itself was +recalled to my memory with unpleasant vividness yesterday--it was +Donald Lindsay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frank!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are fearfully and wonderfully made. It had gone clean out of my +mind till Mr. Morgan showed it to me yesterday on a bill of exchange; +then it came back with a rush of recollection which frightened me. +Wasn't that an extraordinary thing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go on; I don't see yet what you are coming to."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Trevor made a special point of this signature. He sat down and +imitated it himself, and then challenged me to do better. His +imitation was a bad one; and--I did better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did you write on?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have a vague impression that it was on a blank sheet of paper; but +I was in such a state of muddle that I couldn't positively affirm. Had +I been myself I should have changed the conversation before, but I was +in such a condition that I could only sit and listen, with but a dim +appreciation of his meaning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you do remember copying Donald Lindsay's signature on what you +believe was a blank sheet of paper?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately I do; the name meant nothing to me; I had never heard +of such a person; I acted on Trevor's persistent suggestion +practically like a man might do who was in a mesmeric trance. When I +had finished, Trevor, taking it up, declared it wasn't a bit like, +and, if I couldn't do better than that, he'd beaten me. So I tried +again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mean that you copied Donald Lindsay's signature a second time?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did."</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the same sheet of paper?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I couldn't positively say, but it wouldn't surprise me to be told +that it was on a fresh sheet. I've a hazy notion that I copied it a +third and fourth time; Trevor each time declaring that it was not a +bit like. By that time my brain was torpid, all I could do was move my +fingers; presently I could no longer move those. I lost consciousness. +The next thing I can recollect is waking up in bed at my hotel feeling +very ill. I rang for the waiter. When he appeared he told me, with a +grin, that I had been brought to the hotel in a cab; that I had had to +be carried out, borne up-stairs, undressed, and put to bed; the +inference being that I was drunk. But I knew better. There happened to +be staying in the hotel a doctor who practises at Karlsbad, with whom +I had some acquaintance, Dr. Adler, a man of cosmopolitan reputation. +I sent for him, and when he came he at once pronounced that I had been +poisoned."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poisoned? Actually poisoned?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Actually poisoned. Adler saved my life; I believe that without him I +should have died. It was three days before I could get out of bed; and +then I was so weak that I had to be helped across the room."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did you do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I sent a note to Trevor, by hand. The messenger returned with it, +saying Trevor had left Paris the day after I had dined with him, and +his apartment was shut up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I returned to London. I had already overstayed my time; I was wanted +at the office; I resumed my duties, and forgot all about it; or, at +least, I tried to. What could I do? The conclusion to which I came was +that there had been something wrong with the wine. I had known Trevor +the greater part of his life; I had never known him to be guilty of a +disreputable action; I could conceive of no motive which might induce +him to play tricks with an old friend, at his own table; I resolved +that, when occasion offered, I would tell him the tragic tale of how +his port had affected me; until yesterday I supposed that it was by +sheer accident that so far an opportunity had not arisen, and that I +had heard and seen nothing of Trevor from that day to this; and there +you are!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's not all the story."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So far as I've actual knowledge it is; the rest is mere surmise, +based on what Mr. Morgan told me yesterday. He says that bills for +over forty thousand pounds, purporting to be signed by Donald Lindsay, +have been discounted by Trevor, who asserted that he had them from me. +If that's true it looks as if those pieces of paper on which I copied +Lindsay's signature were bill stamps."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you no recollection of them whatever?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"None. If that is so then the possibility is that Trevor knew of the +connection between Lindsay and Oldfield; and that that is why he +hocussed me--Oldfield's managing man--into copying Lindsay's name; +which points to a plot, on Trevor's part, of the most iniquitous +kind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is Sir Henry Trevor now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I don't know. After leaving Morgan last night I hunted for him +everywhere; wired to Paris, searched all over London. Nothing has been +heard of him at any of his old haunts for at any rate the last three +or four months; he seems to have vanished."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who discounted the bills?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That, also, I can't tell you; we shall probably hear all about that +from Mr. Morgan. What I want to learn is, legally, in what position do +I stand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's not easy to say. To begin with they'll have to prove that the +bills were forged."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then they'll have to produce Trevor. A man who is capable of behaving +as he has done is quite likely to be willing to swear that he received +the bills in their completed state from you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which means?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your word against his; to clear yourself you'll have to convict him, +which mayn't be easy, or agreeable for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sounds cheerful; especially as I'm to be married next week!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's one hope for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only one? Let's have it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The fact that Miss Lindsay is in the next room. If she has anything +to do with it she'll even forgive you for allowing yourself to get +mixed up with such a scamp as Trevor; I know more about him than it +seems you do. That girl could forgive anybody anything, she's a saint +in embryo. I suggest that we invite her to come in here, and that we +then put to her some leading questions."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_34" href="#div1Ref_34">UNTO THE LIGHT</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">When Nora entered she looked from one man to the other, as if she +wondered by which of them her presence was desired. She declined the +chair which Mr. Hooper offered. On his persisting in his request to +her to be seated she observed, with the naïve mixture of humility and +pride which became her so well, that she would rather not sit, as she +was engaged in copying a passage which was more than usually involved, +and to which she would like to return as soon as she could. Mr. +Hooper, at her back, directed a glance at Mr. Clifford, of which, had +she intercepted it, she would probably have required a prompt +explanation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think, Miss Lindsay," he said, "that it is possible that you will +do no more copying for me, and that the passage of which you speak may +remain unfinished."</p> + +<p class="normal">She turned quickly round to him, alarm on her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Hooper! Why do you say that? What have I done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything you have done, Miss Lindsay, you have done excellently; if +you will permit me to ask you a few questions, you will understand why +I say it. Please sit down."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you; I much prefer to stand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, of course, are at liberty to please yourself; but, in that case, +Mr. Clifford and I must also continue to stand, and that may be +inconvenient." Thereupon she subsided on to the chair which he had +placed for her, glancing as she did so at the two men in front of her +as if she suspected them of having conspired together to compel her to +seat herself against her will. Mr. Hooper assumed an air which was +almost judicial. "I beg you to believe, Miss Lindsay, that in putting +to you the questions I am about to put I am actuated only by +considerations of your own interests. If they seem at all impertinent, +I assure you that it is in appearance only; as, if you will answer +them frankly, you will immediately perceive. To begin with, how many +children had your father beside yourself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">It is possible that she looked as surprised as she felt; she could +hardly have felt more surprised than she looked. She hesitated; then +briefly answered--</p> + +<p class="normal">"None."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then--pardon me if I pain you--were you not on good terms with your +father when he died?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her eyes opened wider; it seemed that her amazement grew.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I was; what do you mean? If you had ever known my father +you wouldn't have dreamt of asking such a--such a silly question; I +don't wish to be rude, but you wouldn't. My father never said an angry +word to me in the whole of his life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, in that case, to whom did he leave his money?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He left everything he had in the world to me absolutely; I don't know +quite what it means, but I know that's what they said, absolutely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then now it's my turn not to understand you. Your father was an +immensely wealthy man. If you are his heiress, how is it I have the +honour, and happiness, of seeing you here, in receipt of a modest +weekly salary?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every one thought papa was rich; I did; I understood him to tell me +himself that he was; but it seemed, after all, that he wasn't. Indeed, +as soon as he was dead, some man said he owed him a great deal of +money, for bills."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bills!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The interruption came from Clifford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know what kind of bills they were; but I know they were bills +of some kind, because I was told so; then they came and sold +everything to get money to pay the bills, and I was left with +nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">The two men eyed each other as if the significance of what the girl +said surpassed their comprehension. Mr. Clifford continued his +interposition.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Lindsay, Mr. Hooper has told you my name; it is Clifford--Frank +Clifford. I believe I knew your father for many years, and am indebted +to him for many kindnesses. Did he never mention my name to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clifford? No, I don't remember his ever having done so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I saw your portrait in his rooms yesterday, and when I saw you this +morning I recognized you at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His rooms? What rooms?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"His rooms in town."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I didn't know he had any; we couldn't find out that he had an address +in town."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You couldn't find out that he had an address in town? I don't +understand; there is something very strange here. Do you know a Mr. +Nash?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herbert Nash? He acted as my solicitor after my father was dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your solicitor, or your father's?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mine. He went through my father's papers with a friend, and it was he +who discovered that he had left no money."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is stranger and stranger. How many executors did your father +appoint?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Executors?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How many executors did your father appoint in his will?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never heard that he appointed any."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then did you ever hear of a Mr. Morgan?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Morgan? Stephen Morgan? Stephen Morgan was our butler at Cloverlea."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Clifford gave what seemed like a gasp of astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your butler! Miss Lindsay, would you mind describing your butler?" +She did it so minutely that he identified his visitor of yesterday +beyond a doubt. "I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Morgan, Miss +Lindsay; but he did not introduce himself as your father's butler. +Would it be asking too much to ask you to describe your father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can do better than that. He never would be photographed by a +professional, but I managed to snap him two or three times with my own +camera; I have a print of the very last snapshot I took of him here. +It's not much as a photograph, but it's not a bad likeness." She took +an old-fashioned gold locket from the bosom of her dress, and, opening +it, held it out for Mr. Clifford to see. On one side was the portrait +of her father; on the other was the portrait of some one else. "That," +she explained, rather lamely, "is a portrait of--of some one I used to +know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This," declared Mr. Clifford, looking at the likeness on the other +side, "is the portrait of the man I have known for many years as +Joseph Oldfield."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As who? That's my father!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you not know he had a business in town?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not know he had a business anywhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He had; he carried on that business under a pseudonym; I have always +known him as Joseph Oldfield; for the first time yesterday I heard the +name of Donald Lindsay. It seems to have been his wish that his +commercial and his private lives should be wholly distinct, +overlapping at no point; he appears to have succeeded in carrying out +that wish almost too well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How--how extraordinary; and yet I'm not surprised. That is what he +has been trying to tell me all the time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All what time?"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was something in her tone and manner which struck the two men as +curious; a sort of exaltation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has been coming to me, night after night, in my dreams, always in +such trouble; always trying so hard to tell me something; but he never +could. Now I know what it was. If he comes again he'll understand that +I know, and his trouble will have gone. You mustn't laugh at me; in my +dreams his coming has been so real." Judging from their faces neither +of her hearers was inclined for laughter. She turned to Mr. Clifford. +"What was my father's business?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was the proprietor of Peter Piper's Popular Pills, of which you +have probably heard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why"--her face was illumined by a smile--"he always had a stock of +them in the house; it was a standing joke. He used to give a box to +nearly every one who came, declaring that they were a simple, safe +medicine for what he called 'common complaints.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Clifford bestowed on Mr. Hooper what might be described as a glare +of triumph.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So they are, Miss Lindsay; it is only ignorant people who doubt it. +No one was in a better position to know than your father was, and he +was their sole proprietor. If he left you all his property, then I am +fortunate in being the first to tell you that, of my own knowledge, +you are the owner of at least a million."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A million! Mr. Clifford! Then--then----"</p> + +<p class="normal">She had the locket still open, and was looking at the likeness which +she had described as the portrait of some one she used to know; as she +looked her sentence came to a premature end, and her face was dyed +with blushes. Mr. Clifford went on, a little heatedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have been badly used, Miss Lindsay; monstrously used; and by +those who should have made it their first aim to use you well."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her radiant face contrasted oddly with his warmth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What does it matter? It has done me no harm. All the while I've felt +that God was leading me through the darkness unto the light; and +that's what He has done. So see how much I have to thank Him for."</p> + +<p class="normal">The door was opened by Mr. Gibb.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two gentlemen and a lady to see Mr. Frank Clifford."</p> + +<p class="normal">Without waiting for further announcement the visitors came in; in +front Robert Spencer; behind him Herbert Nash, with Elaine at his +side. When the lovers saw each other, each stood gazing as if fearful +that the other was some entrancing vision which might resolve itself +into air and vanish. Both cried, as if it was the most delightful and +wonderful thing in the world that it should be so--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They advanced, and only just in the nick of time remembered that there +were others there; they could not have got closer and kept out of each +other's arms. Mr. Spencer spoke as if in an ecstasy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You queen of dear women, I've ransacked all the stray corners of the +world for you! Where have you been hiding?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why," she replied, "I've been trying to earn my living."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Lady Quixote! all the while you've been a millionaire!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So Mr. Clifford has just told me. I haven't had time to realize it +yet; but I think I'm glad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You only think?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm sure." She added--they were so close!--these words, which reached +his ear only, "For your sake!" As she whispered her face crimsoned. +Before he could answer she had moved forward. "Elaine!" When she +advanced the other shrank back. "Why, Elaine, what's the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Spencer spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Harding is now Mrs. Nash. If you will go with her into the next +room I think you will find that she has something which she wishes to +say to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">So Nora went with Elaine into the adjoining chamber. The four men, +left to themselves, began, with each other's aid, to piece together, +into a comprehensible whole, the scattered parts of Donald Lindsay's +strange history. While in the little room, where she had had such +struggles with the typewriter, in the hour of her happiness, Nora had +to listen to a tale of sin; and even while she listened, her one +thought was how to comfort the sinner, to lead her, through the +darkness, unto the light.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXV</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_35" href="#div1Ref_35">BREAD UPON THE WATERS</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Although so recently returned to the House of Commons, Robert Spencer +has already made his mark; discerning judges on both sides of the +House prophesy that ere long he will become a power in the State. If +he does he will owe his success in no slight measure to his wife. Few +things help a man more than a happy marriage; about the happiness of +his marriage there can be no question. His wife is one of the +loveliest women in London; one of the most charming, in the best sense +of the word. All decent folk are proud to know she is their friend; +the other sort know she is not their enemy. She has help and sympathy +for all.</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter Piper's Popular Pills still belong to Nora. Mr. Clifford not +only continues to manage them; he has a share in the fruits of their +prosperity. He was married on the appointed day, to Miss Ross's +relief. Nora and Mr. Spencer were both present at the wedding, and Mr. +Hooper was the groom's best man. The honeymoon tour was carried out on +the lines originally planned. Nothing was done in the business of the +forged bills. When matters were explained to Nora she insisted that +nothing should be done. Probably hers was the part of wisdom; it is +difficult to see how good would have resulted. Sir Henry Trevor still +continues vanished; but it seems not unlikely that he is flourishing +somewhere on the other side of the world. Occasionally remittances are +received, sometimes for considerable sums, posted from different towns +on the American continent, in envelopes which contain, beside the +remittances, nothing but a half-sheet of paper, on which is always the +same line, "Towards the discharge of a debt due to Donald Lindsay's +estate." The inference is that these amounts come from Sir Henry +Trevor, who has chosen this method of salving an obligation of which +he alone knows the precise history.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Nash are in Canada, where they have not done +badly. Nash is an honest and hard-working man; if anything, a trifle +hard and stern. His wife is a good mistress of his home. She is the +mother of three children. It is her continual prayer that they may not +be led into temptation, but delivered from evil.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stephen Morgan died in a London hospital on the day before Frank +Clifford was married. He was knocked down by a motor omnibus. When he +was taken to the hospital he was already unconscious, and already +dying. On his return to consciousness, he was plainly near the end. +With what seemed to be almost his last breath he begged that they +would send for Mr. Clifford. Before, however, Mr. Clifford reached the +hospital, he was dead. His ill deeds died with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have a house in the country, but not at +Cloverlea. Nora had no desire to renew associations which had suffered +so severe an interruption. The lodge at the gate of the new house is +in the occupation of Mrs. Gibb and Miss Gibb--Angel Gibb. Miss Gibb is +engaged to the second gardener. A question has lately arisen as to +whether, on the occasion of their approaching marriage, he shall go +and live with his wife and her mother, or whether his wife and her +mother shall come and live with him. The point has been referred by +both parties to Mrs. Spencer, who finds it rather a difficult one to +decide.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Gibb is still with Mr. Hooper. He reports that business is looking +up. It is a fact that of late several briefs have found their way into +Mr. Hooper's hands. It is whispered that he is indebted for them to +influence in certain quarters. However that may be, it is beyond doubt +that he has handled them as well as could possibly be desired.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE END</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="W20"> +<h5><i>Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London and Bungay</i></h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Woman Perfected, by Richard Marsh + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN PERFECTED *** + +***** This file should be named 38181-h.htm or 38181-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/1/8/38181/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Woman Perfected + +Author: Richard Marsh + +Release Date: December 1, 2011 [EBook #38181] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN PERFECTED *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=ezkPAAAAQAAJ + + 2. The dipthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + A Woman Perfected + + + + + + + _By the same Author_ + + + THE ROMANCE OF A MAID OF HONOUR + ADA VERNHAM, ACTRESS + CURIOS: SOME STRANGE ADVENTURES OF TWO BACHELORS + MRS. MUSGRAVE AND HER HUSBAND + MISS ARNOTT'S MARRIAGE + THE MAGNETIC GIRL + CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG LADY + THE GARDEN OF MYSTERY + UNDER ONE FLAG + + + JOHN LONG, Publisher, London + + + + + + + A Woman Perfected + + + + By + + Richard Marsh + + + + "Earth's noblest thing, a woman perfected" + + + + London + John Long + Norris Street, Haymarket + [_All Rights Reserved_] + + + + + + _First published in_ 1907 + + + + + Contents + + + CHAPTER + + I. Stricken. + + II. The Open Window. + + III. Little by Little. + + IV. The Avernian Slope. + + V. Peter Piper's Popular Pills. + + VI. Her Love Story. + + VII. The Puzzle which Donald Lindsay left behind him. + + VIII. A Philanthropist. + + IX. The Butler. + + X. The Earl and the Countess. + + XI. Robert. + + XII. In the Wood. + + XIII. Lovers' Tiffs. + + XIV. The Parting of the Ways. + + XV. 'So Early in the Morning.' + + XVI. GULDENHEIM. + + XVII. Nora goes. + + XVIII. Miss Gibb. + + XIX. A Young Lady in Search of a Living. + + XX. King Solomon. + + XXI. Nora Finds Something to do. + + XXII. Master and Man. + + XXIII. A Jobbing Secretary. + + XXIV. Mr. Morgan's Experiences of the Unexpected. + + XXV. On their Honeymoon. + + XXVI. An Offer of Friendship. + + XXVII. A Royal Road to Fortune. + + XXVIII. To be--or not to be--Postponed. + + XXIX. In Joseph Oldfield's Flat. + + XXX. When Thieves fall out. + + XXXI. Husband and Wife. + + XXXII. A Forgotten Coat. + + XXXIII. The Autograph Album. + + XXXIV. Unto the Light. + + XXXV. Bread upon the Waters. + + + + + + A Woman Perfected + + + + + CHAPTER I + + STRICKEN + + +Donald Lindsay was prostrated by a stroke of apoplexy on Thursday, +April 3. It was surmised that the immediate cause was mental. He +arrived home apparently physically well, but in a state of what, for +him, was a state of unusual agitation. As a rule he was a dour man; +much given to silence; self-contained. At that time there was staying +at Cloverlea, with his daughter Nora, a school-friend, Elaine Harding. +During lunch both girls were struck by his unusual talkativeness. +Often during a meal he would hardly open his lips for any other +purpose except eating and drinking. That morning he talked volubly to +both girls on all sorts of subjects. After lunch Nora said laughingly +to Elaine-- + +"I wonder what's the matter with papa. I don't know when I remember +him so conversational." + +He put in no appearance at tea; but as that was a common occurrence +his absence went unnoticed. When, however, the gong having sounded for +dinner, the girls were waiting for him in the drawing-room, and still +he did not come, Nora sent a servant to his dressing-room to inquire +if he would be long. The man returned to say that his master was +neither in his dressing-room nor his bedroom; that he had spent the +afternoon in his study, from which no one had seen him issue; that the +study door was locked, and knockings went unheeded. Nora, opening a +French window in the drawing-room, went along the terrace towards the +study. + +The study opened on to the terrace. It had two long windows. At +neither of them were the blinds down or the curtains drawn. It was +elicited afterwards that the servant whose duty it was to attend to +such matters had knocked at the door when the shadows lowered. On +turning the handle, he found that it was locked; Mr. Lindsay informed +him from within that he would draw the blinds himself. It seemed that +he had not done so. The room was in darkness, with the exception of +the flicker of the firelight. Nora said to Miss Harding, who had +followed at her heels-- + +"Whatever does papa want with a fire on a day like this?" All that +week the weather had been not only warm, but positively hot. There had +been one of those hot spells which we sometimes get in April; and, as +frequently, have to do without in August. Save in the evenings and +early mornings fires had remained unlit in all the living rooms. That +Thursday had been the hottest day of all. Mr. Lindsay was one of those +persons who seldom felt the cold, but quickly suffered from the heat. +He preferred to be without a fire in his own apartments when the rest +of the establishment was glad enough to be within reach of a cheerful +blaze. That there should be one in his study on such a day as that +struck his daughter as strange. She stood close up to the window, her +friend at her side. "The room seems empty." + +"It is empty," said Miss Harding. Nora knocked, without result. +"What's the use of knocking? There's no one there." Nora tried the +handle first of one window, then of the other; both were fastened. +"What's the use?" asked Miss Harding. "Any one can see that the room +is empty. There's light enough for that." + +At that moment the fire flared up in such a way that all the room +within was lit by its radiance; so clearly lit as to make it plain +that it had no occupant. + +"But," observed Nora, "if it's empty why should the door be locked? +Papa never leaves it locked when he's not inside." + +Two figures approached through the darkness. In front was the +housekeeper, Mrs. Steele. + +"Miss Nora," she began, "you'd better go indoors. I'm afraid there's +something wrong." + +"Why should I go indoors?" the girl demanded. "And what can be wrong? +We can see all over the room; we saw plainly just now, didn't we, +Elaine? There's no one there." + +"Your father's there," said Mrs. Steele. + +Her tone was grim. Before Nora could ask how she knew that, there was +a crash of glass. Looking round with a start she found that Stephen +Morgan, the butler, had broken a pane in the other window. + +"Morgan," she cried, "what are you doing?" + +"This is the shortest way in," he answered. + +He thrust his arm through the broken pane; lifted the hasp; the window +was open. He went through it. Nora was following when she was checked +by Mrs. Steele. + +"Miss Nora," she persisted, "you had better go indoors." + +"I am going indoors; isn't this indoors? If, as you put it, there is +something wrong, who is more concerned than I?" All four entered. +Morgan, who had passed round to the other side of the large +writing-table, which was in the centre of the room, gave a sudden +exclamation. Nora hurried round to where he was. Some one was lying +huddled up on the floor; as if, slipping awkwardly out of his chair, +he had lain helplessly where he had fallen. Nora dropped on her knees +by his side. "Papa!" she cried. "Father!" + +No one answered. Morgan lit the lamp which always stood on Mr. +Lindsay's writing-table. In the days which followed Nora often had +occasion to ask herself what, exactly, happened next. She was +conscious that in the room there was a strong smell of burnt paper; +always, afterwards, when her nostrils were visited by the odour of +charred paper that scene came back to her. The cause of the smell was +not far to seek; the hearth was full of ashes. Evidently Mr. Lindsay +had been burning papers on a wholesale scale; apparently for that +reason he had had a fire; Nora had a vague impression--which recurred +to her, later, again and again--that many of the papers were only +partially consumed. The room was littered with papers; they were all +over the table; on chairs, on the floor; drawers stood open, papers +peeped out of them; which was the more remarkable since Mr. Lindsay +was the soul of neatness. Plainly the finger of God had touched him +when he was still in the midst of the task which he had set himself. +There came a time when Nora had reason to wish that she had retained +her self-possession sufficiently to give instructions that all papers, +both burnt and unburnt, were to be left exactly as they were; and had +taken steps to ensure those instructions being carried out. But at the +moment all she thought of was her father. He was not dead; his +stertorous breathing was proof of that. They carried him up-stairs; +undressed him, put him to bed, who an hour or two before had been the +hale, strong man; who had never known what it was to be sick; who had +so loved to do everything for himself. + +Apoplexy was Dr. Banyard's pronouncement, when he appeared upon the +scene; though there were features about the case which induced him to +fall in readily with Nora's suggestion that a specialist should be +sent for from town. The great man arrived in the middle of the night. +When he saw Nora he was sententious but vague, as great doctors are +apt to be; the girl gathered from his manner that the worst was to be +feared. + +On the following day, the Friday, towards evening, Mr. Lindsay +partially regained consciousness--that is, he opened his eyes, and +when his child leaned over him it was plain he knew her, though he got +no further than the mere recognition. He could neither speak, nor +move, nor do anything for himself at all. That night Nora dreamed + a dream. She dreamed that her father came into her room in his +night-shirt, and leaned over her, and whispered that he had something +to say to her--which he must say to her; but which was for her ear +alone--he was just about to tell her what it was when she woke up. So +strong had the conviction of his actual presence been that for some +moments she could not believe that it was a dream; she started up in +bed fully expecting to find him standing by her side. When she found +that he was not close enough to touch she leaned out of bed, +murmuring-- + +"Father! father!" + +It was only after she had lit a candle that she was constrained to the +belief that it was a dream. Even then she was incredulous. She +actually carried her candle to the door, and looked out into the +passage, half expecting to see him passing along it. When she returned +into her room she was in a curious condition, both mentally and +bodily. She trembled so that she had to sink on to a chair. Then she +did what she had not done for years--she cried. If she had had to say +what prompted her tears, her explanation would have been a curious +one; she would have had to say that she cried because of her father's +grief; that it was his anguish which moved her to tears. Dream or no +dream, what had struck her about him, as he leaned over her as she lay +in bed, was his agony. In all the years she had known him she had +never known him show signs of emotion; yet, as he leant over her she +had felt, even in her sleep, that he was under the stress of some +terrible trouble; that he wished to say to her what he had to say so +much that his anxiety to say it was tearing at the very roots of his +being. It was some minutes before she regained her self-control; when +she did she slipped on a dressing-gown and went to her father's room. +The night nurse answered her unspoken question by informing her that +no change had taken place; that the sick man was just as he had been. +Nora moved to his bed. There he lay, on his back, exactly as before. +She had the feeling strong upon her that he had heard her coming; +that, in some strange fashion, he was glad to see her; though, when +she stood beside him, he looked up at her with such agony in his eyes +that the sight of it brought tears to hers. Again there came to her +that odd conviction which had possessed her when she woke out of +sleep, that there was something which he strenuously wished to say to +her; that he was torn by the desire to relieve himself of a burden +which was on his mind. + +On the Saturday his condition remained the same; he was conscious but +motionless, helpless, and, above all, speechless. So convinced was she +that if he could only speak, if only some means could be found by +which he could convey his thoughts to her, that he would be more at +his ease, that she appealed to Dr. Banyard. + +"Can nothing be done to restore to him the power of speech, if only +for a few minutes?" + +"I believe that I am doing all that medicine can do; you heard Sir +Masterman say that he could do no more." + +"Can you think of no way in which he can convey to us his meaning? +I believe that he has something which he wishes very much to +say--something on his mind; and that if he could only say it--get it +off his mind--he would at least be happier." + +The doctor eyed her shrewdly. + +"Have you any notion what it is?" + +"Not the slightest. If I had I might prompt him, and get at it that +way. But my father has never been very communicative with me; I know +nothing of his private affairs--absolutely nothing; I only know that +he is my father." + +"Have you any other relations?" + +"So far as I know only an aunt, his sister. I have never seen her--I +don't think they have been on good terms; I don't know her address; I +believe she lives abroad." + +"Had your mother no relations?" + +"I cannot tell you; I know nothing of my mother--she died when I was +born. I have been wondering if what he wishes to say is that, if--if +the worst comes, he would like to be buried in her grave. I don't know +where her grave is; he has never spoken of her to me." + +The doctor continued to eye her intently. He had a clever face, with a +whimsical mouth, which seemed to be a little on one side; his eyes +were deep-set, and were surrounded by a thick thatch of iron-grey +hair. + +"How old are you?" + +"I shall be twenty in June." + +"That's a ripe age." + +She sighed. + +"I feel as if I were a hundred." + +"You don't look it; however, that's by the way. At such a time as +this, Miss Lindsay, you ought not to be alone in this great house, +with all the weight upon your shoulders." + +"I'm not alone; Elaine is with me." + +"Yes; and she--is even older than you." + +"Elaine is twenty-four." + +"I don't doubt it. If you're a hundred I should say that she is a +thousand." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Nothing." But she felt that he had meant something; she wondered +what. He went on. "What I intended to remark was that I think you +ought to have some one with you who would give proper attention to +your interests. As it is, you are practically at the mercy of a lot of +servants and--and others. Hasn't your father an old friend, in whom +you yourself have confidence--a business friend? By the way, who is +his man of business--his lawyer?" + +She shook her head. + +"If father has any friends I don't know them. He has never been very +sociable with anybody about here; I can't say what old acquaintances +he may have had elsewhere. As you are probably aware, he was +frequently away." + +"Did you never go with him?" + +"Never--never once. I have never been with my father anywhere out of +this immediate neighbourhood, except when I first went to school, when +he escorted me." + +"But you always knew where he was?" + +"Sometimes; not always." + +"Had he an address in town?" + +"Only his club, so far as I know." + +"Which was his club?" + +"The Carlton." + +"That sounds good enough. Did you use to write to him there?" + +"Not often; he only liked me to write to him when I had something of +importance to say. He cared neither for reading nor for writing +letters. He once told me that there were a lot of women who seemed to +have nothing better to do than waste their own and other people's time +by scribbling a lot of nonsense, which they cut up into lengths, sent +through the post, and called letters. He hoped I should never become +one of them. I remembered what he said, and never troubled him with +one of the 'lengths' called letters if I could help it." + +Both of them smiled; only the doctor's was a whimsical smile, and hers +was hardly suggestive of mirth. + +"You haven't told me who his lawyer is." + +"The only lawyer I ever heard him mention was Mr. Nash." + +"Nash? He only employed him in little local jobs; in no sense was he +his man of business; I've reasons for knowing that his opinion of +Herbert Nash's legal ability is not an unduly high one." + +As before, Nora shook her head. + +"He is the only lawyer I ever heard papa mention." + +"But, my dear Miss Lindsay, your father is a man of affairs--of +wealth; he lives here at the rate of I don't know how many thousand +pounds a year, and has never owed a man a penny; you must know +something of his affairs." + +"All I know is that he has always given me all the money I wanted, and +not seldom more than I wanted; I have never had to ask him for any; +but beyond that I know nothing." + +When Dr. Banyard got home he said to his wife-- + +"Helen, if I had to define a male criminal lunatic, I am inclined to +think that I should say it was a man who brought up his women-folk in +the lap of luxury without giving them the faintest inkling as to where +the wherewithal to pay for that luxury came from." + +His wife said mischievously-- + +"It is at least something for women-folk, as you so gracefully +describe the salt of the earth, to be brought up in the lap of luxury; +please remember that, sir. And pray what prompts this last +illustration of the wisdom of the modern Solomon?" + +"That man Lindsay; you know how he's been a mystery to all the +country-side; the hints which have been dropped; the guesses which +have been made; the clues which the curious have followed, ending in +nothing; the positive libels which have been uttered. It turns out +that he's as much a mystery to his own daughter as he is to anybody +else; I've just had it from her own lips. The man lies dying, leaving +her in complete ignorance of everything she ought to know--at the +mercy, not impossibly, of those who do know. Just as God is calling +him home he wants to tell her; I can see it in his eyes, and so can +she; but he is dumb. Unless a miracle is worked he'll die silent, +longing to tell her what he ought to have told her years ago." + + + + + CHAPTER II + + THE OPEN WINDOW + + +On the Sunday Donald Lindsay died, in the afternoon, about half-past +four; probably about the time, Dr. Banyard said, when he had first +been stricken. Although, apparently, conscious to the last, he died +speechless, without being able to do anything to relieve himself of +the burden which lay upon his mind; a burden which, it seemed not +improbable, had been the first cause of the fate which had so suddenly +overtaken him. To Nora the blow was, of course, a bad one; when she +realized that her father was dead it seemed as if all the light had +gone out of the world for her. And yet, in the nature of things, it +was impossible that she should feel for him the affection which +sometimes associates the parent with the child. He himself had scoffed +at love; sentiment, he had repeatedly told her, was the thing in life +which was to be most avoided; he had illustrated his meaning in his +own practice. He had never been unkind, but he had certainly never +been tender; so far as she was aware he had never kissed her in his +life; on those rare occasions on which she had ventured to kiss him he +had brushed her aside as if she had been guilty of some folly. His +attitude towards her was one of more or less genial indifference. He +had provided her with a beautiful home; he had bought Cloverlea, as he +was careful to inform her, for her, and in it he left her very much +alone. He supplied her liberally with money, and there he seemed to +think his duty towards her ended. She was welcome to have any +companions she chose; he asked no questions about her comings and her +goings; took no sort of interest in the young women of her own age +whom, at rare intervals, she induced to stay with her. He made no +attempt whatever to find for her a place in local, or any other, +society; yet, unaided, she began, by degrees, to occupy a somewhat +prominent place on the local horizon. + +Living in one of the finest places in the neighbourhood, with horses +and carriages at her disposal, and even, latterly, motor cars; +possessed of a sufficiency of ready money, it was hardly likely that +she should remain unnoticed; her father's peculiarities threw her, if +anything, into bolder relief. There was not a house for miles in which +she was not a welcome visitor, and for this she had, largely, to thank +herself. Not only was she good to look at, she was good to be with; +she had that indefinable thing, charm. Not all the pens which ever +wrote could make clear to Us the secret of a young girl's charm. +Whilst she was still the mistress of Cloverlea her father seemed to be +the only living creature who remained impervious to its magic +influence; afterwards--that influence waned. On the Sunday on which +her father died she was left alone with her grief; but on the Monday +morning Dr. Banyard called and insisted on her seeing him. His manner, +while it was brusque, was sympathetic. + +"Now, my dear young lady," he began, almost as soon as she was in the +room, "what you have first of all to remember is that you, at any +rate, are still alive, and likely, in all human probability, to remain +so for some considerable time to come; your first duty therefore, +towards yourself, and towards your father, is to see that your +interests are properly safeguarded." + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"Then I will endeavour to make myself clear. I believe you are engaged +to be married." + +"You know I am." + +"Where, at the present moment, is Mr. Spencer?" + +"He is on his way home from Cairo, where he has been staying with his +aunt, Lady Jane Carruthers, who is ill." + +"Does he know what has happened?" + +"I don't quite know where he is. When he last wrote he told me that he +was going to take what he called an 'after-cure' in Italy "--she +smiled, as if at some thought of her own--"but he entered into no +particulars, and until I hear from him again I don't quite know where +he's to be found; all I do know is that he's to be home before the +first of May." + +"As things stand, that's some distance ahead. I believe that his +father and mother, the Earl and Countess, are also absent." She +nodded. "You say you don't know who was your father's man of business; +then who is there to whom you feel yourself entitled to turn for the +kind of assistance of which you stand in such imperative need, at +once; certainly in the course of to-day?" + +"There's Elaine." + +"You mean Miss Harding?" It was his turn to smile. "I'm afraid she's +not the kind of person I'm thinking of; though I do not for a moment +doubt her cleverness. She suffers from one disqualification; she's not +a man. What you want is a dependable, and thoroughly capable lawyer." + +"There's Mr. Nash." + +"Mr. Nash is, again, hardly the sort of person you're in want of. To +begin with, he's too young, has too little experience; it was only the +other day he qualified--with difficulty." + +"He has been qualified more than three years; he did a good many +things for papa." + +"Yes, but what kind of things? Not the kind which will have to be done +for you; and I happen to know that what he did he bungled." + +"I believe he's coming here to-day." + +"Have you sent for him?" + +"I haven't; but Elaine came into my room this morning and asked if she +should, and I believe she has." + +"Miss Harding sent for him?" The doctor eyed her intently for a +moment; then, turning, he went to the window and looked out; presently +he spoke to her from there. "And do you propose to give Herbert Nash +the run of your father's papers?" + +"I don't know what I propose to do; I haven't thought about it at all; +I want him to do what he can to help me; I don't feel as if I could do +very much to help myself." + +"Is it any use my saying that I can give you the name of a well-known +firm of family lawyers; and that you have only to send them a wire, +and before the day is over you'll have one of the best men in +England--in every sense--on the premises, making your interests his +own?" + +"Elaine seemed to think that Mr. Nash has only to glance through some +of my father's papers to discover who my father's man of business +really was, and that then all we shall have to do will be to +communicate with him." + +"I see; there's something in that--Miss Harding has her wits about +her. Do you know what time Mr. Nash is coming?" + +"I don't--Elaine sent the message, if one was sent, and of that I'm +not certain; anyhow I don't know what arrangements she has made." + +"Would you mind inquiring?" + +"I'll ask her to come here, then you can inquire yourself." + +The bell was rung, and presently Miss Harding appeared. She was short +and slight; with dark hair, big dark eyes, a dainty little mouth, and +very red lips. She made at once for Nora, ignoring the doctor, who was +still standing by the window. + +"They tell me that you want me." + +"It isn't I, it's Dr. Banyard; he wants to know if you have sent to +Mr. Nash; and, if so, at what time he's coming." + +Miss Harding opened her big eyes wider, which was a trick she had. + +"Dr. Banyard wants to know?--why does Dr. Banyard want to know?" + +"That I cannot tell you; you had better ask him; here he is. Is Mr. +Nash coming?" + +"Of course he's coming, but he doesn't seem to know quite when; it +seems he has some sort of case on at the police court." + +"I know; he's defending that young scoundrel, Gus Peters, who's been +robbing his master." + +This was the doctor; Miss Harding turned to him. + +"Is the gentleman you call Gus Peters a scoundrel?" + +"Isn't a fellow who robs his master a scoundrel?" + +"Has it been proved that he robbed his master?" + +"It's a matter of common notoriety." + +"Common notoriety is not infrequently a liar. However, that's not the +point; I suppose Mr. Nash will do his duty to his client in any case, +and he'll come here as soon as he's done it." + +"I'd wait for him if I could, but I have to go my round; I'll look in +afterwards on the off-chance of finding him; there's something I +particularly wish to say to him. I fancy the magistrates, in spite of +Mr. Nash, will make short work of Mr. Peters." + +After the doctor had gone Miss Harding said to Miss Lindsay, + +"Nora, dear, don't you think that Dr. Banyard is inclined to be a +little interfering?" + +"It has never struck me that he was." + +"It has struck me, more than once. But then I think that G.P.s are apt +to be interfering; they hope, by having a finger in everybody's pie, +to get a plum out of each. Dr. Banyard doesn't like Mr. Nash, does +he?" + +"He has never told me that he doesn't." + +"Has he never breathed words to the same effect?" + +"He has certainly hinted that he doesn't think much of Mr. Nash's +legal abilities; but then who does?" + +"I do." + +"Really, Elaine?" + +"Really, Nora. I believe that if he's truly interested in a person he +can do as much for that person as anybody else--perhaps more." + +"Possibly; but is he ever truly interested in anybody but himself?" + +Miss Harding was silent for an instant; then she smiled rather oddly. + +"Entirely between ourselves, Nora, that's what I wonder." + +She had cause to. + +It happened on the Thursday evening on which Mr. Lindsay was taken +ill, that Elaine Harding was left with nothing to do, and no one to do +it with. It is true that, had she insisted, she might have made +herself of use in some way; but, as she herself admitted, she was no +good when there was illness about. Indeed, she was one of those +persons--though this she kept to herself--who shrunk from suffering in +any form with a sort of instinctive physical repugnance. She only +needed half-a-hint to the effect that her services were not required, +and she was ready to give the sick-room as wide a berth as any one +could possibly require. To be plain, she was disposed to regard Mr. +Lindsay's attack almost as if it had been an injury to herself. Had +she been perfectly free, she would have packed up her boxes and left +the house within the hour; it would have been better for her if she +had. The idea of having to remain under the same roof with a man who +was suffering from an apoplectic stroke was horrid; but, at the same +time, there were reasons, of divers sorts, why she should not flee +from the dearest friend she had in the world at the first sign of +trouble. + +Instead of packing up her boxes she dined alone, off food which had +been ruined by being kept waiting. That was another grievance. She did +like good food, perfectly cooked. She was conscious that the servants +were regarding her askance, as if they were surprised that she should +dine at all; that also was annoying. When she rose from table she was +in quite a bad temper--what Mr. Lindsay meant by falling ill when she +was in the house she could not imagine. The solitude of the empty +drawing-room was appalling. The French window still stood open; better +the solitude of the grounds than that great bare chamber. She went out +on to the terrace. It was a lovely night, warmer than many nights in +June. There was not a cloud in the sky. A moon, almost at the full, +lighted the world with her silver glory. She looked about her. +Suddenly she perceived that a light was shining out upon the terrace +from what was evidently an uncurtained window. She remembered; no +doubt it was the lamp in Mr. Lindsay's study, the lamp which Morgan +had lit; in that case the window must still be open. She went to see; +her slight form moved along the terrace with something stealthy in its +movements, as if she was ashamed of what she was doing. She reached +the study; it was as she supposed; the lamp was lit, the window was +open, the room was empty. She was seized by what she would afterwards +have described as a sudden access of curiosity. She glanced over her +shoulder, to left and right; there was no one in sight; not a sound. +She put her dainty head inside the window, to indulge herself with +just one peep; after all, there is very little harm in innocent +peeping; then she passed into the room. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + LITTLE BY LITTLE + + +It was just as it was when its owner had been stricken down; in the +same state of disorder. Cupboards yawned; drawers were open; letters +and papers were everywhere; a fire still smouldered in the grate; the +hearth was littered with the ashes of burned and half-burned papers; +everywhere were indications that Mr. Lindsay had been interrupted, +possibly just as he was setting his house in order. Glancing round her +Elaine perceived that the door which led into the passage was open, +though only an inch or two; probably it had been left unlatched when +they bore the master through it. Moving lightly, on tiptoe, she shut +it, noiselessly; but she made sure she had shut it fast. She even laid +her small fingers about the handle of the key, seeming to hesitate +whether or not to turn it; then, smiling, as if at the absurdity of +the notion, she returned towards the centre of the room; standing for +some seconds glancing about her in all directions, as if in search of +something which it might be worth her while to look at; a pretty, +dainty, girlish figure, herself the one thing in the whole room which +was best worth looking at. + +By degrees her quick, bright eyes, roving hither and thither, reached +the writing-table in the centre, by which its owner had been sitting +when he had slipped from off his chair; instantly they noted something +which gleamed amid the litter of papers with which it was covered. +Moving a little towards it she saw that there were coins on a little +oasis about the centre; quite a heap of them--gold coins. On the top +of them was half-a-sheet of note-paper. Going close to the table she +picked this half-sheet up, gingerly, as if it were dangerous to touch. +As a matter of fact to her, at that moment, a dynamite bomb could not +have been more charged with peril. On the piece of paper were some +figures--"L127"--nothing more. She knew that the writing was Mr. +Lindsay's. Evidently he had been counting the coins, and had made a +note upon that slip of paper of the value they represented; there were +one hundred and twenty-seven pounds in gold. + +Elaine Harding was poor. Her father was the vicar of a parish in the +West of England. His parish was large; his family was large; but his +income was small. His wife had died some three years ago, worn out by +her efforts to make a pound do the work of at least thirty shillings. +Elaine had been sent to an expensive school by a relation; there she +had met Nora Lindsay. Just as the time came for her to be leaving +school the relation died. It had been expected that he would have done +something to establish her in life; had he lived he probably would +have done; as it was he left her nothing. So he had done her harm +instead of good; that expensive school filled her with notions which +might never have got into her head had it not been for him; a +fashionable boarding-school is a bad school for a poor man's daughter. +Ever since she had left it she had been discontented, inwardly if not +outwardly, for nature had made her one of those persons who always, if +they can, show a smiling face to the world. Nora Lindsay had been her +chief solace. She never refused Nora's invitations to pay her a visit, +and when at Cloverlea stayed as long as she could; indeed, she had +been there so much just lately, during Mr. Lindsay's almost continual +absences, that she knew the people round about almost as well as Nora +did herself. She allowed Nora to make her presents; she would have +been hard put to it if Nora had not had promptings in that direction. +And then the girl had such a pretty way of giving, as if she were +receiving a favour instead of bestowing one, that Elaine had no +difficulty in preserving her dignity in face of the most delicate +donations. Yet in spite of Nora's generosity she was always in need of +money; there were special reasons why she was very much in need of it +just now. Only the night before she had spent nearly an hour on her +knees praying to God to show her some way to the cash she stood so +much in want of; and now here were one hundred and twenty-seven pounds +in gold at her finger-tips. + +It could hardly be called an answer to her prayer. It is said that +prayers are heard in two places, in heaven and in hell; Elaine +realized with a sudden, shrinking terror that this answer must have +come from hell. The owner of that money was up-stairs, dying; she +believed that he was dying, speechless; she thought it possible that +he might never be able to speak again, this side the grave. The +chances were that he was the only person living who knew that that +money was where it was. It was hardly likely that he would ever +again be able to refer to its existence; she might, therefore, safely +regard it as--what? Say, treasure-trove; it was a convenient word, +treasure-trove; especially as she was placed. One hundred and +twenty-seven pounds! in gold! no one would ever be able to trace it! +ever! + +Her eyes, which had opened wider and wider, having in them a very +singular look, a look which would have startled her had they suddenly +glared back at her from a mirror, wandered from the heap of gold coins +to a bag, a canvas bag--a good-sized canvas bag, stuffed, apparently, +to repletion, tied round the top with red tape; the kind of bag, she +was aware, which is used by bankers to contain coin. She touched it, +lightly, with her finger-tips; there were coins inside, undoubtedly; +she could see them bulging through the canvas. She picked it up, again +gingerly, as if, if she did not observe great care, it might explode +in her hand; it had been better for her, perhaps, if it had. It was +heavy, heavier than she had expected; wedged full of money. Beneath it +there was another half-sheet of writing-paper; on it, in Donald +Lindsay's writing, was what was probably a statement of what the bag +contained--"L500." Five hundred pounds! obviously again in gold! She +could feel the sovereigns! and the one person who knew of its +existence dumb and dying! + +What was the matter with Elaine? The sheet of paper fell from her +hand. She reeled as if attacked by sudden vertigo; she leaned against +the table as if to save herself from falling; she went quite white; +she stared about her as if afraid. Six hundred and twenty-seven pounds +in gold! ownerless! practically ownerless, for how could it be said to +have an owner when the only creature who knew of its existence was +dumb and dying? Six hundred and twenty-seven pounds! what might not +that money mean to her?--and--and to some one else who had grown of +late to be almost more to her than herself? She turned again to clutch +at it; when she saw that on the writing-table there still was +something else; a roll of notes, enclosed in a rubber band; banknotes, +if she could believe her eyes. She picked them up, to make sure; +heedlessly, fearlessly this time; the other things had proved so +innocuous that, already, she had grown careless. They were bank-notes, +unmistakably; and beneath them, was the inevitable half-sheet of +paper. This time it was covered with quite an array of figures, in +Donald Lindsay's neat handwriting. Seemingly, according to those +figures, the roll of notes contained forty at L5, fifty at L10, +twenty-five at L20, six at L50, ten at L100; in all one hundred and +twenty-one notes of the value of L2500. The numbers were given of +every note of each denomination; Elaine's quick eyes perceived that +the numbers were by no means consecutive, from which she deduced that +they had not been issued from a bank all at one time, but had come +together at different dates, from various quarters. + +She perceived on the instant that the discovery of that roll gave the +situation quite a different character; she herself was conscious of +being surprised at the rapidity with which her brain was working. One +hundred and twenty pounds, even six hundred and twenty pounds in gold, +was one thing; two thousand five hundred pounds in notes was quite +another; the one might provide for her immediate necessities, with +the other she might be secure for life. Properly invested the +whole sum ought to bring her in three pounds a week--for ever; she +believed she knew of an investment in which it might bring her more +than that; much more. The point was, would it be safe to treat that +as--treasure-trove? She was inclined to think it would. Probably the +existence of the entire amount was known only to the dying man, if he +was dying. There was, of course, the risk that he might come back to +life again, in which case it might be awkward. But some ghoul-like +intuition told her that she might dismiss that possibility from her +mind; some dreadful voice within proclaimed that he was as good as +dead already; in some horrible way she was sure of it. It was a +heterogeneous gathering, that roll of notes; probably their owner +himself could not have told how most of them came into his possession. +The only record of their identity was on that sheet of paper; if that +vanished there was nothing by which they could be identified; that +seemed pretty obvious. The devil whispered that it would be just as +safe to take the notes as to take the gold; and she knew that she +would run no risk by taking that. + +There was still one point to be considered; she was clear-sighted and +logical enough to be aware of that. If Donald Lindsay was dying then +this money was, in all human probability, his child's, who was the +dearest friend she had in the world, Nora. She loved Nora, really +loved her; she was always telling herself that she really loved her. +Then Nora had done her nothing but kindnesses; how great some of those +kindnesses were only she and Nora knew. The idea that she would allow +any one to rob Nora was monstrous; that she should rob her herself was +inconceivable. Had any one accused her of being capable of such base +ingratitude even then she would have repudiated the charge with honest +indignation; nothing would ever induce her to do anything which could +injure Nora. She knew herself well enough to be assured of that. And +then she glozed the thing over with one of those patent glosses which +the devil provides when the occasion needs them. + +She argued this way; if her father died then Nora would be a rich +woman, immensely rich; rich, possibly, beyond the dreams of avarice. +She would never miss such a detail as, say, three thousand pounds; +such a sum would be a trifle to her, a nothing; especially if she +never knew that the sum had ever existed. There was that to be borne +in mind; we do not miss what we never had, especially if we do not +know it ever was. And in the case of a rich woman like Nora, with +twenty, thirty, forty, perhaps fifty thousand pounds a year, perhaps +even more, in such an income there were bound to be leakages; through +one of them such a drop in the ocean as three thousand pounds might +easily slip, and no one even be aware of it, least of all would the +knowledge ever come to Nora, or touch her in any way. No; certainly +darling Nora would suffer no injury if what was on the writing-table +was regarded as treasure-trove. + +At the same time far be it from her--Elaine--to do anything which +could be regarded by any one as in the slightest degree unworthy. She +was seized with a sudden access of virtue. Take the money--she! Sully +her fingers by even touching it! who dare hint that she could do a +thing like that! The idea was really too ridiculous; it was not to be +taken seriously. It only showed what notions came to people when money +was left about. She had always maintained that it was wrong to leave +money about. Mr. Lindsay ought to have known better, putting +temptation in some weak-minded person's way; she did not stop to +consider that for that he could hardly be held responsible. What she +had to do was to see that temptation was removed; some servant might +stray into the room, and then what might not happen? The least she +could do was to see that the money was put out of sight, in a drawer, +or anywhere. She glanced about her, and was struck by a rather curious +notion. The door of a bookcase stood wide open. A book had obviously +been taken down from one of the shelves; a large volume, one of a set; +there it lay by her elbow on the table. She looked at it, without +clearly apprehending what the title was; she had a vague idea that in +it was something about law. Here was the very hiding-place she wanted; +no thief would be tempted to take money which was snugly hidden behind +a great book like that, if only for the simple reason that he would +never know that it was there. She slipped the loose gold into a big +blue envelope; then she placed it, and the canvas bag, and the roll of +notes, on that shelf in the bookcase. It so chanced that while the +backs of the set of books were plumb with the front of the shelf they +did not go right against the wall, so that there was space enough +behind them to enable her, after a little manipulation, to do what she +desired. When the volume had been returned to its place there was +nothing whatever to show that behind it were more than three thousand +pounds in notes and gold. She surveyed this result with satisfaction. + +"Now," she told herself, "I've removed temptation from everybody's +way." + +The three half-sheets of paper on which Mr. Lindsay had noted the +several amounts she folded up together and thrust into the bodice of +her dress; possibly she thought that they would be out of harm's way +there. She had just done this, and had shut the bookcase door, when, +in the silence which prevailed, she distinctly heard the footsteps of +some one moving in the grounds without. Instantly she blew the lamp +out, and went fluttering through the open window. So soon as she was +on the terrace she stood still to listen. Her ear had not deceived +her. Some one, not far off, was moving along a gravel path; apparently +the sound proceeded from the other side of the house. Either her +perceptions must have been very keen, or there was something unusual +about the step; though it is strange how quick the ear is to recognize +a step with which one is familiar. + +"I do believe," she told herself, "that it's his step." She ran along +to the end of the terrace; then stopped again. "It is!" she said. With +lifted skirts she tiptoed round the side of the house till she came to +where a path branched off among the trees, then, drawing herself under +their shadow, she stood and waited, smiling. The steps came nearer, +close to where she was. She moved out from under the shadow. +"Herbert!" she said. + +The man--it was a man--was evidently taken by surprise; he stepped +back so quickly that he almost stumbled. + +"By George!" he exclaimed, "what a start you gave me!" + +She laughed, half to herself. + +"Did she frighten him, the poor thing! I heard you coming ever so far +off; I knew it was you. And pray what are you doing here at this time +of night?" + +"I came upon the off-chance of getting a word with you." + +"With me--at this hour!" + +"Well, I've found you, and that's what I wanted." + +"Herbert!" She went still closer, almost as if expecting a caress; but +when he showed no inclination to take advantage of his opportunities, +she saw from his face, in the moonlight, that there was something +wrong. "My lord, what ails you?" + +"Everything; I've come up to tell you that what we were talking about +yesterday is clean off." + +"And of what were we talking--yesterday?" + +"Why, about our marriage, and all that kind of thing. I can't marry; I +don't suppose I ever shall be able to; you'd better give me the mitten +right away. To begin with, I've found out--or, rather, I've had the +fact forced upon me, that I'm in a mess." + +"What kind of mess?" + +"Money, of course; what else counts?" + +"How much?" + +"If I don't get two hundred pounds--and where am I going to get two +hundred pounds? why, I haven't as many shillings--and get it pretty +soon, I shall have to----" + +"What?" + +He had left his sentence unfinished; he gave it a conclusion which one +felt had not been originally intended. + +"Well, I shall be in Queer Street." + +He paused, and she was silent; she was thinking. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + THE AVERNIAN SLOPE + + +When she spoke again a quick observer might have noticed that in her +voice there was a new intonation. + +"Two hundred pounds is not such a very large sum." + +"Isn't it? I'm glad you think so. It's a large sum to me; a lot too +large. I've about as much chance of getting it as I have of getting +the moon. And if I did get it I shouldn't be much forwarder so far as +marriage is concerned. What's the use of my talking of marrying when I +hardly earn enough to buy myself bread and cheese? and it's as certain +as anything can be that in this place I never shall earn enough." + +"Why not?" + +"For one reason, if for no other, because in this place there's only +room for one solicitor; and old Dawson's that one. He's got all the +business that's worth having; and, what's more, he'll keep it. Now if +I could buy old Dawson out--I happen to know that he's made what he +considers pile enough for him, and would be quite willing to retire; +or even if I could buy a share in his business, he might be willing to +sell that; then it might be a case of talking; but as it is, so far as +I'm concerned, marriage is off." + +"How much would be wanted?" + +"If I could lay my hands on a thousand, or fifteen hundred pounds in +cash, then I might go to Dawson and make a proposal; but as I never +shall be able to lay my hands on it, it would be better for both of us +if we talked sense; that's what I've come for, to talk sense." + +"Does all this mean that you've found out that you made a mistake when +you told me that you loved me?" + +"It means the exact opposite; I've found out that I love you a good +deal more than I thought I did. If I didn't love you I might be +disposed to behave like a cad, and marry you out of hand; but as I do +love you I'm not taking any chances." + +"I don't quite follow your reasoning." + +"Don't you? It's clear enough to me. I'm in a hole, and because I love +you I'm not going to drag you in as well." + +"But suppose I should like to be dragged?" + +"You don't understand, or you wouldn't talk like that." + +"Shouldn't I? Don't be too certain. You are sure you love me?" + +"I love you more than I thought I could love any one, and that's the +mischief." + +"Is it? I don't agree; because, you see, I love you." + +"It's no good; I wish you didn't." + +"Do you? Then I don't. If you wanted me to, I'd marry you to-morrow." + +"Elaine!" Then he did take her in his arms, and he kissed her. And she +kissed him. Suddenly he put her from him. "Don't! for God's sake, +don't! Elaine, don't you tempt me! I'm not much of a chap, and I'm +not much of a hand at resisting temptation--there's frankness for +you!--and I want to keep straight where you're concerned. I'll make a +clean breast of it; the only way I can see out of the mess I'm in is +to make a bolt for it, and I'm going to bolt; there you have it. I've +come up here to say good-bye." + +"Good-bye?" + +Her voice was tremulous. + +"If ever I come to any good, which isn't very probable, you'll hear +from me; you'll never hear from me if I don't; so I'm afraid that this +is going to be very near a case of farewell for ever." + +"You say two hundred pounds will get you out of that mess you're in?" + +"About that; I dare say I could manage with less if it was ready +money. But what's the use of talking? I don't propose to rob a bank, +and that's the only way I ever could get it." + +"And if you had fifteen hundred to offer Mr. Dawson, what then?" + +"What then? Elaine, you're hard on me." + +"How hard? I don't mean to be." + +"To dangle before my face the things which I most want when you know +they're not for me! Why, if I had fifteen hundred pounds, and could go +to Dawson with a really serious proposition, the world would become +another place; I should see my way to some sort of a career. I'd begin +by earning a decent living; in no time I'd be getting together a home; +in a year we might be married." + +"A year? That's a long time." + +He laughed. + +"If I were Dawson's partner, with a really substantial share, we might +be married right away." + +"How soon, from now?" + +"Elaine, what are you driving at? what is the use of our deceiving +ourselves? I shall become Dawson's partner when pigs have wings, not +before. What I have to do is bolt, while there still is time." + +There was an interval of silence. They were standing very close +together; but he kept his hands in his jacket pockets, as if he were +resolved that he would not take her in his arms; while she stood, with +downcast eyes, picking at the hem of her dress. When she spoke again +it was almost in a whisper. + +"Suppose I were able to find you the money?" + +He smiled a smile of utter incredulity, as if her words were not worth +considering. + +"Suppose you were able to buy me the earth? Yesterday you told me that +you had not enough money to buy yourself a pair of shoes; in fact, you +said that your whole worldly wealth was represented by less than five +shillings." + +Once more she was still--oddly still. + +"Herbert!" + +The name was rather sighed than spoken. He saw that she was trembling. +The appeal was irresistible. Again he put his arms about her and held +her fast. + +"Little lady, you've troubles enough of your own without worrying +yourself about mine. You'll easily find better men than I am who'll be +glad enough to worship the ground on which you stand, and then you'll +recognize how much you owe me for running away, and leaving you an +open field. The best thing that can happen to you is that I should +go." + +"I don't think so. I--I don't want you to go." + +There was a catching in her breath. + +"I don't want to go, but--I might find it awkward if I stayed." + +"Herbert, I--I want to tell you something." + +"What is it? By the sound of you it must be something very +tremendous." + +Her manner certainly was strange. As a rule she was a most +self-possessed young woman; now she seemed to be able to do nothing +but shiver and stammer. Not only was she hardly audible, but her words +came from her one by one, as if she found it difficult to speak at +all. + +"What I--said to you--yesterday--wasn't true; I--said it to try you." + +"What did you say to try me? Elaine, you're what I never thought you +would be--you're mysterious." + +"Suppose--you had fifteen hundred pounds--are you sure Mr. Dawson +would make you a partner?" + +"Well, I've never asked him, but I'm betting twopence." + +"What would your income be if he did? You're not to laugh--answer my +questions." + +"Oh, I'll answer them; although, as I've already remarked, I've not +the faintest notion what you're driving at; and that particular +question is rather a wide one. If I were to buy a share I should try +to do it on the understanding that some day I was to have the lot. I +should probably commence with an income of between three and four +hundred, which would become more later on; I dare say old Dawson is +making a good thousand a year." + +"A thousand? We might live on that." + +"I should think we might; we might start on three hundred; I should +like to have the chance." + +"I'd be willing. And how much would it cost to furnish a house?" + +"I've a few sticks in those rooms of mine." + +"I know; I also know what kind of sticks they are--we shouldn't want +them." + +"There at last we are agreed. I suppose that to furnish the kind of +house we should want to start with would make a hole in a couple of +hundred--you probably know more about that sort of thing than I do. +But, my dear Elaine, what is the use of our playing at fairy tales? +You haven't five shillings in the world, and I've only just enough to +take me clear away, and to keep the breath in my body while I have one +look round." + +Again there was an interval of silence, which was broken by her in a +scarcely audible whisper. + +"That--that was what I was trying to explain; what--I said to you +yesterday was--to prove you." + +"What particular thing did you say? I haven't a notion what you mean." + +"Every girl likes to be--wooed for herself alone." + +"Of course she does, and it's dead certain you'll never be wooed for +anything but your own sweet self; I've known you, and all about you, +long enough to be aware that you're no heiress." + +"That's--that's where you're wrong." + +"Wrong! Elaine, where's the joke?" + +"I--I am an heiress; of course, in a very moderate way." + +"What do you call an heiress? when yesterday you told me that you +didn't possess five shillings!" + +"That was said to try you." + +Raising her eyes she looked him boldly in the face; there in the +bright moonlight they could see each other almost as clearly as if it +had been high noon. + +"To try me? You're beyond me altogether; Elaine, are you pulling my +leg?" + +"I have about two thousand pounds." + +"Two thousand pounds! Great Scott! where did you get it from? I didn't +know there was so much money in all your family." + +"There, again, you were mistaken. I got it from an aunt who died--not +long ago." + +"When did she die?" + +"Oh, about six months ago." + +"What was her name?" + +"The same as mine--Harding." + +"Was she an aunt by marriage?" + +"She was my father's sister." + +"A spinster? But I thought you told me that none of your father's +relatives had two pennies to rub together." + +"So I thought; but I was wrong. At any rate, when she died she left me +about two thousand pounds." + +"You've kept it pretty dark." + +He was staring at her as if altogether amazed; she smiled at him as if +amused by his surprise. + +"I have; I've told nobody--not even Nora." + +"Doesn't Miss Lindsay know?" + +"She doesn't. Nobody knows--except you; and I shall be obliged by your +respecting my confidence." + +"I'll respect your confidence; but--of all the queer starts! What fibs +you've told!" + +"I know I've told some; in a position like mine, one had to. But I'd +made up my mind that you shouldn't know I had money, and--you didn't +know." + +"I certainly did not; I scarcely realize it now; I wonder if you're +joking." + +"No, I'm not joking." + +She shook her pretty head, with a grave little smile. Her face looked +white in the moonshine. + +"Can you touch the capital? Is it in the hands of trustees? Or do you +only have the income?" + +"It is not in the hands of trustees; it is entirely at my own +disposal; I can get it when I want." + +"All of it?" + +"All of it." + +He drew a long breath, as if moved by some new and sudden strength of +feeling. + +"Can you--can you get two hundred pounds before next Tuesday?" + +"I can, and I will--if you want it. You are sure you want it?" + +"Elaine, if--if you will I'll--I'll never forget it." + +"You shall have it on Monday if you like." He covered his face with +his hands, seeming to be shaken by the stress of a great emotion. She +drew closer to him, as if frightened; her voice trembled. "Herbert, +what--what is wrong?" + +Uncovering his face, clenching his fists, he stared straight in front +of him, resolution in his eyes. + +"Nothing now--nothing!--and there never shall be anything +again!--thank-God. Thank God! Considering what sort of mess it was +that I was in, I didn't dare to ask God to help me out of it; but He's +done it without my asking Him. Elaine, upon my word I believe it's +true that God moves in a mysterious way." Elaine, hiding her face +against his shoulder, burst into tears, which surprised him more than +anything which had gone before. She was not a girl who cries easily, +yet now she was shaken by her sobs. Putting his arms about her, he +strove to comfort her, showering on her endearing epithets. "My sweet, +my dear, my darling, what troubles you? Don't you--don't you want me +to have the money? You have only to say so; I shan't mind." + +"Of course I want you to have it! I only want it for you!--you know I +only want it for you! Herbert, are you--are you sure you love me? Tell +me--tell me quite truly." + +"I am as sure as that there is the moon above us; and now I dare to +tell you so; no man ever loved a woman better than I love you. I know +I am unworthy; I know how, in all essentials, you are infinitely above +me----" + +"I'm not--I'm not!" + +"But it shall be my constant endeavour to raise myself to your +level----" + +"Don't!--you don't know what you're saying! Don't!" + +"I do know what I'm saying, and I mean it; if God gives me strength I +hope, before I've finished, to prove myself worthy of the wife I've +won. You hear? Then make a note of it." + +Then there were divers passages. + +"Herbert, I want you to go to Mr. Dawson tomorrow, and arrange about +that partnership. I'll find the fifteen hundred pounds." + +"Sweetheart, you've turned all my sorrow into joy." + +"And--this, sir, is supposed to be spoken in the faintest +whisper--I--I think I'd like to be married pretty soon." + +"As soon as it is legally possible, madam, you shall be married, if +you choose to say the word." + +"I don't want it in quite such a hurry as that; but--you know what I +mean!--I don't want to have to wait a horrid year." Presently she +asked, "Do you know that Mr. Lindsay's very ill?" + +"I heard it as I came along." + +"I think he's dying. I suppose Nora'll be very rich if he does." + +"Let's hope that he'll not die." + +"Not die?" + +She looked at him with such a strange expression on her face that he +smiled. + +"Why, girlie, you don't want the father to die to make the daughter +rich!" + +"No; of course not." + +But, afterwards, she was not the same; it was as if he had struck some +jarring note. When they parted she went round to the back of the +house, along the terrace, towards the study window, which still stood +open. She paused upon the threshold. + +"Suppose he were not to die? suppose he doesn't?" + +The problem the supposition presented to her mind seemed to cause her +no slight disturbance; still she passed into the room. + +Which explains why, when Nora said she doubted if Mr. Nash was ever +really interested in anybody but himself, Elaine Harding had good +cause to wonder if the thing was true. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + PETER PIPER'S POPULAR PILLS + + +On the Monday, after Dr. Banyard had been gone perhaps a couple of +hours, Mr. Nash drove up to Cloverlea in a dogcart. Miss Harding met +him in the drive. At sight of her the gentleman descended; the cart +went on up to the house, to wait for him. So soon as it was out of +sight the lady, taking a packet from the bodice of her dress, gave it +to her lover. + +"That's the two hundred; put it in your pocket; I want you to promise +that you'll not breathe a word to any one about the money having come +from me." + +"I promise readily." + +"Nor about any other money which--I may find. I want you to keep your +own counsel; I want people to suppose that the money is your own; I +don't want them to think I'm buying a husband." + +"I certainly will neither do nor say anything to make them think so. +All the same, darling, I don't know how to thank you; you don't know +what this means to me. It seems to be all in gold?" + +He was fingering the parcel in his jacket pocket. + +"It is; I thought you might find it more convenient." + +"I think it's possible you're right; I believe you always are." + +As he had been coming along in the dogcart he had not seemed to be in +the best of spirits; now he was unmistakably cheerful; that package +had made a difference. A question, however, which she asked seemed to +annoy him more than, on the surface, it need have done. + +"What became of Mr. Peters?" + +"They gave him six months--confound the idiots?" + +"Why confound them?" + +The smile with which he accompanied his reply seemed forced. + +"A lawyer likes his client to be acquitted." + +"But Dr. Banyard says that he's a scoundrel." + +"Dr. Banyard! You can tell Dr. Banyard, with my compliments, that he's +a Pharisee." + +"I think nothing of the man; I think he's an interfering prig. I don't +like him, and he doesn't like me." + +"Which shows that he must be all kinds of a fool." + +"I don't know about that; but I do know that I don't like him. By the +way, I suppose you understand what you're coming for. Everything here +is at sixes and sevens. Nora knows absolutely nothing about her +father's business affairs; he never told her anything; he kept his own +counsel with a vengeance." + +"So I gathered from your note." + +"She doesn't even know who his man of business was. She wants you to +find out; she thinks that if you look through his papers you will." + +"There should be no difficulty about that. If I have access to his +papers I ought to find that out inside ten minutes." + +"I suppose so. But even if you do find out I don't see why you +shouldn't keep the conduct of her affairs as much as possible in your +hands; I think it might be done; you'll have my influence upon your +side. You needn't say anything about there being an understanding +between us; we can't keep people from guessing; but don't let them +know--till it suits us." + +He saw something in her eyes which caused him to pay her what some +people would have regarded as an ambiguous compliment. + +"By George, you're a clever one; you're the sort of girl I like!" + +"I'm glad of that; because you happen to be the sort of man I like." + +He laughed. + +"I'd like to kiss you!" + +"Quite impossible, here. You see, it might be rather a good thing for +you to have the management of Nora's estate." + +"True, oh queen!" + +"Then why shouldn't you have it?" + +"I know of no reason." + +"There is no reason, if you take proper advantage of the fact that +you're first on the field." They had entered the house and were +standing outside the study door. She produced a key. "Nora's not +appearing; poor dear, she's more distressed than I ever thought she +would have been! so, on this occasion only, I am doing the honours. +We've kept this room locked up since the day on which Mr. Lindsay +was taken ill; no one has crossed the threshold; you'll find +everything in the same condition in which he left it." They entered +the room. So soon as they were in he kissed her, and she kissed him, +though she protested. "Hush! Nora's waiting for me! Remember what I +told you; there's no reason why you shouldn't have the management of +everything--if you like." + +He communed with himself when she had left him. + +"I wonder what she means, exactly; she's careful not to dot her i's. +She's the dearest girl in the world, even dearer than I thought. This +is something like a windfall." He took out the packet, fingering it, +smilingly, with the fingers of both hands. Then, replacing it in his +pocket, glancing round the room, he was struck by the state of +disorder it was in. "It's as well they kept the door locked; +everything seems to have been left about for the first comer to +admire. Lindsay must have been having a regular turn-out when he was +taken ill; I wonder why." On the writing-table the first thing which +caught his eye were some slips of blue paper secured by a rubber band. +He snatched them up. They were four promissory notes, payable at +various dates; they all bore the same signature, Herbert Nash. He +chuckled. "We'll consider those as paid, until they prove the +contrary; which they'll find it hard to do." He slipped them into his +breast pocket. Settling himself on the chair on which Mr. Lindsay had +been seated when death first touched him on the shoulder, he began to +go methodically through the papers which were about him, practically, +on all sides. He came on one, the contents of which seemed to occasion +him profound surprise. "What on earth is this? what the dickens does +it mean?" There was not a great deal on the paper; what there was he +read again and again, as if he found its meaning curiously obscure. +"This is queerish; I'd give a trifle to know what it does mean; it +might be worth one's while to inquire." + +Folding up the paper he placed it in his breast pocket, with the +promissory notes. Hardly had he done so than the door was opened, +without any warning, and Dr. Banyard came into the room. + +"Hallo, Nash! have you found anything? have you found out who his man +of business was?" + +Mr. Nash glanced up from the papers he was studying; if he was a +little startled by the doctor's unheralded appearance he gave no sign +of it. + +"I haven't discovered his man of business; but I have found +something." + +"You haven't come upon anything which shows who it was he generally +employed; I understand you've been here some time." + +Mr. Nash shook his head. + +"I don't know how long I have been here, but I've come on nothing +which shows that he ever employed any one at all." + +"He must have employed some one." + +The other shrugged his shoulders. + +"I've gone through a good many of his papers; I've not hit on one +which suggests it." + +"You said you'd found something; what is it?" + +"His will; or, rather, a will." + +"That is something." + +"Especially as, beyond a shadow of doubt, it's the last will he ever +made. It was drawn up on the third, last Thursday, probably just +before he was taken ill. It's in his own writing, brief, and to the +point, and apparently quite in order, since it was witnessed by +Morgan, the butler here, and Mrs. Steele the housekeeper." + +"Let's have a look at it." + +"Here it is, in the envelope in which I found it." + +The doctor examined the paper which he took out of the envelope; it +seemed that its contents gave him satisfaction. + +"I see that, by this, he's left everything to his daughter +unconditionally." + +"That is so, the intention's unmistakable." + +"Then she's safe; that's all right. It ought to be something handsome; +I wonder how much it is." + +"That's the question." + +"I suppose you've come across something which gives you, at any rate, +some vague notion." + +"I haven't, that's the odd part of it." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Well, I'm glad you've come." + +"Why? what's up? Found the job too big to tackle single-handed? I +thought you would." + +"You're mistaken; that is not what I mean. I've gone +through--hurriedly, but still thoroughly enough to have a pretty good +idea of what it is that they contain--all the available books and +papers; and, as you see, most of them seem available, everything seems +open; and I've not found anything which even hints that he died the +possessor of any property at all; with two exceptions. There is his +pass-book at the local bank, showing a balance of about a hundred +pounds, which may have been drawn on since; and there are the +Cloverlea title-deeds, there, in that deed-box." + +"That only shows that everything essential is in the hands of his +London lawyer." + +"You seem to take the existence of such a person very much for +granted. He told me himself he hadn't one." + +"Told you? when?" + +"Not long ago there was a little difficulty about a right of way; I +don't know if you heard of it. He came to me about it; I then asked +him who acted for him in town; he said no one." + +"You are sure?" + +"I am; for a man in his position it struck me as odd." + +"He must have had a man in town, you misunderstood him. You haven't +gone through all the papers?" + +"Not all." + +"Then we shall come upon it; I'll help you with the rest. There are no +doubt papers elsewhere; probably in his bedroom, or at his rooms in +town. Have you found out what was his London address?" + +"I have found nothing which shows that he had one." + +"But he must have had a London address; why, he spent quite a large +part of the year in town." + +"I happen to know that the only London address Miss Lindsay ever had +was the Carlton Club; they may be able to tell us there." + +"Of course they'll be able to tell us. Found any cash?" + +"Not a penny." + +"Anything which stands for cash?" + +"Nothing; except what I have told you." + +He had said nothing about what was in his breast-pocket. + +"Lindsay was a man of secretive habits; if he could help it he never +let his left hand know what his right hand was doing. When you come to +deal with the affairs of a man like that you're handicapped; but there +can be no sort of doubt that he was a man of considerable means. It +must have cost him something to live here; where did the money to do +that come from? It must have come from somewhere." + +"It seems that there are a good many debts; as you are possibly aware, +there is a good deal owing round here." + +"He was a man who hated paying." + +Suddenly the doctor glanced up from the papers he was examining to +glare at his companion. + +"Look here, Nash, what are you hinting at?" + +"I am merely answering your questions." + +"Yes, but you're answering them in a way I don't like." + +The younger man smiled. + +"I am afraid that I didn't realize that my answers had to be to your +liking, whatever the facts might be." + +The doctor returned to the papers; he looked as if he could have said +something vigorous, but refrained. After a while he had to admit that +his researches, so far, had been without result. + +"Well, there seems to be nothing here, and that's a fact. These papers +seem to contain material for a history of the Cloverlea estate since +it came into Lindsay's possession; and that's all. Now for the safe." + +"I've gone through that." + +"I'll go through it also; though from the look of it, it doesn't seem +as if there were much to go through." He pulled out one of the small +drawers at the bottom. "Hallo, what have we here?" He took out an +oblong wooden box. "What's this on the lid? 'Peter Piper's Popular +Pills.'" + +"What!" + +The exclamation came from Nash. + +"Here it is, large as life, in good bold letters; there ought to be +something valuable in here." He opened the lid. "An envelope with +papers in it; what's this writing on it? 'Analyses of the constituent +parts of Peter Piper's Popular Pills by leading analytical chemists.' +What fools those fellows are! Lindsay's writing; he doesn't seem to +have had a high opinion of some one; let's hope there's nothing +libellous. What's here besides? A bottle purporting to contain Peter +Piper's Popular Pills; the man seems to have had them on the brain. +And--other bottles containing the ingredients of which they're made; +so it says outside them; as I'm alive! and the man kept this stuff +inside his safe! Nash, why are you looking at me like that?" + +Mr. Nash was regarding the doctor with a somewhat singular expression +on his face; when the doctor put the question to him he started, as if +taken by surprise. + +"Looking at you? was I looking at you?" + +"Glaring was the better word." + +"It was unconscious. Are you--are you sure that they are Peter Piper's +Popular Pills in that box?" + +"Sure? As if I could be sure about a thing like that! what do I know +about such filth? look for yourself." + +Mr. Nash examined the box with a show of interest which its contents +scarcely seemed to warrant. + +"How extremely--curious." + +"Fancy a man like Lindsay harbouring such stuff as that! I should +think it was curious!" + +Though both men used the same adjective one felt that each read into +it a different meaning. + +When Mr. Nash started to leave the house he found that the dogcart, +which he supposed was still in waiting, had disappeared. He asked no +questions, but drew his own conclusions. As he passed down the avenue, +and perceived that Miss Harding was strolling among the trees, he +smiled. So soon as the lady saw him she began to ply him with +questions. + +"Well, what's happened?" + +"One thing's happened, you've sent away my dogcart." + +She looked at him with mischief in her eyes. + +"Walking will do you more good than driving; and it will cost you +less. Besides, it will give you an opportunity of exchanging a few +words with me. I hope you don't mind." + +"On the contrary, I'm delighted." + +"What have you found?" + +"I've found his will; he's left his daughter everything." + +"Everything! How splendid! I'm so glad he's left her everything!" + +Miss Harding's face could not have been more radiant had she received +a personal benefit. + +"I shouldn't be over hasty in offering her your congratulations if I +were you; it's quite possible that everything won't amount to very +much." + +She seemed struck by his tone even more than by his words. + +"Herbert! What do you mean?" + +Mr. Nash kicked a pebble with his toe; then he whistled to himself; +then he said, just as her patience was at an end-- + +"It's a bit awkward to explain, but it's this way; Banyard and I have +been going through his books and papers, and everything there was to +go through; and there was a good deal, as you know; and we haven't +come on anything which points to money or money's worth. I've been +putting two and two together, and I rather think I understand the +situation; when all's over and settled I shouldn't be surprised if +Miss Lindsay would be very glad indeed to have your little fortune." + +"My--my little fortune?" + +"I'm alluding to the snug little legacy left you by your venerated +aunt." + +"It's--it's impossible!" + +"More impossible things have happened; and I think I'm almost inclined +to bet twopence that her fortune's nearer two thousand shillings than +two thousand pounds." + +"Herbert! Herbert!" + +"What's the matter? Why, little girl, you mustn't take on like that; +what a sensitive little thing it is! it'll be through no fault of +yours if she's left penniless! She's never been over nice to me, and +I'm sure I shan't worry myself into an early grave if she is." + +"You don't understand!" she wailed. "You don't understand." + +By the domestic hearth that evening Dr. Banyard addressed to his wife +some more or less sententious remarks, as he puffed at his pipe. + +"There's something wrong up at Cloverlea, confoundedly wrong. I don't +understand what it is, and I don't like what I do understand. There's +a riddle somewhere, and I'm half afraid we're not going to find the +answer. Mind you, I've actually no grounds to go upon, but I don't +trust that man, Nash; I've all sorts of doubts about the fellow." + +Mrs. Banyard looked up from her sewing, and smiled; as is the way with +wives of some years' standing she did not always take her husband so +seriously as she might have done. + +"Poor Mr. Nash! you never do like good-looking men." + +"It isn't only that." + +"No; but it's partly that. You funny old man! It doesn't follow +because you're ugly yourself that all good-looking men are necessarily +worthless." + +"Generally speaking, a certain type of good-looking man is worth +nothing." + +"And Mr. Nash represents the type? And do you represent Christian +charity? What do you suspect him of now? of having the answer to that +mysterious riddle?" + +"I don't know; that's just it, I don't know; but I doubt him all the +same." + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + HER LOVE STORY + + +That night Nora dreamed again--the same dream. It was more real even +than before. She was lying in bed--she knew she was in bed, and her +father came in at the door. In some strange fashion she had expected +him; it was not that she heard him moving along the passage, yet, +somehow, she knew that he was there, that he was coming. And, before +he actually appeared, she knew that he was in great trouble; when he +opened the door, so noiselessly, and without a sound came in, and +closed the door again, also without a sound, she knew it even better +than before, and his trouble communicated itself to her. In such +trouble was he that he was even afraid of her. He remained close to +the door, looking timidly towards her as she lay in bed, not daring to +approach. So moved was she by his strange timidity that she sat up, +and held out her arms to him, calling-- + +"Father!" She was sure she called, because she heard her own voice +quite clearly; not as it mostly is in dreams, when one hears nothing. +But yet he came no closer. Then she saw that he was crying. She called +to him again, more eagerly. Then he went, step by step, timidly +towards her; until she had her arms about him, and whispered, "Father, +tell me what it is that troubles you." And he tried to tell her, but +he could not; he was speechless, and to him his speechlessness was +agony. If he only could speak she felt that all might be well with +him--and with her; but he was tongue-tied. She tried to think of what +it could be that he wished to say to her, and to prompt him; +whispering into his ear first this, then that; but it was plain that +none of her hints had anything to do with what was in his mind, though +once she thought that she might not be far off. When she whispered, +"Is it about what I am to do in the future?" his face changed; a sort +of convulsion passed all over him; he drew himself away from her, and +stood up, raising his arms, seeming to make a frenzied effort to +achieve articulation; it even seemed that speech had come to him at +last, when, just as words were already almost issuing from his lips, +he vanished, and she was alone in the darkness. + +Not the least strange part of it was that she was wide awake, having +no consciousness of being roused out of sleep; she was sitting up in +bed, the tears were streaming down her cheeks, her arms were held out, +with about them the oddest feeling of somebody having just been in +them. Indeed for a moment or two she could not believe that there was +not some one in them still. When she did realize that they were empty +she threw herself face downwards in the bed, crying as if her heart +would break, because of her father's woe. + +Donald Lindsay was buried on the Thursday--exactly a week after he had +been stricken with his death. On the Tuesday and Wednesday she had +variations of the same dream, and on the Thursday, the day of the +funeral, it was so terrible a dream that the agony of it remained with +her until the morning. For a long time afterwards some form of that +dream would come to her at intervals. She said nothing of it to any +one, though there was a moment when she was on the point of speaking +of it to Elaine Harding; but she had it sometimes even in her waking +thoughts. The course of events induced in her a kind of dormant +conviction not only that the dream was sent to her for some special +purpose, and that it had a meaning; but, also, that some day both the +purpose and the meaning would be made clear. She knew that it is +written that, of old, God spake to men in dreams; she believed it to +be possible that, in a dream, God might speak to her. The dream always +ended at the same point: just as her father, after an agonizing +effort, seemed to be about to speak. She fancied that, some night, it +might go on further, and that he might speak to her in his dream, and +that with his speaking the purpose and the meaning of it all would be +discovered. + +On the morning of the funeral, among the other letters, Mrs. Steele, +the housekeeper, called her attention to one in particular. No doubt +she was aware that, during the last few days, either letters had been +left unopened, or the task of opening them relegated to Elaine +Harding, who communicated their contents if she pleased. + +"Miss Nora," she said, "this is a letter from Mr. Spencer." + +The girl caught eagerly at it; it was the first sign of eagerness she +had lately shown. So soon as Mrs. Steele had gone she opened it. It +was from her lover, Robert Spencer; a long letter, on three closely +written sheets of foreign note-paper. He was in Sicily; had sent her a +gossipy narrative of his wanderings among its ancient places, and +among its scenes of beauty. It was full of love, and life, and high +spirits; the sort of letter which makes a girl's heart beat happily; +which she cherishes amid her most precious possessions. He told her +how he wished that she was with him; that she at least was close at +hand, that they might see and enjoy, together, what was so much worth +seeing, and enjoying. In mischievous mood he added that when the great +day came, on which the sun would rise in their sky for ever, and they +were married, he humbly ventured to suggest that part of their +honeymoon might be spent where he was then--"that would be to invest +Taormina, which is already nearly all halos, with another, the +brightest and the best." + +To a girl's thinking there could be no pleasanter reading than such a +letter; she could desire nothing better of the future than that its +savour might remain unchanged, and that, throughout the years which +were to come, the love of which it was a sign might walk always by her +side. + +So great was its power that, for a moment, it charmed her to +forgetfulness. She saw in it her lover's face, and looked into his +eyes; his voice spoke to her from the pages, and sounded sweetly in +her ears. When he wrote of honeymooning the blood came to her cheeks; +her lips were parted by a smile; her heart seemed speaking unto his. +Even when she remembered, and recalled what day it was, and what +shortly was about to happen, the light did not quite fade from her +eyes, and the world was not all darkness. The match had been one of +the few things respecting which her father had expressed to her his +audible satisfaction. It was tacitly understood that the marriage was +to take place during the current year. Both lovers were young--Robert +Spencer had only just turned twenty-four. The only thing which could +be said against him was his lack of means. He had done well both at +school and at the university. Without being the least bit of a prig, +he was exempt from those vices which the facile standard of the world +in which he lived associates with youth. He was tall and strong and +handsome; easy-mannered, more than is apt to be the case with the +young Englishman of twenty-four; of fluent speech--he had been, in his +time, one of the stars of the Union; there was no apparent reason why +he should not make for himself, among the men of his own generation, a +great name for good. The chief obstacle with which he would have to +contend might be, as has been said, the eternal question of pence. + +He was the fourth, and youngest, son of the Earl of Mountdennis. +Everybody knows that his lordship had more children than money; four +sons and five daughters is a liberal allowance for any man; the Earl +and the Countess have that number living, and three of their children +are dead. At the period of which we are writing all the five daughters +were married, though by no means, from their mother's point of view, +all satisfactorily married. The Countess never attempted to conceal +the fact that only the first and third had done really well for +themselves. According to the same authority, the boys had not done all +that they might have done; the heir, Lord Cookham, in particular, +had been a bitter disappointment, having been--his mother called +it--wicked enough to marry a girl who had no money, and, practically, +no family, merely because he loved her. He had been perfectly well +aware that, in his case, marriage must mean money; it had been drummed +into his ears from his earliest childhood;--family was of no +consequence; he had family enough of his own. The one thing wanted was +money--sacks full. And the thing was made more cruel by the fact that +he might have had any amount of money, had he chosen. He might have +had an English girl with a hundred thousand a year, to say nothing of +several Americans with a great deal more; instead of which he married +a young woman whom he met, as the Countess put it, at "some horrid +foreign place," whose only qualification was that she was generally +admitted, by some excellent judges, to be delightful. What, as the +Countess pungently inquired, was the use of being delightful if she +and her husband had not enough money between them to pay off the +family debts, to say nothing of keeping up the family seats. And then +they actually started by having three children in less than six +years--all girls. It was too perfectly ridiculously absurd! + +Montagu, the second son, had refused to marry at all, so his mother +said; though it was not known that any girls had ever actually asked +him. It was understood that he had made money in Africa, though he +showed not the slightest inclination to squander it among his +relatives; he had even declined to what his mother termed "lend" her +five thousand pounds to be spent on "doing up" Holtye, which was the +seat the Earl and the Countess principally favoured. Such conduct, she +declared, was inhuman, but "so like Montagu." Arthur, the third son, +had done best for himself from at least a financial point of view. He +had married Mrs. Parkes-Peters, the widow of the contractor who left +three millions. It was true that nasty things had been said of some of +his most successful contracts; but, after all, the man was dead. It +was also true that no one knew who, or what, his widow was before he +married her; it was, if possible, even more true that she was older +than her second husband. She herself admitted that she was his senior +by ten years--the world said it ought to be twenty. But as she proved +to be an ideal wife from the point of view of the man who marries for +money, such trifles could hardly be said to count. Their friends +asserted that she gave him a thousand pounds every time he kissed +her--really no husband could want more. + +And yet both his parents were aware that one need not be hypercritical +to be able to see objections even against Arthur's wife. There +remained, therefore, to them but one hope--their fourth son, Robert. +Theirs must have been a sanguine temperament--when one knew them one +felt as if they had only one between them--because, after all their +disappointments, they still built on him a castle in Spain, of their +own design. It really seemed as if that castle was to be actually +reared. Robert had set his affections on Miss Lindsay, and that +without the least prompting from either of them; as they knew, from +painful experience, in such cases one sometimes had to do such a lot +of prompting. They frankly admitted that, looking at the matter as a +whole, he could hardly have been expected to do better--to begin with. +Cloverlea was quite a nice place, and, as it were, next door to +Holtye; there were only nine miles between them. It was kept up in +excellent style; the Earl, who was supposed to know something about +such things, assured his wife that it probably cost Donald Lindsay at +least ten thousand a-year. It was true that its owner was by way of +being a curiosity; but then his eccentricities--if they could be +called eccentricities--were not of a kind which would be likely to +injure his daughter. And she was his only child. In her capacity of +young woman nothing whatever could be urged against her; the Earl and +Countess were entirely at one in agreeing with Robert that, in that +respect, she was all that there was of the most charming. Obviously, +when her father died, she would be more than comfortably off. The only +thing to be considered was, what would she have until he died--in case +she took unto herself a husband. On this point, also, everything was +as it should be. + +The Earl rode over to Cloverlea one day, when its master happened to +be at home, and had a talk with him--than which nothing could be more +satisfactory. Lindsay told his visitor, in that plain outspoken way of +his, that he was satisfied with the result of inquiries he had been +making about the Hon. Robert, and that, in consequence, five thousand +a year would be settled on Nora if he married her. Besides this, he +would present her, as a wedding gift, with a suitable house in town, +and all the furniture. He added, with one of his rare, grim smiles, +which the earl interpreted in a fashion of his own, that it was +possible that one day she would be much richer than people thought. + +The Earl told the Countess, on his return to Holtye, that he should +not be surprised if the man was a millionaire. Anyhow his offer was +most generous; especially as Robert was the youngest of nine, and had, +literally, nothing but himself and his family to bring his wife. The +Countess wondered vaguely if, on the strength of the matrimonial +alliance which was to unite the two families, Mr. Lindsay might not be +induced to advance what she described as "something decent" in order +that something might be done to Holtye, which was falling to pieces, +and where the furniture was in a scandalous condition. The Earl, who +knew that his wife had been searching for years for some one who would +play the part of fairy prince towards their family domain, merely +remarked that it would be time enough to think of all that kind of +thing when the pair were married. + +Nora had not been actually informed of the arrangements which had been +made for the commercial success of her love-match, but she knew quite +well that it never would have entered the domain of practical politics +if they had not been satisfactory. Robert was perfectly frank upon the +point; he was frank with her about everything; it was his nature to be +frank. He told her that he had not a shilling of his own, and never +had. + +"My aunt paid for me at Eton, and, afterwards, at the 'Varsity; so far +as I know, she's paid for me ever since I was born; I believe she's +even bought my clothes. I don't know why, because we're not a bit in +sympathy; though she's a dear, on lines of her own, which are +peculiar. She's only just on speaking terms with my mother, who's her +own sister; and the things she says of my father are dreadful--he's +really the most inoffensive of men. She has never lived in England +since I can remember; she says she can't afford it. The truth is, +she's never happy except in pursuit of her health; she passes from one +'cure' place to another, in possession of a number of complaints which +nobody understands, but which suit her constitution admirably. She has +about two thousand a year of her own, and spends most of it on +doctors; though she declares, to their faces, that she never met one +yet who knew what he is talking about. Out of what is left after the +doctors are paid she is at present allowing me three hundred pounds a +year, which is very good of her; especially considering two facts, the +one being that I really have no claim on her at all, and the other +that the three hundred is sometimes nearly four; for instance, last +year she gave me fifty pounds as a birthday present, and twenty-five +as a Christmas-box. So you see that I really am a pauper, living upon +charity, and that I never ought to have dared to love you at all; only +I couldn't help it--who could?" + +She had laughed at him. + +"Lots of people. Of course, it's very sad that you should be so poor; +but I dare say, if we are careful, we can manage; and you know there +is such a thing as love in a cottage--would the prospect of such a +fate as that seem to you so very frightful?" + +"Frightful! I wouldn't mind it a bit; would you?" + +"I dare say I could put up with it for a time." + +"It should only be for a time, I promise you. I'm handicapped by being +who I am, but I don't think I'm an utter fool. I've always taken it +for granted that I should have to make my own way, and, to the best of +my ability, I've provided myself with the necessary tools; I believe +that I could make my own way in the world as well as another man. You +have only to say the word, and I'll make it first and woo you +afterwards." + +"Thank you; I'm content with things as they are; I'm sorry you're +not." + +This was said with a twinkle in her eyes which was meant to provoke +him to warmth, and it did. + +"Nora! do you wish me to--shake you?" + +"I don't mind." + +He did do something to her; but she was not shaken. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + THE PUZZLE WHICH DONALD LINDSAY LEFT + BEHIND HIM + + +Donald Lindsay was buried on a glorious afternoon, when all the world +seemed at its best and brightest. Carriages from all parts of the +district represented their absent owners, but only four mourners were +actually present. Nora and Elaine stood together on one side of the +grave, confronting Dr. Banyard and Mr. Nash. Afterwards the four were +again together in the room at Cloverlea which Nora regarded as in an +especial sense her own. The blinds at last were drawn; the windows +stood wide open; the April sun, warm enough for June, came streaming +in, but it brought no brightness to those within. Each of the +quartette seemed to be singularly ill at ease. It was not strange that +such should have been the case with Nora; it was her hour of trial. +But why Elaine Harding should have been unlike her usual self was not +so obvious. An impartial observer, knowing her well, would have said +that she had never appeared to such little advantage. Black never +became her; either because she was physically unwell, or for some more +obscure reason, that afternoon, in her mourning, she looked almost +hideous. Had she been at liberty to choose, she would have been +present neither at the funeral nor afterwards in Nora's room; but she +had not seen her way to refuse compliance with Nora's positive +request. Since Mr. Nash had told her of his, and Dr. Banyard's, +failure to find among the dead man's papers anything to show that he +had left any real provision for his daughter at all, she had been +living in what seemed to her to be a continual nightmare. Day +and night she was haunted by the three thousand one hundred and +twenty-seven pounds which she had regarded as treasure-trove. Had +she not taken it for granted that Nora would be a rich woman she would +not have touched a farthing; of that she was certain. It was the +conviction that such a sum would mean nothing to Nora which had been +the irresistible temptation. Had it been in her power she would have +replaced the money even then, and would have been only too glad to do +it, though it left her penniless. But she had learnt what has to be +learnt by all of us, how much easier it is to do than to undo. Any +attempt in the direction of restitution would mean not only exposure, +but ruin. Herbert Nash had to be considered. He had had two hundred +pounds of the money; what he had done with it he alone knew. Then he +had swallowed the tale of her aunt's legacy; she was perfectly well +aware that if it had not been for that supposititious two thousand +pounds she would never have been his promised wife. Was she to tell +him now that she had lied? What explanation was she to offer him if +she did? Would he not be entitled to regard her as some unspeakable +thing? She did not doubt that his love would turn to scorn; that he +would cast her from him with loathing and disgust. + +No; anything rather than that; for she loved him. + +On the other hand, if it was true that Nora had been left a pauper? +and she had robbed her of her all! Would that fact not be shouted at +her from out of the flaming sky for ever and for aye? would not the +face of God be turned from her through all eternity? And how often, +and how fervently, she had prayed that God might guide and bless her. +She dared not think of the punishment which must inevitably crown so +great a sin. She racked her brain to find some way out of the peril +which threatened her on every hand; if only she could light on some +plausible compromise. And at last she thought--she hoped--that she had +discovered something which would relieve the situation at the point of +its greatest strain. Three thousand one hundred and twenty-seven +pounds she had--found; she had told Mr. Nash that her aunt had left +two thousand. Her idea had been that she would have a good, round sum +in hand, unknown to him, which, in case of need, would be of service +in a tight place. What was to prevent her, should the tale of Nora's +impoverishment turn out to be correct, disclosing the existence of +that balance of over a thousand pounds; her fertile brain would easily +invent some reasonable explanation; though that tale of the legacy +would not do for Nora, who knew too much of her family affairs. Then +she might insist on Nora accepting it as--what should she call it? a +gift? a loan? It did not matter what she called it so long as Nora +took the money; and she would have to take it. In that case Nora would +regard her as her benefactor, instead of--what she was. + +It is wonderful with what ointments we try to salve our consciences. +At intervals Elaine was almost pleased with herself as she thought of +how, if the worst came to the worst, she was going to present Nora +with more than a thousand pounds. Yet that afternoon, in that pleasant +room, in which she and her friend had spent so many happy hours, she +was as one who knew not peace. + +Nor did it seem to be peace with Mr. Nash. If one might judge from his +physiognomy he did not appear to be at all inclined to congratulate +himself on the position which it seemed likely he would occupy, of +administrator of the dead man's estate. Such a position would mean +something for him, if it meant nothing for anybody else; in such a +case a lawyer always esteems himself worthy of his hire; and he sees +that he gets it. Yet he looked as if he would have preferred to have +been almost anywhere else rather than where he was. + +The same remark applied to Dr. Banyard; though even a superficial +observer might have guessed that the two men were troubled because of +different things. A keen judge of human nature might have perceived +that the doctor was troubled because of Nora; Herbert Nash because of +himself. + +The order of the proceedings was singular; it required pressure to +induce Nora to sit down. + +"I would much rather stand," she said. "I don't know what you have to +say to me; but I hope that, whatever it is, it won't take long; I feel +as if I can't sit; I would much sooner listen standing if you don't +mind." + +But the doctor did mind; he would not have it; he made her sit. Then +nothing would satisfy her but that Elaine should sit by her; which was +agony to Miss Harding, who was in the condition which is known as +being all over pins and needles; it would have been a relief to have +been able to scream. + +"Now, Nash," inquired the doctor, when the two young women, looking, +in their several ways, pictures of misery, were seated on adjacent +chairs, "where are those papers? Let's get to business; and be as +brief and as clear as you can." + +Nash, with what was almost a hang-dog air, took some papers out of a +black leather bag. Untying the tape which bound them together he +began. His tale was neither very brief nor very clear; though his +meaning was plain enough when it was ended. The dead man had left +everything to his daughter; but he had nothing to leave; that was what +it came to. There was less than a hundred pounds at the bank; and +there was Cloverlea and the contents of the house. On the debit side +there were debts amounting, so far as could be ascertained, to several +thousand pounds; claims had come in from wholly unexpected quarters +for large sums. If they had to be paid at once that would involve a +forced sale of Cloverlea, and that would probably mean that very +little would be left for Nora. + +The faces of the two girls, as this state of affairs was being +unfolded, were studies. On Miss Harding's face there came, by degrees, +an expression of actual agony, as if her lover was playing the part of +a torturer, whose every word was a fresh turn of the rack, or of the +thumbscrew. Nora's face, on the other hand, as she began to perceive +the point at which Mr. Nash was aiming, suggested anger rather than +pain; the same suggestion was in her voice, as she addressed a +question to him, so soon as he showed signs of having finished. + +"Do you wish me to understand that my father has left no money?" + +Mr. Nash looked down, as if unwilling to meet her eyes. + +"Neither Dr. Banyard nor I have been able to find anything which +points to money, I am sorry to say." + +"You needn't be sorry." She turned to Dr. Banyard; with, as she did +so, something in her manner which was hardly flattering to Mr. Nash. +"If my father has left no money on what have we been living? Does Mr. +Nash mean that my father spent all his money before he died? because, +if he does, I tell him, quite plainly, that I don't believe it." + +The doctor got up. It was a peculiarity of his that, while he was +always anxious that others should sit still, he never could do so +himself when he was moved. Thrusting his hands into his trousers +pockets he began to fidget about the room. + +"That's the point," he exclaimed. "It's a pity, my dear Miss Lindsay, +that your father didn't take you more into his confidence." + +"He was entitled to do as he pleased." + +"Precisely! and he did as he pleased! and this is the result! that you +know nothing; that we know nothing; and, apparently, that we can find +out nothing. We have been in communication with his London club; they +tell us that he was an occasional attendant; that, so far as they +know, this was his only address; that sometimes, but not often, +letters came for him; but there are none awaiting him at present; they +can give us no further information, and we have not the dimmest notion +who can. Let me add a sort of postscript to what Mr. Nash has told +you, which will shed another sidelight on the position. It is now +about five years since your father bought Cloverlea. Ever since he +bought it he has paid three thousand pounds into the local bank four +times each year, always in notes and gold, which, as you are possibly +aware, is not a form in which such payments are usually made. His next +payment, if he intended to follow his usual rule, was due last week, +to be exact, last Friday; for four years in succession he has paid in +three thousand pounds, in notes and gold, on the first Friday in +April. He was taken ill, as you know, on Thursday; if he had intended +to make his usual payment on the following day the money would have +been in his possession; we should have found it; we have found +nothing." + +Although no one seemed to notice it, Miss Harding looked as if she +were trembling on the verge of a serious attack of illness. Her face +was white and drawn, her eyes were half closed, her mouth was tightly +shut, her hand was pressed against her side, as if compelled to that +position by sudden pain. The doctor, oblivious of the fact that it +looked as if his services would presently be required, went +remorselessly on. + +"The only possible alternative is that the money was stolen, and that +after he was taken ill; you know what likelihood there is of that. But +in order to leave no room for doubt we have questioned every one +connected with the household; I am bound to say that we have +discovered nothing in the least suspicious." + +"Of course not; I wish I had known what you were doing, I would have +stopped it. The idea of supposing that any one here would rob me; +there is not a creature about the place I would not trust with my +life." + +This was Nora; her words were like poisoned darts to at least one of +her hearers. The doctor continued. + +"Just so; but allow me to point out, Miss Lindsay, the inference which +may be drawn from what we have been able to learn of your father's +methods. He has paid twelve thousand pounds a year into the local +bank, invariably in notes and gold, never a cheque among the lot; does +not this suggest that he wished to conceal, even from his bankers, the +source from which the money came?" + +"I don't see why you say that." + +"If their ledgers contained the record of his having paid in even so +much as a single cheque we might have been able to trace the history +of that cheque, and in so doing might have lighted upon something +which would have served as the key to the whole puzzle; if, that is, +we could discover some one who ever paid him anything we might find +out why he paid, and so might chance upon a clue which in the end +might show us where his income came from. As it is we have nothing to +go upon; and I can't help thinking that he meant his bankers should +have nothing to go upon; whether he intended that you should be in the +same position is another question. The consequence is, as matters +stand, I am bound to say so, my dear Miss Nora, it is no use blinking +the truth----" + +"Please tell me what you believe to be the truth; pray don't what you +call blink it." + +"It is a perfectly fair deduction to draw that he had come to the end +of his resources, whatever they may have been; quite conceivably the +immediate cause of his illness was the consciousness that it was so; I +am free to confess that, in this connection, the absence of the three +thousand pounds, his usual quarterly payment into the bank, and, +indeed, of any cash, is significant. I can only hope, Miss Nora, that +you know something which will place the matter in quite a different +aspect." + +When the doctor ceased there was silence. Mr. Nash, fidgeting with his +papers, seemed disposed to let his eyes rest anywhere rather than on +the faces of his companions. Miss Harding, judging from her +appearance, continually hovered on the verge of collapse; that no one +noticed her condition showed how the others were preoccupied. Of the +four Nora still bore herself as the one who was most at ease. She sat +up straight; well back on her chair; her hands lying idle on her lap; +a look upon her face which suggested an assurance which nothing they +might say to her could touch; when she spoke she held her head a +little back, with, in her wide-open eyes, what was almost the glint of +a smile. + +"I don't know what you call knowledge. I can only say that I am sure +that you have not yet got to the root of the matter; that there is +still something to be explained; because I am convinced that my father +has left behind him a great deal of money." + +"It is more than probable you are right; nothing will surprise me more +than to learn that he hasn't; all that is wanted is a clue. Tell us on +what you found your conviction." + +"It is not altogether easy, but I'll try." The faintest touch of +colour tinged her cheeks. "You know I am engaged to be married. My +father, in congratulating me, said that the fact that Mr. Spencer had +no money wouldn't matter, because I should have enough for both. I am +sure he would not have said that had it not been true; I know my +father." + +"In other words, he practically told you that, after he was gone, he +would leave you well provided for." + +"That was what it amounted to, yes." + +"He said nothing about the quarter from which the provision was to +come?" + +"He said nothing except what I have told you; but, for me, that is +enough." + +"No doubt, Miss Nora, but what we want is something which will tell us +where the money which he spoke of is to be found." + +"It will be found." + +"Where? how? when? These questions must be answered." + +"They will be answered, in God's good time." + +The doctor gave an impatient gesture. + +"I wish to say nothing in the least impious; but if it is to be in +good time the answer must come now; before Cloverlea is sold, and you +are homeless." + +"Cloverlea--sold?" The notion seemed to startle her. "Who talks of +selling Cloverlea?" + +"My dear young lady, here's a creditor for over four thousand pounds, +who writes to say that if his claim is not settled at once proceedings +will immediately be taken against your father's estate----" + +"Four thousand pounds! To whom did my father owe four thousand +pounds?" + +"That's the worst of it; it's a money-lender." + +"A money-lender?" + +"The fellow holds your father's paper--promissory notes--to the amount +of nearly four thousand five hundred pounds, which is now overdue; and +he says he has other paper, which will mature shortly, to the extent +of another five thousand pounds. And he is not the only one; claims +have been raining in from similar gentry. It actually appears that +your father owed them at least thirty thousand pounds." + +"I don't believe it." + +The doctor shrugged his shoulders. + +"I found it hard to credit; but--there are the bills, accepted by your +father; what do you suggest? that they are forgeries?" + +"At present I suggest nothing; what can I suggest? But I do not +believe that my father ever borrowed money from a usurer." + +"I am afraid that this is not a matter with which we can deal as a +question of belief; do you propose to contest these claims? If so, +notice must be given at once; you must clearly understand what that +would mean; you would have to prove that the signatures upon these +bills, which purport to be your father's, are forgeries; I don't know +in which event the consequences would be more serious, if you proved +it or if you failed to prove it." + +"How do the people who hold these bills pretend they got them?" + +"Guldenheim, who is the chief holder, is, in his way, a perfectly +respectable man, and enormously rich. I called on him yesterday to put +that question. He looked me up and down; and then observed that if +payment was not made this week he should commence proceedings, when he +would supply the Court with all the necessary information; then he +asked his clerk to show me to the door. I am afraid there was +something in the manner in which I asked the question which he +resented, and perhaps was entitled to resent." + +"What will be the result if he does take proceedings?" + +"Probably in a short time you'll have the sheriff's officers in the +house, and, perhaps before you've had time to turn round, you'll be +left without a roof to cover you. Whatever happens we must avoid +that." + +"How are we going to avoid it? How are we going to find money with +which to pay these men?" + +"My proposal is that the creditors should be called together all of +them; we will explain to them exactly how matters stand; and then I +think, for their own sakes, they will join with us in making the best +of what your father has left." + +"As you say that Cloverlea is all that my father has left I presume +that means that, in any case, Cloverlea will have to be sold, that we, +my home and I, are at the mercy of a gang of usurers." + +"I am afraid I don't see what else is to be done." + +"Thank you; that is all I wish to know." She stood up, very erect; on +her face there was still no sign of bitterness, only a quiet calmness, +which was in strange contrast with the conspicuous lack of ease which +marked the bearing of the others. "Do not suppose," she said, in a +voice which was very soft and gentle, "that I am not grateful to you +both for all that you have done for me. I had thought it possible, Mr. +Nash, that the share you were taking in straightening out my small +affairs might be of permanent use to you; I hoped you would allow me +to retain you as my lawyer; but it seems that's not to be, that I'm +not likely to want a lawyer very long. I'm sorry for both our sakes. +For the trouble you have taken, doctor, no words of mine can thank +you; because you--you're my very dear friend, and I fear you'll insist +on making my sorrows your own, and--and that mustn't be." She stopped, +as if, for the moment, she was unable to continue; and then added, +"I'll think over all that you have said." + +Without another word she left the room. The trio neither moved nor +spoke some seconds after she had gone. Then Elaine Harding started to +her feet with what sounded like a sob of passion. + +"It's cruel!" she cried. "Cruel! I don't believe it's so bad as you +make it out to be, I won't believe it! If Mr. Lindsay were still alive +you wouldn't accuse him of the dreadful things you now pretend he's +done, you wouldn't dare to do it!" + +She rushed away in what seemed an agony of tears. The doctor stared at +the door through which she had vanished; then he turned and stared at +Nash; then he laughed queerly. + +"Well! who'd have thought she'd such a temper! I like her better for +it, the little whirlwind! She might as well have accused us of +conspiracy to defraud Miss Lindsay; what do you think of that?" + +"Women," observed Mr. Nash, with downcast eyes, and a wry smile, "are +capable of anything." + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + A PHILANTHROPIST + + +Nora went to her bedroom. It was a pleasant room; as it was then it +was practically her own creation; it represented her ideal of what her +sleeping chamber ought to be. She had even invested it with an air of +romance, as girls, when they are at the most romantic period of their +lives, sometimes will do. There are girls who regard their bedrooms as +if they were parts of themselves. Nora was one of them; she regarded +her bedroom as if it were part of herself. + +As she entered it that afternoon, it seemed to her that there was +something strange about it, as if something had come into the +atmosphere which was not present when she was in it last. It disturbed +her, until she understood that the change was in her; that she had +already unconsciously realized that this room, which had meant to her +so many things, which she supposed would be hers for ever, might, +probably, soon be hers no longer. With that feeling in her mind the +room could never again be to her what it had been before; she felt +almost as if she were a stranger in it then. Seating herself at her +writing-table, she took the Bible which lay on the little shelf in +front, and read in it, trying her hardest to concentrate her attention +on its pages; but it was not easy, even the sacred words came to her +through a mist. But when she closed the book, and went and knelt +beside the bed, pillowing her face on the coverlet, as she had done +again and again, times without number; alike in her infrequent moments +of sorrow--she knew then what pigmy things those sorrows had been! and +in her abounding hours of joy;--it was almost with a sense of terror +that it was borne in upon her what great happiness she in truth had +known--there came to her, as she continued to kneel, that peace which +she so earnestly desired; so that she arose from prayer refreshed, and +with that courage in her heart which refreshment brings. Placing +herself on the armchair which stood by the open window, resting her +arms on the sill, looking at the green world, perhaps without seeing +how green and beautiful it was, so far as she could, she thought it +all out. + +And the more she thought the more clearly she apprehended that life +for her--life as she hitherto had understood it--was at an end +already, before it had scarcely begun, if the things which she had +heard were true. She must depart from Cloverlea, and all that it stood +for, and go out into a world, of which she knew nothing, to earn her +own bread; she wondered, with an odd little smile, how she was going +to set about it; if the picture was as black as it had just been +painted. But was it? In her heart of hearts she doubted. Although she +had been in such slight communion with her father; although his +attitude towards her had been, in many respects, so unfatherlike; she +believed that she had understood him, and that they had had much more +in common than he had chosen to let it appear;--it would require a +great deal to convince her that she was wrong. + +She was fortified in her belief by a curious idea which, almost in +spite of herself, obsessed her more and more; that she understood him +better now that he was dead than she had done when he was living; that +she was closer to him now than she had been then; that she saw more +clearly into his very heart, and knew what manner of man he really +was; and she knew that he was not the kind of man he must have been if +the things which she had heard were true. He was incapable of +falsehood; in small things, as in large, the soul of honour; he had +not lied when he had told her that there would be enough for Robert as +well as for her. Even then she had gathered more from what he said +than his actual words; and she had understood that he had meant that +she should gather more. She believed that he had wished her to know +that in the future she would be a rich woman, and that his brief +speech had been intended to convey that meaning; she was persuaded +that he would not have meant it if it had not been true. + +Yet, how was she to reconcile these things with the facts as they +appeared at present? What explanation would make them harmonize? She +did not know; she admitted to herself that she did not know; still she +was convinced that, when everything was known, her father's truth +would be established. + +While Nora thought and thought; in the pretty bedchamber which had +been assigned to her as an honoured guest, Elaine Harding was +wrestling with troubles of her own, and her troubles were worse than +Nora's. In her dressing-case, under a false bottom, were nearly three +thousand pounds which did not belong to her; the dressing-case itself +had been a gift from Nora, who had shown her the false bottom with +glee, pointing out what a safe hiding-place it would be for any +special treasures she might desire to keep from prying eyes. Almost +the first use she had made of it had been to conceal the huge sum of +which she had robbed the giver. + +How she hated herself for what she had done! how gladly she would have +restored the money to its place upon the dead man's table! She +understood now what it had been doing there; doubtless it was the +amount which it was his custom to pay into the bank each quarter, +which it had been his intention to deliver on the morrow. God had +intervened on the one hand, the devil on the other; she had played the +devil's game;--fool! idiot! wretch that she had been! She realized +quite clearly that that money would never bring any good to her; that +it would lie like some obscene incubus on her whole life; even if she +bought a husband with the proceeds of her stealing, how could she +expect that such a marriage would be blest? The dressing-case itself +had become a sort of monomania; not only did she keep it locked, but +she hid it in her trunk and kept that locked; even then she was +continually haunted by fears that some one was taking liberties with +her property, as she had done with that of others. Suppose, by some +mischance, the secret of that false bottom was discovered, what would +happen then? She did not dare to think. What a fool she had been to +tell Herbert Nash that tale about the legacy. It was not only a +gratuitous, it was a foolish lie; she had seen that for herself almost +as soon as it was told. He had only to make the most superficial +inquiries, the falsehood would be discovered. She felt like biting her +tongue out every time she thought of it. Her only excuse was that she +had done it on the spur of the moment, without thinking; yielding to a +temptation which was stronger than her. If only she did not love him! +with so strange and violent a love that she had been willing to do +what she had done rather than that he should not love her, rather than +that she should not win him for her own! If, now, he were to find her +out--what she had done--for his sake, what would he think of her then? +But he should not find out; she would take care that he did not find +out; rather than he should find out she would continue as she had +begun, at whatever cost to herself, and to others. + +Therefore it seemed to her disordered, tortured, twisted brain, that +there was only one thing to be done, to make amends, to wipe off some +of the blackness from her sin. She had told him that her aunt had left +two thousand pounds. Well, he should have it. He had already had two +hundred; there would be fifteen hundred for a share in Mr. Dawson's +practice; the rest would be required to furnish a house, so that they +might be married at once--on that point she was resolved, that there +should be no delay about their being married; after what had happened +she would be in constant agony till she had become his wife, and, so +far, safe. He could not put his wife from him, even if he did find +out. She was inclined to make it a condition that he should marry her +before she gave him another farthing; in that way she would make sure +of him. Even then, after the whole of the two thousand had been +expended, more than a thousand pounds would still remain. It looked as +if a thousand pounds would be a fortune to Nora Lindsay; a windfall +from the skies; manna from heaven, which would at least preserve her +from starvation. Nora should have the superfluous thousand; she would +insist on it. It was true that such a sum would be most useful to a +young couple, just married; but what did that matter, in face of +Nora's pressing need? It was only too probable that they would be +occasionally pinched; Herbert had explained that his income from a +share of Mr. Dawson's practice would not, at the beginning, be large; +there were eventualities for which they ought to be prepared; but such +considerations were as nothing when one thought of Nora. She must be +considered before anything else; she who had been such a faithful, +such a generous friend; the whole of that thousand pounds should be +hers. + +By the time that Miss Harding had finally decided that this should be +so she had nearly worked herself into a consciousness of virtue. When +you looked facts in the face, from one point of view, it was generous +to give away such a sum as that, especially when you remembered how +much she stood in need of it herself; beyond a doubt that was how it +would appear to Nora. Nora would appreciate her beneficence; would +realize that this was the result of being kind to her humble friend in +the days of her prosperity; the knowledge that the bread which she had +cast upon the waters had returned to her after many days ought to make +her--well, it ought to make her more contented with the measure which +had been meted out to her; Elaine felt that it ought. + +What Miss Harding had to do next was to invent some plausible +explanation of how the money had come into her hands, and she was +aware that that was not easy. So hard, indeed, was it to find that +explanation that, in her despair, she nearly decided, after all, to +relinquish her philanthropic scheme. But she would not do that--she +could not do it; she had said that Nora should have the money, and she +should. The misfortune was that Nora knew so much about her; it would +be impossible to produce an aunt for her; Nora would refuse to swallow +that aunt. Being intimately acquainted with the family history, she +was pretty well aware that all the members of the Harding family would +not be able to produce a thousand pounds between them. And then--there +were other things. Only a short time ago Nora had "obliged" her, as +Elaine phrased it, with the "loan" of a ten-pound note; if Miss +Harding had had a thousand pounds laid by she would hardly have wanted +those ten sovereigns. + +So elusive did that explanation seem, so persistently did it refuse to +come at her bidding, that Elaine brushed back her pretty hair with her +pretty hands with what she intended to be a frenzied gesture, which +was certainly not unbecoming, and at that moment she formed a +resolution. She would go to Nora there and then, straight off, and +approach the subject gently, trusting to the inspiration of the moment +to provide her with the lie which would sound like truth, which it was +so necessary that she should find to aid her in her beneficent +purpose. No one knew better than she did how quickly her wits could +come to her assistance at a pinch; with characteristic courage she +took it for granted that they would not fail her when she was alone +with Nora, and heart was speaking unto heart. In so doing she +overlooked one factor--the unexpected. Experience had taught her that +when she was hard pressed her wits could be relied upon, but hitherto +she had always found herself in situations for which she was more or +less prepared. The immediate future had something in store for her +which was wholly unexpected. + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + THE BUTLER + + +Elaine's room was at some distance from Nora's; they were in different +wings. Miss Harding, whose habits were, in some respects, peculiar, +always preferred that her room should not be too close to her +friend's; though Nora herself would have liked to have had her nearer. +To reach Miss Lindsay Elaine had to traverse a lengthy passage, which +was divided in the centre by a square opening, which was used +sometimes as a lounge. As Miss Harding moved along some one came out +of this recess, and addressed her. It was Morgan, the butler. + +Mr. Morgan was tall and fair--very fair. His face and eyebrows, and +eyelashes, and hair were all of the same colour; it had rather an odd +effect, which some people thought unpleasant. Many persons have an +uncomfortable habit of never looking you in the face; he had what some +felt was a nearly equally uncomfortable habit of never looking away +from your face; he regarded any one with whom he might be talking with +a fixed, impassive stare, which never faltered; there was a quality in +his light greyish-blue eyes which, under such circumstances, was +occasionally disconcerting. Miss Harding, who, in her way, was shrewd +enough, had never known what to make of him; more than once, during +her visits to Cloverlea, she had had a vague feeling that his +demeanour towards her was not quite all that it ought to have been; +the feeling came to her with unpleasant force as he stood before her +then. Yet nothing could have been more decorous than his bearing; +while he spoke with the softly modulated voice with which a +well-trained servant ought to speak. + +"I beg your pardon, Miss Harding, but can I speak to you for a +moment?" + +She said him neither yea nor nay, but put to him a question in return. + +"What is it, Morgan?" + +"It's about these." + +He was extending towards her, on his open palm, what she perceived +were three sovereigns. Whose they were, whence they came, what they +meant, she had not a notion; but all at once she was conscious, not +only of a curious fluttering of the heart, but of a desire to get away +from him as quickly as she could. + +"I can't stop now; if you have anything you wish to say you must say +it later; I'm going to Miss Lindsay, she's waiting for me; and--I'm +not feeling very well." + +Why she added that last remark she did not know; a second after she +wished it had been left unuttered--he fastened on it with such +singular eagerness. + +"You're not looking well--I've noticed it." + +She was just about to hurry on, but there was something about the way +in which he spoke which induced her to pause; something impertinent, +which stung her, so that she regarded him with angry eyes, and replied +to him with scorn. + +"It's very good of you." + +"I've noticed that you've not been looking well--ever since last +Thursday." + +This time he spoke with a significance which startled her, though she +did not understand. + +"Why since last Thursday?" + +"I'll tell you. I was in the study when you were. After you had gone I +found these three sovereigns. One was lying on the floor, and the +other two were lodged on the shelves of the bookcase. And ever since +then I've noticed that you've not been looking well." + +A great horror was stealing over her, which she tried to get the +better of, but failed. He regarded her with that impassive stare of +his, which compelled her eyes to be fixed on his, whether they would +or they would not. + +"I--I don't know what you--what you mean." + +It was strange how her voice trembled; his was steady enough, like the +voice of doom. + +"I'll explain. You remember last Thursday, the day on which the master +was taken ill? I don't think you're ever likely to forget it. It +occurred to me, after dinner, that the lamp had been left lighted, and +the window open; so I went to put out the one and shut the other. When +I got into the room, rather to my surprise, I found that the lamp was +out, though the window was still open. As I stood there, in the +darkness, I heard some one outside, coming along the terrace; +presently you appeared at the open window. The moon was shining +through the window, and you stood right in the moonshine, so that I +saw you as plainly as if it had been daylight. But in the room it was +darker; I expect that, coming in out of the moonlight, it seemed +darker to you than it did to me. You didn't know I was there; I +suppose that, being in a bit of a hurry, and with your thoughts all +fixed on one thing, you took it for granted that the room was empty. +It was rather funny--that's how it struck me at the time, and that's +how it's struck me more than once; but perhaps that's because I've got +a very keen eye for anything humorous. + +"You went right across the room towards the oak bookcase which stands +on the other side of the door, passing so close to me that I felt the +wind of your skirts against my trousers as you passed, and I guessed +that you knew what you were after before you came there, though I +never guessed for a moment what it was. The bookcase was in the +shadow, and mine not being cat's eyes, I couldn't see all that you +were doing; but I could hear; and there are times when the sense of +hearing conveys a good deal of information. I heard you takedown some +of the books, then a rustling, then the chink of money. By that time +you may be sure that I was all ears, and eyes--mine had almost become +cat's eyes before you'd finished. I saw that you had something white +in your hand, which I guessed was your pocket-handkerchief; and I +partly saw, and partly heard, that you were shovelling coins on it +which you were taking from one of the bookcase shelves. Either there +were too many coins for such a small handkerchief--those handkerchiefs +of yours are pretty, but they're small; I like one which is about the +size of a towel--or else you were a little clumsy; you're not, as a +rule, I know; I've often been struck by the natty way you have of +doing things; but perhaps being in such a hurry made you a trifle +nervous. Anyhow, as you're aware, you dropped some of the coins which +you were putting into the handkerchief; I heard them fall, and so did +you. You stooped to pick them up. I expected every second that you'd +strike a match, or get a light somehow; in which case you'd have seen +me, and it might have been funnier still. But you didn't. You felt, +and felt, and felt; I take it that you thought you'd felt everywhere, +and that as you could feel no more of the coins, that you'd picked up +all you'd dropped. Presently, whether satisfied or not upon that +point, you went out the way that you'd come in." + +Mr. Morgan paused, and Miss Harding tried to breathe. It seemed to her +that she was choking; that she was bound about as if with bands of +iron. If there was anything peculiar in her appearance the butler made +no comment; he went on in his easy, softly modulated tones. + +"I heard you return along the terrace; I waited till I could hear no +more of you; then I shut the window, and drew the curtains; then I lit +the lamp, and with its aid I subjected the room to a careful +examination, and in less than five seconds I found a sovereign on the +floor by the bookcase, and then two more on the shelves. Here they +are." + +He again extended his hand, with the three shining discs on the open +palm. She started back from them, gasping, as if they were dangerous +things, of which she stood in physical terror. + +"I've marked each coin--see? I want you to notice them carefully, so +that you may recognize them, if you see them again." He held up one of +the coins between his finger and thumb. "Of course when I found these +I knew what had happened; understood it all--better even than you did. +I knew some of the governor's little ways, which perhaps you didn't; a +man in my position has to keep a sharp look-out; it's part of his +duty--to himself. I knew all about the governor's habit of paying into +his banking account three thousand pounds every quarter, in notes and +gold, which Dr. Banyard has been telling you young ladies about, as if +it was news; I'd seen the money on his table, that afternoon when I +was helping to carry him away, the next day being his usual one for +paying in, I knew what it was there for. He was a man of regular +habits, was my late governor; though some of them were queer ones. +There wasn't any of it left, except these three sovereigns which, in +the dark, had escaped your notice. Because why?--because you'd taken +the lot. I consider that a remarkable thing for any one to do, +especially for a real young lady. Never before, in my experience, have +I known the friend of the house take instant advantage of the host's +sudden illness to play a game like that. Remarkable, I call it; most +remarkable." + +Each time that Mr. Morgan paused the girl before him gasped, as if the +mere cessation of his speech removed from her some sense of +constriction, which prevented the free play of her lungs. + +"Don't suppose," he continued, with what he possibly intended to be +affability, "that I am saying this to you in any unfriendly spirit; +because I'm not--nothing of the kind. I've always felt that there was +in you the makings of something remarkable, though I must admit that +you've gone beyond my expectations. I've always liked you, Miss +Harding; in fact, I've nearly more than liked you. I want you to +understand that you've made of me what you might call an unintentional +confidant; so why should there be any barriers between us? Socially +there are none to speak of. Your father's a poor country parson, mine +was a schoolmaster; there isn't much to choose between them; if I was +asked I should say that I don't think much of either. Pecuniarily the +advantage is all on my side, as I happen to know; and that in spite of +the three thousand pounds you have of somebody else's. Very +comfortable I could make a wife, if I had one; she'd be quite the +lady. I've no complaint to make about your manner towards me in +public; I humbly venture to hope that after this intimation of my +friendly feeling towards you, you'll be even affable when we're alone +together--if ever we are. It's all up with everything here; from what +I happen to know, I shouldn't be surprised if the house, and all +that's in it, was sold for what it will fetch in a surprisingly short +space of time. Then we shall all be parted. Miss Lindsay will go her +way--though I don't know what way that'll be; you'll go yours, and I +shall go mine. This will be my last taste of service. When you meet me +again afterwards you'll find me a perfect gentleman, whom you won't be +a bit ashamed to introduce to your friends; and I assure you I'll do +my best to earn their respect and esteem. I won't detain you any +longer, Miss Harding--you'll understand that I had to speak to you; +and that, situated as I am, I had to take the first chance that +offered. Now you can go to Miss Lindsay with a mind at ease. If an +opportunity offers you might inform her what a feeling of true +sympathy there is for her in the servants' hall. It's very hard for a +young lady, who has been brought up in the lap of luxury, to be all at +once left with hardly clothes enough to cover her, because, between +ourselves, that's what's going to happen to her; and down-stairs we +earnestly trust, if I may use the language of metaphor, that her back +will be broadened for the burden. There's many a young girl like her +who has to earn her bread in ways I shouldn't like to mention; let's +hope she won't come to any of those. You might mention, if you have +the chance, that we all of us wish her the very best of luck." + +With a slight inclination of his head, which might almost have been +mistaken for a nod, Mr. Morgan went past her towards the staircase. +She remained where he had left her, as if her feet were glued to the +carpet. Her inclination would have been to return to her own bedroom; +there she would at least be alone, to try to think; but the butler was +between it and her. As she glanced in the direction of her room, +looking over his shoulder he glanced towards her, and she ran towards +Nora's room. + +Without knocking she opened the door and entered; but so soon as she +had crossed the threshold she stood motionless, as if all her limbs +were locked together. Nora, seated on an arm-chair, was leaning on the +sill of the open window, trying, in her own fashion, to find light in +the darkness which threatened to encompass her round about; when she +turned it seemed, from the expression which was on her face, as if she +had found it. Certainly a stranger, observing the two girls, would +have said that it was Elaine Harding who stood most in need of +consolation; and so Nora seemed herself to think. That divine instinct +which, in some people, wakes to life in the presence of suffering, was +quick to perceive that here was trouble which was greater than hers. +She held out her arms, crying-- + +"You poor child!" + +It was enough; Elaine needed no further invitation. With eager, +tremulous steps, and a cry which was half gasp, half sob, she went +fluttering across the room, sinking in a heap at Nora's feet, +pillowing her head upon her lap, crying as if the violence of her +grief would tear her asunder. Smoothing her hair with her soft hands, +stooping down and kissing her tenderly, using towards her all manner +of endearments, Nora strove her utmost to assuage the passion of her +woe, in seeming forgetfulness of how much she herself was in need of +comfort. But Elaine was not to be consoled. + + + + + CHAPTER X + + THE EARL AND THE COUNTESS + + +Events moved quickly; as, at certain crises of our lives, they have a +knack of doing. During twenty years very little had really happened to +Nora; in a few crowded, bewildering days for her the whole world was +turned upside down. On the Friday--the day after the funeral--Nora +told Dr. Banyard that she was inclined to be of his opinion, that the +creditors had better be called together, and matters left in their +hands. She did not tell him that her faith in her father remained +unshaken. It was made clear to her that this was a question of hours, +possibly even of minutes, if something was not done to appease the +creditors at once then the worst would befall; it was no use +delivering herself of pious expressions of faith when action was +required. So she authorized the doctor to do his best for her, and +left everything to his discretion. + +Throughout that day she was puzzled by the singularity of Miss +Harding's behaviour; she had cares enough of her own to occupy her +mind, yet she could not help but notice that there was something very +strange the matter with Elaine. The young lady's outburst of the +evening before had not been explained. All day long she was in a state +of nervous tremor which was almost hysterical; such conduct was +unusual in Elaine, who had been wont to laugh at the idea both of +nerves and of hysterics. Nora did not know what to make of her. So far +as she could gather, from the cryptic utterances which the girl now +and then let fall, she was troubled about three things. First, because +of the poverty which apparently was in store for Nora; then because of +the various amounts, which together did not amount to a very large +sum, and most of which, to tell the truth, the creditor had herself +forgotten, in which she was indebted to Nora; and, in the third part, +because of a nebulous scheme she had for endowing Nora with unnamed, +but seemingly immense supplies of ready money. It was this scheme +which, apparently, was worrying her more than anything else; though +what it really was, was beyond Nora's comprehension. Elaine +talked--vaguely, it is true, but passionately, none the less--of being +in possession of funds which Nora knew perfectly well she never had +had, and probably never would have; and about which she waxed quite +warm when Nora smilingly asked if she was quite sure she was not +dreaming. + +"You're not to laugh!" she cried. "You're not to laugh! You are to +have it! you shall have it!" + +"I shall have what?" + +"The money I'm telling you about!" + +"But what money are you telling me about? Elaine, you don't seriously +wish me to believe that you have money. Only this week you were crying +because of what you said you owed me; though I say you owe me nothing, +since all that has been between us has been for love's sake. And only +last week you told me that your pockets were empty, and you didn't +know where you were going to get something to put in them; don't you +remember?" + +"But I may know where money is!" + +"Yes, and so may I; there's money in the bank, but it's neither yours +nor mine; and I'm sure--don't you know I'm sure? you must be a goose +if you don't--that you've no more idea how, honestly, it's to be wooed +and won than I have; so what's the use of our pretending?" + +To the speaker's surprise Miss Harding glared at her for some moments +in silence; then, as if in sudden rage, she flung herself out of the +room without a word; sounds were audible as if she were sobbing as she +went. + +"What," inquired Nora of herself, not by any means for the first time +that day, "can be the matter with Elaine?" + +On the Saturday the storm broke on her from a quarter for which, at +the moment, she was unprepared. Word had been brought that the Earl +and Countess of Mountdennis were in the drawing-room, waiting to see +her. Her first impulse was to send an excuse; the mere announcement of +their presence made her conscious of a sinking heart; but it was not +her way to excuse herself because she feared unpleasantness; second +thoughts prevailed. She recognized that, from their point of view, +they were entitled to see her, even in these first days of her +bereavement. She needed none to tell her that the purport of their +presence was not likely to be an agreeable one; that they probably had +not come upon an errand of love; she had too shrewd a notion of their +characters. Under the circumstances the last thing she might expect +from them was sympathy; she was aware that they had a standard of +their own; and that according to that the more a person stood in need +of sympathy the less likely they were to vouchsafe it. Still they were +Robert's parents; it was for her to consider him rather than herself; +so, for the first time since her father was taken ill she ventured +into the drawing-room. + +The frigidity of the reception which they accorded her was ominous; +she knew at once that so far from having deserved their sympathy she +had incurred their displeasure. The last time they had met they had +both of them taken her, not only metaphorically, but literally, to +their bosoms; showering oh her tokens of affection which erred, if +anything, on the side of redundance. Now the lady permitted her to +touch a fish-like hand, taking care not to allow her to approach too +near; while the gentleman merely bowed. It was he who spoke first, as +if he were addressing some one whose behaviour had both pained and +shocked him. + +"We only learnt this morning, actually by the merest accident, that +your father was not only dead, but buried." + +"Not only dead but buried!" + +This was the Countess. It was a standing joke that, if they were both +engaged in the same conversation, when he did not echo her she echoed +him. If they ever differed it must have been in private; in public +their agreement was so complete as sometimes to approach almost to the +verge of the exasperating. + +"We were not even aware that your father was unwell; we had received +positively no information on the subject whatever." + +"Positively none whatever!" + +"It seems to me--to us--a most extraordinary thing that you should not +have apprised us of the condition of your father's health; that you +should have given us no intimation of any kind; that you should have +kept us in utter ignorance." + +"In utter ignorance!" + +"May I ask, may we ask, Miss Lindsay, why you have not treated us with +at least some approximation to that consideration which our position +obviously demanded?" + +"Our position obviously demanded!" + +"To begin with, it was all very sudden; and then I didn't know where +you were. + +"But you might have made inquiries, anybody would have told you; +almost, one might say, the first person you met in the street. We are +not the kind of people who hide ourselves in holes." + +"No, not in holes!" + +"The moment we learnt what had occurred--learnt, as I have observed, +by the sheerest accident,--we rushed back to Holtye, that very moment; +though to do so involved us in the most serious inconvenience; but we +had no option." + +"We had no option." + +"Because, not only were we informed, by accident, that your father was +dead and buried, but we were also told, at the same time, what struck +us as being so surprising as to be almost incredible, that he had not +left behind him even so much as a sixpence." + +"Not even so much as a sixpence!" + +"You will remember, Miss Lindsay--that is, I take it for granted that +information was given to you to that effect, that before sanctioning +my--our--son Robert's engagement to you I made a special point of +calling upon your father, who then and there informed, I may say, +assured, me that, on the occasion of your marriage, he would present +you with a house and furniture, and settle on you five thousand pounds +a year. On the strength of that positive and definite assurance +I--we--gave our consent, which, without it, we never should have +dreamt of doing. We have our duty to perform, not only to our son, but +to ourselves, and I may say, to our family, of which we are the +representatives; I therefore offer no excuse for taking advantage of +the first opportunity which arises to ask if your father has left his +affairs in a condition which will enable you to carry out that +assurance. On behalf of the Countess of Mountdennis, and of myself, I +beg you, Miss Lindsay, in answering that question, to be perfectly +plain and perfectly candid." + +"Perfectly plain and perfectly candid!" + +The Earl, very tall, very straight, very thin, waved his hard felt hat +in one hand, and his gold-knobbed malacca cane in the other, in a +manner which was hardly so impressive as he perhaps intended; the +Countess, her gloved hands clasped in front of her, wagged not only +her head, but her whole body, as if to punctuate, and notify her +approval, of his remarks as they fell from him. Nora was silent. At +the back of her mind had been the consciousness that, sooner or later, +this question would have to be confronted; but she had not anticipated +that it would be addressed to her so suddenly, so brusquely, with such +a stand-and-deliver air. When she began to speak her lips were +tremulous; and, though she might not have been aware of it, her eyes +were moist; the feeling was strong upon her how different it all was +from what she had expected. + +"I--I'm sorry to say that, so far as we have been able to ascertain, +the state of my father's affairs is not--not altogether satisfactory." + +It was the Countess who took up the running then; the Earl who played +the part of echo; but as her volubility was much greater than his she +did not give him so many opportunities to shine as he had given her. + +"Not altogether satisfactory! my good young woman, what do you mean? I +suppose all ideas of a house and furniture and five thousand a year +must be given up, though your father led us to expect that there would +be much more than that after he was dead; but the Earl has asked you a +plain question and what we want is a plain answer; how much has he +left you? If you can't give us the exact sum let's have it +approximately, in pounds, shillings and pence." + +"I'm afraid that I'm not yet in a position which enables me to do +that." + +"Not in a position? what do you mean, you're not in a position? are +you in a position to say that he has left you anything, except debts?" + +"I'm certain that when he said he had that money he had it; I believe +he was a rich man when he died. Only he was very reserved; and, in +consequence, we have not been able to find where the money is." + +"Stuff and nonsense! you'd have found the money if there'd been any to +find; it's only when there is none that none's found! Have you any +sort of solid foundation for thinking that he did leave money?" + +"He gave me to understand that I should be left well off; and I can't +believe he would have done so if it had not been true." + +"Some people can't believe anything; I know a woman who can't believe +that her husband committed murder, though he was found guilty on the +clearest possible evidence, confessed his guilt, and was hung ten +years ago. Husbands and wives can't exist on the incomes they believe +they have; tradesmen want coin of the realm. I'm informed that by the +time everything's sold, and everything will have to be sold, and the +debts paid, there'll be nothing left for you; I want you to tell me, +plainly, please, if that's true." + +At last the Earl had his chance. + +"Yes, plainly, please, if that's true!" + +"I am afraid that, as matters stand at present, it does seem as if it +were likely to be true." + +The Countess, putting up her lorgnettes, surveyed her fixedly, and +severely. + +"You must allow me to remark, Miss Lindsay, that you have a way of +fencing with a plain question which, under the circumstances, seems +peculiar, and which compels me to wonder if it can be possible that +you knowingly obtained my son's consent to marry you under false +pretences." + +At this Nora did fire up. + +"How dare you say such a thing! I did not obtain his consent, he +obtained mine." + +"We know very well what that means. I have not arrived at my time of +life without understanding what are the wiles with which a young woman +of no position lures a handsome young fellow of good family; I have +not the slightest doubt that my son would never have asked you to be +his wife had you not made it quite clear to him that you wished him +to." + +Nora stood up; one could see that the colour kept coming and going in +her cheeks; that she was trembling; that she seemed to be panting for +breath. + +"I--I think you'd better go." + +The Countess went calmly on; the girl's agitation seemed to make the +elder woman calmer, and more corrosive. + +"I am going when it suits me; I assure you I have no wish to stay a +moment longer in this abode of misrepresentation than I am compelled +to. But before I go I wish to appeal to your sense of decency, if you +have any sense of decency----" + +"How--how dare you! how dare you speak to me like this!" + +"I say, if you have any sense of decency, to release him from the most +unfortunate position in which your father's misrepresentations, and +your own peculiar behaviour, have entangled him." + +"Has--has he sent you here?" + +"If you persist in putting such a question I shall understand that you +have no sense of decency; surely any young woman with a spark of +honour in her composition, must perceive that in such a situation the +man would not be likely to send--that the initiative must come from +her, not from him." + +"I simply wish to learn if Mr. Robert Spencer knows that you have come +to me upon this errand." + +"He does not know; which gives you an opportunity to free him +gracefully before the true state of affairs does come to his +knowledge." + +"If he wishes to be what you call 'free,' do you suppose that for one +moment I would stand in his way?" + +"It is not so much a question of what he wishes, as of what you wish. +If you wish, though ever so slightly, to hold him to his bargain, I +dare say he'll be held, even to the extent of making you his wife; +though he will regret it ever afterwards, and will probably live to +curse the day on which you first placed yourself in his path. Young +men have married undesirable women, who were in no way fitted to be +their wives, and who were thinking only of themselves, before to-day, +and will again; I have seen examples of it in my own family, to my +great sorrow. I intend, if I can, to save my son Robert from such a +fate, whatever you may say or do; the purport of my presence here is +merely to learn if you are, or are not, possessed of a shred of +principle." + +"I cannot conceive why you talk to me like this; what makes you think +yourself entitled to take up such an attitude towards me; what I have +done which causes you to address me in such a strain." + +"That's high-faluting, it's talk of that sort which makes me suspect +that you must be even worse than I supposed. Your father held you out +to the world as a young woman who was rich already, and who would be +still richer later on, and you tacitly endorsed his positive +statements; then he dies just in time to save himself from being made +a fraudulent bankrupt, leaving you worse than a pauper, and you have +the assurance to pretend to wonder why I and the Earl regard you--I +will be as civil as I can--askance. Talk sense, Miss Lindsay; don't +presume on our simplicity any longer. You are perfectly well aware +that, had we been aware of the truth from the first, we should never +have countenanced you in any way whatever. Your father's lies, +with which you went out of your way to associate yourself--I +know!--deceived us; and they deceived my son; there's the truth for +you, if you never heard it before." + +Nora looked as if she could have said many things; but she only asked +a question. + +"What, precisely, is it that you wish me to do?" + +"I wish you to do something to, at least in part, undo the mischief +which you have done already, to atone for the evil of which you have +been the cause; I wish you to show by your demeanour your +consciousness of the miserably false position in which you have been +placed by others, or in which you have placed yourself, it doesn't +matter which. In other, and plainer words, I wish you to hand me my +son's letters and presents, and to sit down at once and write a +letter, which I will hand him, in which you express your appreciation +of the fact that he asked you to become his wife under an entire +misapprehension, and that now, since circumstances have turned out so +wholly different to what they were represented to be, your own +self-respect forbids you to allow any association to continue between +you; and that, in short, all is over between you, in every possible +sense of the phrase. I want you to put that down, as plainly, and as +finally, as it can be put, in black and white, because, Miss Lindsay, +I wish to save my son Robert, at the earliest possible, from the +danger in which he stands, and to do it while he is still absent." + +"But, my dear mother," exclaimed the voice of some new-comer, "your +son Robert is not still absent, he is here." + +Looking round the trio saw that the Honourable Robert Spencer was +standing at the open window. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + ROBERT + + +Robert Spencer was not only, as his mother put it, a handsome young +fellow; he had more than good looks, he had that air of distinction +which goes with character. No one with even a slight knowledge of +physiognomy could see him once without perceiving that he was +physically, mentally, and probably morally, a strong man, and, what +was almost as much, a likable man. As he stood framed in the open +window, with the glory of that almost uncannily glorious April sun +lighting up the frame, each of those who saw him was conscious of an +impulse which, had it been yielded to, would have resulted in a scene +of tenderness. He was dear to his parents, and he knew it; they +themselves scarcely knew how dear, and that also he suspected. He was +dear, with a different sort of dearness, to the girl who moved towards +him, as if impelled by a power against which she was helpless; only to +start back, shrinking timidly, with frightened, longing eyes, and +cheeks on which the crimson faded to pallor. Yet, though he was dear +to all of them, there was not one of the three who would not rather he +had not appeared upon the scene just then. His mother, with +characteristic courage, gave expression to her feeling on the spot. + +"Robert! my boy! we don't want you. Where have you come from? and what +are you doing here?" + +He smiled, and his was such a pleasant smile it did one good to see +it. + +"Why, mother, I'm sorry to hear that you don't want me. I've rushed +from the station to tell Nora, what I've not a doubt she knows +already, that I hope she'll find in me some one who'll take the place, +at least in part, of him whom she has lost." + +When he advanced into the room his mother placed herself in his path. + +"Robert, my dear boy, you ought not to be here. Go back to Holtye, and +when I return I will explain to your perfect satisfaction why I say +it." + +"Ought not to be here!--where Nora is! My dear mother! Nora, why +do--why don't--Nora, what's the matter?" + +He made a sudden forward movement, but once more his mother was too +quick for him; again she interposed; if he did not wish to knock her +over he had to stand still. + +"Robert, I must beg you to do as I desire, and return at once to +Holtye." + +"My dear mother, I must beg you to stand aside, and let me speak to +Nora." + +The old woman turned to the girl. + +"Miss Lindsay, you perceive how my son treats me; have you nothing +which you wish to say?" + +"Of course," replied the son in question, "Nora has something which +she wishes to say--I'm sure I don't know why you call her Miss +Lindsay; she's not likely to say it when addressed like that. I'll +make a suggestion, mother; you go back to Holtye, with the dad, and +I'll talk to Nora when you're gone, and I'll tell you some of the +things she says to me when I return to Holtye." + +The old lady stuck to her guns. + +"Miss Lindsay, is there nothing that you wish to say?" + +"Yes, Mr. Spencer, there is something which I wish to say--your mother +is right; you ought not to be here." With a great effort she had +brought herself to the sticking-point. She was one of those women who +have in them an infinite capacity for suffering, yet who remain +unbeaten though they suffer. If she once saw what she believed to be +her duty straight in front of her, though her flesh might quail, her +soul would not falter; she would do her duty as certainly as any of +that great host who have died for duty, smiling as they died. The +Countess had not put things pleasantly, but it seemed to Nora that she +had put them correctly; she ought not to marry the man she loved, for +his own sake; and because she loved him with something of that love +which passes understanding, she would not marry him--to his own hurt. +She proceeded to make this as clear to him as she could. "There has +been a misunderstanding between us from the first; I don't know that +the fault has been altogether mine, but there has been. It is +necessary that we should understand each other now. When I consented +to become your wife it was under a misapprehension; I did not know it +then; I know it now. Now that I do know it, it is quite clear to me +that it is impossible that I should be your wife, and I never will be. +Therefore, since what your mother says is obviously correct, and you +ought not to be here, I would join with her in asking you to go." + +Robert Spencer stared as if he found it difficult to credit that this +formal, cold, somewhat pedantic young woman was the girl whom he had +found all love and tenderness; indeed he refused to credit it. + +"Nora, you're--not well." + +He said this with such a comical twist, and such a sunny smile, that +she all but succumbed, she loved him for it so; she was all of a +quiver, her heart seemed melting. It was possibly because she +perceived the girl's sad plight that the sharp-eyed old woman took +another hand in the game. + +"Robert, is it necessary that Miss Lindsay and I should retire? I +should not have thought that you would have required two women to ask +you to go, before you went. I repeat that you shall have all +explanations--from Miss Lindsay and from me--when I see you at +Holtye." + +But Robert still smiled, and he shook the handsome, clever head, which +the Countess ought to have known was too clever to be hoodwinked quite +so easily. + +"It won't do, mother; I'm sorry to seem to run counter to your wishes; +but it's clear to my mind that it is I who am entitled to ask you to +leave me alone with Nora; it pains me to observe your seeming +reluctance to do what you know you ought to do. Dad, you'll +understand; won't you take my mother away?" + +The Earl, thus appealed to, cleared his throat, and then observed-- + +"Robert, you're a fool; leave this business to your mother; you come +and talk to me." + +He moved towards the window, as though inviting his son to accompany +him into the grounds, and to have that talk out there and then; but +Robert stood still. + +"Thank you, dad; it's very good of you, and I'll have all the talk +with you you can possibly desire--after I have had a talk with Nora." + +All at once the girl solved the question in her own fashion; she spoke +tremulously, yet in haste. + +"I--I think that if Mr. Spencer won't go, then--then it is better that +I should." + +And she did go, towards the door, and through it like a flash, before +the person principally concerned had a chance to stop her. + +"Nora!" he cried, the instant she had gone, and he went rushing +towards the door through which she had vanished; but again his mother, +showing an agility which, in a person of her years, was remarkable, +stood in his way. + +"Robert, I insist upon your conducting yourself like a gentleman! If +you will not show me the respect which is due to your mother, you at +least shall not behave in a stranger's house in a way which is +unbecoming to my son." + +He looked at the old woman, who had planted herself in front of him, +upright and stiff as a post, and he drew back; this time his smile was +grave. + +"Mother, I trust that you are not forgetting that there is a respect +which a mother owes to her son. Why do you object to my having any +conversation with my affianced wife?" + +"Don't you know that her father is dead?" + +"Certainly I know it; just dead, and just buried; it is on that +account that I feel so strongly that my place is with her." + +"Don't talk nonsense!" + +"Mother, when you were alone in the world, didn't you feel that my +father's place was with you?" + +"Robert, your brothers have behaved like fools, but I hope you won't; +you are all the hope I have left; it will break my heart if you do. +This girl's father has turned out to be an impostor!" + +"An impostor? Mother, in saying what you have to say to me will you +please remember you are speaking of the woman who is to be my wife, +and your daughter, and so choose language which does not convey more +than you intend?" + +"Don't presume to lecture me! that is going too far. I say he has +turned out to be an impostor--and he has!" + +"In what sense?" + +"He told your father he was going to give his girl a house and +furniture and five thousand a year, besides leaving her a rich woman +when he died; and now he hasn't left enough to pay his debts; if that +isn't being an impostor I don't know what is!" + +"A good deal of water has gone over the mill since he said that; he +may have had money then, and yet have lost every penny of it since." + +"Then he ought to have told you." + +"Why?" + +"Why! you know perfectly well why. I believe it is your wish to +irritate me, when I'm very far from well, as your father here will +tell you. That man knew that you were not in a position to marry a +poor woman, and that we should never have given our consent if it had +not been for this distinct assurance that his daughter would be amply +provided for." + +"Well?" + +"Well! it's not well; there's nothing well about it! You shan't speak +to me like this--I won't have it! Robert, I want you to promise that +all shall be at an end between Miss Lindsay and you; she herself sees +the matter in the proper light----" + +"Does that mean that you have been talking: to her?" + +"Certainly I have been talking to her; and I will say this, that she +did not take long to see where her duty lay." + +"Is it possible that she took it for granted that I should behave like +a blackguard--at my mother's bidding?" + +"Robert, how dare you!" + +"It is not I, mother, who dare; I dare not. I asked Miss Lindsay to be +my wife when her father was alive, and a rich man and all was well +with her. If, now that all is not well with her, I attempt to +repudiate the solemn engagements into which I then entered----" + +"Fiddle-de-dee! solemn engagements indeed! You entered into no solemn +engagements, and I'll take care you don't. Robert, you are the only +creature I have left to love." + +"I don't see how that can be, since you have eight other children and +a husband." + +"My boy, my boy, don't you be so cruel as to pretend that you don't +understand! You're my youngest born, the child of my old age, my +baby--you're dear to me in a special sense, as you know very well. If +you marry this girl, who is not only penniless, but who is in honour +bound to pay her father's debts, and who'll drag you down into the +gutter, because your aunt will never give you another penny when she +knows the facts, on the day of your marriage I'll commit suicide." + +"Mother!" + +"I will, so now you're warned; and she shall know why I do it. I'll +not live to be mocked by all my children; I've had nine of them, as +you say, and if not one of them will try to please his mother--then +God help us mothers." + +The young man turned to the Earl. + +"Do you associate yourself, sir, with my mother in this matter?" + +"Certainly I do--most distinctly I do; with what she says respecting +this young woman most emphatically I do; I can't conceive of a +rational creature doing anything else. As matters have turned out the +girl's impossible--absolutely out of the question. If you can't see +it, Robert, you're a fool." + +"Thank you, sir." The young man regarded his plain-speaking sire with +a wry little smile. "I think it probable that when you have thought +things over, sir, you will modify your views; but while you hold them +so warmly, plainly it is desirable that I should restrict myself to a +bare announcement of the fact that they are not mine." + +He moved towards the window; his mother called out to him. + +"Robert, where are you going? You will return with us. We came in the +landau; there is plenty of room. I beg you will give us your company; +indeed, if it is not sufficient for a mother to beg of her son, then I +insist upon your doing so." + +"Pardon me, mother, but I am not going to Holtye; I have taken a room +at the 'Unicorn.'" + +"The 'Unicorn!' Robert! Harold, will you be so good as to ask him what +he means?" + +The Earl did as he was bid. + +"Robert, what do you mean by saying that you have taken a room at the +'Unicorn'?--an inn!--a mere tavern! at the gate of your father's +house!" + +"The 'Unicorn' can hardly be said to be at the gate of Holtye, since +it is at a distance of a good five miles." + +"Stuff, sir! Five miles or fifty, what does it matter? Holtye is your +home, and you will be so good as to come home; we've been expecting +you; we've been looking forward to your return; I trust that the day +is far distant on which you will cease to regard Holtye as your home." + +"Unless he wishes to break his mother's heart." + +The interpolation was the lady's. + +"So no nonsense, sir; get into the carriage and we'll drive you home." + +"You are very kind; permit me, sir, to finish. It is plain that my +mother and you have made up your minds that Miss Lindsay shall not +become my wife; you will probably leave no stone unturned which will +keep us apart. I appreciate your motives, and though I think them +unworthy, I know you think they're for my good; but I have made up my +mind that she shall be my wife, and I will stop at nothing which will +bring about that desirable consummation. Under these conditions +obviously the more we are together the more friction there will be; +and therefore, equally obviously, it is desirable that, for the +present at least, I should not come to Holtye. But I promise you this, +that when she's my wife I'll come--and I'll bring her with me." + +"You'll do nothing of the kind; if you ever do marry her you'll never +set foot inside the door again." + +This, of course, was the Countess; her son laughed. + +"You hear my mother, sir! Isn't that conclusive?" + +He passed through the window and out of sight, the Earl and the +Countess staring at the place where he had been. The Earl was the +first to speak. + +"Jemima, what on earth was the use of saying a thing like that? Don't +you know him better than to threaten?" + +"What am I to say? what am I to do? Who'd have children!--they're the +cause of suffering and sorrow to their mothers from their cradles to +their graves! I wish I'd never had one!" + +"My dear Jemima, I dare say, also, you wish you had two heads, but you +haven't. For my part, I don't know that I regret the line he's taken +up." + +"Harold! Do you wish to see him ruined?" + +"Not at all; quite the other way; that's exactly it. In cases of +this sort, when the man throws over the woman there's a certain +amount of odium attached to his conduct--I realize that as clearly as +he does; but when she throws him over that's another thing. Robert's +pig-headed----" + +"Like his father!" + +"And his mother! he's no worse on that account, Jemima, not in the +sense in which I use the word. You'll not move him, but you will the +girl; there's your objective. In her way, unless I'm mistaken, she's +as pig-headed as he is. He may use all the eloquence he has at his +command, but, after what you said to her, and the way in which you +put things, I doubt if she'll marry him though he pleads till he is +dumb--they are a pair of Quixotes; when it comes to rank, downright +Quixotry, she'll beat him on his own ground." + +And the lady considered her lord's words. + +"I shouldn't be surprised," she admitted, "if you are right." + +"I know I'm right," he said. "I haven't come to my time of life +without being a student of human nature." + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + IN THE WOOD + + +On the Sunday morning Nora went to church alone. Miss Harding, who did +not appear at breakfast, sent word that she had a headache and hoped +that Nora would excuse her; which Nora was glad to do; she preferred +to go alone. + +For the first time for some days the sky was overcast; the sun was +hidden, as if the clerk of the weather desired to show that he was in +sympathy with the girl's feelings. Certainly the girl's mood was not a +sunny one. The church was distant from the house about a mile. The way +to it was through the grounds; along a footpath through the wood, +across Farmer Snelling's thirty-acre field, into the copse on the +other side, where the first daffodils were always found; when you were +out of the copse almost in front of you was the Rectory Lane; a +hundred yards along the lane, turn sharply to the left, there was the +lych-gate under which, aforetime, more parish coffins rested than men +had count of. As she went the familiar way, amid the many evidences of +the hasting spring, the spirit of the morning seemed to enter into +her, so that, as she passed into the church, and knelt where she had +knelt so many times in happier days, the peace of God came into her +soul and she knew, with an abiding sense of comfort, that indeed all +things are in His hands. + +She never forgot that morning's service; the last at which she was +privileged to be a worshipper in what she had thought would always be, +in a special sense, her own church; the memory was with her, as a +sweet savour, in the still darker days which were to come. It was Palm +Sunday, for Easter was late that year; the hour of the Church's +mourning was close at hand; the appointed service for the day seemed +to be peculiarly suited to her own case; before it was at an end her +thoughts ceased to be centred on herself; her head, and her heart, +were both abased before a sorrow that was greater than hers. + +When she came out, at the close of service, she was surrounded by +people, villagers and others, for there was not a creature in the +parish, good or bad, high or low, with whom she was not on terms of +intimacy; unconsciously she illustrated the doctrine that-- + + + "He prayeth best who loveth best + All things, both great and small; + For the dear God who loveth us, + He made and loveth all." + + +They had all a word of sympathy to offer, crude words some of them +were, but she knew that all of them were well meant, and that was +something; what was hidden from her, and from them, was knowledge of +the fact that to most of those who clustered round her, and who +waylaid her as she went, the words which were uttered were words of +farewell; that before another Sunday came round she was to be parted +from them as by a great sea. At the church porch, in the Rectory Lane, +in the copse across Farmer Snelling's field, she found some one who +had at least a word to say; sometimes it was an ancient, sometimes a +toddling child. She had gained the stile which one had to climb to get +into the wood before she was able to feel that the last of the +interviewers was done with; she did not guess that on the other side +of that stile lurked the most irrepressible of them all. + +Although there was a right of way through the wood it was one which +was seldom used, except by the household at Cloverlea; and how often +they went that way was shown by the untrodden moss which almost hid +the track. And yet it was a pleasant wood, and an inviting path; it +had only to be followed a very little way, there were delicious nooks +and dells. Most of the trees were old, and many of them were stately; +yet they were excellent company, if one chanced to be alone. As Nora +had found, many a time. She loved that wood; it was to her as a dear +friend; so often had she come to it to dream, waking dreams, and to be +alone in it, with her joys. The season, that year, was early. The +chestnuts--there were not many in the wood, only about a dozen, but +they were all fine trees--were already nearly in full leaf; the elms +were showing green; there was promise of green upon the beeches; only +the oaks were still bare; in all the wood, somewhere, was the gleam +and glow and glory of that lustrous, delicate, fleeting green which is +spring's greatest marvel. And though the sun still was hidden, she +felt how beautiful it was, and how good to be in it there alone; until +she came upon a man who was leaning against a tree, the finest +chestnut in the wood, the splendour of whose leafing branches formed a +canopy above him. + +The man was Robert Spencer; the tree was just round a bend in the +path, so that she was almost up against him before she had the +faintest notion that any one was there. To judge from her demeanour +the sight of him alarmed her; she drew back with a half-stifled cry, +staring at him as if he were some dangerous thing. He, on his side, +was all smiles, as if he was very conscious that she was the +pleasantest thing he had seen that day. He held out both hands, with +his cap in one. + +"Nora! at last! I was afraid you were never coming!" + +There was no mistake about the joyous ring which was in his voice. On +her part she seemed not to know what to say, or do, or make of him, as +if his presence there was a possibility of which she had never +dreamed. + +"Mr. Spencer, you--you ought not to be here; I--I must beg of you to +let me pass." + +"Why, my dear Nora, of course I'll let you pass; do you suppose I want +to block the way? But why do you call me Mr. Spencer? and why do you +keep out of kissing distance? Do you know how long it is since I had a +kiss? and how often of late I've pictured the delicious moment in +which I was to have another? Nora!" + +The colours chased each other across her cheeks in rainbow hues; she +strove her utmost to look dignified; but, to his thinking, she only +looked more delightful; her very severity he thought became her. + +"Mr. Spencer, you--you have no right to talk to me like this. You have +had my letter----" + +"Your letter? what letter?" + +"The one I sent you yesterday; it ought to have been delivered this +morning." + +"It wasn't; I've had no letter of yours which you sent me yesterday; +where did you send it? to what address?" + +"I addressed it to you at Holtye." + +"Then that's why I've not had it; possibly I never shall have it. You +rushed off in such a flurry, before I could speak a word to you, that +I had no chance to tell you that I wasn't staying at Holtye." + +"Not staying at Holtye? then where are you staying?" + +"At the 'Unicorn,' I've taken a room there; it's only another +illustration of the truth of what I've so often told you, the more +haste the worse speed. I can see now that you'd go tearing off if I'd +let you; but I won't. I want to explain." + +"I--I'd rather you explained through the post." + +"Then I wouldn't; and I'm not going to. When people wish to understand +each other in matters of real importance I hold that they'd better do +so face to face; I've no faith in pen and ink; microbes breed in +ink-bottles, which breed all sorts of misconceptions. Now I can see +that you're rushing at your fences again. You're taking it for granted +that I wish to speak to you on one subject, when I principally wish to +speak to you about your father. I want to tell you something about him +which you ought to know." + +"What is it?" + +Her voice was faint, as if she felt that unfair engines of war were +being used against her. + +"Your father hoped that we should marry; he knew that I loved you, and +would always love you; and he thought you loved me, and would always +love me; and therefore----" + +"What were you going to tell me about my father?" + +She perceived that he was trenching on dangerous ground, and tried to +get him off it; he came off with much agility. + +"I met him on the morning on which I was starting for Cairo----" + +"You never told me." + +"I had an idea that he didn't wish me to mention that I'd met him, so +I didn't. We lunched together; he gave me a most excellent lunch----" + +"I'm glad he gave you an excellent lunch." + +"There, Nora! that's much more like you! thank you! It was an +excellent lunch; it was after lunch he said he hoped that we should +marry, because, as I have already observed, he knew that----" + +"Yes; we'll take that for granted; please go on." + +"I'm going on as fast as ever I can; but it'll only be another case of +more haste worse speed if you won't let me tell my tale my own way, +because, if I don't, I'm nearly sure to leave out essential details. +Among other things he remarked that, one day, you'd be a rich young +woman." + +"You're sure he said that?" + +"Quite; your father could express himself clearly enough if he chose; +and he expressed himself clearly then." + +"But--I don't understand." + +"Wait a bit; I'm going to make you understand, if you'll have a little +patience. Later, I cannot say that he said so clearly, but he +intimated, that he obtained his income from some business with which +he was connected, and which represented to him a large sum of money." + +"Business! I didn't know that he had anything to do with any business." + +"Mind, he didn't state definitely that he had; and I asked no +questions, but that was what he hinted. Then he said something which, +in the light of recent events, appears to me to have been rather +remarkable. He observed that life was always uncertain; that one could +never tell the hour when one would die, and that, therefore, since I +was going to be the husband of his only child, he would like to place +in my hands directions as to what he would desire to have done, in +case death took him unawares; or before he completed certain +arrangements which he then had in view." + +"What a strange thing for him to say!" + +"You see how necessary it was that I should see you face to face, and +how difficult it would have been to put this on to paper? Nora, I love +you!" + +"Are you--are you really telling me what my father said?" + +"I'm going to tell you everything he said, if you'll give me time +enough; only don't suppose for a moment that you're going to keep me +from saying that I love you; especially as it was because he knew I +loved you, and believed that you loved me, that he told me what he +did." + +"I--I wish you'd go on." + +"After I'd been a few days in Cairo there came a package in which +there was a note from him; a brief and characteristic note, to this +effect. 'Dear Robert,' you see he called me Robert." He paused, as if +to challenge her. "Nora, I wish you'd call me Robert; it's a stupid, +ugly, vulgar, clumsy name, but you don't know how I long to hear it on +your lips." + +"I--I don't know that it's any of the things you say it is; I--I don't +know that there's anything particularly the matter with the name." + +"That's very sweet of you." + +"But I don't think it's either fair or kind of you to try to take +advantage of me like this!" + +"Take advantage of you! is your sense of justice so warped that you +can say a thing like that! In what sense am I supposed to be trying to +take advantage of you, Nora?" + +"You're pretending to tell me about my father, and--and you keep +trying to tell me about other things instead." + +"The only tie which bound me to your father, the only reason he had +for placing his confidence in me, was his knowledge of my love for +you." + +"Very well; if you like we'll take that for granted----" + +"I don't like." + +"Tell me what was in the note!" + +"'Dear Robert, referring to our conversation of' such and such a date; +at this moment I can't give it you exactly----" + +"It doesn't matter." + +"'You will find in envelope enclosed herewith the instructions of +which I spoke. It is understood that it is only to be opened in the +event of my demise; and that, should I for any reason whatever desire +its return, you will at once hand it me intact. In acknowledging +kindly state that you understand.--Faithfully yours, DONALD LINDSAY.' +That was the note. With it was a sealed envelope, inscribed, 'To +ROBERT SPENCER. Not to be opened until after my death.--DONALD +LINDSAY.'" + +"And have you opened it?" + +"That's the gist and point of the whole affair--I haven't it." + +"I don't understand; I thought you said----" + +"I did say. What's that?" + +Mr. Spencer's question referred to a sound like the rustling of +bushes. + +"It's only a rabbit, or a hare." + +"It must be a large specimen of either animal, and an awkward one, to +make a noise like that." + +"What were you going to say?" + +"I placed the sealed envelope in my suit-case, together with my other +most valuable possessions; which, with the exception of some of your +dear letters, were worth about twopence; at the moment I'd nowhere +else to put it. When I left, the suitcase was placed, with my other +luggage, on the train, and, I presumed, transferred from the train to +the boat; yet, when I went down to my cabin, after the boat was fairly +off, the suit-case wasn't there." + +"What had become of it?" + +"That's the problem which I have still to solve, and which I'm going +to solve. Either it was left behind at my aunt's, which she denies, or +it was left on the train, which the railway company denies, or it was +taken by mistake to somebody else's cabin, which every one denies, or +it was stolen, of which I haven't the faintest proof. Anyhow, it was, +and, at present, it isn't; as yet that's as far as I've got." + +"Then my father's letter to you is lost." + +"But it's not going to continue lost; I have lost things before, but +I'm not going to lose the only thing I ever had worth losing; I've a +ridiculous sort of fatalistic feeling that, as matters have chanced, +if I lose that letter--really, and truly, and finally lose it--I may +lose you; you don't suppose I'm going to sit down quietly and endure +that loss with equanimity? You don't know me, my lady, if you do. What +is that? Don't tell me that that's either a rabbit or a hare." + +"Perhaps it's a fox." + +"Foxes don't set the whole countryside in a clatter when they start +moving; they're of much too retiring a nature. It's some one making +off through the bushes, that's who it is. Hi! you there, who are you?" + +There was no reply to his call. + +"Perhaps it was some one who came upon us unexpectedly, and--and +didn't wish to disturb us." + +"Perhaps so; we're obliged to his taste for self-effacement if it is." + +"I suppose you've no idea what was in the envelope." + +"I've been putting two and two together, and I've formed a hypothesis +which I'm convinced can't be very far out. Your father was not a man +to say the thing which is not." + +"I'm sure of it." + +"I also; he did not say you would be a rich woman without cause. The +hypothesis I've deduced is this. Your father was a gentleman of the +old school; he didn't like commerce; he didn't wish people to think +that he had anything to do with commerce; yet all the while he was +drawing his income from a business with which he had probably been +associated more or less unwillingly. At the time I saw him he was +making arrangements to dispose of it; whether or not they were +completed I cannot say; that envelope contains the clue. When he spoke +of the suddenness of death he was possibly aware that he had a +congenital predisposition towards the end which was actually his; and +that envelope contained the secret--which he was even perilously +anxious to preserve in life--of what was the source of his income, and +of the fortune which he had built up for you." + +"All this, of course, is surmise." + +"You know it's more than surmise; you know that you're a rich woman, +as you stand there." + +"I know, from the only facts which as yet are established, that, at +present, I'm a pauper." + +"Well, we're both of us paupers; all the better." + +"I don't agree." + +"You're taking your cue from my mother." + +"I should prove myself very foolish if I need take such a cue from any +one." + +"There's a wisdom of the foolish which is sometimes wonderful. If you +were to marry me tomorrow----" + +"As if I should!" + +"You'd make my fortune!" + +"When, as you've told me again and again, you live on charity; and +directly you married me that charity would stop?" + +"I know a way by which I could earn two or three hundred a year right +off; before long I'd be earning thousands; I'm not incapable, I only +need a spur; to work for the woman I love! I ask for nothing better. +If I marry a woman with money the probability is that I should never +earn a penny." + +"No, but you'd earn a name for yourself instead; one can earn +something better than money." + +"May be." + +"And she'd be proud of you." + +"Even supposing that you're not buttering me up----" + +"As if I would!" + +"As if you would! as if you haven't done it over and over again! I +know! I say, even granting I'm a swan of the very finest plumage----" + +"Mr. Spencer!" + +"Miss Lindsay; since you will interrupt me; and will descend to +surnames; though, Nora, you're a darling." + +"It's no use our indulging in abstract discussions. I've no doubt +you'll be able to clothe charming sentiments in the very best +language. I know how clever you are." + +"Thanks very much." + +"But what's the use, since my mind's made up that I won't marry you +while I'm a pauper?" + +"Acting on my mother's instructions." + +"If you like to put it that way; though I wouldn't even if your mother +hadn't interposed; if I'd thought I was going to be a pauper I'd never +have said I would." + +"Although you love me?" + +"Because I love you." + +"Nora! You're going to make a mess of things." + +"I'm going to try not to make a mess of things." + +"You're starting the wrong way." + +"Listen. I don't think you've behaved well about that envelope my +father sent you." + +"Do you imagine that I think I have? do I look it? How my countenance +belies me!" + +"There appear to have been some letters of mine in that suit-case; I +didn't think you'd have left my letters lying about." + +"Nora!" + +"You seem to have left the suit-case lying about, so I suppose you +left my letters too." + +"Of all the--of all the----! Well, I deserve it." + +"I think you do. When you find that envelope you can come and show me +what is in it; until then--good-bye." + +"Do you mean that?" + +"I hope that I am like my father in not saying what I don't mean; I do +mean it." + +"I'll find that envelope!" + +"And I hope you'll find my letters." + +"I'll find them too." + +"I hope there was nothing in them very--very amusing; it isn't nice to +feel that strangers are reading one's--one's private letters." + +"You rub it in." + +"That's not my intention; would you like to feel that people you know +nothing about were reading some of the letters you wrote to me?' + +"I know what you mean; I'll find the letters and the envelope, and the +suit-case; and if any one has opened that suit-case I'll--I'll make +them smart." + +"Good-bye." + +Already she was moving off; he exclaimed--"Like that! Nora! won't you +even give me your hand?" + +She stopped, and turned; with something on her face which, in his +eyes, made her very beautiful. + +"If you'll promise only to take my hand." + +"I promise; I'll take only what you're willing to give." They stood, +for some seconds, hand in hand, eyes looking into eyes, as if they +found it difficult to speak. Then he said, "Don't suppose I don't +think you're right; I know you're doing this for me, and I know you're +always right. This good-bye is only the prelude to a time of waiting, +and hope, and work. First of all I'll find that envelope, then if +there's nothing in it to show that you're a millionaire, I'm going to +work and be a millionaire--I'll win you in my own way. I'm not afraid +of waiting; you'll not marry any one but me." + +"I don't think I shall." + +"I don't think you will either." + +"There's something I'd like to ask, if you won't misunderstand." + +"I'll not misunderstand." + +"I'd like to kiss you before I go, only--I don't want you to kiss me." + +"Nora!" + +She moved closer to him, and, while he stood still, she touched her +lips to his, a butterfly kiss, then, turning, went quickly down the +path. He stood and watched her as she went. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + LOVERS' TIFFS + + +Nora had not long been gone to church before Miss Harding became +sufficiently cured of her headache to permit of her quitting her own +apartment. Perhaps she was of opinion that fresh air would do it good; +and, notoriously, fresh air is good for headaches; certainly she +looked very far from well. She donned her smartest hat, and one of her +prettiest frocks, relinquishing, for the nonce, the black dress she +had been wearing for her lately departed host. She attired herself +with the greatest care, giving minute attention to those small details +which mean so much; possibly she was under the impression that costume +might have something to do with a cure--yet all her care could not +conceal the fact that she was looking ill. When she saw how white she +was, and the black marks under the eyes--and actually wrinkles in the +corners, and how thin and worn and pinched her face seemed to have +suddenly become, she could have cried, only she was painfully +conscious that tears had already had too large a share in bringing her +to the state in which she was. If she could she would have "assisted +nature," only she had nothing with which to do it. Nora's opinions on +the subject of "aids to beauty" were strong; Elaine had frequently +declared that hers were even stronger. That was the worst of being in +the position of "humble friend"; one had sometimes to pretend that one +thought what one really did not think, or so it seemed to her. If she +had only had a little "something," in a jar, or in a tube, or a stick, +or anything--but she would not have dared to run the risk of allowing +Nora to find such a thing in her possession. Moreover, until then she +had never wanted it. Still, if she had been left alone--that was how +she put it--she might have had it by her. Now that she really wanted +something, she had absolutely not a thing--obviously the fault of that +was Nora's. + +The consequence was that when at last she sallied out into the grounds +she was conscious that she was not looking her best, in spite of her +hat and frock--she knew that there was nothing amiss with them; and +that morning it was so very desirable that she should look even better +than her best, because she was going to meet Mr. Herbert Nash, and was +particularly anxious to twist him round her finger. Every one knows +that, where a man's concerned, the better one looks the easier that +operation is apt to be found. Miss Harding made one slight error; she +ought to have remembered that when one is not looking one's best +matters are not improved by being in a bad temper. Good temper may +almost act as an "aid to beauty," bad temper certainly won't; and, +unfortunately, Miss Harding was so conscious of her defects that her +temper suffered. + +Nor was it mended by the fact that the gentleman kept her waiting. +Perhaps that headache of hers had had something to do with the +accident that she had an appointment to keep. She had asked Mr. Nash +to let her see him somewhere on Sunday morning, where they could be +alone, and he had told her he would be by the fish-pond at such and +such an hour. She herself was a little late at the trysting-place; her +toilette had taken longer than she had intended; still she was first. +She waited--she had no watch, but it seemed that she waited hours, +yet he did not come. By the time he did appear her mood was hardly +lover-like; nor, it seemed, was his. He came strolling leisurely +through the trees, his hands in his jacket pockets, a cane under his +arm, a big cigar in his mouth, his hat at a rakish angle--quite at his +ease; there was something in his appearance which would hardly have +induced the average client to select him as his legal adviser. Elaine +always had a more or less vague feeling that this was so; the feeling +was stronger than usual as she watched him coming; yet the man had for +her such an intense physical fascination that she deliberately refused +to let her eyes see what they would have perceived plainly enough if +she had only let them. More or less, it was possibly because she +realized that that Sunday morning he did not look quite so desirable +an example of his sex as he might have done that her greeting was +hardly saccharine. + +"You've taken your time in coming." + +He planted himself in front of her, without removing his hands from +his pockets, his cane from under his arm, his cigar from his mouth, or +his hat from his head. + +"Well, what's the hurry? I had to see a man." + +"You knew I was waiting; you might have let him wait." + +"I might; but I didn't. Hello! what's wrong?" + +He was looking her up and down in a way which made her tingle. + +"What do you mean--what's wrong?" + +"You look--no offence intended--but you look as if you'd been up all +night--a hot night too." + +"I have a headache, and waiting for you hasn't made it any better." + +"A headache? My mother used to have headaches, and, my word! when she +had them didn't she use to make it warm for us. I used to say----" + +He stopped, and laughed. + +"What did you use to say?" + +"I used to say--again no offence intended--that I'd never marry a +woman who had headaches." + +"I'm not subject to headaches--don't suppose it; I scarcely ever have +them; in fact, I don't ever remember having had one before; only--I've +been worried." + +"Have you? that's bad. Don't do it; be like me--don't let yourself be +worried by anything." He took out his cigar and surveyed the ash. "I +read somewhere the other day that it's worry makes people grow old +before their time; I don't believe much I read, but I do believe that. +No matter what goes wrong, don't worry, it will come right; that's my +theory of life." + +"It's very easy to talk, it's harder to do. You don't seem very +pleased to see me now that you have come." + +"Don't I? I am; I'm as pleased as Punch." + +"You don't show it." + +"How do you expect me to show it? By taking you in my arms and kissing +you out here in broad daylight, with you don't know what eyes enjoying +the fun? If you'll come over the stile into the wood you shall have +all the kissing you want--before lunch." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind, and I expect you to do nothing of the +kind, as you very well know; only----" She suddenly changed the +subject. "Did you see Mr. Dawson yesterday, and arrange about the +partnership?" + +"I saw him, but I can't say I did much more than see him. He didn't +seem to be so enthusiastic about the idea of having me for a partner +as I expected, and--I can't say I'm very enthusiastic." + +"What do you mean? The other day you said it was just the thing you +would like to be." + +"Yes, in a sense--in default of something better; but I don't want to +be premature; since the other day something has occurred to me which +may turn out to be better than a partnership with the venerable Mr. +Dawson--who, between ourselves, is as supercilious an old beast as I +ever want to meet--a good deal better." + +"What is it, Herbert?" + +She was observing him with--in her eyes, and on her face--an +eagerness, a something strained, of which he seemed unconscious, and +of which, no doubt, she was unconscious also. + +"Excuse me, but that's exactly what I can't tell you--not at the +present moment. It's still, as you may say, in the embryo--in the +making; but it's there." + +He touched his forehead with his finger, as if to denote that the +something in question had a safe location in his brain. + +"Can't--can't you give me some idea of what it is?" + +"It depends on what you call an idea. I'll tell you this much; I'm +meditating a coup--a great coup; if I bring it off it'll mean a really +big thing; how big I can't tell you, not just now--I don't know +myself; but something altogether beyond anything a partnership with +old Dawson would mean. + +"Herbert, I hope it's nothing risky." + +She had run such a risk herself she wanted him to run none; she had +had enough of risks, for ever. + +"That depends again on what you mean by risky. I'm not sure that I +shall go in for it; I haven't quite finished turning it over in my +mind; I don't altogether see my way; but if, by the time I have +finished turning it over in my mind, I do see my way, why, there you +are; I'm a starter. Of course there's always the risk of my not +bringing it off, though you may bet I'll do my best"--he said this +with a very curious smile; a smile which, for some reason, seemed to +bring a sense of chill to her heart. "But I shall be no worse off if I +don't--there's no risk in that sense. Then will be the time to join +myself in partnership with dear old Dawson." + +She drew a long breath. The position was becoming complicated. She had +not dreamed that he would have formed a scheme of his own, which she +was to be kept out of, or she would not have gone, the second time, +through the study window. + +"Will--will any money be wanted for what you're thinking of?" + +"No; not, at least, from you; of course, money will be wanted, but--it +will come from some one else, if it comes at all; that's the idea; +plenty of it too." + +Again that curious smile came on his face; that, this time, it +positively frightened her, showed what a state her nerves were in. + +"Herbert, of what are you thinking?" + +"I'm thinking--of a real big thing." + +As she watched him some instinct warned her not to push her curiosity +too far; yet there were certain things she must know. + +"How long--will it take you to make up your mind?" + +"That's something else I can't tell you; I never may make it up. You +see, I'm only mentioning this so that you can understand why I'm not +anxious to press old Dawson, just yet awhile. There's nothing to be +lost by waiting; I'm in no hurry." + +"How about our marriage?" + +"What do you mean--how about our marriage?" + +She would have liked to have told him just what she did mean--that she +had invented her aunt's legacy simply because she wanted to be married +at once. But she could not do that; she had to get to the point some +other way. + +"You said if you had enough money to buy a partnership in Mr. Dawson's +business we might be married at once; that's why I told you about my +aunt's legacy." + +"That's all right; the legacy'll keep; what's the harm?" + +"The harm is--it's not nice of you to make me say so, though--you +ought to be--you ought to be flattered." + +"I am flattered." + +"You're not! I don't believe you care for me one bit, or--or you'd +know I want to be married." + +"So you shall be." + +"When?" + +"Oh, when I've had time enough to find out where I'm standing; say in +a month or two." + +"Herbert, you should never have had that two hundred pounds if you +hadn't promised me that we should be married at once." + +"What do you call at once?" + +"Next week." + +"Next week! why, that's Easter!" + +"Well, why shouldn't we be married at Easter?" + +"Good gracious! Where do you propose to set up housekeeping? in my +rooms?" + +"Not necessarily in your rooms; but in some rooms--nice rooms, for the +present; they needn't be just about here. I've money enough to go on +with--plenty of money; and you might think over what you've been +talking about, and come to a decision, while--while we're on our +honeymoon." + +Again he took the cigar out of his mouth, and again he regarded the +ash; it was white, and long, and firm; it seemed it was a good cigar; +and while he was still regarding the ash, he observed-- + +"Young woman, there's more in you than meets the eye. There's +something in what you say; I admit there's a good deal in what you +say. I'll give it my serious attention." + +"Your serious attention! Won't you understand? Any day I may have to +leave this place." + +"That's true enough, unless you propose to remain on the premises +while the catalogue s being drawn up, and the lots are being +ticketed." + +"Herbert! What do you mean?" + +"Nothing to speak of; only I happen to know that the principal +creditors don't mean to wait for their money a moment longer than they +can help. Either the estate will have to be administered in +bankruptcy, or Miss Nora Lindsay will have to agree to the whole thing +being sold--lock, stock and barrel, for what it will fetch." + +"When?" + +"As a matter of fact, they want to come into the place and start the +catalogue to-morrow." + +"But what will become of Nora?" + +"Quite so." + +"Where will she go?" + +"Where will she?" + +"Couldn't she--couldn't she come and live with us?" + +"What's that?" + +"Couldn't she--live with us?" + +"Who's us?" + +"With you and me--just for a time--when we're married?" + +Mr. Nash looked the lady straight in the face, significantly; his tone +was as significant as his look. + +"My dear, I don't think you care for Miss Nora Lindsay one snap of +your fingers, and I'm sure I don't." + +"You've no right to say that." + +"I fancy that you've a sort of notion that you ought to behave +prettily to her because she's let you come and liven her up when she +hadn't a soul in the place to speak to. So far as I can see, she's at +least as much under an obligation as you are. She'd have been deadly +dull without you; she'd have had to pay a companion, and pay her well, +if it hadn't been for your society. You got nothing for your services; +seems to me she owes you. Don't talk about her living with us! I +wouldn't live under the same roof as Miss Nora Lindsay, not for a +million a year. I don't like her--never did--never could; she's not +the kind of girl I care about. What does it matter to me what becomes +of her? Do you think she'd trouble if I came to eternal grief? Very +much so! I fancy I see her at it! No, if you're going to take up with +Miss Nora Lindsay you've done with me. There never has been any love +lost between us, and now if I had my way I'd never see her or speak to +her again. So if your sentiments are different I'll hand you back the +two hundred pounds you so kindly threw into my face just now, and +we'll cry quits. I'm not going to start by letting the girl who's +going to be my wife mix herself up with people who are objectionable +to me." + +The expression which was on the girl's face, as she looked at him, was +pitiful; had he been aware of the emotions which seemed to be tearing +at her in a dozen different places at once, even he might have been +moved to pity. Had his words been lashes they could hardly have hurt +her more. She stood trembling, hardly able to speak. + +"I--I'd no idea you--you felt like this--about--Nora." + +"Hadn't you? Well, you know now; and as perhaps you'd like to have a +little time to get the idea well into your head, I'll say good-day." + +"Herbert, you--you mustn't go." + +"Mustn't go? Why mustn't I go?" + +"How about our marriage?" + +"How about our marriage?--when just now you were talking about her +coming to live with us." + +"I--I--was only--suggesting." + +"Then let me tell you that the suggestion's made me feel sick. I don't +want any words--I hate them; and as I'm not going to be bustled, when +I know that I ought not to allow myself to be bustled, as I remarked, +I'll return you the money which you threw into my face just now." + +"I--I didn't mean to throw it in your face." + +"Then what did you mean? You as good as said that I'd been up for +sale, and that you'd bought me; but as I didn't understand that I was +being bought, I'll hand you back the purchase price, then perhaps I +shall be able to call my soul my own." + +"I--I--Herbert, don't--don't let's quarrel. I--I--you don't know how I +love you." + +"Very well, then, and I love you; so that's all right." + +"Are you sure you love me? If I were only sure!" + +"You may be dead sure; at the same time you must allow me to speak a +few plain words. There's something the matter with you, and there has +been for some little time; I don't know what it is--it may be a +headache, as you say, but if it is it's the kind of headache which, if +I were you, I should take something for. You've changed altogether +during the last few days; the little girl I used to know wouldn't have +tried to bully me into marrying her at a moment's notice, when I told +her that I thought it would be better, for both our sakes, that we +should wait a little. I promise you that as soon as I see my way I'll +come and ask you to name the day, and I hope you'll name an early one. +But, in the meantime, where's the hurry? So far as I know you'll get +no harm by waiting; it isn't as though I was asking you to wait +long--a month or two at most; and it isn't as though you were hard up; +you've got the cash, not I. As for leaving the place, I should say the +sooner you leave it the better; you've got a home to go to--what's +wrong with your home? You can write to me, I can come and see you; or, +if I can't manage to come, after a bit you might step over to see me; +you might find quarters with a mutual friend--why not? My present +advice to you is to take a dose of medicine, that is medicine, and lie +down, and sleep it off; then when you're feeling more like yourself +you'll see that I'm quite right; and then you might let me know, and +we can have another little talk together. In the meantime, as I +observed before, I'll say good-day. By the bye, if you do want that +money back again, you've only got to let me have a line, and you shall +have it." + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + THE PARTING OF THE WAYS + + +Mr. Nash strolled leisurely off, lighting another cigar as he went. +Elaine could have done nothing to stop him, had her entire future +depended on her making the effort. Indeed she only dimly realized that +he was going; something seemed to be pressing on her brain, and +numbing it; until all at once the pressure lightened, and, with a +start, she perceived that he had gone. For a second or two she stood +staring about her on all sides, as if, just roused out of sleep, she +was wondering where she was. When she understood that he had left her, +and had passed out of sight, and that she was alone, oblivious of her +smart hat and pretty frock, she sank down on to the grass, just where +she was, and hid her face in her hands. + +She stayed like that some time; she herself did not know how long; +then, uncovering her face, again she looked about her; and, possibly +recognizing that nothing was to be gained by behaving like that, she +scrambled to her feet, shaking herself, touching herself here and +there, where she thought that her costume might stand in need of a +touch, then she started to return to the house. + +She had just got on to the path which wound among the trees when she +encountered the person she would have most wished to avoid--the +butler, Morgan. Elaine had never before seen him attired in anything +but what might be described as his official garments; such was her +mental confusion that, at her first sight, in his well-cut, neat grey +suit, she hardly knew him; it had to be admitted that in it he looked +more like a gentleman is supposed to look than Mr. Nash had done. He +carried himself with less swagger than Herbert Nash; what was still +more marked, he uncovered when he saw Miss Harding, showing all those +signs of outward respect which a gentleman is supposed to show in the +presence of a lady, but which Mr. Nash had entirely ignored; yet Miss +Harding shrank back from Mr. Morgan as if he had been some noxious +thing. Nothing could have been more deferential than the air with +which he addressed her. + +"With your permission, Miss Harding, I should like to speak to you." + +She looked as if she was afraid that he would whip her. + +"Not--not now; I'm afraid I shall be late for lunch; I--I don't want +to keep Miss Lindsay waiting." + +"We don't lunch on Sunday; you forget, Miss Harding; we take early +dinner; I assure you you shan't be late; they can't begin without me, +and I'm always punctual. Pray don't be distressed." + +"I--I can't stop now; I--I'm not feeling very well." + +"You're not looking very well, I'm sorry to say; as Mr. Nash informed +you." + +She started. + +"Mr.---- What do you mean?" + +"You were so engrossed with each other that you had no eyes for +anything but yourselves; or you would certainly have noticed me. I was +so close that I actually heard everything you said." + +"Are you always spying?" + +"Candidly, I very often am. I regard it as my duty to keep at least +one eye on everything that's going on; that's a high ideal, but I do +my best to live up to it. When I had that little conversation with you +with reference to the three thousand pounds you found, I endeavoured +to assure you that you might rely implicitly on my discretion; but, at +the same time, I did not bargain that you would throw the money away +on such a man as Herbert Nash." + +"Morgan! you--you forget yourself." + +"Not at all, Miss Harding, not at all. When first I saw you together +my feeling was one of resentment; but, when I heard what was said, my +resentment grew less; for one reason, because I perceived that I might +be able to work with Mr. Nash, as well as with you." + +"You might work with Mr. Nash? What do you mean?" + +"Is it not obvious? As you are doubtless aware, Mr. Nash is a young +man of many possibilities." + +"Possibilities?" + +"You will remember that I told you that I saw possibilities in you, +which have become facts. In the same sense I see possibilities in +Herbert Nash, so that I may be able to work with him. We shall be a +united trio." + +"Do you--do you dare to hint----" + +"Yes? do I dare to hint? pray finish." + +"Let me pass! I'll have nothing to say to you! Get out of my way!" + +"Still one moment, Miss Harding, if you please. I heard you ask Mr. +Nash to marry you, which was rather 'coming on,' to use a kitchen +phrase, wasn't it? Luckily he declined; the anxiety was plainly all on +your side; or I should have objected." + +"You would have objected! Do you suppose I should ask your +permission?" + +"If you didn't, and I did object, on your wedding-day I'd have you +arrested at the church door; and if your husband was Herbert Nash that +would be the last you'd see of him. When you came out of jail he'd +slam the door in your face, unless I mistake the man, and he'd stick +up a notice in his front garden, 'No convicted felons need apply.' +It's not my wish to be disagreeable, Miss Harding, quite the other +way; but I've a feeling that you don't want to treat me fairly; and in +matters of this sort both sides expect fair treatment, it's only +natural. I can tell you, at this moment, exactly what I propose, as +Herbert Nash put it; I want time to find out where I'm standing; as +you must see for yourself, everything's at sixes and sevens. But I can +tell you what I don't propose; that you should hand over that three +thousand pounds to a man who doesn't deserve it. You catch what I +mean? I fancy you will if you think it over." He glanced at his watch. +"Now I am afraid that I must go; if you go straight home you'll have +plenty of time to tittivate; and I do trust, Miss Harding, that, at +dinner, you'll be once more the charming, lively, high-spirited young +lady I've always loved to rest my eyes upon." + +When the gong sounded for dinner Miss Lindsay was informed, by the +butler, that although Miss Harding had been out, and had returned, she +had sent down word that her headache was still so bad that she wanted +nothing to eat, and preferred to remain in her own room. Whereupon +Nora went up-stairs to make inquiries on her own account. She found +the young lady's door was locked. Having tapped twice without +eliciting a response, the third time she knocked more peremptorily, +exclaiming-- + +"Elaine! please let me in! it's Nora." + +A shrill voice cried out within. + +"I can't let you in! I won't! I only want people to let me alone." + +Wondering, Nora let her alone, and went down to a solitary dinner; +while Elaine lay face downward on the bed, wildly asking herself if +suicide was not the best way out of it. + +That night there came to Nora still another variation of the dream +which she had dreamed before. Throughout the day she had been +conscious of a sense of curious depression; as if she was realizing, +for the first time, how wholly alone in the world she was, and was +likely to remain. She had said good-bye to the man she loved; Mr. +Spencer's story of the envelope which her father had sent him was an +odd one; but the envelope was lost. She resented with a bitterness of +which she had not imagined herself capable the fact that he had lost +it; she had not put her bitterness into words, she had not wished to +reproach him; it was contrary to her nature to reproach any one; but +it had seemed to her the hardest blow which fate had dealt her yet, +and that it should have come from him! If the envelope were found it +was possible that it might contain the key to the mystery of Donald +Lindsay's money; so that it would be shown that she was, after all, +pecuniarily, in the fortunate position her father had led her to +suppose she would be. But, to begin with, it had to be found. It +seemed that its loser had already been making strenuous efforts to +recover it, without success; if it was to be retrieved surely it was +most likely to be the case when the scent was hot. What reason was +there to suppose that the search which had failed when the conditions +were more favourable was likely to have a more satisfactory result now +that everything was against it? Even if the envelope was regained +there was still the--should she say probability, or possibility?--that +its contents might lead to nothing after all. Disappointments had +crowded on her so fast lately that it would only be in the natural +order of things if she was to be visited by yet another. + +Almost worse than all the rest; suppose the envelope was recovered, +and it was found that she was indeed an heiress, still to her the +world would never again be what it was; in her heart of hearts she +knew it; it was that knowledge which, that Sunday, weighed on her so +heavily. During the last few days disillusions had come to her from +every quarter. Whatever the future might have in store for her the +attitude taken up by the Earl and Countess of Mountdennis was one +which she never could forget. That her position as an heiress had +heightened her charms in their eyes she had known; but she had +supposed that they had cared for her a little for herself. That bubble +was blown. Common decency, it seemed to her, would have bade them +extend to her at least some show of sympathy. Plainly such an idea had +not occurred to them. All they had done was to revile her for having +lost everything she valued most, father, home, all; as if the fault +was hers, and she had been engaged in a conspiracy to bring about her +own destruction; they had made it so hideously clear that, from the +first, and all along, they had only thought of her as a representative +of so many pounds, shillings and pence; not a creature of flesh and +blood, who was one day to stand to them in the place of a daughter, to +be loved and cherished by their son. Though to-morrow millions were to +come tumbling into her lap her lovers' parents could never now be what +she had once hoped they would become; with their own hands they had +rent into nothing the veil of illusion through which she had seen +them. + +That Robert was not as they were she admitted, gladly admitted. Yet he +was their son; if she became his wife she would be in duty bound to +regard his parents, in a sense, as hers; how could she pretend filial +attachment and respect for such persons as they had shown themselves +to be? Hers was the young girl's high ideal of marriage; husband and +wife ought to be one; they ought to have a common community of +interest; what was dear to the one should be dear to the other; how +would that ideal work out if she were to marry Robert Spencer? +Obviously, it would not work at all; he would be on one side; his +parents--not improbably all his relatives and friends--would be on the +other side, against her. It would begin in dissension, and end--where? +Even the discovery that she was rich would make but little difference; +she was not going to buy a husband from his father and mother, well +knowing that all they wanted for the light of their countenance was +their price, and that they would only consent to receive her into the +family circle if she came plastered with gold. Rather than become a +wife upon those terms she would remain a spinster all her life. She +knew her weakness; if she came within reach of Robert her love--his +love--might prove greater than her strength; that morning it had been +all that she could do to keep herself out of his arms. Next time--and +she was pretty sure that if Robert was in the neighbourhood there +would be a next time before very long--she might succumb, and regret +it ever afterwards. Better that she should leave Cloverlea than run +such a risk. + +The probability that she would have to go--whether she wanted to go or +not--had been continually in her mind since she had heard Dr. +Banyard's statement of her affairs; and with it there had been a hazy +sort of notion that, when the moment of parting came, she might find +temporary refuge in Elaine Harding's home in the west country, as a +guest in her father's vicarage. Elaine had asked her often; it was +true that the invitations had been coupled with intimations that the +vicarage was but a humble one, and would seem but a poor place to the +heiress of Cloverlea. But now circumstances had changed; to Nora any +place seemed desirable where she would be welcome; especially her dear +friend's home, however modest it might be. Although she would not +confess it even to herself she had vaguely expected that Elaine would +have spoken to her on the subject before now; Elaine had always been +so full of protestations of what she would do--of what she would love +to do--for Nora, if opportunity ever offered, in return for all that +Nora had done for her. But now that opportunity did offer, and Elaine +was well aware of the plight which Nora was shortly likely to be in, +not a hint had she dropped of a disposition to be of service to her in +any way whatever. More, it seemed to Nora that Elaine was avoiding her +as if misfortune had made of her a pariah. It was true that she +excused herself by alleging illness; and Nora was not prepared to say +that her illness was diplomatic. But during all the time they had +known each other Elaine had always enjoyed excellent health; so far as +Nora knew--and they had been intimate for years--she had not endured +an ache or pain until the moment arrived when it seemed likely that +she might be able to render some slight services to the friend who had +done so much for her. + +It was not strange that Nora took it for granted that she need expect +nothing from the dearest friend she had in the world; and that that +feeling did not tend to lighten the load of depression which, that +Sunday, weighed on her so heavily. + +In the evening she took stock of such possessions as, in any case, she +might be entitled to call her own. She had it strongly in her mind +that she and Elaine might soon be parted; just how close the hour of +parting was she could not tell, but she felt that, whenever it came, +it would be as well that it should find her ready. There had been, she +knew, a meeting of the creditors yesterday; exactly what course they +had decided to pursue she had not learnt; and, again, that troubled +her; she felt that either Dr. Banyard or Mr. Nash might have let her +have some sort of intimation. But, anyhow, from what she had gathered +it seemed likely that before long there would be strangers at +Cloverlea; when they came she must go, practically on the instant. +Even if their coming was postponed it appeared to her that she must +go. It cost money to keep up Cloverlea; since the little money which +her father had left belonged to the creditors, when she came to +consider the matter calmly, it seemed to her that she had no real +right to remain another hour. Her continued stay in that huge house +involved the expenditure of money to which it had not yet been shown +that she had any claim; even if money enough had been discovered to +keep it going for another week, which she doubted. + +No; it seemed to her, from whatever point of view she regarded the +position, that the hour was close at hand for the parting of the ways; +and that it behoved her to be ready for it when it came. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + 'SO EARLY IN THE MORNING' + + +So she took stock of such things as, whatever befell, she felt that +she would have a right to take away with her from Cloverlea; it seemed +to her that, since God had opened her eyes to her actual situation, He +would forgive her for undertaking, on the Sabbath evening, what He had +shown her was a work of necessity. A pathetic business that +stocktaking was, and a queer one, and not a very heavy one either. + +She began with the money. She concluded that such cash as her father +had given her for her own separate and private use she might still +call her own, and use as her own. Had she been dealing with a sum of +any magnitude she would have hesitated; for this young woman was a Don +Quixote in petticoats, and would rather starve than eat food which she +even fancied belonged to others; but she was not dealing with a sum of +any magnitude. Her father had always made her a generous allowance, of +which she had always made a generous use; regarding herself as, in a +sense, her father's almoner, she used far the larger part of it in +works of charity. Since she left school it had been his custom to give +her, four times a year, a sum of one hundred and twenty-five pounds, +always in gold. It had been one of his peculiarities that he had never +given her either cheques or bank-notes, but always sovereigns. One of +the quarterly sums had always been handed to her during the first week +in April; she had been expecting it when her father had been taken +ill. As a matter of fact, it was her hundred and twenty-five +sovereigns, plus two more, which had formed that little heap of gold +which was on the study table when Elaine Harding first adventured +through the window. So, as that little heap had never found its +way to her, all she actually possessed was what was left from last +quarter--and the first three months of the year always were such +expensive months. During the winter there was apt to be so much want +and suffering; sometimes she found it hard to make both ends meet, +even though she spent scarcely anything on herself at all. However, +that winter quarter there had been something over; that something +represented her entire fortune, nearly nine pounds; to be exact, eight +pounds fourteen and eightpence. Even the most clamorous creditor might +have suffered her to go out to face the world with that. Especially as +beyond that Nora had very little of a portable nature which she +considered she would be justified in regarding as her own, except her +clothes. + +Among the other things to which he had objected Donald Lindsay +included jewellery. He wore none himself; had he had his way he would +have called no man an acquaintance who did. He disliked to see +jewellery even on a woman. On an elderly woman he esteemed it bad +enough; like the cynic he was, he held that the average elderly woman +very properly felt that she was only worth the net value of what she +had on her. On a girl, to his thinking, it was impossible; if ever he +encountered, under his own roof, young women who were, as they +fancied, ornamented by products of the jeweller's art, he was apt to +make such plain-spoken comments that Nora always endeavoured to warn +her girl acquaintances to put aside their ornaments while, at any +rate, her father was about. Nora herself had only had four pieces of +jewellery in her life. One was a plain gold watch, which her father +had given her when she was at school, which she then wore attached to +a plain black ribbon; another was a gold locket, in which was her +father's portrait, which she had worn on the same black ribbon. The +other two articles had been presents from Robert Spencer--her +engagement ring, and another locket, in which was his portrait. These +she had returned to him on the previous day, together with his +letters. So that all the jewellery she now had was the gold watch and +the locket with the portrait of her father. These, she decided, came +in the same category as the eight pounds fourteen and eightpence; she +was entitled to regard them as her very own. + +Her wardrobe presented difficulties. She had heaps of pretty dresses; +quantities of all sorts of pretty clothes; the puzzle was, what to +take and what to leave. She knew, from experience, that if her +garments were turned into cash they would not fetch a great deal, +however much they might previously have cost, or however little they +might have been worn; so that if she took all her clothes she was +aware that she would not be depriving her creditors of an appreciable +sum of money. It was the difficulty of selection which troubled her. +Obviously elaborate and costly evening dresses consorted ill with a +fortune of eight pounds fourteen and eightpence, which represented +both capital and income; in that sense the daintier and prettier they +were, the more undesirable they were. Yet--she loved her pretty +frocks; only a woman could understand how hard it seemed to her to +have to part from them. With them were entwined so many associations; +she wore this one on that never-to-be-forgotten night when Robert +first asked her to be his wife; that when he slipped the engagement +ring upon her finger; how pretty she had thought it! how she had +kissed it when she was alone! She blushed at the memory. + +After all, those were sentimental considerations which reached back to +the life with which she had done for ever. It was quite another sort +of life which was in front of her; she must be equipped for that. +Three Or four plain, substantial dresses would be sufficient; the +rest--those triumphs of the dressmaker's art--she was not likely to +require garments of that sort again, ever. So she packed the few +clothes she thought she would require into a trunk, together with her +Bible, her writing-case, and a few odds and ends; looking round the +room, she decided that all her other things, which she had so +treasured, must remain behind. She undressed, feeling as if she was +undressing in a room peopled with ghosts, all of them memories of the +many-sided Nora of the days which were gone; then, all radiant in her +white attire, she knelt in prayer; supposing, as she poured forth all +the dear, secret things which were in her heart, that she was a woman; +but God, who heard her, knew that she was a child; and, as she prayed, +He breathed peace into her soul; so that hardly, at last, was she +between the sheets when she fell fast asleep. + +And in her sleep she dreamed the dream which she had dreamed before; +of her father, stealing timidly into her room, filled with a great +longing to tell her something, which he would have given much that she +should know, yet speechless. And to him the knowledge that he was dumb +was agony, and to her; so that she put her arms about him, and +whispered in his ear words which were meant to assist him in the +efforts he was making to say what he so yearned to tell her. But +struggle as he might, speech would not come; until, all at once, in +the exceeding bitterness of his grief he made her understand that, +because he had been still so long, and so had sinned, God would not +let him speak now; He would not forgive him for the opportunities he +had wasted. Mingling her anguish with his, she held him closer, +crying-- + +"God will forgive you, father! God will forgive you!" and, with her +own crying, she woke herself up, to find herself in the darkness, +alone, and the sound of her own voice in her ears. + +As before, the delusion of her father's presence was so real that, at +first, she could not believe it was delusion. She put out her hands to +feel for him; when they found nothing, she whispered-- + +"Father!" + +When none answered she got out of bed, and crossed the room, and stood +at the open door, listening for the sound of his retreating footsteps; +she had heard them so plainly when he entered. When she remembered +that he was dead, and that it must have been a dream, she began to +tremble all over; she did not dare to ask herself if this dream had +been sent to her of God; she was afraid. + +Throughout the remainder of the night she lay awake. Day had scarcely +dawned when she rose and dressed. Recollections of the awe which had +obsessed her spirit were with her still. She was conscious of an +uncomfortable feeling that something unusual was about to happen. So +soon as she was dressed she left her own room and went to the bedroom +which had been her father's. As she crossed its threshold she had an +odd sensation of having come again into his presence. Impelled by she +knew not what motive of curiosity, she examined methodically all that +the room contained, opening drawers and wardrobes, going through their +contents. It seemed to her that they were emptier than they used to +be. Her father had accumulated clothes until every store-place he had +was filled to over-flowing; she had told him not long ago that if he +would keep on getting more, without ridding himself of some of those +he had, he would require another room to put them in. She knew he had +got rid of nothing, yet drawers and cupboards in bedroom and +dressing-room were nearly empty. Certainly more than three-quarters of +them were gone; what were left were scarcely more than odds and ends. +And not only clothes; as she looked about her she began to miss all +sorts of things. Both rooms had been nearly stripped of all her +father's personal belongings. By whom had they been taken? who had +given the necessary authority? + +From the bedroom she passed through the still silent house to the +rooms below, and presently to her father's study. Here again was some +subtle suggestion of its late owner. He seemed to be standing by her +as she touched this and that, moving from one familiar object to +another. Nor had she been there very long before she perceived that +here also things were missing; and, in this case, they were things +which mattered. A pair of bronzes had gone from the mantel, for which +her father had paid a large sum, and which he valued highly; some +ivory antiques, fine specimens of the carver's art, which he had +brought with him from China, had also vanished; a Satsuma vase, two +costly examples of powder blue, even prints and pictures from the +walls, all kinds of curiosities, the possession of which would gladden +a collector's heart, had disappeared. Of course their absence was +capable of a natural and legitimate interpretation; they might have +been put out of sight for safer keeping. Still--they were there on +Saturday; she was sure she had noticed them when she came in a moment +for some ink; why should they have been removed during the course of +yesterday? + +While she stood looking about her, feeling a little bewildered, the +door was opened suddenly, and Morgan, the butler, came hastily in. He +stared at her as if she was not at all the person he had expected to +see; indeed, he said as much. + +"I beg your pardon, Miss Lindsay, I thought--" He left his sentence +unfinished, and began another. "I heard some one moving about below, +and knowing that the household was still upstairs, I thought it might +be some one who had no business here, so hurried down to see who it +was." + +He made as if to withdraw, but Nora stopped him. + +"Morgan, who has been interfering with my father's things?" + +"I beg your pardon; I don't quite follow." + +"Where's the Satsuma vase? and the powder blues? and the bronzes? and +all sorts of things?" + +"Have they been removed?" + +"You can see for yourself that they've been removed; who has taken +them? where are they?" + +Morgan glanced round the room with, in his air, as it seemed to Nora, +almost a suggestion of amusement. + +"They do seem to have been removed, don't they? As you say, all sorts +of things." + +"Didn't you know they had been removed?" + +"Perhaps Mr. Nash has had it done; or Dr. Banyard." + +"Why should they? Besides, neither of them has been here since +Saturday; and the things were here then, because I saw them." + +"Ah, if you saw them that doesn't look as if they could have had it +done, does it? But--may I ask, Miss Lindsay, how it matters?" + +"How it matters, Morgan--the things are worth a great deal of money." + +"Isn't that all the more reason why they shouldn't be allowed to fall +into the hands of--I don't wish to cause you pain, Miss Lindsay--of +those who are coming?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"Don't you know? Then, in that case, Miss Lindsay, I will have +inquiries made, and will inform you, at the earliest possible moment, +of the result." + +He slipped out of the room so rapidly that she had not a chance to +question him further, leaving her more bewildered than he had found +her. What did he mean? what could he mean? She did not like to suspect +him of impertinence, or even something worse; yet--what had he +implied? That it would be just as well that these most valuable +possessions of her father should be kept out of the hand--of those who +were coming? She did not doubt that the state of affairs was known to +the household; could he have been referring to the creditors? was he +suggesting that they should be defrauded of what might go some +distance towards settling their claims, and that she should connive at +such a fraud? If he had not meant that, what had he meant? Her impulse +was to call him back, and insist upon an explanation there and then. + +But she reflected that, whatever his meaning might have been, she had +made herself quite plain; his manner had shown it. His error, perhaps, +had been one of over-zeal for her service; though that was not a fault +of which she had supposed Morgan would have been likely to be guilty. +Still, that was how it might have been. If so, now he understood--that +that was not the sort of zeal which she desired. If--as, in spite of +his evasions, she thought was possible, he knew where the missing +articles were to be found--she gave him an opportunity to restore +them, in his own fashion, to their former places, no doubt, when +she returned again to the study, she would find them where they had +always been. With some vague notion of giving him such an opportunity, +there and then, she opened the French window which led into the +grounds--through which Elaine Harding had made that entry she was +never to forget, which had changed the whole face of the world for +her, as well as for others--and, hatless, passed out into the morning +air. + +Although she did not know it, she was setting out on what was to be +her last walk through the familiar places she had known so long, and +loved so well. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + GULDENHEIM + + +It was hardly the morning she would have chosen for such a jaunt. A +change was impending in the weather. Fickle April seemed to be of +opinion that the world thereabouts had already had too fair a taste of +summer, and that the time had come for quite a different sort of +thing. Heavy banks of cloud scudded across the sky, blown by a cold +north-easterly wind, which at times almost amounted to a gale. But +Nora was heedless of the weather; her mood was in tune with the wind, +wild and vagrant. The chilly breezes blew her hair this way and that, +she cared nothing. Now and then a splash of rain was dashed on her +uncovered head; she paid no heed. She walked rapidly, delighting in +the sensation of striding swiftly through the open air, careless of +all else. How far she walked, or how long, she did not know; she kept +no count; one could walk some distance without quitting the grounds of +Cloverlea; but even she awoke to the fact, at last, that she had +better seek shelter, or else go home. The rain threatened to fall in +earnest; without hat or jacket, or protection of any sort, she would +soon be soaked to the skin. + +She stood up under the shelter of a tree; as much to enable her to +take her bearings as for anything else; and had just realized that the +road ran on the other side of the hedge which was close at hand, when +a trap came bowling along it, whose driver, seeing her peeping out +from behind her tree, brought his horse to a sudden standstill. It was +Dr. Banyard. + +"Why, Miss Nora," he exclaimed, "you're early abroad. And have you +joined the anti-hat brigade that you venture so far afield without one +on, and in such weather? I'll give you a lift, I'll get you home now +before the rain; and if I don't Sam and I between us will find +something which will keep you dry. There's a gate a little further on; +if you hurry I'll be there to meet you." + +She shook her head; and stood closer to the tree. + +"You're very good; but I'd sooner walk if you don't mind." + +"Walk! but it's going to pour! and you haven't even so much as an +umbrella!" + +"It's not going to be so much, only a shower; I can see blue sky +there." + +The doctor looked in the direction to which she pointed, and, seeing +the peeping blue, perceived that, probably, after all, it was only +going to be an April whimper. + +"You're a refractory young person; if you catch a cold don't look for +sympathy from me; and, I say, I want to speak to you. In fact, I've +been wanting to speak to you since Saturday; but of course the parish +chooses the wrong moment to get itself ill, I haven't had a moment to +call on you. I've been up practically all night, and when I do get +home I expect I'll be dragged out again directly; I know them! But you +will have heard from Nash." + +"I have heard-nothing from Mr. Nash since I saw you last." + +"No? How's that? I told him to communicate with you in case I +couldn't, and he said he would." + +Again she shook her head. Leaning over the side of the trap he eyed +her with his shrewd grey eyes. + +"In that case, here, Sam, take the reins, and drive a little way down +the road; I'll call you when I want you; I have something which I wish +to say to Miss Lindsay, in the rain." As a matter of fact when he +alighted, and the trap had gone on, the shower had already nearly died +away; she stood close up to the hedge on one side and he on the other. +"I am sorry to be the first bearer of the bad news, I had hoped Nash +would have broken the ice. I was present on Saturday at the meeting of +Guldenheim and his friends." He did not tell her at what inconvenience +he had been present, and of how, in consequence, all his work had got +into confusion. "I said all we had arranged that I should say; but I +am sorry to have to inform you that the only terms on which they would +consent not to throw your father's estate into bankruptcy were that +everything should be realized at once." + +She smiled, a rather wintry smile, but still it was a smile. + +"Thank you; it is very kind of you to take so much trouble; but would +you mind telling me exactly what that means." + +"I'm afraid it means that Guldenheim and his friends, or their +representative, may arrive at Cloverlea to-day. They seem to be hot +against your father with a heat I confess I don't understand, and +declare they won't wait a moment longer for their money than they can +help." + +"They need not; I am quite ready to go." + +Her pale face grew perhaps a little paler, and her lips were closed a +little tighter; but the girl still smiled. He seemed to be more moved +than she was. + +"If you take my advice, my dear young lady, you'll at once get +together as much as you possibly can, and have the things removed from +the premises before they come; you can have them sent over to us if +you like. Anyhow you're entitled to personal belongings; and in a case +like yours the law takes a liberal view of what that term covers." + +"I think I've packed up everything already, practically." + +"I hope you've treated the situation broadly, and have not been unduly +generous to persons who you may be quite sure will show no generosity +to you." She nodded; she did not care to tell him, in so many words, +that what she chose to regard as her personal belongings were all +contained in one small trunk. "And of course you'll come over to us +till you have had time to look round; things may turn out much better +than at present they promise; you never can tell. The wife is taking +it for granted that you're coming, you can take that from me; but, if +you think it's necessary, so soon as I get home she'll come and fetch +you." + +Perhaps it was because that was the first offer of real assistance she +had received that her voice was tremulous. + +"Thank you; you--you know I thank you and Mrs. Banyard; but--I can't +come, I've made other arrangements." + +He eyed her suspiciously; his tone was brusque. + +"What arrangements have you made?" + +"Just for a while they're private." + +"Are you going to be married? It would be the best thing you could +possibly do, to get married out of hand; I hear your young man's back +again, and I've no doubt he's willing; Robert Spencer's not a fool." + +Her voice sank nearly to a whisper. + +"I'm not going to be married." + +"Then what are you going to do?" + +"If you don't mind, doctor, I prefer to keep my own counsel for a +while." + +He broke into alliterative violence. + +"You're contemplating some feebly foolish female knight-errantry. I +know you! But it won't be allowed; directly I get home I'll send my +wife to talk to you; she'll do it better than I can. Your best friends +are here; it's they who have your best interests at heart; and you're +going to consider their feelings whether you like it or not; you're +not going to be allowed to ride over them roughshod, young lady. Sam, +bring that pony." He discharged a parting shaft at her as he climbed +into the trap. "You understand, my wife will come and talk to you as +soon as she gets her hat on; or whatever it is she does put on when +she goes out visiting. And I hope you'll have the grace to listen to +what she says." + +Nora re-entered the house through the open study-window. As she passed +through the room she saw that the butler had taken her hint; the +missing articles had been replaced. As she was sitting at her lonely +early breakfast--for it seemed that Elaine Harding had not yet +sufficiently recovered to put in an appearance at so matutinal a +meal--she commented on the fact to Morgan. + +"I am glad to see that the study is again as it always has been. I +wish everything, throughout the house, to remain exactly as it was +when my father was alive; nothing is to be touched. Let the servants +understand that this is my wish." + +Morgan slightly inclined his head, as if to express both perfect +comprehension and his readiness to carry out her directions. Then, +when, feeling that she preferred to be alone, she told him that he +need not wait, he returned straight to the study, gathered together +the articles which he had only recently replaced, and walked off with +them to a hiding-place of which he flattered himself he alone knew the +secret. + +"She's had her way," he told himself, as he was stowing them in what +he hoped was a place of safety. "Always let a woman have her way, if +you can, especially if she's young and good to look at; now it's my +turn. She's not likely to go back to the study for a bit; it's worth +chancing, anyhow, these things mean quite a heap of money; from what I +hear others are likely to get here before she does, and they can look +after themselves. At a time like we're going to have every one has to +look after himself. If the things are missed, why they can be +produced, and everything explained; if they're not missed, and I don't +see how they're going to be, if there's a little management, there's +no reason why I shouldn't have them, instead of that pack of thieves. +I have got some artistic taste; it's born in me; I doubt if they've +got any." + +He grinned, as he wrapped the Satsuma vase carefully in a large white +silk handkerchief. + +Having finished breakfast Nora went up to her own sitting-room; but +had not been there very long before a servant first knocked shakily, +then entered hastily. + +"If you please, miss, there's a lot of men downstairs; they didn't ask +for you, and I don't know what they want, but they've got such a free +and easy way about them that I thought I'd better let you know that +they were there; Morgan let them in; they came in a wagonette." + +Nora went down without a word. In the hall there was quite a little +crowd of men; ten or twelve of them there seemed; among them some +sufficiently rough-looking customers. None of them had troubled to +remove their hats; but at sight of Nora one of them, a big fat man, +beautifully dressed, with a red face, a large nose, and curly shining +black hair, removing his hat, advanced to meet her. + +"Are you Miss Lindsay?" + +He spoke with a curious nasal utterance. + +"I am." + +"I'm Guldenheim, you know all about me; and these are my friends, who +are in the same boat with me, you've heard about them; and these are +our chaps. I suppose you know we've agreed not to make a fuss on +condition that you give us possession of everything, to cut up between +us so that we can get a bit of our own back again, what there is of it +to cut up." + +"I do know." + +"Well, we've come into possession." As he looked at the girl and saw, +dimly, what manner of girl she was, he seemed to think that he owed +her some sort of apology, which he offered in a fashion of his own. "I +dare say it seems hard to you, our coming in like this, but you must +know that your father had our money, and my friends' money, and we +can't afford to lose it, it isn't to be expected that we should; you +must understand that." + +"I quite understand," said Nora. + +"Then that's all right," said Mr. Guldenheim. + +About that time some one was rapping at Miss Harding's bedroom door, +on the other side of which Miss Harding was completing her toilette. + +"Who's there?" she asked. + +"It's me, Morgan; here, come closer to the door, I want to speak to +you." + +She went so close to the door that even a whisper of his would have +been audible. + +"What is it?" + +"The bailiffs are in down-stairs, the whole show's burst up. You'd +better pack up--you know what, as soon as you can; and everything else +you've got as well; and anything you see lying about worth packing; at +a time like this anything's any one's. Only get a move on you; they +may be up here directly, there's a lot of them, and there's no telling +how they're going to do things, those sort of people can make +themselves very nasty if they like; you don't want to have them +superintending your packing; don't you let them in, if you can help +it, till you've got your boxes locked. I thought I'd just give you a +tip, so that you might look lively." + +Miss Harding acted on Mr. Morgan's "tip," beginning, so soon as he had +gone, to pack everything she had got, and doing it with feverish +haste; but had not proceeded far when something came rattling against +the window-panes, something which sounded as if it were a handful of +gravel. She drew aside the curtain and looked out. Mr. Nash was below, +he waved his hand; apparently it was he who had saluted the window. +Hurriedly throwing a dressing-jacket over her bare shoulders, she +raised the sash sufficiently to enable her to put her head out, +apparently oblivious of the fact that her black hair was streaming +loose; she had been engaged in "doing" it when Morgan had knocked at +the door. + +"Herbert! Did you throw those stones at my window? What do you want?" + +The reply from below was hardly an answer to her question. + +"I say! Now you are worth looking at! Now you're what I call something +like a picture!" + +Her cheeks were flushed with excitement; there was a light in her +eyes; the streaming locks certainly were not unbecoming; nor did the +blush with which she received his words detract from the general +effect. + +"Herbert, you naughty boy, you don't mean to say you nearly broke my +window simply to make me put my head out, and I'm in this state!" + +"Well, not exactly; though it would have been worth breaking a window +for. I chucked that gravel up at your window because I've something to +say to you which has got to be said now, if it's to be said at all; +only don't shout." + +"Am I shouting?" + +"I thought I'd just give you the hint in case you felt as if you'd +like to. Somehow, do you know, the more I look at you the more I seem +to want to; if I could only get at you." + +"It's lucky you can't; what do you want to say? Do you know I'm +freezing?" + +"You remember what we were talking about yesterday?" + +"Am I likely to have forgotten?" + +"I've been thinking things over, and I've come to the conclusion that +if you're game I am." + +"Game? game for what? what do you mean?" + +Mr. Nash glanced round, as if to ascertain if any one was in sight, +then dropped his voice. + +"To marry." + +"Herbert!" + +Her heart seemed to leap into her mouth, as if the word, coming from +his lips, touched a spring and made it bound. + +"You said you'd like the marriage to be at once; what do you say to +our being married to-morrow?" + +"Herbert!" + +At the moment she could only trust herself to repeat his name, she was +in such a curious state of tremblement. + +"Do you know that Guldenheim and his crowd are in the house?" + +"I've just heard." + +"A nice lot they are; you can't stop in the house with them; you'll +have to clear." + +"I told you I should." + +"You'd better pack everything you've got and I'll send a trap for you; +they may object to your taking anything out of the stable; it's quite +possible that they've laid hands on the lot. Anyhow I'll send +something for you; how long'll you be?" + +"Half-an-hour." + +"Not more?" + +"I can't tell you to the exact moment how long I'll be; don't be +absurd. You send the trap in half-an-hour, and I'll be as quick as +ever I can. Where's it going to take me?" + +"To the station; I'll meet you there." + +"Why at the station?" + +"You poor little thing! we're going off together; it's going to be a +regular elopement." + +"Herbert! How are we going to get married?" + +"How soon can you get some of your aunt's money?" + +"I've got enough by me to go on with." + +"How much do you call enough?" + +"Oh, about ninety pounds." + +"You sly little thing! Who'd have thought you were stuffed with money +like this? It's not so long ago since I pointed out a big hole in your +glove, and you said you had to wear old gloves, because you couldn't +afford to buy yourself a pair of new ones." + +"I dare say; that was a hint to you." + +"Was it? then it was thrown away, because if I possessed the price of +a pair of gloves it was as much as I did have; though in the sweet by +and by I'm going to be a millionaire." + +"You haven't said how we're going to get married." + +"I'm going to get the licence the other end, and we're going to be +married to-morrow." + +"Are you sure we can get married to-morrow?" + +"Of course I'm sure." + +"In church?" + +"In church; in St. Paul's Cathedral if you like; though to arrange +that might take a little longer." + +"I don't want to be married in St. Paul's Cathedral; I want to be +married quietly." + +"That's what I want; so there we are agreed; hooray!" This cry of +jubilation was uttered in a sepulchral whisper. "Now you quite +understand? Trap's coming in half-an-hour; you're to be ready; you're +going to meet me at the station; we're going to elope; we're going +together to get the licence; and to-morrow we're going to be married +together; is that perfectly clear?" + +"Don't be silly! Are you glad?" + +"What for?" + +"That we're going to be married; you know!" + +"Of course I'm glad; how do you want me to show it? would you like me +to stand on my head and dance?" + +"No; I only want to know you're glad." + +"You wait; you shall have all the knowledge you feel you stand in need +of." + +"Herbert!" + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + NORA GOES + + +When Elaine brought back her head into the room, the window was +closed, Mr. Nash had vanished; the young lady was in such a state of +palpitation, that for some seconds she was incapable of continuing the +operation of packing, conscious though she was of how time was +pressing. Half-an-hour is not long. She was not yet fully dressed; it +seemed that now she was to dress to meet her lover, to elope with him; +if she had known that before she would have arrayed herself in some +quite different garments. There was no time to change now; it was out +of the question. Really, there was not time even to finish packing +properly; her things would have to be squashed in anyhow; if she could +get them in at all she would have to be content. There was one +comfort, she would buy herself an entirely new outfit when she had +once got clear away. Herbert need not think--no one need think--that +she was going to do without a trousseau; she was not. She was going to +have a proper trousseau; a complete trousseau. Only it seemed that in +her case the various articles would have to be purchased after +marriage instead of before; but she would have them. + +While such thoughts chased themselves through her excited little head, +she returned to the process of packing with still greater zeal than +before. Cherished garments received unceremonious treatment; if they +could have felt they would have wondered why their mistress was using +them as she had never done before. Rolled up anyhow; squeezed in +anywhere; no regard paid to frills or dainty trimmings; plainly +Elaine's one and only desire was to get her things in somewhere, +somehow. Yet as if it was not enough to have to pack against time, she +was not allowed to pack in peace; she was doomed to interruption. Just +as the first box seemed full as it could hold, and she was wondering +if her weight would be enough to induce the hasp to meet the lock, +there came a tapping at the bedroom door. The sound was to her an +occasion of irritation; her voice suggested it. + +"Now who's that?" + +"It is I." + +It was a voice she knew--at that moment it seemed to her--too well. So +entirely was this young woman a creature of mood that there was only +room in her for one mood at a time, and while that possessed her she +forgot everything else; before she heard that voice she had forgotten +Nora. And it was Nora who stood on the other side of the door. +Elaine's selfish little soul shook with fear when the sound of the +voice without recalled her friend's existence to her recollection. + +"What am I to do?" was the question which instantly sprang up within +her. She could scarcely put her off with an excuse now. Nora was +probably at her wit's end; all the seas of trouble had been opened on +her unprotected head. If ever there was a moment in which she was in +need of friendly service it was this; unless some one held out to her +a helping hand she might sink in the deep waters, never to rise again. +In the box which she had just been packing was the money which Elaine +had "found" on the study table; that huge sum which, of course, was +Nora's. Here was a chance to show that, after all, she was not +altogether the worthless wretch she had seemed to be. Should she? + +No, she told herself, Herbert would not like it; then there was +Morgan, and the trousseau, and the honeymoon; if she kept all the +money she might have the kind of honeymoon of which she had so often +dreamed; and--there were other things. All the uses she might have for +the money crowded into her brain, treading on each other's heels. She +dropped the lid and ran to the door. + +"I'm awfully sorry, Nora, to keep you waiting, but----" She stopped, +to stare. "Why, you've got your hat on; where are you going?" + +Nora was dressed for travelling. It was Elaine's cue to be surprised +at everything; she meant to be so surprised that the mere force of her +surprise should drive all other things clean out of her. Nora came +into the room. + +"I see you are packing." + +For a second Elaine was slightly embarrassed, but she quickly got over +that. + +"Yes, I've had a letter from papa this morning." + +"A letter from your father?" + +The calm eyes looked Elaine straight in the face. The girl turned +away; the glib tongue began to reel off lies. + +"Just now--I should think I ought to have had it yesterday; I don't +know why I only had it to-day. He wants me to come home; of course he +feels I'm frightfully in the way; and then it seems Polly has the +scarlet fever, and Jennie looks as if she were sickening for it, and +there are the other children, and papa has no one to help him--he +can't afford a nurse; so you see I must go; the poor man writes as if +he were half distracted." + +"Of course you must go; and, perhaps, in a way it's as well you must, +though I'm so sorry to hear about Polly and Jennie; but I'm afraid +that in any case I should have had to ask you to go." + +"Nora! Am I so much in the way as that?" + +"It is not only you who are in the way; we both of us are, both you +and me. Mr. Guldenheim and his friends have come, and, in consequence, +I also am leaving Cloverlea." + +"Nora! What do you mean?" + +Nothing could have been more eloquent than the amazement on Elaine's +face. + +"You knew that they were going to sell everything to pay what it +appears were my father's debts; well, it's come a little sooner than I +expected, that's all." + +"But where will you go? What will you do?" + +"Something; don't fear. 'God's in His heaven, all's well with the +world.' I don't doubt there's a place in it somewhere for me." + +"Oh, Nora, if I could only take you home with me! But it's such a poor +place, and so small; and now it's like a hospital, with all the +children ill of that dreadful fever, and papa writing that he's nearly +penniless; what do you think yourself?" + +It was rather a neat way of passing on the responsibility. + +"I think it's out of the question. With that poor father of yours +already nearly borne down beneath his troubles, do you think I'd add +to them? What I'm wondering is if you've enough money to take you +home." + +"Papa hasn't sent me any--I'm afraid he's none to send; but I've been +reckoning--I've just enough, with a squeeze; but then I'm used to +squeezing. Nora, I do hope you've plenty of money." + +"I've enough to go on with. Can I help you with your packing?" + +"The idea! As if I'd let you, you poor dear!" + +"Then, Elaine, if you won't mind very much----" + +Nora stopped, as if at a loss to find words with which to clothe her +thoughts. Miss Harding was gushing. + +"I shan't mind anything, my darling. What is it?" + +"It--it's only, if you won't think me very unkind, that I'd--I'd like +to catch a train which starts almost at once." + +She was thinking, perhaps, of Dr. Banyard's promise to send his wife +to talk to her, and desired to avoid that talking. Miss Harding leapt +at the hint. + +"And you want to get away immediately? And do you think I'd wish to +stop you from doing anything you want to do?--you sweet! Good-bye, +Nora, my darling! God bless you! I hope everything will turn out all +right yet; I feel sure it will; it's bound to. And mind you write!" + +"I will--when I am settled." + +"And what address will find you?" + +"I'll let you know that also, when I'm settled." + +So they parted, with fond embraces, many kisses, words of endearment, +tears in their eyes. Nora's heart was very full, and Elaine felt hers +ought to be. So soon as Nora had left the room Elaine banged her foot +against the floor; clapped her hands together with such violence that +she actually stung her tender palms, and cried-- + +"What a little beast I am! what a little beast!" + +Then, instantly, she resumed her packing, remembering that the trap +was coming in less than half-an-hour, but not with quite so much zest +as before. There was a vague consciousness in her somewhere that her +conduct had not been--and still was not--altogether without reproach. + +When Nora got down-stairs she found the hall door open, a dog-cart +without, a footman keeping guard over the single trunk which he had +brought from her room, and Morgan, as it were, keeping watch and ward +over him; otherwise the hall was deserted. Nora recognized the fact +with something like a pang. She knew then that she had hoped that at +least some of the servants would have been gathered together to wish +her God-speed; then she told herself, with the quick philosophy which +was eminently hers, that it did not matter after all. + +Morgan greeted her with a question. + +"Is there any more luggage?" + +"No; none." + +"What directions are there as to what is to be done with the contents +of your own rooms--your two rooms, bedroom and boudoir? Perhaps I may +be allowed to remark, Miss Lindsay, that I believe you've a right to +whatever is in your own rooms; no one's a right to touch anything +that's in them except you." + +"Thank you, Morgan; there are no directions. By the bye, if you like I +will write you two or three lines, before I go, which you will be able +to use as a reference when you are applying for another situation. I +don't wish you to suffer by what has happened." + +"Thank you, Miss Lindsay, you are very good; but I don't propose to +seek another situation. I am giving up service. I trust, Miss Lindsay, +that in the future everything will turn out as you would like it to." + +"Thank you, Morgan, I hope it will. Say goodbye to the others for me, +and say I wish them all well." + +The butler inclined his head with his most deferential air. The trunk +had been lifted into its place at the back of the cart, the footman +had ascended to the driver's seat, and Nora was climbing up to his +side, when a seedy-looking man came shambling along the drive, +apparently in a state of some excitement. + +"Here, what's all this!" he cried. "This won't do, you know." + +"What won't do?" inquired the footman. + +"What you're doing of--that won't do. I'm in charge of the stable, and +that horse and cart have been took out of it; can't have that; +nothing's to be took off the premises without the governor's express +permission." + +"Isn't it? We'll see about that; and so will you see if you don't +watch out." + +The footman evinced an inclination to use his whip with some degree of +freedom. Nora laid a restraining hand upon his arm. She addressed the +seedy-looking man. + +"The dog-cart is only going to drive me to the station; it will be +returned to the stable, uninjured, probably in less than half-an-hour. +You need fear nothing." + +There she was mistaken; the man was in imminent peril of being run +over. The footman flicked the mare on the shoulder, she gave a +startled bound, then went dashing down the drive; if the fellow had +not sprung nimbly aside both the mare and the cart might have gone +right over him. + +And that was how Nora left Cloverlea. + +While the vehicle was still in sight Mr. Morgan addressed a few +outspoken remarks to the seedy-looking man on his own account. + +"You're a fool, my lad, that's what you are; you don't know when +you're well off. You and your governor have no more right to be where +you are than you have to be in the moon. That young lady's been badly +advised. If she'd had your governor, and his friends, thrown out of +the house, and dragged down the drive, and deposited in the high +road--your governor, for one, wouldn't have wanted much dragging; he +knows enough to get in out of the rain--he'd have taken to his heels +as fast as ever he could, to save himself from something worse. As for +your laying your hand upon her horse, and her cart--because they are +hers, and hers only--if she'd had you locked up you'd have got six +months, and serve you right. I call you a low down thief, because +that's exactly what you are; and I call your governor a low down +thief, because that's exactly what he is; and if I have an opportunity +so I'll tell him. Taking rascally advantage of a fatherless girl. Poor +young lady! it goes to my heart to see the way she's being put upon." + +Mr. Morgan ascended the steps with an air of virtuous indignation +which caused the other to stare at him open-mouthed, as if an assault +from that quarter was the last thing he had expected. + +Before many minutes had passed a trap drew up before the hall door, +from which Mrs. Banyard alighted. She was received by Morgan; her air +was a trifle imperious; she had come, as her husband had promised she +should come, to talk to Nora. + +"Where is Miss Lindsay? I wish to see her; take me to her at once." + +The butler was affable, but unsatisfactory. + +"I am afraid I cannot do that." + +"What do you mean? Why can't you? Has she given instructions that she +doesn't wish to see me?" + +"Miss Lindsay has gone." + +"Gone! Gone where?" + +"I apprehend that Miss Lindsay has left Cloverlea for ever." + +"You apprehend! Man, you're dreaming! How long is it since she has +been gone?" + +She glanced towards the trap, as if she meditated jumping into it, and +starting in instant pursuit; but if she entertained such an idea +Morgan's answer put an end to it. + +"Possibly an hour, possibly not quite so much; I cannot say exactly +when she started." + +He must have been aware that she had not been gone ten minutes; +possibly he wished to spare his late mistress the indignity of being +chased--even by a friend. + +"Where do you say she's gone?" + +"The directions were to drive her to the station." + +"To the station? Then what address has she left?" + +"None with me." + +"She must have left an address with some one." + +"Not with any member of the household." + +"But where are her letters to be forwarded?" + +"That I cannot say." + +"Man! why did you let her go?" Probably this time the expression of +surprise which was on Morgan's face was genuine. "I'm afraid I don't +understand." + +"Oh-h-h!" + +She clenched her fists, and, so to speak, she ground her teeth; she +looked as if she would have liked to have beaten the butler; only just +then another dog-cart drew up, from which the Hon. Robert Spencer +descended. He hailed the butler. + +"Morgan, I want to speak to Miss Lindsay; where is she? I'll show +myself in." Then he saw the doctor's wife. "Oh, Mrs. Banyard, how are +you? But I needn't ask, you're looking so well." He returned to the +butler. "Morgan, where is Miss Lindsay?" + +"Miss Lindsay, sir, has gone." + +Mr. Spencer did what Mrs. Banyard had done--he echoed the butler. + +"Gone! Gone where?" + +Mrs. Banyard took it on herself to explain. + +"The headstrong girl has gone to the station, and probably to London, +and as she's left no address she's gone goodness only knows where. But +I know--I understand perfectly well. She's got some Quixotic notion +into her head, and because she's got it she's bent on suffering +martyrdom, and she will too, if somebody doesn't stop her; though who +for, or what for, nobody knows." + +Mr. Spencer laughed, as if he thought the doctor's wife was joking; +but he seemed to do it with an effort. + +"If she's gone we'll find her, wherever she's gone; don't let your +imagination paint any very frightful pictures, Mrs. Banyard. I'll +undertake to find her, and save her from the martyrdom at which you +hint--well, I'll be on the safe side, and say within four-and-twenty +hours." + +But he was undertaking more than he was able to perform. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + MISS GIBB + + +Nora's knowledge of London was as slight as the average young lady's, +who has lived mostly in the country, is apt to be; yet, when she left +Cloverlea, she went straight to London, with eight pounds, four and +twopence in her pocket, intending to live upon that sum until she had +discovered some means of earning more. There was some method in her +madness. She had been reading a story lately about a young woman who +had struggled to make a living in town, and she had had rooms in +Newington Butts. Nora had gathered that, while Newington Butts was not +an abode of fashion, nor a particularly salubrious neighbourhood, it +was within reasonable distance of places where young women could earn +money; and, above all, that thereabouts lodgings were both plentiful +and cheap. + +The train deposited Nora at Paddington. Had she known her way about +she would have left her trunk in the cloak-room, and crossed London by +one of half-a-dozen different routes, for a few coppers; when she had +found lodgings the box would have been delivered at her address for a +few more coppers. What she did do was to charter a four-wheeler. It is +some distance from Paddington to Newington Butts; to Nora, an +unaccustomed traveller, already tired with her journey, hungry and +thirsty, the way seemed interminable. She began to wonder if the +driver quite knew where he was going; he seemed to go on and on and +never get there. At last, a little desperate, she put her head out of +the window and asked him-- + +"Are you sure this is the right way?" + +The cab stopped. The driver screwed himself round in his seat, and he +observed, in the tone of one who is offended-- + +"You said Newington Butts, didn't you?" + +"Yes." + +Hers was the voice of deprecation. + +"Very well then; I'm driving you to Newington Butts. If you think you +know the way better than I do you can come outside and I'll get +inside. I've been driving this cab two and twenty years, and if +there's any one who knows the way to Newington Butts better than I do, +I should like to know who it is." + +She drew her head back and subsided on the seat, doubting no longer. +She felt that a man who had been a cabman for two and twenty years +ought to know the way to Newington Butts better than she did. The cab +went on. There was another period of seemingly interminable jolting; +it seemed likely that the springs had been on that cab as long as the +driver had. Once more the vehicle stopped. This time the driver asked +a question. + +"What address?" + +As Nora put her head out again hers was the tone of anxiety. + +"Is this Newington Butts?" + +"It used to be when I was here last, but perhaps it's been and gone +and turned itself into something else since; you might ask a policeman +if you think it has been up to any game of the kind. There's one +standing over there; I'll call him if you like; he might know." + +"Thank you; I--I don't think I'll trouble you. The fact is I want +lodgings; do you know of any round here?" + +"Lodgings? I shouldn't have thought there was any round here to suit +you." + +"Oh, I'm so sorry; why not?" + +"There's about two hundred thousand, I dare say, so perhaps one of +them might suit. Anyhow, I'll show you a few samples. Only, mind you, +I'm not engaged by the hour, nor yet by the week." + +When next the cab stopped the main thoroughfare had been left behind, +and they were in a street of private houses. + +"Here you are; here's a street pretty nearly full of them; all you've +got to do is pick and choose." + +Nora, getting out, perceived that in many of the windows there were +cards announcing that there were rooms to let. She began her search. +At some houses they asked too much; at others they did not take +ladies; and there were rooms in which she would not have lived +rent-free; perhaps she tried a dozen without success. The cabman, who +had followed her from house to house, did not appear to be so +disheartened by this result as she did. + +"That's nothing," he declared, as she regarded him with doubtful eyes. +"Sometimes people go dodging about after rooms the whole day long, and +then don't find what they want. There's more round the corner; try +them." + +Nora went round the corner, the cab moving at a walking pace beside +her. The first door at which she knocked was opened by a girl, a small +girl, who looked about twelve; but she wore her hair in a knob at the +back of her head, and there was something in her manner which seemed +intended to inform the world at large that she was to be regarded as a +grown woman. + +"What rooms have you to let?" asked Nora. + +The girl looked at her with sharp, shrewd eyes; her reply was almost +aggressive. + +"We don't care for ladies, not in the ordinary way we don't." + +Nora had been told this before. Though she had not understood why a +woman should be objected to merely because she was a woman, she had +meekly withdrawn. But there was that about this child--who bore +herself as if she were so old--which induced her to persevere. + +"I am sorry to hear that. If you were to make an exception in my case +I would try not to make myself more objectionable than I could help." + +The girl remained unsoftened. + +"That may be; but you never can tell. Some give more trouble than +they're worth, and some aren't worth anything; this is a respectable +house. Still there's no harm in letting you see what we have got." + +On the upper floor were a small sitting-room in front and a still +smaller bedroom behind; barely, poorly furnished, with many obvious +makeshifts, but scrupulously clean. + +"What rent are you asking?" + +"Ten shillings a week, and not a penny less; it ought to be fourteen." + +"I'm afraid I can't pay fourteen shillings a week just yet, but I +think I can manage ten; I like the rooms because they seem so clean." + +"They are clean; no one can say they're not clean; I defy 'em to." + +"Can I see the landlady?" + +"My mother's the landlady; she's not very well just now; I can make +all arrangements." + +"Then in that case don't you think that if I were to take the rooms +for a week on trial, at the end of that time we might find out if we +were likely to suit each other?" + +"We might; there's no knowing. When would you want them?" + +"At once; my luggage is at the door." + +"Then mind you make the cabman bring it up before you pay him; I know +them cabmen." + +But the cabman would not be made; he pleaded inability to leave his +horse. An individual had appeared who offered to carry up the box for +threepence; so Nora let him. After the cabman had been paid there +remained of her capital less than eight pounds. When they were again +up-stairs she said to the girl-- + +"What's your name? I'm Miss Lindsay." + +"I'm Miss Gibb." + +Nora smiled; the child said it as if she wished the fact to be +properly appreciated. + +"I meant, what is your Christian name?" + +"Angelina; though I'm generally known as Angel, you see it's shorter; +though I don't pretend that there's anything of the angel about me, +because there isn't." + +"I fancy I'm tired, my head aches; do you think you could let me have +some tea?" + +"Course I could; are you going to do for yourself, or are we going to +do for you?" + +"I'm afraid I don't understand." + +"Are we going to do your marketing, or are you going to do it for +yourself? If you take my advice you'll do it for yourself; it'll save +you trouble in the end, and then there won't be no bother about the +bills. The last lodger we had in these rooms he never could be got to +see that he'd had what he had had, there was always a rumpus. Quarter +of a pound of tea a week he used to have, yet he never could +understand how ever it got into his bill. I'll let you have a cup of +tea, and some bread and butter, and perhaps an egg; then afterwards I +dare say you might like to go out and lay in a few stores for +yourself." The girl turned as she was leaving the room to supply the +new-comer with a piece of information. "Number 1, Swan Street, Stoke +Newington, S.E., that's the address you're now in, in case you might +be wanting to tell your friends." + +In Swan Street Nora continued to reside, while the days went by, +though she never told her friends. From Cloverlea, and the position of +a great heiress, with all the world at her feet to pick and choose +from, to Swan Street and less than eight pounds between her and +beggary, was a change indeed. Used only to a scale of expenditure in +which cost was never counted she was incapable of making the best of +such resources as she had. Miss Gibb took her to task, on more than +one occasion, for what that young woman regarded as her extravagance. + +"Don't want it again? What's the matter with the bread? Why, there's +the better part of half a loaf here." + +"Yes, but I had it the day before yesterday." + +Nora spoke with something like an air of timidity, as she stood rather +in awe of Miss Gibb when that young person showed a disposition to +expand herself on questions of domestic economy. + +"Day before yesterday? Let's hope you'll never be wanting bread. I've +known the time when I'd have been glad to have the week before last's. +Then look at those two rashers of bacon you told me to take away +yesterday, what was the matter with them?" + +"They weren't--quite nice." + +"Not nice?" + +"I didn't think they were--quite fresh." + +"Not fresh? I know I cooked them for my dinner and there didn't seem +to be anything wrong about them to me. Then there was that lump of +cheese which you said was all rind, it made me and Eustace a handsome +supper. Of course I know it's none of my business, and of course any +one can see you're a lady from the clothes you send to the wash; but +if there's one thing I can't stand it's waste; perhaps that's because +I've known what want is." + +Nora had been in the house more than a week without seeing or hearing +anything of her landlady, or of any managing person except Miss Gibb. +She made constant inquiries, but each time it seemed that Mrs. Gibb +was "not very well just now," though what ailed her Miss Gibb did not +explain. One afternoon, as she was removing the tea-things, Nora was +struck by the look of unusual weariness which was on the +preternaturally old young face; something in the look determined her +to make an effort to solve the mystery of the invisible and inaudible +landlady. + +"Angel, whenever I ask you how your mother is you always say she's not +very well just now; but the only person I've seen or heard moving +about the house is you. I'm beginning to wonder if your mother is a +creature of your imagination." Angel said nothing; she continued to +scrape the crumbs off the tablecloth with the blunt edge of a knife. +"Are you alone in the house?" + +"Course I'm not; how about my brother, Eustace? You've seen and heard +him, haven't you?" + +Eustace, it appeared, was only slightly his sister's senior, and +almost as old; though Nora felt that no one could really be as old as +Angel seemed; she admitted that she had seen Eustace. + +"Very well then; he don't go till after nine and he's back most days +before six, so how can I be alone in the house?" + +"I know about Eustace; as you say, I've seen him. But I was thinking +of your mother. Where is she; or have you reasons why you would rather +not tell me?" + +"What do you mean by have I reasons?" + +The light of battle came into the child's eyes; it was extraordinary +how soon it did come there. + +"I was wondering if, for any reason, you would prefer to keep your own +counsel." + +"We don't all of us care to turn ourselves inside out; seems to me you +don't for one." + +The accusation was so true that Nora was routed. + +"I beg your pardon, Angel; I didn't mean to seem to pry." + +"No harm done that I know of; bones aren't broke by questions." She +folded the tablecloth. As she placed it in its drawer, and her back +was turned to Nora, she said, as with an effort, "Mother's paralyzed." + +"Paralyzed? Oh, Angel, I'm so sorry; where is she?" + +Miss Gibb faced round, again all battle. + +"Where is she? This is her own house, isn't it? In whose house do you +suppose she'd be if she wasn't in her own? I can't think what you mean +by keeping on asking where is she?" + +Nora was properly meek. + +"You see, I only asked because I never hear her moving about; I never +hear any one but you, and Eustace." + +"Mean I make a clatter?" + +"Angel! you know I don't. You are nearly, as quiet as a mouse; but +your mother is so very quiet. I hope the paralysis is only slight." + +"That's the trouble, it isn't. It's been coming on for years; during +the last three years it's been downright bad; and during the last +twelve months she's hardly been able to move so much as a finger." + +Nora reflected; how old could the child have been when the mother was +taken "downright bad"? + +"Can she do nothing for herself?" + +"Can't even feed herself." + +"But how does she manage?" + +"What do you mean, how does she manage?" + +"Who does everything for her?" + +"I never heard such questions as you do ask! Who do you suppose does +everything for her? Isn't there me? and isn't there Eustace? Me and +Eustace always have done everything for her; she wouldn't have anybody +else do anything for her not if it were ever so." + +"Has she any income of her own?" + +"I wish she had; that would be heaven below." + +"But on what do you live?" + +"Don't we let lodgings? What do you think we let 'em for? We live on +our lodgings, that's what we live on; leastways mother and me; Eustace +keeps himself, and a bit over now that Mr. Hooper's started giving him +his old clothes. I only hope he'll keep on giving him them. The way +Eustace wears out his clothes is something frightful; it always has +been Eustace's weakness, wearing out his clothes." + +Later Nora did a sum in arithmetic. Miss Gibb had previously told her +that, including rent, rates, and taxes the house cost more than forty +pounds a year. Nora paid ten shillings a week; Mr. Carter, on the +floor below, paid twelve and six; which meant twenty-two and sixpence +a week, or fifty-eight pounds ten shillings a year; so that when rent, +rates, and taxes had been paid under eighteen pounds per annum were +left for the support of the Gibb family, or less than seven shillings +a week. And this when times were flourishing! The rooms Nora had had +been vacant more than a month before she came; small wonder Miss +Gibb--as she would have put it--had "chanced" a lady. + +More than another week elapsed before Nora was permitted to see her +landlady. She found her in the front room in the basement, which was +used by Miss Gibb as well as herself to live and sleep in. There, +also, were performed most of the necessary cooking operations. + +"Mother," explained Miss Gibb, "always does feel the cold; we can't +have a fire going both in the kitchen and in here, so that's how it +is. Besides, mother likes to see what's going on, don't you, mother?" + +Mother said she did; for she could talk, and that was the only thing +she still could do; it seemed to Nora that even the faculty of speech +was threatened. Mrs. Gibb spoke very quietly and very slowly, and +sometimes she paused, even in the middle of a word; as she listened +Nora wondered how long it would be before that pause remained +unbroken. Her landlady lay on a chair bedstead. Miss Gibb and her +brother, between them, had contrived a method, of which every one was +proud, by means of an arrangement of sloping boards, to raise her head +and shoulders, when she desired to be raised. Nora was not surprised +to find that, in common with the rest of the house, she was spotlessly +neat and clean; but she was conscious of something akin to a feeling +of surprise when she observed the expression which was on her face; +and the more attentively she observed the more the feeling grew. +Although she seemed so old--the cares of this world had pressed +heavily on her--still, in a sense, she seemed younger than her +daughter; for on her face was a look of peace, as on the face of those +who are conscious that they also serve although they only stand and +wait. + +"I have nothing of which to complain," she told her lodger; +"only--it's hard on Angelina." Nora noticed that she always referred +to her daughter by her full Christian name. Angelina remonstrated. + +"Now, mother, don't you be silly; if you are going to say things like +that I shall have to send Miss Lindsay away." + +The mother looked at her daughter with a look in her eyes which, when +she saw it, brought the tears into Nora's; there was in it an +eloquence which she wondered if, with all her wisdom, Angelina +comprehended. If she had only been able to take the burden of the +mother off the daughter's shoulders, how gladly she would have done +it. But the days when she was able to bear the burdens of others were +gone; it seemed not unlikely that she would be crushed out of +existence by her own. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + + A YOUNG LADY IN SEARCH OF A LIVING + + +The more Nora sought for means to earn her own livelihood, the more +they seemed to evade her. In her time she had heard a good deal about +how difficult it sometimes is to earn one's own living, but she never +realized what that meant until she started to earn hers. To begin +with, she had only the very vaguest notions of how to set about it. +She could not serve in a shop; at least she did not feel as if she +could; she was conscious that she was not qualified to be a governess; +she had no leaning towards domestic service, though she would have +preferred that to serving in a shop; she had no woman's trade at her +fingers' ends, so that she was unfit for a workroom. What remained? It +seemed to her very little, except some sort of clerkship; she had +heard that thousands of women were employed as clerks; or if she could +get a post as secretary. That was the objective she had in her mind +when she left Cloverlea, a secretaryship; for that she believed +herself to have two necessary qualifications--she wrote a very clear +hand, and she had some knowledge of typewriting. She had once started +a typewriting class in the village; she had taken lessons herself. She +had bought a machine and practised on that, until she gave it away to +one of the pupils, who wished to take advantage of the information she +had acquired to earn something for herself. That was nearly a year +ago; she had not practised since; but she did not doubt that if she +came within reach of a machine it would all come back to her; and she +had attained to a state of considerable proficiency. + +So she bought the daily papers and answered all the advertisements for +secretaryships which they contained. There were not as many as she +would have wished; some days there were none; and the only answers she +received were from agents, who offered to place her name upon their +books, in consideration of a fee, which she did not see her way to +give them. The way those eight pounds were slipping through her +fingers was marvellous; when three weeks had gone she had scarcely +thirty shillings left, between her and destitution. Of course, she had +been extravagant--monstrously extravagant, as Miss Gibb occasionally +told her; but when you have been accustomed all your life to an +establishment kept up at the rate of some twelve thousand pounds a +year, to say nothing of having five hundred a year for pocket money, +it is not easy, all at once, to learn the secret of how to make a +shilling do the work of eighteenpence; that is a secret which takes a +great deal of learning; by many temperaments it can never be learnt at +all. + +She had been a month in Swan Street; had paid three weeks' bills; the +fourth lay in front of her. It was such a modest bill--Miss Gibb's +bills were curiosities; yet when it was paid she would not have six +shillings left in the world. It frightened her to think of it; the +effort to think seemed to set her head in a whirl; her heart was +thumping against her ribs; it made her dizzy. What was she to do? +where was she to go? She could not stay in Swan Street; she had not +enough to pay next week's rent, to say nothing of food. Yet, what was +the alternative? With less than six shillings in the world what could +she do? + +In a sense, since her coming to Newington Butts she had kept herself +to herself. She had this much in common with her father, she could not +wear her heart upon her sleeve. She had kept her own counsel; told no +one of the straits she was in, of the efforts she was making to find a +way to earn her daily bread. But it was plain even to her, as she +regarded her few shillings, that the time had come when she must take +counsel of some one. If she had to go out into the highways and +byways, with her scanty capital, she must learn of some one what +highways and byways there were for her to go out into; of herself she +knew nothing. As she cast about in her mind for some way out of her +trouble, it seemed to her that the only person to whom she could +unbosom herself was Miss Gibb. + +She rang the bell, paid her bill, and as she watched Angelina, with +her tongue out and her head on one side, making magnificent efforts to +affix her signature to the receipt, she prepared herself for the +ordeal. When the receipt was signed, and Angelina was about to go, +Nora stopped her. + +"If you have nothing particular to do just now, and you don't mind, +there is something which I should like to say to you." + +"I don't know that there's anything you might call particular that +I've got to do, but there's always something." + +Which was true enough; from the first thing in the morning to the last +thing at night, Miss Gibb was always doing something; and sometimes +also, Nora suspected, in the silent watches of the night. Nora +hesitated; she found the subject a difficult one to broach. + +"I'm in rather an uncomfortable position; I--I'm afraid I shall have +to leave you." + +"Why? Aren't we giving satisfaction?" + +"If I give you as much satisfaction as you give me there'd be no +trouble on that score." + +"Oh, you give us satisfaction all right enough; although, of course, +any one can see you're several cuts above our place." + +"You are likely to be several cuts above me; I am having to leave you +because I have not money enough left to pay you next week's rent." + +"Not enough money left? How much have you?" + +"Five and eightpence halfpenny, to be precise." Miss Gibb changed +countenance. "Five and eightpence halfpenny! That's not much." + +"No one can appreciate the fact better than I do." + +"But however come you to have so little?" + +"I hadn't much when I came, and I suppose I've been extravagant." + +"You have been that." + +"You see,"--despite herself Nora sighed--"I haven't been used to +economy." + +"Any one could see that with half-an-eye; I shouldn't be surprised to +learn that you're one of those who've been used to spend as much as +five pounds a week." + +"I'm afraid I am. + +"Then of course there's excuses. We can't get out of ways like that +with a hop, skip and a jump; it's not to be expected. But haven't you +got any friends who'd help you?" + +"I haven't a friend to whom I can apply for help." + +"I should have thought you were the kind who'd have had lots of +friends. Have you fell out with them?" + +"I thought my father was a rich man; but when he died--it was only a +very little while ago--it appeared that he wasn't; so I have to make +my own way in the world, and that is how I came to Swan Street." + +"I know them fathers; I had one of my own, and he wasn't of any +account; though I will say this, I always liked him." + +"I have been trying to find something by means of which I could earn +enough money to keep me. I hoped to have found it before now, but I +haven't, and that's the trouble." + +"What sort of work have you been looking for?" + +"I've been endeavouring to get a post as secretary, among other +things, and I've answered no end of advertisements, but nothing has +come of one of them." + +"Secretary? what's that? The notices that the water'll be cut off if +it's not paid for, they're signed by a secretary; I always took him to +be some kind of a bailiff." + +Nora endeavoured to explain, but her explanation was not very lucid, +and Miss Gibb was not extremely impressed. + +"Is that the only kind of work you want?" she asked; "a secretary?" + +"Indeed it isn't; I should be glad to do anything." + +"Some people, when they say they'd be glad to do anything, mean +nothing, which is about all they're good for; I know. How would you +like to go out charing?" + +"Charing? Well, I may be glad to have an opportunity of doing that." + +"Yes, no doubt; I fancy I see you at it! you charing! My word! Strikes +me you're the kind who'll find it difficult to get work of any sort." + +"You're not very reassuring." + +"Facts is facts." + +"That's true enough; and it's no use blinking them. I fear you're +right; I shall find it hard; anyhow while I'm looking for work it's +clear that I can't continue to be your lodger. That's what I wanted to +explain." + +"And pray why not?" + +"Isn't it pretty obvious? With five and eightpence halfpenny, and no +prospect of more, how am I to pay you next week's rent?" + +"I did think you'd have talked better sense than that." + +"Angel!" + +"If there's one thing I cannot stand it is to hear people talk +right-down silly; I never could stand it, and I never shall. I +wouldn't take this week's bill if it wasn't that we were so short; but +if that there poor-rate isn't paid next week we shall have the brokers +in, so paid it must be; them there poor-rates is demons; they'll turn +me grey yet before I've done. But as for your next week's rent--we'll +talk about that when it's due." + +"Are you proposing that I should run up debts with you, which I may +never be able to pay? Do you call that sense?" + +"As it happens that's not what I'm proposing; though if I were as sure +of most things as I am of that you'll pay me first chance you get, it +might be better for me; but you can hardly say you've got no money +when you've got plenty of things you can get money on." + +"I don't understand." + +"Look at your clothes--lovely some of them are; you can get money on +them." + +"Get money on my clothes? How?" + +"Why, bless me, aren't there pawnbrokers? What do you think they're +for? Taken to the proper place, by the proper person, you'd get a lot +of money on those things of yours; I know. I always say that so long +as you've something to pawn it's like having money at the bank." + +It was to Nora as though Miss Gibb's words had opened out to her a new +world, of which she had not dreamed. In none of the country towns +within miles of Cloverlea was there a pawnshop; to her knowledge she +had never seen one; there were plenty within an easy stroll of Swan +Street; she had passed and re-passed them, but her attention had not +been called to what they were; they had escaped her notice. In her +mind the word pawnshop stood for almost the lowest word in the scale +of degradation; it was the drunkard's last hope; the friend of the +felon; the resource of those to whom there was no resource left; that +gate into the unthinkable which was associated only with despair. And +that it should be suggested to her that she should enter a +pawnbroker's den--she had heard it spoken of as a "den"--to "raise" +money on the clothes she had worn yesterday, and had hoped to wear +again to-morrow--in her blackest hours she had not anticipated such a +fate for herself as that. The proposal actually appalled her; filled +her with a fear of she knew not what; shamed her; hurled her from a +pedestal into a morass. She stammered as she replied, conscious of the +crass banality of what she was saying-- + +"I--I don't think I--I should like to pawn any--any of my things +if--if I could help it." + +Miss Gibb's scorn was monumental, as if she resented something which +the other implied, though it had been left unuttered. + +"And who do you think does like to pawn their things if they can help +it? Do you suppose people pawn their boots because they've got their +pockets full of money? I am surprised to hear you talk, I really am; +should have thought at your time of life you'd have known better. +Wouldn't you rather pawn your clothes than starve?" + +"If you--if you put it in that crude way, I suppose I would." + +Nora smiled; a horrible libel on what a smile ought to be. There was +no pretence of a smile about Miss Gibb; there never was; she was +always like a combatant, who, armed at all points, is ever ready for +the fray. + +"Very well, then; you say you've got no money, and I say how do you +make that out when you have got things that you can pawn? If you like +to go hungry rather than put away a lace petticoat--which you can get +out again, mind you, whenever you've a chance--all I can say is I +don't; I've known what it is to be hungry, I have." + +"But I fear that I--I shouldn't know how to set about pawning a lace +petticoat even if I wanted to save myself from going hungry." + +"Who said you would? Who said anything about your setting about it? +Not me; I do hope I have more sense than that. Why, you'd be worse +than a baby at the game; it needs some knowing. I'll do all in that +way that's wanted; if I don't know pretty well all about pawning that +there is to know I ought to, I've been pawning pretty nearly ever +since I could walk. What's more, I've pawned pretty nearly every +blessed thing that there is to pawn, down to a towel-horse and a +kitchen fender. Mother and Eustace and me would have been a case for a +coroner's inquest long ago if I hadn't; and I will say this for them +there pawnbrokers, that, considering the class they've got to do with, +and that they have got to make a living, they've got as much of the +milk of human kindness in them as most. You're going to stop here, +that's what you're going to do, and mother and Eustace and me will put +our heads together to see about finding you some work to do, though I +don't know about that there secretary. Only for goodness' sake don't +you lose heart; no one ever gained anything by doing that. I've seen +as much of the world as most, and I know from my own experience that +when things are tightest is just the moment when help comes. Mother +says it comes from heaven; but I don't know, it may or it may not; but +it comes from somewhere, and that often from where you least expected +it. When next week's bill comes due, if nothing's turned up, you give +me something, and I'll take it round to Mr. Thompson--he's about as +good as any--and I'll get as much on it as ever I can, and you'll be +able to pay all right; you see, I'm not concealing from you that we've +got to live as well as you, and them poor-rates there's no shirking. +But don't you fear; mother and Eustace and me will have found you +something to do between us long before you've spent all the money +you've got in the bank; but whatever you do do, don't you go losing +heart." + +So the child taught the woman, who was learning rapidly that age is +not measured by the years one has lived; Miss Gibb was a century older +than she was, though she was only just in her teens. Two visits were +paid to Mr. Thompson, each time with a petticoat. Nora lived on the +proceeds of those two petticoats for nearly another month, during +which all the members of the establishment were putting their heads +together in endeavours to find her something to do. The heart-sickness +it meant for her; the consciousness of wasted effort; the sense of +shame; the realization of her own futility; she had aged more during +the time she had been in Swan Street than in all the preceding years. +She had long ceased to confine herself to attempts to find a post as +secretary, or as clerk. She tramped half over London in her desire to +answer, in person, advertisements of all sorts and kinds, always in +vain. Any one but a sheer ignoramus--Miss Gibb's ignorance outside her +own sphere of action was colossal--would have told her at a glance +that her efforts were foredoomed to failure. And why? The idea of such +a one as she was occupying some of the situations for which she +applied was in itself an absurdity; her appearance, her bearing, her +manners, her dress, all were against her; perhaps her dress +handicapped her worst of all. She did not know it; she thought her +frocks were as simple as they could be; and so they were, in the sense +of the great costumier, with the simplicity which is the hall-mark of +the dressmaker's art. There was not one of them which had not cost her +ten or fifteen guineas. The would-be employer saw this at once, and +decided that the applicant was unsuited, which she was; so Nora was +sent sorrowing away. + +So with Nora the world went from bad to worse; until, as if to +justify Miss Gibb's prophetic instinct, when things seemed really at +their "tightest," help came to her from a quarter--as Angelina had +foretold--from which she had least expected it. + + + + + CHAPTER XX + + KING SOLOMON + + +John Hooper, Esquire, barrister-at-law, of Fountain Court, Inner +Temple, was the employer of Mr. Eustace Gibb, who was the brother of +Miss Gibb. It is not easy to define the relation which Mr. Gibb +occupied with regard to Mr. Hooper. Mr. Hooper, although, presumably, +learned in the law, had never held a brief in his life, and, to be +frank, did not particularly want one; only his uncle worried. He had a +small income of his own, and great expectations from his uncle; as his +expenditure always exceeded his income, he regarded it as of the first +importance that he should continue to stand in what he called his +uncle's "good books," since he looked to that gentleman for sufficient +financial assistance to enable him to what he termed "rub along." To +please his uncle, who appeared to think he ought, very shortly, to be +sitting on the woolsack, since he could get no briefs of his own he +worked on those of other people; in other words he devilled for a +gentleman who was always promising to do more work than, as he knew +very well, he could do, and who, therefore, allowed Mr. Hooper, among +others, to do some of the work which he was paid to do, but for which +he paid Mr. Hooper nothing; there was not so much of this as Mr. +Hooper chose to allow his uncle to imagine; still, from his point of +view, there was emphatically enough. + +What position Mr. Gibb filled in his chambers he himself occasionally +wondered. To those whom he wished to impress with his legal standing +he spoke of him as his clerk; to those whom it was impossible to +impress, and they were many, as his office boy; while in his own +circle of intimates, which was of rather a peculiar kind, he generally +referred to him as King Solomon. Mr. Gibb generally referred to +himself as Mr. Hooper's right-hand man. + +"I'm his right hand man, that's what I am," he was wont to tell any +one who showed interest in the subject; whereat the listener whistled, +or did worse, and wondered, if he stopped at that. His duties appeared +chiefly to consist in sitting, if Mr. Hooper was in his chambers, in a +sort of lobby, which opened on to the staircase, which he called his +office, and where he did nothing; or if Mr. Hooper was not in his +chambers, he went out, as far out as he thought was discreet, and did +nothing there. Sometimes when, as was not infrequently the case, both +employer and employed had nothing to do, Mr. Hooper would summon Mr. +Gibb into his inner room, and would talk to him--and Mr. Gibb would +talk to him. It was the words of wisdom which Mr. Gibb would casually +let drop in the course of these conversations which induced Mr. Hooper +to allude to him, in the privacy of his own circle, as King Solomon; +the barrister declared that it was worth his while to pay Mr. Gibb ten +shillings a week, which he with difficulty did, merely on account of +the benefit which he derived from hearing him talk. + +It was during one of these conversations that Mr. Gibb touched on a +subject which was foremost both in his heart and head. He had taken a +strenuous part in the family endeavours to find for Miss Lindsay some +employment by means of which she could at least provide herself with +the wherewithal to keep herself alive. He had entered on the search +with sanguine zest. Apart from any feeling which he might himself +entertain for the lady he felt that his reputation was at stake. He +had pledged himself to find for her at least half-a-dozen ways of +earning a living in a ridiculously short space of time; and as yet he +had not found her one; and she herself still searched. He was aware of +the visits to Mr. Thompson; they troubled him nearly as much as they +troubled Nora; he felt almost as if he was himself responsible for +their continuation. He knew that any day another might have to be +paid; the knowledge made him desperate. He had had, for some time, a +vague intention of speaking to his employer on the matter; but he was +aware that Mr. Hooper did not always take him seriously, and he was +curiously unwilling to have Miss Lindsay made the subject of that +gentleman's chaff. Yet the thought of that further impending visit +pressed heavily on his mind; so that presently the barrister perceived +that in his air there was something singular. + +"You're not up to your usual mark, Mr. Gibb; those pearls of wisdom +which I love to cherish as they drop from your lips don't seem +dropping; stock run out?" + +Mr. Gibb looked up at the ceiling, then down to Mr. Hooper. + +"The fact is, sir, I've got something on my mind." + +"Is it possible? My good Mr. Gibb, do I ever allow anything to stop on +my mind? Get it off!" + +"It's easy to talk, sir, but I don't seem as though I can." + +"Perhaps it would do your mind good to tell me what's on it; I have +known that prescription work a cure. Give your mind its head, Mr. +Gibb, let her go." + +Mr. Gibb hesitated; he was trying to find fitting words in which to +express what he had to say. + +"It's like this, sir; I know somebody who very much wants to find the +means of earning a living." + +"Not an uncommon character, Mr. Gibb. I suppose there are the usual +requirements, large salary wanted, and very little work." + +"Not at all, sir, not in this case. The person to whom I'm alluding +would be only too glad to do any amount of work, for very little +wages." + +"That is unusual; I fear an effort has been made to impose upon your +innocence. Who's the gentleman?" + +"It's not a gentleman, sir, it's a lady." + +"A lady? I say, Mr. Gibb! warnings out all along that coast; if at +this period of your existence you get yourself mixed up with a lady, +especially one who is on the look out for means of earning a living, +your whole career may be blighted. She may look upon you as her +living, and then where are you?" + +"No fear of that, sir; this is a lady born and bred; she's as high as +the heavens above me." + +"Is she? Then she's tallish. Old?" + +"No, sir; in her early prime." + +"Meaning?" + +"I couldn't say exactly, sir; I should say somewhere about twenty. You +could tell better than me. + +"What on earth do you mean?" + +"If you saw her." + +"If I saw her! Look here, Mr. Gibb, have you got anything at the back +of your head?" Mr. Gibb sighed. "Is she hideous?" + +"No, sir; she's the most beautiful young lady ever I set eyes on; and +I've seen a few." + +"You have, Mr. Gibb, I admit it; still as I don't know what your type +of beauty really is your remark conveys little to me." + +"It would convey more, sir, if you were to see her. You wouldn't want +to see her twice to know that she's the most beautiful young lady ever +you set eyes on. I feel sure of it. I wish you would see her, sir." + +"May I ask, Mr. Gibb, what it is you're driving at? Why should I see +her?" + +"So that you might understand." + +"Understand what?" + +"How it is." + +"How what is? I'll trouble you, Mr. Gibb, to be a trifle more +explicit. Where's this lady of birth and breeding, who's as high as +the heavens above you, to be found?" + +"She's lodging at my mother's. Yes, sir, I don't wonder you look +surprised; I know it's no place for a lady, especially one like her; +and that's the trouble, she is a lady; I know a lady when I see one as +well as I know a gentleman." + +"You must forgive me, Mr. Gibb, but I'm wondering if you do; it's not +every one who can tell a lady by the look of her." + +"Perhaps not, sir; but you can. If you saw her you'd soon tell. She'd +have found something long ago she could have turned her hand to if +she'd been one of your common sort; but that's the mischief, she's a +lady; and I happen to know that she's in a very bad way. She lost her +father and her mother, and she doesn't seem to have a friend in the +world; if she doesn't find something soon by which she can earn a +little money I don't know what will become of her. I wish you would +see her, sir." + +"What good do you suppose will be gained by my seeing her? What sort +of work does she want?" + +"She has been trying for a secretaryship; but she's tried, and tried, +and nothing's come of it; and now she'd be only too glad to do +anything by which she could earn money. You see, sir, you know all +kinds of people, and I thought that if you saw her, so that you might +know what she's like, and how it is with her, you might think of some +one who could give her work; I know you wouldn't regret it if you +did." + +"Mr. Gibb, you're a--you're a person of a Mephistophelian habit! Mind +you, I've no more chance of putting anything in the way of your lady +born and bred, who's as high as the heavens above you, than the man in +the moon; but I've got plenty of time on my hands; I'm always ready to +see any one; and I've no objection to see her." + +"Thank you, sir. Will you see her to-morrow morning?" + +"Look here, Mr. Gibb, are you trying to bustle me?" + +"Well,' sir, you see she's pawning her things----" + +"Pawning her things! and you say she's a lady." + +"Yes, sir, she is pawning her things, and she is a lady; and it's +because I've reason to know that she may have to pawn something else +either to-day or to-morrow that I've mentioned her to you at all; +because when she's pawned all she's got what will she do?" + +"Do you want me to lend her some money? or to give her some?" + +Mr. Gibb smiled. + +"When you've seen her, sir, you won't need to ask me that. Then you'll +see her to-morrow morning?" + +"Now don't you go putting any false hopes in her head, you'll only be +doing her a disservice if you do; nothing will come of my seeing her, +I'm only doing it to oblige you; let that be clearly understood." + +"Yes, sir; thank you very much." + +When Mr. Gibb got home he rushed straight up to Miss Lindsay, who was +commencing the nondescript apology for a meal which served her as tea +and supper. + +"Miss Lindsay, I believe I've found you something which may lead to +something." + +"Oh, Eustace! have you? what is it?" + +"It's my chief." Mr. Gibb never would refer to him as "governor," as +other clerks did; he thought it vulgar. "It's Mr. Hooper!" + +"Mr. Hooper?" + +"I happened to mention to him to-day that you were looking out for a +secretaryship, and he said would you call round and see him to-morrow +morning." + +"Oh, Eustace! how shall I ever thank you? Is it for himself he wants a +secretary?" + +"That I can't say; but if you'll take my advice you'll call and see +him." + +"Of course I'll call and see him; I'm--I'm all trembling! as if I +wouldn't call and see him! Do you think I've any chance?" + +"That also I can't say; but if you'll allow me to give you what I +should describe as a hint----" + +"Please do! What is it? You are so clever!" + +"If I were you I should put on your prettiest frock, and your +prettiest hat, and the prettiest everything you've got." + +"Eustace! Why?" + +Mr. Gibb put his hand up to his mouth, and coughed discreetly. + +"Fact is, Mr. Hooper's more of an eye for female beauty than he +thinks, and if you come to him looking as I've seen you look, you'll +knock him." + +"Knock him?" + +Mr. Gibb was apologetic. + +"It's not often that I do use words of that kind, but, asking your +pardon, this time I mean it." + +"But--I don't understand what you do mean. You can't mean that Mr. +Hooper would engage me as his secretary merely because I happened to +be wearing my prettiest frock?" + +"I don't say anything of the kind; not at all. I don't know that he +wants a secretary; I only know he told me to ask you to call. You want +to make a good impression when you do call, don't you?" + +"Of course I do." + +"Exactly; of course you do! What I say is don't leave anything undone +which will help you to make a good impression; and that's all I do +say." + +When Mr. Gibb went Nora was left blushing, trembling, excited, and +slightly bewildered; she continued her meal without having any clear +idea of what it was that she was eating. + +"That's a queer boy," she said to herself, more than once. + +Mr. Gibb was a queer boy; which was why his "chief" occasionally +alluded to him as King Solomon. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI + + NORA FINDS SOMETHING TO DO + + +Mr. Hooper had not long arrived at his chambers, on the following +morning; he was lounging in his chair, his hat still on the back of +his head, his pipe between his lips, studying, in the newspaper which +he held out in front of him, reports of cricket, golf, and similar +legal matters, when the door was opened and Mr. Gibb came in. + +"Lady to see you, sir." + +Mr. Hooper started. + +"Lady? What lady?" + +"Lady you made an appointment with yesterday, sir." + +"Lady I made an appointment with yesterday?" Mr. Hooper seemed to be +making an effort to collect his wits, which Mr. Gibb's announcement +had scattered. "You young scoundrel! I'd forgotten----" + +Fortunately he had got no further; because, even as he was speaking, +the lady entered; whereupon Mr. Gibb vanished with a degree of haste +which was almost suspicious. Mr. Hooper dropped his newspaper, removed +his hat with one hand, his pipe with the other, and sprang to his +feet, to stare; forgetful altogether, for the moment, of his manners, +so completely was he taken by surprise. What he had expected to see he +could not have said; what he actually did see, standing + + + "in his room, + Making it rich and like a lily in bloom," + + +was the most beautiful girl he ever had seen. She was tall and most +divinely fair, perfectly dressed, in a long, trailing black gown, +which became her slender form, and a big black hat, which threw into +strong relief what seemed to him to be the almost ethereal beauty of +her face; and she held herself daintily erect, like the great lady he +could have sworn she was. The fact that the bowl of his pipe was +burning his hand recalled him to his senses. + +"I--I beg your pardon; I'm afraid I've been smoking; if you'll allow +me I'll open the windows." + +He opened them; the three windows the room contained. + +"You are Mr. Hooper?" + +Her voice was just the kind of voice it was fitting should be hers, +soft, clear, sweet; it was to him like the sound of music which he +loved; and, when he heard it, off went his wits again. + +"Yes, that--that is my name; yes--exactly--I--I am Mr. Hooper--yes." + +"I am Nora Lindsay." + +Nora! That was one of his pet names; as she pronounced it it seemed to +him to be the sweetest name a woman could have; like everything about +her, it became her so. + +"May I--may I offer you a seat, Miss Lindsay? I--I am very glad to see +you." + +She sat down, with what seemed to him almost awful calmness; but she +was all tremblement within, a maze of conflicting emotions, for +already it was clear to her that this was quite a singular young man; +only she was able to exhibit more outward self-control than he was. +When she saw that he showed no immediate disposition to touch on the +subject on which she had come, but seemed to be able to do nothing but +fidget, she began on the theme herself. + +"Eustace tells me that he mentioned to you that I am looking for a +post as secretary." + +"Eustace? Oh, you mean King Solomon--that is, young Gibb. Young Gibb's +a curious boy." + +"Curious? I think he's delightful." + +"Delightful? Yes, so--so he is; a--a most valuable acquisition for a +man like me." + +"Do you yourself require a secretary, Mr. Hooper. + +"Do I--require a secretary--myself? I--I--the fact is----" A wild idea +was germinating in the erratic young gentleman's brain. "What are your +qualifications, Miss Lindsay?" + +"I can work a typewriter." + +"Can you? That's splendid." + +"At least I could about twelve months ago, and I dare say I could +again, after a little practice." + +"Of course you could; not a doubt of it. And--and can you write +shorthand?" + +"No, I can't write shorthand; is that indispensable?" + +"No, not--not indispensable." + +"I can speak and write French, and I know some German." + +"Those--those are decidedly advantages." + +"And I write a very clear hand; I don't think any one would have any +difficulty in reading what I write; I will show you a specimen if you +like." + +"There's--there's not the slightest necessity; not the least; I feel +sure you write a clear hand. And--when are you disengaged?" + +"At once; I should like to begin as soon as I possibly could; I am +very anxious to begin." Something which she fancied she saw on his +face seemed to trouble her. "Isn't the secretary wanted at once?" + +"Well, the fact is, it's this way----" + +"I could come for a week on trial, so that you might see if I suited." + +The idea of this divine creature coming to his chambers, day after +day, for a whole week, made his brain whirl round. + +"I'm sure you'd suit; I--I've not the slightest doubt about that." + +"You can't be quite sure; but I'd try to please you." + +"I--I--I----" He was about to remark that there was not the slightest +necessity for her to try, since she could not help but please him, +whether she tried or not, when a sudden fear came to him that his +remark might be misconstrued; so he pulled himself up in time. +"The remark I was about to make is, since--since I desire to +be quite plain, in order that we may not commence with--with a +misunderstanding; what it is I wish to point out is that the post may +be of a purely temporary nature." + +"That doesn't matter; it would be something; and that's better than +nothing. How long would it be likely to last?" + +"That's--that's not easy to determine; the fact is it's really a +jobbing secretary that's wanted." + +"What is a jobbing secretary?" + +"One who works by the job." + +"By the job?" + +"Let me explain. Say there's a job--that is, a piece of work--wants +doing; when that's done there may be an interregnum before more's +required." + +"I see. And--will the secretary be paid by the job?" + +"Paid by the job?" + +"Or--by the week--or how?" + +"That--that reminds me." It seemed to Nora that Mr. Hooper drew in a +long breath, as if he desired to lay in a stock in case of emergency. +"What honorarium were you thinking of asking, Miss Lindsay?" + +"I was thinking of asking two guineas a week." She fancied his jaw +fell; so she hedged, quickly. "But, of course, if that's too much----" + +"Not at all; not in the least; practically it's less than I expected." +Although he had not the faintest notion where the money was to come +from, if it had to come from him, he was thinking that if she proposed +to keep herself on two guineas a week it would be some time--slight +though his knowledge of such matters was, before she would be able to +buy another dress like the one which she had on. "Well, Miss Lindsay, +we'll leave it like this; I will think it over and let you know my +decision." + +"Couldn't you decide now? I've found that when people say they'll let +me know their decision they mean no. Please--please give me a trial; +do let me try. If--if you'll give me a chance I'll--I'll do my very +best, so that you--you shan't regret it." + +Unless he was mistaken, something very much like tears stood in her +eyes; they affected him in a way nothing ever had done before; he +would have liked to have knocked his head against the wall. + +"My dear Miss Lindsay, you altogether misunderstand me--entirely +misunderstand me; I shall be delighted to offer you the +post--delighted." + +"Mr. Hooper! Do you mean it? Really?" + +It was worth two guineas a week to see the look which came into her +face. + +"Certainly I mean it." + +"But--what did you mean when you said you'd let me know your +decision?" + +"I meant my decision with--with reference to--to when your duties are +to commence." + +"Oh! Will it be very long before you want me?" + +"Emphatically no. As to wanting you, I--I want you immediately. Shall +we say----" + +"To-morrow? If you could let me begin tomorrow!" + +"Undoubtedly you can begin to-morrow." + +"At what time?" + +"Shall we put it--at eleven? or would you prefer to make it twelve?" + +"Twelve! But Eustace comes at ten." + +"Yes, Eustace comes at ten; but I don't want to put you to any +inconvenience." + +"You don't want to put me to any inconvenience!" She got up from her +chair with something in her way of doing it which frightened him. "But +I don't want you to study my convenience; in the future it will be my +duty to study yours; please understand that, before all else, I wish +to do my duty. I want to do a man's work and to earn a man's wage--to +deserve a man's wage. Of course I know I shan't deserve it at first; +but I'm going to try hard, and if you'll only give me a chance, and +treat me as if I were a man, I think you'll admit that I do deserve it +before very long. I know that being a woman is against me----" + +"Really, Miss Lindsay, I can't admit that." + +"But I know it is--I learnt that long ago; and only when I have +succeeded in making you forget that I am a woman shall I know that I +am beginning to earn my wage--as a man. Then I am to come to-morrow +with Eustace, at ten." + +"With Eustace? Oh yes; quite so--that is--certainly; that will suit me +very well." + +She went out of the room without another word; he stood staring at the +door through which she had passed. + +"This is uncommonly awkward; ought I to have opened the door for her +or not? It wouldn't have been treating her like a man, and she might +have resented it. She has a way of speaking, to say nothing of +looking, which takes the stiffening right out of me. I'd have given +anything to have dared to ask her to lunch; but--if I had dared, +anything might have happened. One thing's certain, I've been and +gone and done it. I've given myself two problems to solve; one thing +is, what am I to find for her to do?--for even a jobbing secretary +must do something, especially when she's full of enthusiasm to the +bursting-point. And the other is, how I am going to find the cash to +pay her for doing it; I'll be hanged if I know which of the problems +is likely to prove the most insoluble." + +When Nora reached the office Mr. Gibb assailed her with questions; her +answers seeming to amaze him in an ascending scale. + +"Well, what did he say to you?" + +"He's engaged me." + +"Engaged you? What for?" + +"As jobbing secretary." + +"As what?" + +"As jobbing secretary." + +"Who to?" + +"Why, to himself, of course." + +"He's engaged you as jobbing secretary to himself? What are you going +to do?" + +"How can I tell? I suppose he has something very important which he +wants me to do." + +"Has he? Oh! When are you going to start on it?" + +"To-morrow!" + +"To-morrow? What's he going to pay you?" + +"Two guineas a week; isn't it splendid?" The announcement seemed to +startle Mr. Gibb out of the faculty of asking further questions. She +went on. "And I have to thank you for it! Only think! if it hadn't +been for you such luck never would have come my way; you dear, dear +boy! I should like to kiss you for it; and I will!" And she did, quite +heartily too, though she had to stoop to do it. "And out of my first +two guineas I'll buy you something; what shall it be?" + +"Nothing you could buy could ever equal what you've given me." + +"What I've given you? what have I given you?" + +"A kiss; I never shall forget you kissed me as long as I live." + +"Eustace, you are--you are a queer boy!" + +She went out, all blushes. When she had gone Mr. Gibb did what his +employer had done; he stared at the door through which she had passed. + +"Well, I call this of the nature of a startler; she must have knocked +him. His jobbing secretary! What's he going to find for her to do, +when there's nothing for him to do? or, for the matter of that, for me +either. And two guineas a week! When the other day he sent me out to +change his last fiver, and told me he'd have to make it do till +quarter day, and there's still three weeks to that. Looks to me as if +he'd rather overdone it." + +The door of Mr. Hooper's room was opened; his voice was heard. + +"Mr. Gibb, come in here!" Mr. Gibb went in there. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII + + MASTER AND MAN + + +When Mr. Gibb entered he found Mr. Hooper in a state of agitation; +there was nothing very amazing in that, as he had found him in that +condition on previous occasions; but it seemed to Mr. Gibb that, in +his agitation then, there was a quality which was new. Mr. Hooper +assailed him the moment he was past the door. + +"Now, Mr. Gibb, you have been and gone and done it." + +"Done what, sir?" + +"I think it's extremely possible that you've laid yourself open to an +indictment for conspiracy." + +"Have I, sir?" + +"You brought Miss Lindsay here?" + +"Excuse me, sir, but if you'll remember you told me to ask her to +come." + +"You put me up to it." + +"I merely happened to mention that she was looking for something to +do, and so she is." + +"No she isn't." + +"Isn't she, sir?" + +"No, she's found it! And that's where I'm in a position to prove +conspiracy. Mr. Gibb, do you mean to tell me that Miss Lindsay has +been pawning her things?" + +"I hope you won't let it go any further, sir." + +"Do you think I'm---- What do you think I am?" + +"I haven't thought, sir; only it happened to come to my knowledge, and +it seemed to me to be a sad thing for her to have to do." + +"All I can say is that she hasn't pawned all her things." + +"No, sir, but she soon would have done." + +"Have you any idea of how much that dress cost which she had on? to +say nothing of the hat!" + +"Not exactly, sir, I haven't; but my sister told me that some of her +things must have cost a good bit of money." + +"That dress cost every penny of five-and-twenty or thirty pounds, and +I dare say the hat cost another tenner; and she's been walking about +in those kind of things her whole life long, I'm sure of it." + +"I told you, sir, she was a lady born and bred." + +"Mr. Gibb, you see advertisements for a lady, as barmaid; when I think +of that I don't want to think of Miss Lindsay as a lady; she's on a +different plane; she's of heaven, not of earth." + +"I told you, sir, she was high as the heavens above me." + +"So she is; you were right there; although the construction of your +sentence is faulty, Mr. Gibb. She's a divinity among women; a poem +among girls; the ideal which a man sets up for himself of what a woman +may be when God chooses." + +"Is she, sir?" + +"Look at her! how she walks, how she moves, how she bears herself! And +what a voice! had Orpheus had it he'd have needed no warbling string +to aid him to draw 'iron tears down Pluto's cheek!' Then what beauty's +in her face; but there's in it what not one beautiful woman in a +thousand has, there's a soul! Mr. Gibb, I've only seen Miss Lindsay +about twenty minutes, but I regard her as 'a perfect woman, nobly +planned'; and I may add 'she was a phantom of delight, when first she +gleamed upon my sight,' therefore I say you were guilty of conspiracy +in luring me on to ask her to come here; because what has the result +been?" + +"What has it, sir?" + +"The result has been that I've made an idiot of myself; a complete and +perfect ass." + +"Have you, sir?" + +"I don't like your tone, Mr. Gibb, it exacerbates. It is in itself +enough to prove your guilt. Had you not been engaged in a conspiracy +you would have been surprised beyond measure at the wholly unforeseen +result. But, as it is, I put it to you, Mr. Gibb; are you surprised?" + +"Well, sir, in a way I can't say I am, not exactly." + +"There you are! there you are! Do you know, Mr. Gibb, that I've given +Miss Lindsay to understand that I've retained her services as a member +of my staff?" + +"She told me you'd engaged her, sir." + +"Oh, she did, did she? What did she tell you I'd engaged her as?" + +"As jobbing secretary, sir." + +"And pray what is a jobbing secretary?" + +"That's what I was wondering." + +"She asked me what a jobbing secretary was; and I explained as clearly +as I could under the circumstances, and considering that I don't know +myself. When you reflect on the fact that I have engaged her to be +something which I never heard of before you will have grasped the +initial difficulty of my position; which is complicated by the further +fact that she is, what she certainly is, a divinity among women. If +she'd come, say, about twelve and leave before one; or if she'd spend +a few hours daily in intellectual conversation with me in here; or if +she'd come out with me to enjoy the air, say on the top of an omnibus; +or even if she'd go out with you, for a little pedestrian exercise, +from two to six; the situation might be lightened. But she'll do none +of these things; she's as good as said so. She told me, with a +delicious seriousness which took all idea of resistance clean out of +me, that she meant to do a man's work for a man's wage. Now, Mr. Gibb, +in this office I don't see how it's going to be done." + +"I'm sure I don't." + +"I don't do a man's work." + +"No, sir, you don't." + +"You do still less." + +On this point Mr. Gibb was discreetly silent; he seemed to be turning +something over in his mind, of which he presently gave Mr. Hooper the +benefit. + +"I think, sir, I've got an idea of something you might give Miss +Lindsay to do." + +"Let's have it; you know, Mr. Gibb, any pearls of wisdom which you may +drop are always welcome." + +"You remember, sir, when I first came you gave me some papers which +you said I might copy when I'd nothing else to do." + +"I have some dim recollection of something of the kind. Well, have +they been copied?" + +"No, sir, they haven't." + +"How long have you had them?" + +"Oh, rather more than two years." + +"Then it's time they were copied. What papers are they?" + +"I never could make out, and I don't think you could either; they're +counsels' opinions, or judges' rulings, or something like that. I know +when I asked you what they were you told me not to ask any questions; +so I knew you didn't know." + +"Mr. Gibb, you have a way of your own of arriving at conclusions. I +think I recall those papers; they were here when I came into +possession; they'd been stuffed up the chimney to keep out the draught +or something." + +"I was thinking, sir, if you could think of nothing else, that you +might get Miss Lindsay to copy them." + +"There's--there's something in the idea. Could we pass them off as +genuine?" + +"As how, sir?" + +"Are they of an appearance, and character, which would enable us to +induce Miss Lindsay to believe that they really are papers of +importance?" + +"I should think so, sir; I know it took me ever so long before I found +them out." + +"Ah; then it might take her a week. By that time we may have hit upon +something else. Where are those papers?" + +"They're in my desk." + +"Then get them out of your desk. Have them cleaned, tidied, made +presentable; Miss Lindsay shall commence on them as soon as she +arrives. And I tell you something else I'll do. Miss Lindsay tells me +she can work a typewriter." + +"Can she?" + +"I'll get her one. I think I should prefer to have good, clear +typewritten copies of those papers, Mr. Gibb; they'll be so much more +accessible for reference. I--I suppose a typewriter can be hired." + +"Oh yes, sir; I believe from about half-a-crown a week." + +"That doesn't seem to be a prohibitive figure; I'll hire one; I'll go +out this afternoon to see about it. You see, Mr. Gibb, how one thing +leads to another. I propose to increase my staff; the mere proposition +adds materially to my own labours. I know no more about typewriters +than I do about sewing-machines; of which I know nothing; so I foresee +that my afternoon will be fully occupied. By the way, Mr. Gibb, a +further point; you have found an idea which has been of assistance in +one direction, perhaps you might find a second which would be of some +service to me in another." + +"What is it, sir?" + +"As you put it to me, I take it that you will allow it to go no +further; but, between ourselves, I have undertaken to pay Miss +Lindsay, as jobbing secretary, since she proposes to do a man's work +for a man's wage, an honorarium of two guineas a week." + +"So she told me, sir." + +"So she told you, did she? Oh! Then I suppose she expects to get it." + +"I expect she does, sir." + +"Then in that case I think that, perhaps, I had better make it +perfectly clear to you how, precisely, the land lies." From a drawer +which he unlocked in his writing-table Mr. Hooper took three +sovereigns and some silver; he displayed the coins to the best +advantage on the table. "This choice, but small, collection of bullion +has to last me, Mr. Gibb, to quarter day. There are still three clear +weeks. I have to pay you thirty shillings; being three weeks' wages at +ten shillings a week; out of the balance I have to pay Miss Lindsay +six guineas, and keep myself; besides having to meet certain small +liabilities which must be met. I should be glad, Mr. Gibb, if you +would give me some idea of how it is to be done." + +"I think, sir, if I were you, I should let me explain to Miss +Lindsay." + +"Explain what, Mr. Gibb?" + +"What kind of gentleman you are." + +"And pray, in your opinion, what kind of gentleman am I?" + +"Well, considering how you've gone and done it with Miss Lindsay I +shouldn't think you'd want much explaining, sir." + +"That's true, Mr. Gibb, most true. Still, I'm curious to hear what +you'd tell her." + +"I wouldn't give you away, sir." + +"Wouldn't you? Oh! What would you do?" + +"I should simply tell her, sir, that you'd been thinking things over, +and that you'd come to the conclusion that two guineas a week was too +much to pay her at the start; and that you thought--should I say +fifteen shillings ought to be enough at the beginning, sir?" + +"Fifteen shillings! And I promised her two guineas!" + +"Yes, sir, you promised her." + +"What kind of a person do you suppose she'd think I am?" + +"I don't see how it matters, sir." + +"You don't see how it matters!" + +"Well, sir, you can't pay her two guineas a week, no matter what +she thinks of you; and you might manage to pay her fifteen +shillings--somehow. I expect you'd find she'd sooner have fifteen +shillings in cash than two guineas in promises." + +"Mr. Gibb, you appear to have a high opinion of me." + +"I have, sir; I couldn't have a higher." + +"Couldn't you? you young scoundrel! Pray when did I make a promise to +you which I didn't keep, to the letter?" + +"When I came, sir, you gave me six shillings a week, now you give me +ten; but there's a difference between ten shillings and two guineas." + +"Yes, Mr. Gibb, and there's a difference between you and Miss +Lindsay." + +"Don't I know it, sir? There's all the difference in the world." + +"As you say, there's all the difference in the world. Miss Lindsay is +a divinity among women." + +"That's exactly my opinion, sir; and has been from the first." + +"It has been your opinion, has it, Mr. Gibb? Then allow me to inform +you that when I enter into an undertaking with--with a divinity among +women, to do a certain thing, I do that thing. I have undertaken to +pay Miss Lindsay two guineas a week; I will pay her two guineas a +week. The money shall be found; I will find it. Be so good, Mr. Gibb, +as to look up those papers you spoke about, and see that they are in a +presentable condition, so that Miss Lindsay can begin on them directly +she arrives." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII + + A JOBBING SECRETARY + + +The next morning Nora did not start for Fountain Court with Mr. Gibb; +he positively forbade her, explaining that he had certain duties to +perform immediately on his arrival which he preferred, and which Mr. +Hooper preferred, that he should perform before anybody else appeared +upon the scene; so he started at half-past nine, and she followed +thirty minutes later. When she reached Fountain Court the door was +promptly opened by Mr. Gibb, who called her attention to a curtained +recess, with the remark-- + +"Please hang your hat and coat up there." + +Behind the curtain she found three pegs and a looking-glass; which +articles, if she had not been too nervous to observe closely, might +have struck her as being even suspiciously new. She had no coat on, +but she had a hat, which she hung upon one of the pegs, with a +breathless feeling, as if the simple action, in that strange place, +stood to her as an emblem of the passage she was about to take from +the old world to the new; as she hung up her hat, with Mr. Gibb's +stony gaze fixed on her coldly from behind, it almost seemed to her +that with it she hung up her freedom, and passed into servitude. Nor +was this feeling lessened by the unaccustomed, and unnatural, rigidity +of Mr. Gibb's bearing; she being unaware of the fact that Mr. Hooper +had informed the young gentleman, not ten minutes before she came, +that if he did not treat her with the profound and distant respect +with which a divinity ought to be treated, the consequences would be +serious for him. While she was still touching her hair with her +fingers, as a girl must do when she has just taken her hat off, he +inquired, with what he felt to be cutting coldness-- + +"Have you quite finished?" + +"Yes, Eustace, I--I think I have--quite, thank you." + +"Then Mr. Hooper is waiting to see you; kindly step this way." + +She stepped that way, Mr. Gibb moving as stiffly as if he had a poker +down his back. She found Mr. Hooper seated at a table which was +littered with a number of papers and documents which were of a most +portentous looking nature, over one of which he was bending with an +air of earnest preoccupation which, it is to be feared, had been put +on about thirty seconds before she had entered the room, and would be +taken off in less than thirty seconds after she had left it. + +"Miss Lindsay has come, sir." As Mr. Gibb made this announcement Mr. +Hooper looked up with a start, which was very well done, as if nothing +could have surprised him more; he rose, a little doubtfully, as if the +professional cares of this world were almost more than he could bear. + +"Miss Lindsay? Yes, yes, quite so; Miss Lindsay, of course. I hope, +Miss Lindsay, I see you well." + +"Quite well, thank you." + +She ignored the hand which he extended, possibly in a moment of +absence of mind, in a manner which seemed to him to be marked; he +trusted Mr. Gibb had not noticed it before he left the room. He +continued to be as professional in his manner as he knew how. + +"Miss Lindsay--eh--might I--eh--ask you to take a seat?" + +"Thank you, sir, I prefer to stand." + +Really this young woman was trying; she was reversing the positions; +it was she who was keeping him at a distance, not he her; there was +something in the way in which she said "sir" which made him wince; +however, he was still professional. + +"Quite so, Miss Lindsay, quite so--whichever you prefer. Now, Miss +Lindsay, here are some papers of a--of an abstract nature; privacy +with regard to them is of the first importance; serious consequences +might result were their character to become known outside these +chambers." The jobbing secretary inclined her head; he thought she did +it very gracefully. "Now, what I require are copies of these papers; +you understand, copies--perfectly clean copies. How long do you think +it will take you to let me have them?" + +"There seem to be a good many." + +"There are--oh, there are; quite a number; only they are not all of +the same character. Now, for instance, how long will it take you to +let me have a perfectly clean copy of that?" + +He held out what looked like a musty document, consisting of several +foolscap pages, covered with close writing on both sides of each page. +She turned it nervously over. + +"Is it--is it to be typed?" + +"Certainly; oh yes, emphatically." + +"What--what machine have you?" He mentioned the maker's name; +fortunately it was on one of the same maker's machines she had learnt. +"I told you that I had not used a machine recently; I fear, therefore, +that I may be rather awkward at first, so that I can hardly tell how +long it will take me to let you have a perfectly clean copy of this. +There--there appears to be a good deal of it." + +"There does--oh yes, I admit it, there does--and of course I shouldn't +want an absolutely clean copy." She looked at him; there was something +in her look which caused him to look away, with some appearance of +confusion; he realized that he had made a mistake. "By that I--I +should wish you to understand that--that I shouldn't require you to +destroy the entire document merely--merely because of one slight +error." + +She spoke with what seemed to him to be magisterial severity; he felt +that there was more than a touch of that severity in her demeanour. + +"You said that you wanted perfectly clean copies, and you shall have +perfectly clean copies; I quite understand that only perfectly clean +copies will be of the slightest use. I hope you do not think that I +wish you to put up with indifferent work. I merely wished to point out +that I am afraid that I may be a little clumsy at first." + +She turned to go. + +"The--the typewriter's in the next room." + +"I saw it as I came in." + +"Pray--pray allow me to open the door for you." But she would not. + +"If you don't mind, sir"--the stress upon that "sir"!--"I would rather +open it for myself; and I do hope that you won't allow a difference in +sex to alter the relations which ought to exist between employer and +employed. You wouldn't open the door for Eustace Gibb; I would like +you to regard me in the same light as you do him." + +No, he certainly would not open the door for Eustace Gibb, but the +idea of regarding her in the same light as Mr. Gibb was preposterous; +the trouble was that he could only see her through a golden haze. The +typewriter was in the next room to Mr. Hooper's, with beyond it the +lobby which Mr. Gibb termed his office; the room was known to Mr. Gibb +as the waiting-room, though no one had ever been known to wait in it. +It was furnished with an old wooden table, and three older wooden +chairs, and nothing else. On the table was the typewriter, and a +plentiful supply of paper. After about an hour's interval, Mr. Hooper, +who felt as if he were a prisoner in his own rooms, began to find +himself in a state of fidgetiness which was beyond endurance. It was +ridiculous to suppose that he did not dare to venture into the +presence of his own jobbing secretary, yet--he did not dare. What was +worse, he found himself incapable of smoking in the room next to her, +and that in spite of her expressed desire that he should treat her as +he treated Mr. Gibb. When the tension had reached a point at which he +could stand it no longer, snatching up his hat, he burst into the room +with an air of haste, seeming, when he was in it, to realize her +presence there with a touch of surprise. + +"Miss Lindsay!--oh yes, yes, quite so. And--and how are we getting on?" + +The moment he had asked he saw that he had made another mistake. This +time there was something on her face which moved him in a manner which +really did surprise him. She looked as if she had at least been near +to tears, and still was not far off. + +"I--I'm not getting on at all well," she said. + +"I've not the slightest doubt, Miss Lindsay, that you are getting on +much better than you imagine." + +"I--I suppose I ought to know how I am getting on." + +"But your--yours is such a strenuously high standard." + +"I--I've spoilt I don't know how many sheets of paper." + +"What does it matter how many sheets of paper you spoil? The more you +spoil the better I'll be pleased." + +"Will you? Then all I can say is that if I--I spoil many more I shall +know that I'm not fit for the situation which you've been so kind as +to offer me, and--I shall go." + +"Really you must not talk like that." He picked up one of the +ominously numerous sheets of paper which lay at her side, all of which +had plainly had at any rate some slight acquaintance with the machine. +"Now this is not at all bad." + +"There are three errors in the first line." + +"Are there? So many as that?" + +"And five in the second." + +"Indeed! you don't say so!" + +"And the third line's wrong altogether." + +"That only shows that with a little practice you'll regain all your +old facility." + +"I'm not sure that I ever had any facility; I can see that now; I'm +afraid I only used to play at typing." + +"Then in that case you shall copy them by hand; I'm disposed to think +that perhaps good clear writing is best after all." + +"Copy them by hand?" Suddenly a look came on her face which actually +frightened him; his words had evidently been to her an occasion of +serious offence. "I applied for your situation, Mr. Hooper, in the +belief that I could work a typewriter; you gave it me on that +understanding. If, now, it turns out that I cannot work a typewriter +it would look as if I had applied for your situation under false +pretences; do you suppose that I will continue to hold it knowing that +to be the case, and that you are paying me for something which it +turns out I cannot do? Either you shall have perfectly clean +typewritten copies, Mr. Hooper, or I must resign; I will not go +through the farce of pretending to occupy a position for which I have +been proved to be unfit." + +He could have answered her many things, but he answered her nothing; +he was afraid. Instead, he shuffled out of the room, excusing himself. + +"I've a most pressing appointment, Miss Lindsay." He was longing for a +pipe; the appointment was to smoke, all by himself, in the Temple +Gardens. "When I return I've no doubt you'll have advanced beyond your +expectations. Rome wasn't built in a day; you must persevere, +persevere!" In the office Mr. Hooper, placing his hand on King +Solomon's shoulder, whispered in his ear, as if anxious not to be +overheard, "Mr. Gibb, I am inclined to the opinion that having a +divinity on the premises is not all lavender." + +To which Mr. Gibb replied, with a sigh, as if he himself was vaguely +conscious of a feeling of being "cribbed, cabined and confined"-- + +"No, sir; that's what I was thinking." + +For two days Nora continued to wrestle with the typewriter, and on the +third something happened which ultimately resulted in another upheaval +of the world for her. She had found the "document" which she had to +copy--it was one of those which Mr. Hooper had discovered stuffed up +the chimney--not easy to decipher, which perhaps was not surprising; +she was puzzling over a part of it which seemed even worse than usual +when the office door was opened, and a masculine person came striding +in who had not even troubled to remove his hat. At sight, however, of +the girl poring over that refractory passage, with her pretty brows +all creased, off came his hat; but no sooner was he uncovered than, +with something in his bearing which almost suggested that he was +unconscious of what he was doing, he stood and stared. The girl +glanced up and looked at him. For some seconds there was silence; +then, seeming to come to himself with a start, he ejaculated--. + +"I beg your pardon; I--I'd no idea!" + +He did not stay to explain what he had no idea of, but passed into Mr. +Hooper's room beyond. As he entered Mr. Hooper rose from his chair; +then stared in his turn, as if this was not at all the kind of person +he had expected to see. + +"Frank!" he exclaimed. "What on earth has brought you here?" + +The gentleman addressed as Frank replied to the question with a +statement which was sufficiently startling. + +"Jack, I've seen a ghost!" + +Mr. Hooper, as was not unnatural, stared still more. + +"You've seen what?" + +"Of course I don't mean that I've seen an actual ghost, but I feel as +if I had." + +"What's given you such a very curious feeling at this hour of the +morning? And what's brought you here, anyhow?" + +The gentleman addressed seemed genuinely disturbed. + +"I'll tell you, what's brought me if you'll give me time; I'm in a +frightful mess, that's what's brought me; but before I tell you +anything, you tell me who--who's that girl in the next room?" + +Mr. Hooper's bearing betrayed annoyance, which was perhaps caused by +the singularity of the other's demeanour. + +"The lady in the next room, whom you speak of as 'that girl,' is----" + +There was a tapping; the door was opened; the girl in question +entered, the "document" over which she had been puzzling in her hand. +She crossed to Mr. Hooper. + +"I beg your pardon if I am interrupting you, but there is something +here which I cannot make out; I thought that perhaps you would not +mind telling me what it is before you become really engaged." + +Mr. Hooper took the paper which she held out to him, with a glance +towards the gentleman who had just now entered, in which there was a +hint of mischief. + +"Will you allow me to present to you my cousin, Mr. Frank Clifford? +Frank, this is Miss Lindsay." + +"Lindsay!" Mr. Clifford was staring more than ever. "Lindsay! +Not--not--I beg your pardon, but--would you mind telling me if you are +related to Mr. Donald Lindsay of Cloverlea?" + +"I am his daughter." + +"His--daughter? Thank you; thank you." + +He sank on to a chair as one who had been dealt a crushing blow. +Nora's bearing was frigid; the stranger's unexpected question had +touched in her a chord of memory which hurt her more than she would +have cared to say. She returned to Mr. Hooper. + +"Can you tell me what that sentence is? One or two of the words seem +quite illegible." + +He explained, to the best of his ability, which was not much greater +than hers. When she had gone back to her own apartment, Mr. Hooper +said to his visitor, with what was possibly meant to be an air of +politeness-- + +"May I venture to inquire if that is how you generally behave when +you're introduced to a lady, Frank? because if it is I shall know +better than to attempt to introduce you to another." + +Mr. Clifford's reply was remarkable. + +"I told you that when I first saw her I felt as if I had seen a +ghost; now I know my instinct was right; I have seen a ghost. If you +knew--what I know, and had had to go through what I've had to go +through, and still have to go through, you would understand how +meeting Donald Lindsay's daughter like this makes it seem to me as if +the hand of God had been stretched out of the skies." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV + + MR. MORGAN'S EXPERIENCES OF THE UNEXPECTED + + +It was a shock to Mr. Morgan when he learnt that Miss Harding had +quitted Cloverlea without a word to him. At first he could not believe +that she had gone; that she could have gone without his knowledge. +When belief was forced on him his language was unbecoming. While he +was engaged in little matters of a sort which demanded privacy, and +which had to do with the safe storage of certain articles which he had +brought himself to believe were his own property, a wagonette arrived +at the front door, which, the driver explained to the footman who +appeared, had come to fetch Miss Harding. The footman, with the aid of +a colleague, had borne the young lady's belongings down the stairs; +for which she liberally recompensed them with a sovereign apiece; and +she and her possessions were safely away before Mr. Morgan had a +notion she was going. Mr. Morgan abused the footmen for not having +said a word to him; which abuse they, having no longer the fear of him +before their eyes, returned in kind. The butler had to console himself +as best he could. + +"Given me the slip, have you, Miss Harding?" That was what he said to +himself. "Very well, my dear, we'll see; I'm not so easily got rid of +as you may perhaps suppose. You're a pretty darling, upon my Sam you +are!" + +As soon as circumstances permitted--at Cloverlea there were a great +many things which he thought it desirable that he should do that +day--he went out on a little voyage of discovery. He learnt at the +local station that Miss Harding had not taken a ticket for her home in +the west country; she had not taken a ticket for herself at all, Mr. +Nash had taken one for her, and another for himself; they had gone up +to London in the same compartment, and both had luggage. This news +added to Mr. Morgan's pleasure. + +"Dear me, has she? And I meant her to be Mrs. Morgan, and so she would +have been if I'd put on the screw when I'd the chance. As my wife she +might have come to something; but as his wife--I'll show her, and I'll +show him. If she thinks she's going to hand over to him, by way of a +dowry, that nice little lot of money, and leave me out; if that really +is her expectation she'll be treated to another illustration of the +vanity of human wishes. That sweet young wife will have an interrupted +honeymoon." + +Mr. Morgan called at an inn which it was his habit to honour with his +custom in quest of something to soothe his ruffled feelings. There he +met a friend, George Wickham, the Holtye head groom. Mr. Wickham had a +grievance, in which respect, if he had only known it, he resembled Mr. +Morgan. It seemed that he was the bearer of letters which had been +addressed to the Hon. Robert Spencer at Holtye, which he was carrying +to that gentleman's actual present address, the Unicorn Hotel, +Baltash. It was supposed to be Mr. Wickham's "night out"; he wanted to +spend his hours of freedom in one direction while Baltash lay in +another. + +"Might as well have sent 'em by post, or by one of the other chaps; +but no, nothing would please the old woman"--by "old woman" it is to +be feared that he meant the Countess of Mountdennis--"but that I +should go. I had half a mind to tell her I'd an appointment." + +Mr. Morgan was sympathetic; he explained that he was going to Baltash, +and even carried his sympathy so far as to offer to take the letters +for him. The groom hesitated; then decided to take advantage of his +friend's good-nature. + +"There's thirteen letters," he pointed out, "five post-cards, four +newspapers, eighteen circulars, and these parcels, about enough to +fill a carrier's cart." + +Mr. Morgan laughed. + +"I shall make nothing of that little lot," he said. "And I'll charge +nothing for carriage." + +On the way to Baltash he leaned against a gate to light a cigar; it +was one of his peculiarities to smoke nothing but cigars; he held that +a pipe was low. When the cigar was lighted he remained a moment to +glance at the letters he was carrying. He noticed that one of them was +from the London offices of a steamship company; the name of the +company was printed on the envelope. While Miss Lindsay had been +talking to Mr. Spencer in the copse on the preceding Sunday morning +Mr. Morgan had been quite close at hand; the lady had supposed that +the noise he made among the undergrowth was caused by a hare or a +rabbit; had Mr. Spencer proceeded to investigate the cause of the +noise the butler would have been discovered in a somewhat ignominious +position. As it was Mr. Morgan, remaining undetected, heard a good +deal that was said; among the things he heard Mr. Spencer's story of +the letter which Donald Lindsay had sent to him at Cairo, which was +only to be opened after the writer's death, which Mr. Spencer had put +in his suit-case, and which suit-case Mr. Spencer had lost, containing +not only Mr. Lindsay's letters, but also some more intimate epistles +from that gentleman's daughter. + +Mr. Morgan remembered the story very well; he had a knack of +remembering nearly everything he heard, and he managed to hear a good +deal. He was struck by the fact that the letter which he held in his +hand was from the steamship company by one of whose boats Mr. Spencer +had travelled on his homeward journey; it might contain news of the +missing suit-case. On the other hand, emphatically, it might not. +Still! It is notorious how carelessly some envelopes are fastened. +Here was a case in point; the gummed flap only adhered in one place, +and there so slightly that Mr. Morgan had only to slip the blade of a +penknife underneath and--it came open. It was as he had guessed. The +steamship company wrote to say that the missing suit-case had turned +up. It had strayed among the voluminous luggage of an American family, +where it remained unnoticed until the luggage had been divided up +among the members of the family; the explanation seemed rather lame, +but it appeared it was the only one that steamship company had to +offer. Now the suit-case was at Mr. Spencer's disposition, and the +company would be glad to hear what he wished them to do with it. + +As Mr. Morgan enjoyed his cigar, and leaned against the gate, and +looked up at the glories of the evening sky, he indulged in some +philosophical reflections. + +"It's an extraordinary world; extraordinary. To think that George +Wickham's burning desire to see that red-headed girl of his at +Addlecombe should have thrown a thing like this right into my hands. +It's quite possible that that suit-case may turn out to be worth more +to me than that nice little sum of money with which Miss Elaine +Harding erroneously supposes she's going to set her husband up in +life. Beyond a shadow of doubt things are managed in a mysterious +way." + +Mr. Morgan faithfully delivered those letters at the Unicorn Hotel at +Baltash, with the exception of one letter; and on the morrow he +treated himself to a trip up to town. He took a bedroom at a quiet +hotel in the neighbourhood of the Strand, and he sent a messenger boy +to the steamship company's office with an envelope. In the envelope +was the Hon. Robert Spencer's visiting card; on the back of which was +written-- + +"Your letter duly received; please give suit-case to bearer." + +Some one at the office gave it to the bearer; who took it to the +hotel, where it was sent up to Mr. Spencer's room; it happened that +Mr. Morgan had registered as Robert Spencer. Mr. Morgan opened it with +difficulty; none of his keys fitted the lock, which was of a curious +make; but he did open it; he was an ingenious man. And when he had +opened the suit-case he found that the letter, for whose sake he had +taken so much trouble, was not in it. It was a painful shock; he was +loth to believe that a man of the Hon. Robert Spencer's character +could have played him such a trick; to say nothing of the deceit +which, in that case, he must have practised on Miss Lindsay. He turned +the contents of the case over and over, subjecting each article to a +close examination. No, there was nothing there which in any way +resembled the letter which he had heard Mr. Spencer describe. What was +almost worse, as showing the lover's utter unreliability, there were +none of Miss Lindsay's letters either. Mr. Morgan had distinctly heard +Mr. Spencer tell Miss Lindsay that in his missing suitcase were not +only her father's unopened letter, but also some letters of hers. What +confidence could be placed in the man who, at such a sacred moment, +made such a gross mis-statement to the woman whom he professed to +love? It was dreadful; Mr. Morgan was pained beyond measure. In the +future he would never be able to believe anything he overheard; even +though his ear was glued to the keyhole. He was a dispirited man. + +He did not return at once to Cloverlea. As a matter of fact he had +brought with him to town a number of packages of various shapes and +sizes. He had some trouble in removing them from Cloverlea; but he had +removed them, having dared Mr. Guldenheim and his friends and minions +to do anything to try to stop him. He devoted a few days to the +bestowal of these trophies in a safe place. When he did return to +Cloverlea he put up at the village inn, whence he kept an eye on the +doings of the neighbourhood. Having succeeded in screwing out of Mr. +Guldenheim more than was due to him for wages, and in lieu of notice, +he attended the sale with melancholy feelings, going so far as to +purchase some lots for which he felt a sentimental interest, and which +he had reasons for knowing were going for much less than they were +worth. + +It was only after the sale that he ascertained what he thought was +likely to be Miss Harding's present address. He had made regular, and +persistent, inquiries at Mr. Nash's office; but nothing had been heard +of that promising solicitor by his staff, which consisted of a weedy +youth of seventeen summers, with whom Mr. Morgan was on terms of the +closest intimacy; until there came one morning a curtly worded request +to forward any letters which might be awaiting him to Mr. Nash at an +address which he gave. Mr. Morgan saw that address; a couple of days +after he called there. + +The address was at that charming south-coast seaside resort, +Littlehampton, 27, Ocean Villas. Ocean Villas proved to be some quite +picturesque cottages fronting both the common and the sea; 27 was, +perhaps, the most picturesque of them all. The front door was open in +the confiding way one finds at seaside resorts, and which saves the +trouble of having to open it; Mr. Morgan, entering, rapped on the +floor with his stick. A diminutive maid instantly appeared who, +without waiting for him to state his business, instantly broke into +breathless speech. + +"If you've come after the rooms, sir, if you please Mrs. Lorrimer's +not in, but if you'll wait half-a-minute I'll fetch her." + +Mr. Morgan explained that he had not come after the rooms; he asked if +Mrs. Nash was in. + +"Mrs. Nash is out, sir, along with Mr. Nash; I did hear them say they +were going to Arundel." + +"I'll wait till they return; which are their apartments?" + +"This is their sitting-room, sir." + +She opened the door of what, for a lodging-house, was quite a pleasant +room. Mr. Morgan entered; the maid went; the moment he was alone Mr. +Morgan did what he always did do when he found himself alone in a +strange apartment, he treated everything it contained to a rigorous +inspection, and was still engaged in doing so when the diminutive maid +reappeared. + +"If you please, sir, I'm going out to do some errands, and if there's +anything you want would you mind letting me know before I go; though I +really shan't hardly be five minutes before I'm back again." + +On the visitor assuring her that he was not likely to require her +services during the next five minutes she departed to do those +errands; scarcely was her back turned than Mr. Morgan started on what +might have been a tour of curiosity through the house. He got no +further, however, than the room behind the sitting-room, which proved +to be a bedroom; unmistakably the sleeping apartment of Mr. and Mrs. +Nash. Against the window stood a large trunk, a lady's; Mr. Morgan +tried it; it was locked. He surmised as he eyed it. + +"What's the betting that in there isn't that nice little sum of money? +I wonder if she's told her loving husband that she's got it, and where +it is; if she has I wonder how much he's left her. It might be worth +my while to look and see; but I think I can manage to get all I want +without what would look to the ignorant eye like dabbling in felony. +What's that?" "That" was something which lay on the floor just +underneath the bed; something which resembled a letter-case. He picked +it up. "I rather fancy that this is the property of my friend Nash. +Looks as if it had fallen out of his pocket while he was putting on +his coat, and that he hadn't noticed it had fallen; extraordinary +how careless some people are about things of that kind. It is a +letter-case; let's hope there's nothing in it which he would not like +to meet the public eye. What have we here? Papers which, apparently, +are of value only to the owner. What's in this?" In one of the +compartments of the case was a single paper. Mr. Morgan took it out, +unfolded it, read it, not once only, but twice, and again a third +time. The contents of the paper seemed to puzzle him; he stared at it +hard, rubbing his forehead as he did so, as if he hoped by the mere +force of vision to get at its meaning. Then he smiled, as if suddenly +a light had dawned on him. "So that's it, is it? To think of his +leaving a thing like this lying about on the floor! What a foolish +man! I never had a high opinion of Herbert Nash; but that he should +leave a thing like this for any one to find, and borrow; dear, dear! I +never should have thought it. Let's replace these papers which are of +no value to any one but the owner. And the case we'll put upon the +mantelpiece; so that he'll see it directly he returns, when he'll +understand the risk he's run." The letter-case which he had picked up +from the floor he put on the mantelpiece, in plain sight; but the +paper which he had taken from it he slipped into a case of his own; +and that case he placed in his own pocket. When the diminutive maid +returned with a basket full of parcels, she found him lounging on the +doorstep. His manner to her was affable; as it nearly always was to +every one. "You've been rather more than five minutes, haven't you?" + +"Yes, sir, I'm afraid I have; but they kept me at the grocer's." + +"Did they? Ah! I don't think I shall wait for my friends to return." +He grinned as he said "friends." "Tell them that Mr. Morgan called; +Mr. Stephen Morgan, of Cloverlea. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, sir; Mr. Stephen Morgan, of Cloverlea." + +"Exactly. And you can also tell them that I shall call again; I can't +say quite when, but I certainly shall call again before they leave +Littlehampton. You understand that also?" + +"Yes, sir; you'll call again; you can't say quite when, but certainly +before they leave Littlehampton." + +"That's it; you have it just right. Mind you give them the messages as +I gave them you; and here's a shilling for your trouble." + +He presented her with a shilling; and left the maid all smiles. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV + + ON THEIR HONEYMOON + + +Mr. and Mrs. Nash had been spending the afternoon in Arundel Park. +When they returned to their rooms at Littlehampton they were met by +the diminutive maid with a message. + +"If you please, Mr. Stephen Morgan of Cloverlea called." + +"Mr.---- who?" asked Mr. Nash. Mrs. Nash changed colour. The maid +repeated the visitor's name. "She must mean Morgan the butler; what +does he mean by coming here?" + +"I--I can't think." + +She was conscious of that sudden sickness which she had experienced +once before; all at once the room seemed to be whirling round and +round. The maid went on. + +"He said he'd call again; he couldn't say quite when, but he'd +certainly call again before you left Littlehampton." + +"Like his impudence! What on earth can the fellow mean? By the way, +Louisa, have you seen a letter-case of mine lying about?" + +"No, sir, that I haven't." + +Mr. Nash went into the next room, hurriedly. So soon as he was through +the door he saw the letter-case upon the mantelpiece, where Mr. Morgan +had left it. The sight of it seemed to surprise him. + +"Who put it there? I'll swear I didn't. Louisa, have you been in here +since I went out?" + +"No, sir; not once." + +"Has Mrs. Lorrimer?" + +"I don't think so, sir; she's been out; she only come in just before +you did." + +He was searching the letter-case, turning it literally inside out. +Suddenly he went to the door. + +"Louisa, come here!" Louisa came. He spoke to her in lowered tones, as +if he did not wish what he said to be heard in the next room, where +his wife still was. "Who was in when Mr. Morgan came?" + +"If you please, sir, I was; Mrs. Lorrimer, she was out." + +"Where you in all the time that he was here?" + +"No, sir; I had to go out and do some errands." + +"And was he alone in the house while you were gone?" + +"Yes, sir; he was outside the front door when I came back; it was then +he gave me the message about his calling again." + +So surprising a look came on Mr. Nash's face that the girl shrunk +back, almost as if she had been afraid that he would strike her. He +went back into the bedroom, shutting the door with a bang. He stood +glaring about him, as if beside himself with rage. Then, with an +effort, he steadied himself. Again he turned the letter-case inside +out, going carefully through the papers it contained. Then he searched +the room so methodically that even a pin could hardly have escaped his +notice, moving every article it contained, his wife's trunks, his own +boxes, even turning down the bedclothes and looking under the pillows, +going down on his knees to peer under the bed. When all his hunting +came to nothing he leaned his elbows on the mantelpiece and shut his +eyes, as if suffering physical pain. + +In the next room his wife was fighting a fight of her own. So soon as +he left her she dropped on to a chair, as if her legs refused her +support. A curious change had come over her face, and her lips were +twitching; she looked furtively about her, as if she was afraid of she +knew not what. When she heard the bedroom door banged, and she knew +that her husband had dismissed the maid, she called, "Louisa," softly; +so softly that one wondered if she wished to be heard. + +But Louisa did hear, appearing with a startled visage in the doorway. + +"Who--who did Mr. Morgan ask for?" + +The question was put so softly that it was nearly whispered; the +speaker's tongue and lips seemed parched. + +"Please, ma'am, he asked for you." + +"For me? What--what did he say?" + +"Please, ma'am, he said 'Is Mrs. Nash in?'" + +"Mrs. Nash? You're sure he said Mrs. Nash?" + +"Yes, ma'am, quite sure." + +"And when you told him I wasn't in, did he ask for Mr. Nash?" + +"No, ma'am; he said he'd wait." + +"How--how long did he wait?" + +"Maybe twenty minutes, maybe half-an-hour; please, ma'am, I couldn't +say exactly." + +"And did he seem angry?" + +"No, ma'am; quite pleasant. He gave me a shilling as he was going." + +"A shilling! Oh! Now tell me, exactly, what was the message he left." + +"If you please, ma'am, he told me to tell you exactly what he said, so +I took particular notice." She repeated word for word what Mr. Morgan +had said; Mrs. Nash listening with singular intentness, as if her +attention was fixed not so much on the actual words as on what was +behind them. When the girl had finished she sat still, as if +pondering. Louisa roused her. "If you please, ma'am, can I lay for +supper?" + +Mrs. Nash rose with a little jump. + +"Supper! of course; how silly I am! I was quite forgetting about +supper. Certainly, Louisa, you can lay for supper; I--I think I'm +quite ready for it." When she went into the bedroom her husband was +still standing with his elbows on the mantelpiece and his face to the +wall. As she entered he looked round with a start; the pair stood +looking at each other as if each was taken aback by something which +was on the other's face. She spoke first, in a voice which seemed to +tremble. "Herbert, what--what's the matter?" + +"The matter?" He laughed, a forced laugh. "Nothing's the matter; why +do you ask what's the matter?" + +"You're--you're looking so strange." + +"That's your imagination, my dear. What is the matter is that I've got +a touch of headache--one of my mother's headaches; you remember what +I've told you about the headaches she used to have. I fancy the sun +was stronger than I thought." + +"I didn't notice it; you said nothing about it." + +"No; I didn't notice it at the time. I expect that what I want is my +supper; it'll be better after I've had something to eat." + +"Have you found your letter-case?" + +"Oh yes, yes; I've found my letter-case; I must have dropped it out of +my pocket as I was putting on my coat--very stupid of me; but I've +found it all right. Anyhow there wasn't anything in it of very great +consequence, so it wouldn't have mattered much if I hadn't." + +It was a curious meal, that supper of theirs. It was as if ghosts sat +with them at the table; phantoms of horror; one by his side, and one +at hers, whose presence each hoped was hidden from the other. +Conversation languished, and they were in general so talkative; the +efforts they made to disguise their incapacity for speech were +pathetic. Their appetites were as poor as their talking powers, and +that although each had professed to be ready to make an excellent +meal. He ate little, and what he did eat was with an obvious effort; +she ate still less, each mouthful seemed to choke her. When the +make-believe repast was at an end Mr. Nash got up. + +"I'm afraid my headache isn't much better; I think I'll go for a turn +on the front; the night air may do it good." + +She also rose. + +"It won't take me a minute to put on my hat; I'll come with you." + +He was not so pleased at her suggestion as he might have been. + +"I think, if you don't mind, I'll go alone; I don't feel as if I were +in a mood for company." + +She seemed hurt. + +"Oh, Herbert, don't leave me behind! I won't keep you waiting; I'll +come without my hat." + +But he still professed unwillingness for her society, speaking almost +roughly. + +"Don't I tell you I'd sooner go alone? Can't you take a hint?" + +It was the first time he had spoken to her like that since they had +been married, which was not so very long ago. Had he struck her he +could not have hurt her more. When he had gone, without another word, +or a kiss, or a sign of tenderness, she sat staring at the nearly +untouched meal, and shivered, although the night was warm. What had +happened to Herbert, to have produced such a change in his manner? +Could Morgan have left a note for him, or a message for his own +private ear; or dropped a hint; or communicated with him without her +knowledge? As Louisa cleared away the supper things she cross-examined +her. The girl told all that she had to tell again; Elaine could find +nothing in her story which would account for the singularity of her +husband's demeanour; but on one point she fastened, when the maid told +her that she had left the visitor in the house alone. + +With Mr. Morgan in sole possession of the premises, Elaine saw instant +possibilities. What might he not have been doing while Louisa was out? +He might--he certainly might have intruded himself in her bedroom; if +he had gone so far he might have gone much farther. At the thought of +what he might have done she felt inclined to shake Louisa for giving +him the chance of doing it; instead, however, of assaulting the maid +she hurried off to learn, if she could, what he had done. + +Apparently nothing. So far as she could perceive everything in the +bedroom remained untouched, just as she had left it. She opened her +trunk, and took out her dressing-case, to make sure; she kept her +dressing-case in her locked trunk for greater security. Herbert +laughed at her for her caution, but she did not mind; she knew its +secret, he did not. After all it was perhaps as well he had left her +behind; she never had a chance of peeping at her hidden hoard while he +was there. Morgan had not touched that; that was safe enough. She +examined it with feverish fingers, fearful every moment of her +husband's return. The tale of the money was correct; nothing was +missing there. + +When she had done counting she hesitated, and thought, a big bundle of +notes in her hand. She slipped some of them into the bosom of her +dress--notes for a hundred pounds. Now that Morgan had thrust himself +again upon the scene they might be wanted; anything might happen; she +might not be able to get at her store at a moment's notice, with +Herbert always hovering round. She was just as anxious to keep the +secret of her hiding-place from her husband as from Morgan, or from +any one. + +She had not long returned the dressing-case to the trunk, and locked +the trunk, and placed the notes representing a hundred pounds in a +more convenient spot than her bodice, when her husband returned. As he +came bustling into the bedroom she perceived at once that his mood had +changed. He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her, rather +boisterously; his breath told her he had been drinking. + +"Hello, old girl! that headache's better; the stroll has done it +good." + +She wondered if it was the stroll or the refreshment he had taken; she +had already discovered that stimulants made of him another man; even +after one bottle of ale he was not the same man he had been before. +Her cue was to ignore the part which alcohol might have played in +affecting a cure. + +"I am so glad you're better, dear; I know what it is to have a +headache; I believe I've got one. Please mayn't I go out on to the +common now?" + +He laughed at her, lifting her off her feet. + +"I'll carry you," he said. + +And he did; out of the house, across the road, not putting her down +till he had borne her on to the grass; then, running the risk of what +eyes there might be about to see, she gave him a kiss to pay for +porterage. Presently they were, outwardly, on proper honeymooning +terms again, each making a gallant, and not wholly unsuccessful, +effort to shut out from actual vision the ghosts which kept step at +their sides. When they had retired to rest Herbert Nash said to his +wife-- + +"Do you know, I think I have had about enough of Littlehampton; what +do you say?" + +"I say what you say; only the question is, wherever shall we go to? +and when?" + +"There are heaps of places we can go to; and as for when, we can leave +this to-morrow. I'll think it over." + +He thought it over; all through the night he lay thinking, with +wide-open eyes, and so did she. But they did not leave on the morrow, +nor the next day. And on the morning of the third day there came a +letter addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Nash," which Mr. Nash, being +first at the breakfast table, opened. It ran-- + + +"DEAR FRIENDS, + +"Mrs. Lorrimer's servant will have told you that I called to see you, +and also that I propose to call again. Apart from the pleasure which I +anticipate from meeting you once more, I have something of the utmost +importance which I wish to say to both of you. As I believe you have +no pressing engagements, I confidently hope that you will not leave +Littlehampton till I have had an opportunity of saying it. I will let +you have a wire, advising you of my coming, and shall be glad if you +will leave word at the house where, at any moment, you are to be +found, as I should not like to miss you a second time. + +"Adding my congratulations to the numerous expressions of goodwill +which, I do not doubt, you have already received on the auspicious +occasion of your marriage, believe me to be, + + "Yours most sincerely, + + "STEPHEN MORGAN." + + +Mr. Nash was reading this epistle a second time when his wife came in. + +"What have you got there?" she asked. + +He looked up with a frown, seeming to hesitate about what to say, then +answered-- + +"It's from that fellow Morgan; the most insolent, presumptuous scrawl. +What he's driving at I can't imagine; the fellow must be stark, +staring mad." + +If Mr. Nash had been in an observant mood he might have noticed that +the smile which had been on his wife's face gave way to quite a +different expression, and that she shivered, as she always did do when +Mr. Morgan's name was mentioned. + +"What does he say? Let me look at his letter." + +He was folding it up, as with the intention of consigning it to his +pocket unseen by his wife; at her point-blank request he seemed to +hesitate, then tossed it to her across the table. + +"If you can explain what the fellow means by sending a letter like +that I can't; it's beyond me altogether." As she read he commented. +"Fancy calling us 'Dear friends.'" + +"What an extraordinary thing for him to do." + +"A butler!" + +"It's quite inexplicable." + +"What on earth has he to say to us which is of the least importance?" + +"That's it; what can he have?" + +"He practically orders us not to leave the place till it pleases him +to come." + +"It does--it does amount to that, doesn't it?" + +"Fancy his telling us to let them know in the house where, at any +moment, we're to be found, as if the one thing to be considered was +his sovereign pleasure!" + +"That is really remarkable." + +"Remarkable! I should say so; remarkable is a mild way of putting it. +I've half-a-mind to pack directly after breakfast and leave the place +this morning; the idea of his attempting to dictate to us! As I say, +the only explanation I can think of is that the fellow's stark, +staring mad." + +"That--that must be it." + +Mr. Nash continued to comment on Mr. Morgan's insolent epistle while +he trifled with his breakfast; but it was noticeable that he only +trifled. If he had had an appetite it had vanished; it seemed as if +the man's impertinence must have affected him more than he would have +cared to own. It was the same with his wife, she had no appetite +either. Indeed, when one came to think of it, neither of them had +eaten much since they had first heard of Mr. Morgan's call. The fact +had even been noticed by the landlady. + +"I can't think what's the matter with them all at once," she declared +to her diminutive maid, Louisa. "They used to eat heartily enough; as +you know, I remarked on it to you." + +"Yes, Mrs. Lorrimer, that you did." + +"But these last couple of days they've scarcely touched a thing. +There's been nothing the matter with the food, and I'm sure there's +been nothing the matter with the cooking; it must be them that's +wrong." + +When breakfast was finished--such a breakfast as it was; even the +soles went out practically as they came in--Mrs. Nash went to put on +her hat preparatory to going out with her husband on to the front, as +she usually did on fine mornings; he with a newspaper, and she with a +book. That morning the process was a lengthy one; she seemed +preoccupied, as if her mind was so full that there was no room in it +for her hat. She moved restlessly about the room, as if her thoughts +kept her in motion. All at once it seemed that she arrived at a sudden +resolution. + +"I know what I'll do; I'll get Herbert to go; we will go, before he +comes; we'll go to-day. I'll talk to Herbert directly we get outside. +I believe he wants to go as much as I do; though I--I don't know why. +And this time we won't stay in England; we'll go abroad, as far away +as ever we can; somewhere where that wretch can't get at us; and--and +we'll leave no address behind." + +While the lady so resolved the gentleman--unconscious of her +resolution--waited for her on the doorstep. As he waited he saw, +advancing towards the house on a bicycle, a telegraph boy. Some +instinct induced him to leave that doorstep and move to meet him. + +"Got a telegram for me--Nash?" + +"Nash? Yes, sir." The boy jumped off; he produced the familiar yellow +envelope. "Herbert Nash." + +"That's for me; that's all right. Wait while I see if there's an +answer." He tore the envelope open; this was the message it contained: +"Coming by the train due 12.28. You had better meet me at the station +alone.--STEPHEN MORGAN." "There is no answer," Mr. Nash informed the +boy. + +The boy got on his machine and rode away. Mr. Nash read that telegram +again, then stuffed it into his jacket pocket, swearing beneath his +breath. He looked quite ugly when he swore. He glanced at his watch, +as if to make sure about the time, then returned to his place upon the +doorstep. He said nothing about the telegram to his wife. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI + + AN OFFER OF FRIENDSHIP + + +Mr. Nash was at the station when the 12.28 came in, and alone; it +might have been by some sort of coincidence that he happened to be +there just then, but Mr. Morgan seemed to take it for granted that he +had come to meet him, an inference which Mr. Nash apparently resented. +Mr. Morgan came up to him smiling in the most friendly fashion, and +with hand held out. + +"My dear Nash, how are you?" + +There was no smile on Mr. Nash's face, and he ignored the proffered +hand. + +"Thank you, Mr. Morgan, I am well." + +"And my good friend, your dear wife? blooming, eh?" + +"I'm not aware that Mrs. Nash ever was a friend of yours." + +"No! my dear fellow! when we were so often under the same roof +together." + +"Do the servants of a house always regard their master's friends as +their own?" + +"My dear Nash, if you hadn't said that I should have said it was meant +to be nasty. I was in the service of the head of the house, and your +wife was a sort of attendant of the daughter's. + +"Do you dare to say that my wife was ever Miss Lindsay's attendant?" + +"Unpaid attendant, my boy, unpaid; sort of hanger-on--poor companion. +I received a regular income; she got an occasional frock; some article +of clothing; now and then a few pounds; as it were, the crumbs which +fell from Miss Lindsay's table. Of course, pecuniarily mine was much +the better position of the two; but I always have been one to overlook +a mere financial difference, and I hope I always shall be." + +"Look here, Morgan, if you're come down with the express intention of +being insolent, I'll wring your neck, here, in the station." + +Mr. Nash looked as if he were capable of at least trying to perform +that operation on Mr. Morgan there and then, but Mr. Morgan only +smiled. + +"My dear Nash! the idea! Nothing can be further from my wish than to +be insolent to you; as I'll show you before I've done. Where can we go +where we can be quiet, and have a little chat together? And afterwards +if you'll take me to 37, Ocean Villas, and offer me a little lunch, +and give me an opportunity of renewing my acquaintance with your +charming wife, I think you'll find that we are on better terms than +you seem to suppose. Where are you going?" + +Mr. Nash was striding out of the station. + +"To the golf-links; you say you want to go somewhere where we can be +quiet; you'll have the quietude you want there." + +"Thank you; I don't think we need go quite so far as the golf-links, +really; nor is that exactly the sort of solitude I was thinking of. +You come with me; I'll be conductor." He opened the door of a fly +which was by the kerb, and stood with the handle in his hand. "Step +in." + +The two men looked at each other, as if each was measuring the other's +strength. Then Mr. Nash said-- + +"Where do you think you're going?" + +Mr. Morgan spoke to the driver. + +"Take us to the east end of the promenade, right to the extreme end." +Then he turned to Nash. "We shall have all the quietude we want there. +After you." + +Nash hesitated, then entered the fly; Morgan followed; the fly drove +off. As it rumbled along Mr. Morgan beguiled the way by spirited +attempts at conversation; but he had all the talking to himself; not +once did his companion open his lips. Mr. Nash sat with unbending +back, stiff neck, grim face, looking straight in front of him; Mr. +Morgan might not have been in the same vehicle for all the notice he +took of him. Under the circumstances his unruffled affability did the +latter gentleman credit. The vehicle set them down not only at the +extreme end of the promenade, but beyond it. When the fly had gone Mr. +Morgan called his companion's attention to their surroundings. + +"You see! where could we have more privacy, even on the golf-links? +Not a creature within many yards of us. We can sit on the beam of this +groyne--could it be at a more convenient height?--and talk at our +leisure." + +Again Mr. Nash seemed to be measuring the other with his eye; his +bearing did not point to his being at all in the conversational frame +of mind which Mr. Morgan's words suggested; indeed he said as much. + +"Now, my man, if you have anything to say, out with it; I've not the +dimmest notion what it is you think you've got to say; to be quite +frank, your whole conduct looks to me like infernal insolence; but, +whatever it is, make it short; and take my advice, and be careful how +you say it." + +"My dear Nash, I assure you that no one could be more careful than I +shall be." + +"And don't you call me your dear Nash! you swollen-headed butler! I +don't propose to allow a servant to treat me as an equal, nor do I +propose to consort with him." + +"Don't you? Now that shows how different we are. I don't mind with +whom I consort; I'm even willing to consort with a thief." + +"What--what the devil do you mean?" + +Mr. Nash's eyes blazed; but they blazed out of a face which, +consciously to himself or not, had suddenly grown pale. Mr. Morgan +smiled as affably as ever; he offered Mr. Nash his cigar-case. + +"Try one of my cigars; I think you'll find them something rather +exceptional." + +"Confound your cigars! I don't want your cigars! What do you mean by +what you said just now?" + +"You know what I mean as well as I do. There are moments when it's so +unpleasant to have to dot one's i's; surely this is one. Then isn't it +rather childish to pretend that you don't know what I mean when you +do?" + +"Are you going to tell me what you mean?" + +"Certainly, if you insist; but is it wise?" + +"Morgan, am I to knock you down?" + +"You can try if you like; I dare say I can put up as good a fight as +you can." + +Again they seemed to gauge each other, eye to eye; Nash as if half +beside himself with rage, Morgan all smiles. + +"Will you tell me what you mean?" + +Morgan looked away from the other's face, up into the air. He blew a +ring of smoke from the cigar which he had lighted, following it with +his eyes. Nothing could have been pleasanter than his manner, or more +affable than his smile; he spoke as one who meditated. + +"I happen to know that you borrowed certain sums of money from the +late Mr. Donald Lindsay, for which you gave him notes of hand, +amounting altogether to a little over a hundred pounds; a flea-bite to +him, but a deal to you. When you were going through Mr. Lindsay's +papers, on behalf of his daughter, you came upon those notes of hand; +you put them into your pocket; you concealed their existence; in +plainer words, you stole them." + +"It's--it's an infernal lie!" + +"My dear Nash, I saw you do it." + +"You saw me!" + +"I did. If you like I can describe to you, in detail, how you found +them, and where, and how you looked to an unprejudiced observer, and +precisely what you did when you had found them; but is it necessary?" + +"Why--why don't I knock you down?" + +"Because you have more sense. Pray don't indulge in heroics for my +benefit, I beg of you; I know! I know! I also saw you steal another +paper." + +"What other paper?" + +"That's what I said to myself; what can that other paper be? I confess +that I was gravelled; and I continued gravelled until I called on you +the other day at Ocean Villas, and found it in your letter-case." + +"You--you scoundrel!" + +"That's a hard word, from one who is both a scoundrel and a thief. +Don't let us bandy epithets. Here is the paper--gently! I should have +said, here is a copy of the paper. You and I know how desirable it is +that so important a document should be in safe keeping. I have +arranged that if I don't turn up at a certain place, at a certain +time, the actual letter--you know it is a letter--will be posted to +Dr. Banyard, together with a history of how it came into my +possession, and particulars of those notes of hand you stole; so let +us hope, for your sake, that no accident will happen to me. I will +read you the copy I made of the letter; you will possibly have +forgotten the precise wording, and the precise wording is of such +importance-- + + +'DEAR SIR, + +'Referring to the acceptances of yours which we hold, and which fall +due on the 7th inst., they reached us, in the ordinary course, through +a client with whom we have done business before; who informed us that +they came to him from Mr. Frank Clifford, of Marlborough Buildings, +Farringdon Road, E.C., who, we presume, discounted them for you. We do +not know that we are called upon to furnish you with this information, +and, as your inquiry is an unusual one, we shall be glad to know why +you make it. + + 'Your obedient servants, + + 'GULDENHEIM AND CO.' + + +Now that, my dear Nash, is the letter which you found; I don't know if +your memory will enable you to recognize the accuracy of the copy." +Mr. Nash was silent, presenting a curious picture of indecision; of +the man who lets "I dare not" wait upon "I would." Mr. Morgan went +affably on, diplomatically ignoring the singularity of the other's +attitude. "To the superficial eye there is nothing in that letter; +it is a mere routine business communication; in fact, however, as +matters were, you could scarcely have found anything more important. I +take it that you recognized this, or you would hardly have +appropriated it; but I fancy that you only recognized it dimly. Your +whole after-behaviour seems to point to it." Mr. Morgan glanced round +at the moment, in time to catch the ghost of a smile, which seemed to +flicker across Mr. Nash's face; Mr. Morgan's comment on that +flickering smile was characteristic. "Perhaps not so dimly as I +supposed; the springs of human action do lie so deep. Perhaps, after +all, it has occurred to you, as it has to me, that that letter killed +Donald Lindsay. You remember where you found it? Lindsay's was a +pedestal writing-table; it was on the floor, under one of the +pedestals, with one corner of the paper just showing. I think that was +the last letter Donald Lindsay ever read. He had read it again and +again before, and was re-reading it; but that re-reading was just the +one too many. The strain of that cumulative shock was greater than he +could bear; something snapped; he fell forward; the letter slipped +from his fingers, under one of the pedestals, where it might have +remained but for your sharp eyes." Mr. Morgan held the paper out in +front of him with the air of one who is explaining something which he +desires to make quite plain. "Now what is there in this letter which +could have produced so extraordinary an effect upon a person possessed +of so much self-restraint as Donald Lindsay undoubtedly was? What does +the letter itself tell us? It tells us that Messrs. Guldenheim, as is +the custom, I have reason to know, of a certain type of usurer, had +written to advise him that certain acceptances of his, which matured +at a certain date, had come into their hands. I'll bet sixpence that +Lindsay was a man who never in his life put his name on a piece of +paper which was likely, in the ordinary course, as they put it, to +fall into the hands of carrion like the Guldenheims; that first +communication of theirs must in itself have been a shock to him. But +he was a cautious man; he liked to move gently; whether he already had +suspicions I cannot say; evidently he wrote a non-committal letter, +asking them from whom they had obtained acceptances of his. This was +their reply; they informed him that originally the acceptances came +from Mr. Frank Clifford, of Marlborough Buildings, Farringdon Road, +and that information killed him. Is that how it occurred to you?" + +"Never mind what occurred to me." + +"Quite so, I won't; I'll content myself with telling you what occurred +to me. I've only known what was in this letter a couple of days, and, +with its aid, I have already learned that, when he died, Donald +Lindsay was, probably, one of the richest men in England. Have you +learned that?" + +"I--I had my doubts." + +"But you hadn't verified them? I see. Other matters interfered; for +instance, your marriage. Now, my dear Nash, pray understand that I +congratulate you, from the bottom of my heart, on what is, in all +respects, an auspicious event; but you must forgive my saying that you +were one of the last persons I should have associated with a love +match. Now I happen to know that neither Miss Harding nor you had +money, or prospects. Indeed, I've been wondering how you managed +between you to pay the marriage fees, to say nothing of the expenses +of your honeymoon. Did a good fairy drop down from the skies?" + +"It strikes me, Morgan, that you are constitutionally incapable of +seeing how infernally insolent you are." + +"Am I? Perhaps; you should be a better judge of insolence than I. And +believe me that I quite understand that a man is entitled to keep his +own counsel; I don't wish to pry into your secrets; only I was +wondering if you had a secret. However, to return to business. Do you +know that this letter means a fortune for you, and incidentally, +perhaps, also one for me; but certainly a fortune for you. All we have +to do is to pull together; treat each other as friends, not enemies; +although I say it, you'll find my friendship well worth having, from +every point of view. Don't let the accident of my having once been a +butler stand in the way; that's nonsense. Let me tell you that the +butler at Cloverlea had a better position, in every respect, than the +average clerk in a government office; as for your banks, and such +dustbins--pah! he was better off than many a solicitor; though I know +that's a delicate subject. But don't let's cut each other's throats +for the sake of a merely imaginary social distinction; let's be +friends, and I'll undertake to make your fortune. That's the +proposition I've come down to Littlehampton to make." + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII + + A ROYAL ROAD TO FORTUNE + + +Mr. Nash considered. The expression which had been on his face a few +minutes ago had nearly vanished. The ex-butler had expressed himself +in terms which the solicitor felt might justify him in modifying the +attitude he had been disposed to take up. That Morgan had been, and +still was, presumptuous went without saying; at the same time, as +matters were turning out, it seemed that there were things which might +be said on the other side; at least so it appeared to Herbert Nash. On +the whole, he was inclined to concede as much. He took a few steps, to +and fro, beside the groyne; then planting himself directly in front of +Morgan, he told him his mind, rather in sorrow, perhaps, than in +anger; indeed his bearing altogether was very different from what it +had been. + +"I tell you what it is, Morgan, your conduct, from first to last, has +been bad." + +Mr. Morgan smiled at him, affably. + +"Has it? That's good, coming from you." + +"That's where you've got the wrong end of the stick; whatever I've +done I've done nothing to you." + +"No; and therefore you think that I've no right to put a finger in the +pie you've found." + +"You'd no right to force yourself into my place, and run the rule over +my things." + +"That was luck, Nash, pure luck. I didn't call intending to run the +rule over your things; is it likely? But if you will carry papers in +your letter-case, you shouldn't leave your letter-case lying about." + +"Idiot that I was! I found what I'd done soon after I'd started, but I +was fool enough not to come back for it." + +"You weren't an idiot; not at all; it was the best thing that could +have happened for both of us--that I should find it." + +"I'm afraid I can't agree. To begin with, see how awkward you've made +it for me with my wife." + +"Have I?" + +"She can't understand what I have done which gives you any title to +call yourself my friend--you!" + +"Can't she?" + +"And how am I going to explain? I may only be--as you suggest--a poor +brute of a country solicitor; but you forget that she's a lady." + +"Not for one moment. Mrs. Nash is a perfect lady; none knows that +better than I do. But, if I help you to make your fortune; if we +become partners in, say, a mercantile speculation; if I show you how +to pour gold, and all the pretty things gold can buy, into her lap, +will she require any better explanation? I think not. My dear fellow, +you exaggerate the difficulties she will make; believe me. + +"You talk very largely, but how are you going to do these things? I +had the letter, and I didn't see my way." + +"You didn't? Then that shows how fortunate it was that you +communicated the contents of the letter to me; because I do. Tell +me--now be frank; I'll be perfectly frank with you; it's to our common +interest to be frank with each other--how far did you go?" + +"I looked up Mr. Frank Clifford." + +"And found?" + +"That Marlborough Buildings is the head office of Peter Piper's +Popular Pills; of which business Clifford's the managing director." + +"And what else?" + +"That's as far as I got; I meant to go on after--after----" + +"After the honeymoon? I see; I've got a great deal further than that, +a great deal. I take it you're aware that Peter Piper's Popular Pills +is one of the medicines of the hour; the profits are stupendous; +sometimes amounting to a hundred thousand pounds in a year, possibly +more." + +"I dare say; that doesn't want much finding out, everybody knows it; +but what's it to do with us?" + +"A good deal." + +"How?" + +"We're going to have a share of the business, and of the profits, and +probably of former profits also." + +"Are we indeed? How are we going to manage it?" + +"Do you know who the proprietor was?" + +Again the two men eyed each other; this time as if Nash was trying to +read in Morgan's eyes the answer to his question. + +"He was Donald Lindsay of Cloverlea." + +"You don't mean it?" + +"I do." + +"Are you sure?" + +"Perfectly. He called himself Joseph Oldfield; he was a bachelor; he +was a reserved man, standoffish, of secretive habits. He had a flat in +Bloomsbury Square, I've seen it, where he was supposed to spend most +of his time in thinking out new advertising dodges; the present +position of Peter Piper's Popular Pills is principally owing to clever +advertising. The proprietor was his own advertising agent, he was a +master of the art. He called himself, as I've said, Joseph Oldfield in +town, and in the country he was Donald Lindsay of Cloverlea." + +"The old fox!" + +"I don't think you can exactly call him that; there was nothing in the +opprobrious sense foxy about him. He was one of those men who live +double lives, owing, one might say, to the pressure of circumstances; +there are more of them about than is supposed. He bought the pill +business when it was at a very low ebb; he hadn't very much money +himself, at that time, and I dare say he got it for a song. Mrs. +Lindsay was just dead; his girl was with her nurses, or at school; for +business purposes he called himself Oldfield; it isn't every man who +cares to have it known that he's associated with a patent medicine; in +England it's quite a common custom for a man to carry on a business +under an alias, under half-a-dozen aliases sometimes. As time went on +I take it that his secretive habit grew stronger; he became less and +less disposed to have it known that Donald Lindsay had anything to do +with pills, which do rather stink in people's nostrils; and so he +drifted into the double life. That's the word, drifted." + +"You seem to have got up his history." + +"I have a way of finding out things; people have noticed it before. +Now take Mr. Frank Clifford; I can tell you something about him. He's +a young man, a _protege_ of Oldfield's--we'll call him Oldfield. +Oldfield had faith in him, he'd have trusted him with his immortal +soul. That's how it was that it was such a shock to him to learn that +he had been taking liberties with his name." + +"But had he?" + +"Had he what?" + +"Been taking liberties with Lindsay's name?" + +"He forged those bills which Guldenheim and his friends got hold of." + +"That's what I guessed; but guessing's one thing, proof's another." + +"Of course it is; I've the proof. I have some of the bills; I got hold +of them rather neatly, though, as a matter of abstract right, I've as +much title to them as anybody else. When you show Mr. Clifford one of +them he won't deny he forged it." + +"Yes; when I show it." + +"Exactly. I said when you show it to him; and you're going to show it, +if necessary, that's part of the scheme; though it mayn't be +necessary, since it's quite possible he'll capitulate at once. My dear +chap, at the present moment, to all intent's and purposes, Mr. Frank +Clifford is the sole proprietor of one of the finest businesses in the +world, and one of the largest fortunes in England, while the actual +owner is starving in town." + +"It's hard upon Miss Lindsay." + +"It's the fortune of war. A little starving won't do her any harm; and +I dare say she won't starve long. I never liked the girl." + +"Nor I." + +"Then there you are; why worry? She's too superior for me, too good; +knocking about in the gutter may bring her down to your level, and +mine; I've known it pan out that way where a young woman's concerned. +I don't like any one to be too good, it makes me conscious of my own +deficiencies; you see, I'm candid. However, she's a factor with whom +we may, or may not, deal later. At present we've to concentrate our +attention on Clifford; think of the possibilities for him, and for us. +No one knows of the connection between Oldfield and Lindsay; no one +even knows that he's dead. Clifford already has powers to draw cheques +in the name of the firm, within certain limits; a man capable of +committing forgery will soon be able to make those limits wider; +there's no reason why he shouldn't appropriate to his own use every +penny that comes in; as things stand nobody'll be able to call him to +account for it; there's no reason why he should not lay hands on the +whole of the old gentleman's investments; and they're--you may take it +from me that they're magnificent. We're the only persons on this side +of the grave who can stop him, and there's no reason why we should, if +he gives us a proper share; in other words, if he takes us in as +partners." + +"It's playing with fire." + +"Not a bit of it; it's playing with nothing that's in the least +dangerous, if it's managed as I propose to manage it. You think it +over. And now you take me in to lunch, and let me have the pleasure +of meeting that charming wife of yours again; I'm starving! And if by +the time we've done lunch you haven't formulated a scheme of your own +I'll tell you what mine is, and then you'll see that without the +slightest danger to either of us, without the shadow of a shade of +danger--there's no reason why we shouldn't, within a very short space +of time, be worth a quarter of a million apiece." + +"A quarter of a million!" + +"At least; we're going to deal with big figures, my boy. It'll pay +Clifford, pay him handsomely, to split it up into three parts; and let +me tell you that a third ought to come out at a good deal more than a +quarter of a million." + +Herbert Nash hesitated--for his credit's sake let it be written that +he did hesitate--but he took Mr. Morgan home with him to lunch. And +when his wife saw the visitor coming she would have been almost glad +if the earth could have opened to swallow her up; it was as if she +beheld avenging fate advancing towards her in the shape of a +policeman. Her husband was late; it was long after their usual hour +for lunch; he had left no word as to where he had gone; half beside +herself with anxiety, she would have liked to send the town crier +round in search of him; she had been along the pavement to the corner +of this street and the corner of that, to and fro across the common +for a glimpse of him along the front; these man[oe]uvres she had +repeated again and again, and, standing on the doorstep, was +frantically debating within herself as to what could have become of +him, as to what she should do, when she saw him coming with Morgan at +his side. Then, if she could, she would have run away, but she could +not, her feet were as if they had been shod with iron weights, she +could not lift them; she could not move; when they came to her she was +a white-faced, shivering, terror-stricken little wretch; a poor ghost +of the sunny-faced, light-hearted Elaine Harding of such a little +while ago. + +Mr. Nash offered a pretty lame explanation of his appearance with the +man of whose presumption in claiming his acquaintance he had spoken +with such scorn in the morning. + +"This is Mr. Morgan; he is going to have some lunch with us; we have +business to transact together. You remember Mr. Morgan, Elaine?" + +As if she ever could forget him! How she would have prayed for the +power to forget him if she had dared to hope that such prayers were +answered. She hardly heard her husband's words; her white face was +turned towards Morgan, as the convicted criminal has eyes only for the +judge who is to pronounce his doom. Yet nothing could have been less +judge-like than Mr. Morgan's bearing; nothing more affably respectful +than the manner of his greeting. He stood before her with uncovered +head, without even presuming to offer his hand. + +"This is indeed an honour to be permitted to meet you again. May I +venture to hope that you will allow me to offer my congratulations on +the fortunate event which has occurred since I saw you last?" + +She had to moisten her parched lips with her tongue before she could +speak at all. Then-- + +"Thank you," was all she said to him; and to her husband, "I--I was +wondering what had become of you." + +Nash replied-- + +"Mr. Morgan had something which he wished to say to me." He led the +way into the house; his wife and Morgan followed. He paused at the +sitting-room door. "Take Mr. Morgan in there," he said to her. "I will +join you in a minute." + +Dumbly she obeyed; not realizing that he wanted what she did, a few +minutes' solitude to enable him to pull himself together. He meant to +have them, she had to do without; so that when she was in the room, +and the ex-butler, coming after her, closed the door behind him he had +her wholly at his mercy. She was still limp and helpless, having had +no chance to recover from the shock and horror of encountering him +again; a fact of which he, instantly perceiving, took prompt +advantage. As he pulled the door to behind him a subtle change took +place in his manner; he still smiled, but neither respectfully nor +affably. He addressed the cowering woman in front of him as if she +were some base creature. + +"A pretty trick you played me, slipping away like that and leaving no +address! Sneaking off with the man you'd paid to marry you, when, if +it hadn't been for me, you'd have been in jail; and you call yourself +a lady! and I'd treated you as one! Never again, my beauty, never +again need you expect me to treat you like a lady, because you've +shown me what you are. Now you listen to me! You'll give me five +hundred pounds before I leave, or to-night you'll sleep in +Littlehampton jail; and when your husband's told what kind of a +character he's been diddled into marrying by way of a start he'll +throw you out into the road. Now then! that five hundred pounds!" + +He held out his hand, as if he expected her to give him the money +there and then. She presented a pitiable spectacle; being scarcely +able to stammer. + +"I--I--I can't--can't give it you now." + +"No lies! I'm off them! How much have you got in the house?" + +"I--I--I might----" Her voice failed her; there was a hiatus in her +sentence. "A hundred pounds." + +"Then you'll give me a hundred pounds within half-an-hour after lunch, +and you'll send another four hundred to an address I'll give you +within four-and-twenty hours, or I promise you that, in less than an +hour after, the man you've bought shall kick you out of this house +into a policeman's arms." + +Before he could speak again, or she either, the door opened to admit +the diminutive maid; how she managed to open the door, as she +apparently had done, was a mystery, since she was carrying a tray +which was nearly as big as herself. And Mr. Nash presently appearing, +the three sat down to lunch. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII + + TO BE--OR NOT TO BE--POSTPONED + + +Daisy Ross was annoyed, almost indignant, and with reason. As she said +to Mr. Clifford-- + +"It's really too ridiculous! One's wedding day is an occasion of some +importance, even to a man." Mr. Clifford admitted that it was. "While +to a woman it involves a frightful strain." Mr. Clifford again agreed. +"Very well, then; a little consideration surely should be shown; Mr. +Oldfield's conduct is absurd." + +"He certainly is placing me in a very awkward position." + +"I should think he was; considering that the bridesmaids' dresses are +practically finished, and that two of them have to go away on the day +after the one we fixed, how are we going to postpone the wedding?" + +"I'm sure I don't know; but what am I to do? His conduct's most +mysterious." + +"My dear Frank, his conduct's not only mysterious, it's monstrous; and +I don't care what you say. He knows you are going to be married." + +"Of course he does; he's known about it all along." + +"He knows when you are going to be married." + +"Certainly, I asked him to be present; he gave me to understand that +probably he would be." + +"Then probably he will be." + +"But suppose I see or hear nothing of him in the meanwhile?" + +"He is a most exasperating man. How long is it since you have heard +anything of him?" + +"About two months; rather over than under." + +"Something must have happened to him." + +"You know his ways; I've told you about them often enough. When he +leaves the office, unless he volunteers the information, I never know +when I shall see him again, and unless I've some pressing reason for +wanting to know I never ask; I've more sense. He dislikes being +questioned about anything, and he's always shown what I've felt is +really a morbid objection to being questioned about his movements; +it's only quite recently that I've known his private address. It isn't +as if this sort of thing hadn't happened before; it has, again and +again. One evening, about a couple of years ago, he left the office +quite late, after being in regular daily attendance, early and late, +for some weeks; I expected he would come on the following day in the +ordinary course, but I never saw or heard anything of him for close +upon four months; then one morning he walked in, and, without offering +a word of explanation, took up the thread of affairs just where he had +left it, and, what's more, showed quite a good knowledge of what had +been going on during his absence." + +"But what a state things would have got into if it hadn't been for +you." + +"Quite so; that's just the point, he trusts me. In the ordinary course +of business I have complete control of everything. If anything unusual +turns up, which is of importance, I hold it over for reference to him; +but in the general way I run the entire show; which, after all, isn't +saying so very much, because, when all is said and done, he's a +first-rate man of business and a splendid organizer, so that it's +quite easy for me to do. And you know, Daisy, he treats me very +generously, and always has done; I've practically a share in the +concern, which is a free gift from him." + +"I suppose you're worth what he gives you." + +"All the same, I never put in a penny--I never had one to put; and +there are hundreds, I dare say thousands, of men who could do all I +do, and who'd be only too glad to do it, for a tenth part of what he +gives me." + +"If I were you, I shouldn't tell him so." + +"He knows, my dear, he knows. He's the same with everybody about the +place; it's a principle of his to treat everybody generously who does +honest work for him; he wouldn't be happy if he thought that a man +wasn't getting a fair share of the fruits of his own labours. In spite +of his little eccentricities he's a magnificent fellow, and I couldn't +do anything to annoy or disappoint him--not--well, I wouldn't do it." + +Miss Ross sighed. + +"You hadn't arranged to be married during that four months' absence of +his." + +"I certainly hadn't." + +"Suppose the wedding-day had been fixed for two months after he had +gone, and he had known it, would you have postponed it indefinitely, +till he condescended to turn up again?" + +"I don't know what I should have done, I really don't; but I tell you +what we might do--that is, if you wouldn't mind very much." + +"Oh, never mind what I mind; my wishes aren't of the slightest +consequence; I shall begin to wish that I wasn't going to be married!" + +"Daisy! don't say that, even in jest. It's as hard upon me as it is +upon you." + +"Honestly, Frank, I don't see it. To a man, having his wedding-day +postponed, and that indefinitely, is, of course, rather a nuisance; +but to a woman, it's--it's quite a different thing." + +"But I'm not going to suggest that it shall be postponed." + +"Then what are you going to suggest? What have you been suggesting for +the last--I don't know how long?" + +"That's because the idea never occurred to me until just now; I don't +know why; I suppose it's because I'm stupid." + +"Now what idea have you got into your head?" + +"I think I see a way out of the difficulty; that is, if you'll agree." + +"Agree to what?" + +"The great thing for us is to be married, isn't it?" + +"I don't know that I'm prepared to admit it till I know what you're +leading up to." + +"Very well, then, as one of the parties I'll admit it; the one thing +for which I'm living is to be married to you; when I am married I'll +be happy." + +"Thank you; that's very nice of you; but I'm not going to admit +anything till I know what it is you've got at the back of your head." + +"We're going to be married on Thursday--that is, this day week." + +"We were to have been married on Thursday; I know my wedding dress is +coming home on Wednesday." + +"And after the wedding we're to start for a three months' tour on the +continent, something like a honeymoon." + +"We were to have started for a three months' tour." + +"That's what I arranged with Mr. Oldfield. I said to him, 'Mr. +Oldfield, after my marriage--at which I trust you'll be present--I +hope to go abroad with my wife for a month, if I can be spared from +the office.' He said to me, 'Clifford, why not make it three months?' +I stared; he went on: 'A man isn't married often!'" + +"Frank!" + +"That's what he said; and it's true. 'Therefore there's no reason why +he shouldn't make the most of it when he is; you take your wife abroad +for three months, I'll see you're spared from the office.' And that's +how it was arranged." + +"Yes, and then he goes and disappears, and I'm not to be married at +all, and that's how it's disarranged." + +"Not a bit of it; the wedding needn't be postponed; the more I think +of it the less reason do I see why it should." + +"Frank! Then what ever have you been talking to me about ever since I +don't know when!" + +"Mr. Oldfield's continued absence needn't prevent my sparing a day to +get away from the office to be married." + +"Needn't it! I'm sure it's very nice of you to talk about sparing a +whole day for a trifling thing like that." + +"In any case, all that need suffer is the three months' tour. If Mr. +Oldfield hasn't turned up by Thursday, after we're married we'll go +for a weekend honeymoon. I'll return to the office on Monday. The +house is ready, all it needs is its mistress; you'll be installed a +little sooner than you thought, and when Mr. Oldfield does appear +we'll go for our three months' tour." + +Miss Ross sat looking at him with rather a complicated expression on +her pretty face, as if she did not quite know what to make of his +proposition. + +"Frank, why didn't you think of it before? instead of worrying me, and +making my hair come out by handfuls, by keeping on saying that if Mr. +Oldfield didn't return in time, you couldn't possibly desert Peter +Piper's Popular Pills, and that therefore the wedding would have to be +postponed till you didn't know when." + +"I don't know; but I didn't. I fancy, sweetheart, that it's because I +was so looking forward to that scamper through Europe. It's so long +since I had a real holiday--and such a holiday--with you! If you only +knew how often I have dreamed of it!" + +"And do you think I haven't dreamed of it too?" They were sitting very +close together; she looked at him with almost comic wistfulness as she +added, "A week-end honeymoon will be rather a comedown, won't it?" + +"Compared to that elaborate tour, which we have so carefully planned, +in which we were to go to so many delightful places, and do so many +delicious things, rather! But it won't spoil by being kept; we'll have +it; and in the meanwhile a week-end will be better than nothing." + +"Frank, I'll tell you something. Rather than that the wedding should +be put off I'd go straight home with you to our home, from the church +doors; or I'd return with you to the office, and sit on a stool, till +your day's work was done." + +"Sweetheart!" + +There was an interval, during which more was done than said. Then she +observed-- + +"Now let me clearly understand; even if Mr. Oldfield returns on +Wednesday we go for our tour." + +"Even if he puts in an appearance in the church." + +"Well, let's hope he won't put it off till quite so late as that; +because, though perhaps you mayn't be aware of it, there is such a +thing as packing; one doesn't pack for a week-end just as one packs +for three months on the Continent. But, in any case, the wedding is +not to be postponed." + +"It is not to be postponed. Let me put it like this. You talk it over +with your father----" + +"Frank! don't be absurd! I fancy I see myself talking it over with +papa. Why, do you know what he says? He says he can't see why a girl +need make such a fuss about such a little thing as being married; he +wonders why she can't go in a 'bus to the nearest registrar's, and +then go, in a spirit of meek thankfulness, to her new home in another +'bus, and start darning the old socks which her husband has been +storing up against her coming." + +"Well, there's something in it." + +"Is there? At any rate, I'm not going to talk it over with papa; he +wouldn't talk it over with me if I wanted him to." + +"Then talk it over with your mother, and--and the rest of the family." + +"It is a matter for my decision, not for theirs." + +"Precisely; only there's no harm in observing certain forms. And I'll +make another effort to see if I can find out something which will +point to Oldfield's whereabouts. I'll go round to his flat in +Bloomsbury Mansions; they sometimes do hear something of him there; +then I'll try every other place I can think of--there aren't many +places, but there are some--then I'll come round to-morrow and tell +you the result of my efforts, and you'll tell me the result of the +family consultation." + +"I can tell you that before you go; the wedding is not to be +postponed." + +"Of course the wedding is not to be postponed; but still there are +things you'll like to talk over with them--they'll expect it; and then +they can talk them over with me--you know the sort of thing. And +anyhow I hope you don't object to my coming again to-morrow, if only +to be told once more that the wedding is not to be postponed." + +"Of course I don't object to your coming again to-morrow; you'll hear +of it if you don't." + +"But in case I should be prevented, don't you think you'd better give +me an extra kiss or two?" + +"Frank! I'm always kissing you." + +"Not always; sometimes I'm kissing you." + +"You'll soon grow tired." + +"Shall I? Be careful what you say! you'll be punished if you say it." + +"I hope you never will grow tired." + +"Sweetheart, you mustn't even say it in jest!" + +The rest was that sort of talk which we have most of us talked once; +those of us who haven't are to be pitied; it is a kind of talk which +is well worth talking. Then Mr. Clifford went on to Bloomsbury +Mansions, which was Joseph Oldfield's London address; indeed, so far +as his manager knew, it was the proprietor of Peter Piper's Popular +Pills' only address. As usual he found the porter in the entrance +hall; of him he made inquiry. + +"Well, Coles, any news of Mr. Oldfield?" + +In the porter's manner, as he replied, there was a significance which +Mr. Clifford did not understand. + +"I can't say that there's any news of Mr. Oldfield exactly; but +there's something going on." + +"Going on? What do you mean?" + +"In his flat." + +"In his flat! What's going on in his flat?" + +"That's more than I can tell you, sir; but there's some one in there; +in fact, there's two people in there. One of them says he's Mr. +Oldfield's solicitor; I don't know who the other is, but he may be +another solicitor for all I can tell; he looks as if he might be +something in that line." + +Frank Clifford opened his eyes. + +"His solicitor? What solicitor? What's his name?" + +"Seemed to me he was shy about giving his name; but when I made it +clear that he wasn't going up unless he did, he said his name was +Nash--Herbert Nash. He's quite a young chap--younger than the other, +though he's not old." + +"Nash? Herbert Nash? I never heard Mr. Oldfield speak of a solicitor +named Nash; but of course he may have a dozen solicitors of whom I +know nothing. How did they get in? Did you let them in?" + +"Not me; they brought Mr. Oldfield's own key; Mr. Nash had it." + +"That looks as if they'd at least heard from Mr. Oldfield quite +recently, which is more than I have. It's lucky I happened to come +just now. Take me up, Coles; I should like to see Mr. Nash." + +The porter said, as they were stepping into the lift-- + +"I hope, sir, there's nothing wrong with Mr. Oldfield--that he's not +ill, or anything like that; but it looks odd his solicitor coming +instead of him, and that without giving any notice." + +"It doesn't necessarily follow, Coles, that there's anything wrong +with him on that account; most probably Mr. Oldfield is abroad, and +has sent his solicitor instructions, in order to carry out which Mr. +Nash has to visit his flat." + +The lift stopped; the porter pointed to a door. + +"I hope you're right, sir; I should be sorry to hear that anything had +happened to Mr. Oldfield; to my thinking he's the pleasantest +gentleman we've got in the Mansions, and I don't care who hears me say +so. That's his flat, sir. You'll find them in there now. Shall I ring, +sir?" + +"No; I'll ring." + +Mr. Clifford rang. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX + + IN JOSEPH OLDFIELD'S FLAT + + +The idea was Morgan's. + +"We're going to call at Bloomsbury Mansions to begin with; that's to +be the first move in our plan of campaign." Herbert Nash looking a +note of interrogation, Mr. Morgan condescended to explain. "How many +times am I to tell you that Bloomsbury Mansions was where Mr. Joseph +Oldfield lived when he was in town? When he was there he was Peter +Piper's Popular Pills; when he wasn't there if you'd talked to him +about pills I dare say he wouldn't have known what you meant." + +"But why should we go to Bloomsbury Mansions?" + +"Doesn't your own common-sense tell you, my dear Nash, that the more a +man knows about the game he's going to play the better chance he has +of winning? Certainly it does, because you're one of the cleverest men +I know. Very well then; if you and I can manage to be alone together +in that flat for, say, half-an-hour, there's very little about Joseph +Oldfield which, at the end of that time, we shan't know. Unless I'm +mistaken, that's where the key to the situation is; it must be +somewhere, and I tell you it's there. That's where all his business +papers are, which you and Baynard couldn't find at Cloverlea; his +books, his accounts, the lists of his securities; perhaps some of the +securities themselves; and, what's more, the whole financial history +of those immortal pills. We shall be able to find out what exactly Mr. +Frank Clifford's position is, and how we shall best be able to get at +him. I'm no gamester; I object to gambling on principle; yet I'm +willing to bet a trifle that after I've been there half-an-hour I'll +be in a position--with the aid of what I know already--to squash Mr. +Frank Clifford between my finger and thumb; and between us, my boy, +we'll have Peter Piper's Popular Pills, and the pile they represent, +lying at our feet." + +"I tell you again, Morgan, what I've told you before, that I think you +pitch your anticipations too high; there are all sorts of difficulties +in the way which you don't seem to appreciate. Anyhow how do you +intend to get into this flat? do you propose to commit burglary?" + +"Am I a criminal? a felon? I've been an honest man all my life, and I +mean to die an honest man. No, my dear Nash, we're going in through +the front door, in broad daylight, before the eyes of the whole staff +of the Mansions, if the whole staff chooses to look on, and, as about +flats they're mostly a prying lot, they may do; we're going to let +ourselves in with Mr. Joseph Oldfield's own private and particular +latch-key, and a very private and particular latch-key it is. I +lay--betting again! you see, Nash, how a bad habit, once indulged in, +grows on one--that, knowing what kind of people they are about flats, +he had both lock and key specially made for him; and here that key +is." + +He held out a small and curious-looking key, of the Bramah type. Mr. +Nash eyed it dubiously, as if it were something which he would rather +leave alone. + +"How do you know it is the key? and where did you get it from?" + +"Question No. 2 first, as to where I got it. When the late Donald +Lindsay was seized with that most unfortunate stroke I assisted in +undressing him; afterwards I folded up his clothes and put them away, +and, in the ordinary course of my duty, I examined the pockets. In a +small and ingeniously placed pocket inside his waistcoat--which the +commonplace searcher would have overlooked--I found this key, +secreted. That set me thinking. You will observe that on the tiny ring +to which it is attached there is a number. When I learnt certain facts +I caused inquiries to be made of a firm which I happen to know +manufactures keys like this, asking how long it would take them to +make Mr. Joseph Oldfield a duplicate key to his fiat in Bloomsbury +Mansions, quoting this number. They replied to the effect that they +could let him have another key in four-and-twenty hours; so that's how +I know that this is the key to the flat in Bloomsbury Mansions." + +"You've a roundabout way of your own of finding out things." + +"Roundabout ways are sometimes the shortest, and the safest. Now, my +dear Nash, you and I are going together to Bloomsbury Mansions; you +will be the bearer of the key; you will show the key to the porter who +we shall probably find there; you will tell him that you are Mr. +Oldfield's solicitor--which you are; let us keep to the strict and +literal truth; he will say 'Walk in!' and, when we have walked in, I +think that the rest you can leave to me." + +Herbert Nash did not like Mr. Morgan's little plan; he disliked it +very much, and said so with considerable force of language, which the +gentleman to whom it was addressed did not at all resent. He simply +smiled, and persuaded Mr. Nash; having means of persuasion at his +command which that person seemed most unwillingly to feel that he was +not in a position to resist; the result being that, as we have heard, +the pair did gain access to the flat in Bloomsbury Mansions; the +porter, as Mr. Morgan had prophesied, looking on as they went in. When +they had entered they found themselves in a fair-sized hall. + +"I wonder," said Nash, as if struck by the silence of the place, "how +he managed for servants." + +"The flat people provided service, I expect; they cater, and do +everything for tenants if they're wanted to." + +"Do you mean to say that he lived here all alone?" + +"Generally, I fancy; though when the humour took him he may have kept +up any sort of an establishment for all I know; I'll be able to tell +you more on that head when I've been over the place. Now let me see. +From what I know of the arrangements of flats I should say that that +room over there was his own particular apartment." He moved to the +door to which he referred. "Locked; however, there's the key in the +lock, and it turns quite easily." He threw it open. "Right I am! Nash, +this is Joseph Oldfield's Ali Baba's treasure-cave; perhaps presently +you'll be fingering some of his precious things. But before we start +at that let's see what's behind these other doors; I always like to +know the lay of the land before I commence actual operations." Mr. +Morgan began opening door after door, glancing at what was behind +each, then shutting it again; Herbert Nash stood in the hall and +watched. "Looks like a drawing-room; what did he want with a +drawing-room, a lone-lorn bachelor? Seem to be some nice things in it +too. A bedroom, furnished up to the knocker. My word! that bed cost +money; he lay well. Bathroom; spared nothing even over his bath. +Dining-room; nothing cheap about that either; he spent money upon this +place; I suppose he walked straight out of the bath to his food. +Another bedroom; everything in the palest pink; that's meant for a +woman's occupation I'll swear. I wonder who it was meant for? Looks as +if it had never been lived in. What are those over the way? Domestic +offices, I take it; kitchen; yes, and the rest of it, I know; we'll +pay attention to you perhaps a trifle later. Now we'll return to Ali +Baba's treasure-cave. Come along, Nash." + +Mr. Nash followed him into the room; he entered with what seemed +dragging footsteps, glancing round, when he was in, with a shame-faced +air. + +"Morgan," he protested, "I don't like this; I don't care what you say, +I don't like it; if we're not committing burglary, we're doing +something which is not far off." + +"Don't talk nonsense; you a lawyer! and talking about burglary! stuff! +If you imagine, Mr. Nash, that I'm the sort of person who would commit +burglary you're mistaken. Haven't you got all your explanations pat? +You've as much right to be here as any man on this side the grave. +Very nice room I call this; very nice; well adapted for a gentleman's +occupation. The late Oldfield had a pretty taste in bric-a-brac; like +Mr. Donald Lindsay, he'd a good eye for a promising investment. I'm a +bit of an authority on the subject myself, so I know. There's a pair +of powder blue vases over there--both Oldfield and Lindsay seem to +have had a liking for powder blue--which wouldn't be out of the way at +a thousand. And unless I'm mistaken that cabinet in the corner is a +genuine Boule; Oldfield wasn't likely to have anything imitation about +his place; if it is I should like to have the coin it's worth in my +pocket; perhaps we shall have it in both our pockets before very long, +eh, Nash? What do you think? My dear boy, the contents of this room, +the mere trimmings, so to speak, are worth a small fortune in +themselves, you can take it from me; I was quite right in calling it +Ali Baba's treasure-cave." + +"Morgan, look at this!" + +"Look at what? Hello! what's that?" + +Nash was pointing to a large framed photograph, which stood upon a +centre table. + +"It's Miss Lindsay; it's his daughter." + +"So it is; and a fine photograph too; and a good likeness." + +"She--she was with him even when he was here." + +There was an odd catch in his voice; Mr. Morgan was as unmoved as +ever. + +"You mean her effigy was." + +"And--and look at that portrait over the mantel." + +"Rather a fine bit of painting; quite decent; good colour; clever +drawing; face seems alive." + +"Can't you see who it is? It's his wife." + +"Never saw the lady; but I shouldn't be surprised; there's no +mistaking the likeness to the girl. So while he was living a double +life he was living it with his wife and child; queer thing human +nature." + +"Morgan, I feel as if those women were looking at us." + +"Looking at us? What do you mean?" + +"I--I'm sure they can see us; look how they're staring!" + +"Staring! Nash! Stop that! One would think you'd been drinking; or +perhaps it's a nip of something you want; there ought to be a decanter +somewhere about." + +"I want nothing; it would make no difference." + +"Then let's get to business. I've a theory; you listen, and tell me +what you think of it. From what we know of the late Oldfield I rather +infer that when he left the flat he left the keys of all these +drawers, and cupboards, and things, behind him; that's the kind of +thing he would do; and I know that they weren't at Cloverlea; I'm +guessing that they're somewhere about the place at this moment. Now +what's your idea of the kind of hiding-place he'd choose?" + +"I don't know; and I don't care." + +"What do you mean by you don't care? You seem to be in a nice mood, my +lad." + +"I'll not touch a thing here; nothing!" + +"Won't you? Then don't! Who asked you? I'll do all the touching that's +wanted; only--mind! if you shirk now you'll pay for it when the time +for sharing comes." + +"I'm not quite the scoundrel you take it for granted that I am." + +"No, you're another and a worse kind, you're a white-livered cur. You +do the sneak game, when you think it's safe, for pennies; but when it +comes to the man's game, for something worth having, you whine. I can +see that I shall have to talk to you as I haven't done yet before you +really do begin to find out where you are; but I haven't time to do it +now. Where's he likely to have put those keys? Anyhow we ought to be +able to get at his writing-table drawers without them; I shouldn't say +that there was anything very special about their locks." He took +something out of his pocket which he inserted in the keyhole of the +top drawer. "It only wants a little--a little management. I thought +so; that's done it; drawer No. 1." He drew the top drawer open, and +instantly pushed it back again. "What's that?" + +There was the sound of an electric bell. + +"It's--it's somebody ringing." + +"I know it's somebody ringing; I'm not deaf, am I? I don't need you to +tell me that it's somebody ringing; but who's ringing? Who knows that +we're here?" + +"Perhaps it's the porter; or somebody connected with the Mansions." + +The two men stood staring at each other; Nash white-faced. The bell +was heard again. + +"You go and see who's there; if it's the porter, or any one of that +sort, you bluff him off. And mind, if you make a mess of things +through funk, it'll be you who'll pay." + +"I'm not afraid, Mr. Morgan; at least, not in the sense you mean." + +Herbert Nash went to the front door; Morgan remained in the room, +listening. Without was a young man; behind him was the porter. + +"I beg your pardon," said the young man; "but the porter tells me that +Mr. Oldfield's solicitor, Mr. Nash, is here; are you Mr. Nash?" + +"I am." + +"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Clifford--Frank Clifford; I +am Mr. Oldfield's manager--at Marlborough Buildings; possibly he has +mentioned my name to you." + +A voice came from within--Morgan's. + +"Certainly he has mentioned your name to us, Mr. Clifford; we know it +very well, and all about you. Step in, you're the very man we want to +see. Nash, let Mr. Clifford in." + +After what seemed to be a moment's hesitation Mr. Nash drew the door +wider open, so as to permit of Clifford's entering. When he was in the +door was shut. + + + + + CHAPTER XXX + + WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT + + +"Come in here, Mr. Clifford; it's a very fortunate chance your +dropping in on us like this; you couldn't have arranged it better if +you'd tried. I've no doubt Mr. Nash is glad to see you, and I'm quite +sure I am." + +As Clifford followed Morgan into the sitting-room he eyed him a little +askance. + +"To whom have I the pleasure of speaking?" + +"I'm Mr. Oldfield's most intimate friend; I know more about his +affairs than any man living." + +"May I ask your name?" + +"Morgan; Stephen Morgan." + +"Are you also a solicitor?" + +"Not yet, exactly; I think I may describe myself as Mr. Oldfield's +confidential agent. Come in, Nash; don't stop out there; then we can +have the door closed--it'll be snugger." + +Mr. Nash had stayed in the hall, as if unwilling to associate himself +with Morgan's reception of the new-comer; indeed from his bearing one +might almost have suspected him of an inclination to march out of the +flat, and leave Morgan to deal with Mr. Clifford; possibly he was +deterred by the prosaic accident that his hat was in the sitting-room. +When Morgan bade him go in he went in, and Morgan closed the door +behind him. Clifford looked from one to the other, as if there was +something in the attitude of the two men which he could not make out. + +"May I ask what you gentlemen are doing here?" + +"You may ask; but, so far as I can see, it's no business of yours." + +"Quite so; still--at the same time----" + +"Yes, Mr. Clifford; at the same time?" + +"I wondered." + +"There's no harm in your wondering, Mr. Clifford; none at all." + +Mr. Clifford turned to Nash, as if he preferred his appearance to +Morgan's. + +"Can you tell me, Mr. Nash, where Mr. Oldfield is? or how I can +place myself in communication with him? As you are possibly aware, he +has not been at the office now for some time, and his continued +absence--and I may add, silence, because I have heard nothing from +him--is occasioning much inconvenience." + +"To whom?" + +This was Morgan. Clifford seemed to hesitate, then replied--"To me." + +"To you? Mr. Oldfield hasn't been in the habit of studying your +convenience, has he, Mr. Clifford?" + +The new-comer flushed, as if he felt that the other's words were meant +unpleasantly. When he answered he looked the speaker straight in the +face. + +"Mr. Oldfield has been in the habit of studying not only my +convenience, but every one's convenience, Mr. Morgan; if you suppose +the contrary, I know him better than you do. And, just now, the +circumstances are peculiar. I am to be married next week, and I can +hardly carry out in their entirety the arrangements I have made unless +I know what Mr. Oldfield's movements are likely to be." + +"I see; you are to be married next week?" + +"Mr. Oldfield knows that I am to be married next week." + +"Does he? What's the lady's name?" + +"Mr. Oldfield also knows the lady's name; I told him." + +"Did you? Then I fancy he's forgotten." + +"I never knew Mr. Oldfield forget anything that was of importance to +any one in whom he was interested; so I take leave to doubt your +fancy, Mr. Morgan." + +Mr. Morgan looked at the speaker, for some moments, in rather a +peculiar way; then he thrust his hands deeper into his trousers +pockets, leaned back his head, and laughed. Clifford flushed again. + +"What is the jest, Mr. Morgan?" + +"Jest? Clifford, you're a funny one! you're all the jest I want." + +"Sir!" + +"I give you my word, my dear fellow--" Morgan advanced, with the +apparent intention of laying his hand upon the other's shoulder; +Clifford retreated; Morgan stared. "What's the matter? Why do you draw +back?" + +Clifford's manner was courteously frigid. + +"You will be able to say anything you wish to say to me from where you +are." + +"Oh yes, I'm quite able to say to you all I wish from where I am; or +from anywhere. Don't you think, Mr. Clifford, you're cutting it a +trifle fine?" + +"I don't understand." + +"No? Surely you're not dull. I beg you to believe I'm not. Haven't I +told you I'm Mr. Oldfield's confidential agent?" + +"You have, sir; though what especial interest that fact should have +for me I still fail to understand; and yet I believe that I am not +dull beyond the average man. Mr. Nash, while Mr. Morgan is +endeavouring to find words with which to convey his meaning to my +comprehension, may I again ask you how I can place myself in immediate +communication with Mr. Oldfield?" + +Before Nash could answer, Morgan made a hasty movement towards the +speaker, crying-- + +"You miserable hypocrite! trying to play the innocent with us! asking +how you can place yourself in communication with Mr. Oldfield, when +you know he's dead!" + +"Dead! Mr. Oldfield dead, Mr. Morgan!" + +"Stop that game of pretending, or I shan't be able to keep my hands +off you! Not only is Mr. Oldfield dead, and you know it, but you +killed him!" + +"Killed him! I! Mr. Nash, is your friend sane?" + +"Did ever rogue play the hypocrite so brazenly? and actually I've one +of the weapons with which he killed him on me! and here it is. You +killed him, Mr. Clifford, with that." + +Morgan held out a slip of blue paper on which there was some writing. + +"With that? And what is that? It looks to me rather a singular weapon +with which to commit murder." + +"Does it? you sneering villain! When Brown does all in his power to +make of Smith an honest man, and Smith turns out to be a blackguard +and a thief, do you think that isn't a blow to Brown? It was that kind +of blow killed Joseph Oldfield; it was the shock of learning that you +were a forger." + +"Learning that I was a forger! Mr. Morgan, you--you said just now that +you found it difficult to keep your hands off me; now I'm finding it +difficult to keep mine off you. What justification have you for the +statement you have just made, that I am a forger?" + +"Isn't that justification enough?" + +Again Morgan held out the slip of paper. + +"I repeat the question I put to you just now--what is that?" + +"It's news to you that it's one of the bills you forged?" + +"One? Do you charge me with forging others?" + +"I don't know what you got for them, Mr. Clifford, but you forged +bills to the face value of over forty thousand pounds. Are incidents +of the kind of such frequent occurrence in your career that it is +necessary to recall this one to your recollection?" + +"And do you seriously accuse me of forging bills for more than forty +thousand pounds? Was ever anything heard like it?" + +"Often; there have been plenty of scoundrels before you, if you find +that any consolation." + +"Don't imagine that because I endeavour to retain my self-control in +the midst of this--this sudden nightmare that I am incapable of +showing resentment; if that is what you imagine, you are wrong, Mr. +Morgan. What grounds have you for asserting that I forged that bill, +or any bill?" + +"Mr. Clifford, drop the mask; the time for bluff has gone; try to be +candid. You see, Mr. Nash and I know all about it." + +"Do you? It so happens that I don't. I ask you again, what grounds +have you for asserting that I've committed forgery? Don't be vague; be +specific." + +"I happen to know the man to whom you gave the bills." + +"Do you? What's his name?" + +"Sir Henry Trevor." + +"Sir Henry Trevor? Harry Trevor? Do you venture to affirm that Harry +Trevor says he got forged bills from me, or any bills?" + +"He took them to the discounters; when they asked where he got them +from, he said they came from you. What he got for them, or what share +you had of the plunder, I can't say; at present I'd rather not know; +these are details which may come out at the Old Bailey." + +Up to then Frank Clifford had kept his countenance to a wonderful +degree; but when Mr. Morgan spoke of the Old Bailey his lips +flickered, as they might have done had he been suddenly attacked by +St. Vitus' Dance; the movement passed, he was calm again. + +"Will you let me look at that bill you're holding? I'll not touch it; +I merely want to look." + +"I'll take care you don t touch it. You can look at an old friend. + +"What is the signature it bears?" + +"Don't know? I'll tell you. Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea." + +"Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea? And who is Donald Lindsay, of +Cloverlea?" + +"Really, Mr. Clifford, when you didn't become an actor what the stage +lost! and now-a-days there are so few actors who are to the manner +born. It's the very gist of your offending, you sly scamp, that you +made such use of the knowledge you had surreptitiously obtained that +Joseph Oldfield, of Peter Piper's Popular Pills, was Donald Lindsay, +of Cloverlea." + +Clifford stared, as if the other had been speaking in a foreign +language. + +"What's that? Would you mind saying that again?" + +"I'll not say it again; I'll not pipe to your dancing, you brazen +vagabond!" + +"Are you hinting that Joseph Oldfield is, or was, I don't know which +it ought to be, a pseudonym? that he had, or has, another name?" + +"Is that the trick you're trying to play? You wish it to be believed +that you didn't know there was such a person as Donald Lindsay; that +he and Joseph Oldfield were one and the same; and that in putting the +name upon a bill stamp you did it innocently, in ignorance that was +childlike and bland. The idea is ingenious; as, I fancy, Mr. Clifford, +most of your ideas are; but you won't find a judge or jury quite so +simple." + +Ignoring Mr. Morgan, Frank Clifford, to the unprejudiced observer, +seemed to be engaged in reflections of his own; to which he presently +gave shape in disconnected words. + +"Donald Lindsay? I seem to have heard the name." + +"I shouldn't be surprised." + +"Donald Lindsay? Why--it can't be!" + +"That conscience is pricking you at last? No, it can't be that." + +"Harry Trevor wouldn't--couldn't--he couldn't do a thing like that; +and yet----" + +"And yet? So it's Harry Trevor now; as usual, everybody's guilty +except the man who did it." + +"Mr. Morgan, I'm willing to believe that you don't realize what a +confused nightmare I seem all at once to be moving in, and that that +explains your attitude. If you did realize how wholly you have taken +me by surprise----" + +"I do realize that; I quite think that you're altogether the most +surprised man I've lately met. I don't know what you did expect when +you rang that bell, but I don't suppose that you expected this." + +"I did not; though you speak in one sense, and I in another. With +reference to what you say about those bills, a horrible--I can only +call it fear, has come into my mind, of which I scarcely dare to +think, lest I should be guilty of heinous injustice; and before I +speak of it----" + +"You would like to have time to think it over?" + +"I should." + +"Then you shall have it; that's what I'm coming to. You will be at the +office to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock." + +"I will." + +"You had better." + +"You need not tell me that." + +"Needn't I? I think I need. Mr. Nash and I are administering Mr. +Oldfield's estate." + +"Are you an executor?" + +"I am; the only executor. I do not know that I ought to say so, but +you will understand that I am not committing myself, and that I speak +without prejudice; but, at present, it is our wish--Mr. Nash's and +mine--not to prosecute." + +"Prosecute!" + +"Prosecute. Do you wish me to believe that you were unaware that +forgers are occasionally prosecuted? Our first consideration is, and +must be, the business; we fear that it may do the business no good to +have the manager sent to penal servitude for forgery. These bills have +been taken up, in the first place under a misapprehension, at a very +heavy cost; we will tell you all about that to-morrow; you will have +to make that loss good." + +"I shall!" + +"You will; do you imagine that you are to escape scathless? You are a +truly remarkable person. But, as I have said, we will discuss that in +the morning. I only trust that no further irregularities may be +brought to light." + +"Mr. Morgan!" + +"Please drop that tone; it makes me sick; nothing is so nauseous as a +futile hypocrite. My advice to you is, think things over, carefully, +seriously; in the morning make a clean breast of everything; the more +candid we find you the better it will be. Now, as Mr. Nash and I have +much to attend to, I must ask you to leave us." + +"That I am willing to do; but so far you have done all the talking; +but, before I go, there are some remarks which I wish to make." + +"We wish to hear nothing now--nothing; think first, Mr. Clifford, +think." + +"It is not necessary to think before making simple statements dealing +with plain facts, and you will have to listen, willingly or not; I +have had to listen, now it is your turn. What I have to say is this; +that I did not know Mr. Oldfield was dead; that I did not know that he +had any name but Oldfield; that I had no knowledge of his connection +with Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea; that this is the first time I have +been made aware that there ever was such a person as Donald Lindsay; +that I never before saw the bill of exchange which you showed me just +now." + +"I have proof to the contrary." + +"That's impossible. That there may be a mystery about that bill, and +about the others of which you have spoken, I admit; between this and +to-morrow I may be able to institute inquiries which will throw light +on it; but I assure you, Mr. Morgan, I am as incapable of forgery as +you are. If Mr. Oldfield really did believe that I was capable of such +conduct he was a much worse judge of character than I believed he was. +Now, Mr. Morgan, I will go." + +"With a lie upon your lips." + +"No, sir, not with a lie upon my lips. You will either give your +authorities for the statements you have made, or, in the morning, you +will apologize. You will find that you will have to make many +apologies, Mr. Morgan. I notice, Mr. Nash, that you have not +associated yourself with the charges Mr. Morgan has made, nor with the +language he has used; when I lay the facts before you in the morning, +as I hope to be in a position to do, you will have no cause to regret +your attitude." + +With that Mr. Clifford marched out of the room, and through the front +door. When he had gone Mr. Morgan leaned against a corner of a table, +with his hands in his trousers pockets, and whistled; then he looked +at Mr. Nash, and smiled. + +"Got a face, hasn't he? He can bluff. We may find him rather a harder +nut to crack than I imagined; it's just possible that we may have to +change our plan of operations; the line he has taken up is a little +unexpected. What do you think?" + +"I don't think, Mr. Morgan; I know." + +Mr. Morgan purposely ignored the peculiarity of the other's tone. + +"What do you know, my dear Nash?" + +"I know one thing; that if you do go to Mr. Clifford's office in the +morning you will go alone." + +"Shall I? How's that? Got a previous engagement?" + +"Here, and now, you and I part company; you go your way, I go mine; +under no circumstances will I associate myself with you again." + +"Steady, Nash, steady; do you know where talk like that will lead +you?" + +"It will lead to honesty." + +"It will lead you to jail, and pretty soon." + +"Will it? I'll take the risk. It is not necessary for you to remind me +that on a certain occasion I behaved like a blackguard, and perhaps +worse; I have only regretted it once, and that's been ever since." + +"Regrets, in a case like yours, are useless; they simply mean that you +regret that you're found out. Of course you do." + +"You'll find that my regrets mean more than that. I've behaved badly +since; I've acted like a coward in allowing you to use your guilty +knowledge." + +"Guilty knowledge?" + +"Yes, your guilty knowledge, as you'll discover if you're not careful; +I've let you use it as a lever to drive me into further misdoing. +You've threatened me with the consequences of my misconduct; I've been +afraid to face them. That's over now; I'm going to face them, if only +as the lesser of two evils." + +"Tell me, Nash, what's started you in this conversational strain?" + +"What's brought me to the sticking-point is your conduct to Mr. +Clifford. He's an innocent man; of that I'm absolutely certain; every +insult you flung at him stung me; it shamed me to feel that I was your +associate. I'll be your associate no longer. I'll have no part or +parcel in your attempts to entangle Mr. Clifford as you've entangled +me. I believe they'll fail; but if they do or don't, I'll have no +share in them. Henceforward you and I are strangers; I'm going; if you +stay, you stay alone." + +"Going, are you? Oh no, you're not!" + +Morgan moved between Nash and the door. The two men confronted each +other; there was something on Herbert Nash's face which made of him a +new man. + +"Mr. Morgan"--even in his voice there was a new tone--"more than once +my fingers have itched to take you by the throat, and choke the life +half out of you. If you are wise, you will not attempt to detain me, +or I may find the temptation too strong." + +Possibly Mr. Morgan was conscious that there was something unusual +about Herbert Nash; his manner continued to be so conciliatory. + +"Come, my dear fellow, don't let us fall out about nothing at all. I'm +quite ready to listen to anything you have to say; only, before you +take a step there's no retracing, do listen to reason." + +"No, thank you; I've heard too much of what you call reason already; +I'll hear no more. Stand out of my way." + +"Nash, Nash, don't be hasty! If you'll only let me speak a dozen +words, you'll view the situation in quite a different light." + +"Shall I? Then I'll not let you speak them. I see the situation now in +the only light I mean to see it. Stand out of my way." + +Nash, moving forward, gripped Morgan by the shoulders; either the +assault was unexpected, or he used great force. Swinging Morgan round, +he sent him reeling backwards half across the room; until, coming into +unlooked-for contact with a chair, he fell heavily on to the floor. +Before he could recover Nash had gone from the room, and was out of +the flat. Picking himself up, although he seemed a trifle dazed, +Morgan went rushing after him. When he reached the landing he heard +Nash's voice come up the well of the staircase, from the floor below. + +"Porter, the man Morgan, whom I have left in Mr. Oldfield's flat, has +no right whatever to be there." + +"Hasn't he, sir? How's that? He seems to have done something to upset +Mr. Clifford." + +"When he comes down, if you find that he has anything on him belonging +to the flat--papers, letters, anything--they have been stolen. If you +allow him to leave the building with them on him, possibly you will be +held responsible." + +"Shall I? He shan't leave here with anything on him that doesn't +belong to him, I promise you; there are two or three people about the +place who'll see to that." + +Mr. Morgan waited to hear no more. He slunk back into the flat and +shut the door. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXI + + HUSBAND AND WIFE + + +When Herbert Nash quitted Bloomsbury Mansions he went straight back to +Littlehampton, by the last train of the day to reach that primitive +place. When he arrived at Ocean Villas it was past ten o'clock. His +wife had gone to bed; or, at least, she had retired to her bedroom. As +a matter of fact, she felt as if she never wanted to go to bed again; +unless going to bed was synonymous with eternal sleep. If only she +could go to sleep and never wake! She was of opinion that she was the +most miserable woman; many women think themselves that with less cause +than she had. She was half-undressed, and, crouching on the floor, +rested her head against the bed. In her hands was a telegram, which +she had read again, and again, and again, until it seemed to have +branded itself upon her throbbing brain so that she could not get it +out of her sight even for a second. It had come to her earlier in the +day, and, as telegrams are apt to be, was curt. + + +"Send another five hundred immediately. No excuses will be accepted. + + "MORGAN." + + +Only a day or two ago she had given him a hundred pounds; then sent +him another four hundred, and here already he was demanding five +hundred more. The inference was plain; he would persist in his demands +until he had wrung from her all that she had found on Donald Lindsay's +table. Though he stripped her of every penny she would still be at his +mercy; what would he demand from her then? Whatever it might be, how +would she dare refuse him then, if she dare not refuse him now? + +In a sense, indeed, she had refused him, as it was. He had bade her +send the cash "immediately." That she had not done; she had purposely +not sent it by the night's post; and now was racked by fears of the +measures he might take to show her his resentment. Suppose he told her +husband, as he had threatened to do? If he did! if he did! Had she not +better hide in the sea before Herbert came back again? + +His opportunities for telling were so numerous; he and Herbert were +away together at that moment. That was another of her burdens. What +was the meaning of this sudden, ill-omened connection which had sprung +up between them? Why, all at once, had her husband become the +inseparable companion of the man who had been wont to stand behind her +chair? He had resented, so hotly, the fellow's presumption in even +venturing to write to him; yet now they might be bosom friends; he +even expected her to receive him as an equal. What did it mean? + +Nothing kindles the imagination like a coward conscience. All sorts of +hideous surmises had tormented her. A dozen explanations had occurred +to her; every fresh one more unsavoury than the last. She could see +that her husband had changed; in himself, as well as to her. He was +not the same man; he was always brooding, irritable, depressed. Of +late, not only had he not spoken to her a tender word, he had only +addressed her when compelled, and then with scant civility. What did +such conduct on his part portend? All kinds of doubts afflicted her; +yet among them one was foremost. Was it not possible that Morgan had +poisoned her husband's mind against her? He, perhaps, had not told him +everything, she did not believe he had; but, with diabolical +ingenuity, he might have hinted just enough to make Herbert afraid of +hearing more. In that case her husband might be working Morgan's will +under the delusion that, by so doing, he was protecting her; and all +the while the man was wresting from her all that she had risked so +much to gain--for Herbert's sake. + +As, on the floor in the bedroom there, she wrestled with wild beasts +of her own creation, on a sudden she heard the front door open, and a +familiar step come into the house. It was her husband. She sprang to +her feet, not with joy, but with terror. Why had he come back? He had +told her that he would not return that night; perhaps not on the +morrow. Why had he returned--when he had said that he would not +return--without notice, at that hour of the night? for it seemed to +her that she had been in her bedroom hours. + +She heard him go into the sitting-room; finding it in darkness, no +one there, he came towards where she was. As she heard him take the +half-dozen steps which divided the two rooms, she stood by the +bedstead, trembling from head to foot; it might have been her +executioner, not her husband, who was coming. A wild, frenzied impulse +came to her to turn the key in the lock, and so gain time; but before +she could do it he had opened the door, and was standing in the room. + +It did not need such a rarefied vision as hers was then to perceive +that with him all was not well. She seemed to see him in a blaze of +lightning, phantom-haunted, as she was. It was borne in on her that he +saw her as the hideous thing she saw herself to be, and that that was +why he stood there, white and terrible. If she could she would have +dropped to the floor, and crawled to him, and hung about his knees, +and cried for mercy; but she could not; she had to stand there, +straight and rigid, waiting for him to speak. When he spoke his voice +sounded strange in her ears, as indeed, though she was not aware of +it, it did in his own. + +"I see you guess why I am here!" + +"Guess? How--how can I guess?" + +"Has Morgan told you nothing?" + +"Morgan? What--what could Morgan tell me?" + +"Hasn't he told you that I'm a blackguard and a thief?" + +The words were so wholly different from any she had expected him to +utter that, in the stress of her agitation, they conveyed no meaning +to her mind; she stared at him like one bereft of her senses, as, in +fact, for the moment she was. He misconstrued her look entirely. + +"Elaine," he cried, "don't look at me like that, don't! If you only +knew what I have suffered, what I've gone through, you'd pity me, +you wouldn't look at me as if I was something wholly outside the +pale. I know you've guessed that there was something wrong ever since +that--that brute came; you knew I wouldn't breathe the same air with +him if I could help it; but it mayn't be, Elaine, it mayn't be so bad +as you suppose. I don't ask you to forgive me; I don't even ask you to +continue to regard me as your husband; I know I've forfeited all +claims I may have had on you. All I ask of you is to believe that, at +last, I'm going to try to be a man. I've come to tell you that, and to +tell you that chiefly. I'm not going to stay; you need not fear that +I'll contaminate the house which shelters you; but before I go I think +I ought to tell you just what I've done, and what the temptation was; +not to excuse myself, but so that, whatever happens, you, at least, +may know the truth. I felt that I could not let the night pass without +telling you the truth, if only because I have kept it from you so +long, and in the morning it may be too late; I may not have the chance +of telling it to you, face to face, again." + +The longer he spoke, the more her bewilderment grew. + +"I--I--don't understand," she stammered. + +He made her understand, telling his tale as straightforwardly, as +clearly, as it could be told; as it might have been told even by an +impartial witness; the man that was in him was coming to the front at +last. + +"You see," he said, "I was at Morgan's mercy, or he thought I was; +and, for a time, I thought so too; I was such a coward! And before +long I should have been wholly at his mercy, had not the sight of that +man, Clifford, roused me to a consciousness of what a coward I really +was; then I knew that the only way to be free was to tell the truth, +and let Morgan do what he likes. I've come to tell you the truth, +first of all; and to-morrow I'm going to tell Frank Clifford the +truth; and when I've found Miss Lindsay, I'll tell her the truth. If I +have to suffer for it, I'll suffer; but at any rate I've escaped from +Morgan. What a weight would have been off my mind if I'd escaped from +him before!" + +As she began to grasp the drift of what it was that he was telling +her, she had sunk on to the edge of the bed, and, with distended eyes +and gaping mouth, sat staring at him as if at some thing of horror. He +mistook the meaning of her attitude. + +"I don't wonder you look at me as if I were some repulsive object; I +couldn't be more repulsive to you than I am to myself; I understand +what you feel, what you think; I know I deserve it. I know you never +would have married me if you had known me to be the thing I am; I have +wronged you more than any one. I can't undo the bonds which bind us, +that is not in my power, and I'm afraid the law will not help you. But +this I can do, and I will; I'll take myself out of your life as +completely as I can. Your aunt left you enough to live on; I think you +had better sink it in an annuity; you'll be safer that way; and when I +can I'll contribute what I can. I don't wish to be released from any +of my obligations; on the contrary, I wish to fulfil them both in the +letter and the spirit, and I will. So soon as I am earning money you +shall have your proper share; but in any case it will be a comfort to +me to feel that, in any case, you are provided for. And, in time, when +I've done something towards regaining my self-respect, and--and you +send for me, I'll come to you again, if only for just long enough to +show that I am still alive. But you're rid of me till then. Good-bye." + +He moved towards the door, as if the whole thing was at an end; as if +husband and wife could be sundered quite so easily. She stopped him as +he was going. + +"Herbert!" She spoke in the queerest whisper, as if something had gone +wrong with her vocal chords, the effect of which was to leave her +partially strangled. She held out the telegram she had still in her +hand. "Look at that." + +He took it reluctantly, as if he feared it was a weapon which she +aimed at him. Glancing at it, he read it aloud. + + +"'Send another five hundred immediately. No excuses will be accepted. + + 'MORGAN.' + + +What--what does this mean?" + +"It means that I'm worse than you; much worse than you." + +"Elaine!" She tried to speak, but could not; her voice was strangled +in her throat; it was not nice to watch her struggles to regain the +use of it. He moved towards her, startled. "Elaine! what's the +matter?" + +"I'm--I'm--I'm going to tell you, only I--I---- Give me--something--to +drink--there's some water--in the bottle." She pointed to the +washstand. He brought her some water; but she could not drink it. She +could not hold the glass in her own hand; she could not swallow when +he raised it to her lips. He put the glass down on the floor. Her +condition frightened him. Although he had just been speaking of +leaving her for an indefinite period, now he knelt beside her on the +floor, and, putting his arms about her, held her close, soothing her +as best he could. It was while he held her that she told him; she +confessed in her agony; the words being wrung from her as if they had +been gouts of blood. He continued to hold her all the time. When, in +his turn, he began to understand her story, he was man enough to +realize that it was only his support which gave her the strength she +needed; that but for his encircling arms, and the consciousness that +they were his arms, she would collapse. As, by degrees, her meaning +was borne in on his understanding, the fashion of his countenance was +changed, and he kept his face averted, but he never moved. When, in +disconnected sentences, the root of the matter had been told, she did +what he had not done; she began, in a manner, to excuse herself. "It +was--because you said that you wanted money, and--that we couldn't be +married without it, that I went back and took the money--which was on +the table. And Morgan saw me." + +"Morgan saw you!" + +It was the first time he had spoken; there was a curious contrast +between his voice and hers. + +"He was in the room all the time--but in the darkness--I never knew +it." + +"So Morgan has held us in the hollow of his hand; both of us!" + +"I gave him five hundred pounds the other day, and now he's +telegraphed for more." + +"Poor Elaine! It seems, after all, that we're a well-matched pair, +both thieves and cowards." + +"Herbert!" + +She spoke as if she shrieked. + +"My dear, do let us look facts in the face now that we are trying to +make ourselves known to each other." + +"I--shouldn't have taken the money--if I hadn't thought--Nora was +rich--and it would make no difference." + +"I'm afraid that the question of Miss Lindsay's wealth or poverty +could make no difference to the thing you did." + +"I know that--now." + +"When it seemed that Miss Lindsay was a pauper did you give her back +any of the money you had taken under a misconception?" + +"I meant to--but I never did--I meant to give her a thousand pounds." + +"It's a pity you didn't; it might have caused the residue to appear a +little less dingy. We're a pair of beauties! God help us both; we need +His help!" + +"I--haven't dared to ask for it." + +But she did dare that night; they both of them dared. Already, since +they had been married, they had had some strange days and nights; but +that was the strangest night of their strange honeymoon. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXII + + A FORGOTTEN COAT + + +Lady Jane Carruthers was one of those elderly ladies who are never +quite well, yet seldom actually ill. She was a great believer in what +she called "air." + +"If you breathe the right air you're all right; and if you breathe the +wrong air you're all wrong, and there's the whole science of medicine +in a nutshell; believe me, my dear, because I know; mine's the +teaching of actual experience. So long as I'm well in a place I stay +there; I know the air's right; but so soon as I begin to feel a little +out of sorts I know the air has ceased to be right, I go away at once; +the consequence is that there are very few people who move about as +much as I do." + +It chanced that, in one of her pursuits after the right air, Lady +Jane went to Littlehampton; and, being there, with nothing to do +except breathe the right air, by way of doing something she sent for +her nephew, the Hon. Robert Spencer. She dispatched to him this +telegram-- + +"Come down to me this afternoon. I wish to speak to you." + +When he received the telegram the Honourable Robert pulled a face; he +happened to have a good deal to do. His impulse was to wire back-- + +"Can't come. Speak on." + +However, he felt that the result of such a message might be +disastrous; so, instead of sending it, he obeyed his aunt's commands, +and went down to Littlehampton. + +On his arrival, in response to his inquiries, Lady Jane informed him +that the local air was still on its trial; she was not yet quite sure +if it was, or was not, all right. It was true that she had had a touch +of indigestion; but she was not certain if that had anything to do +with the lobster salad she had had for luncheon three days running, or +with some peculiarity in the neighbouring atmosphere. It was true that +too much ozone was a disturbing influence; on the other hand she +admitted that yesterday she had eaten rather more of the salad than +she had meant to eat. Certainly the local lobsters were delicious; she +had determined so much; but, for the present, the question of the +quality of the local air was in suspense. The nephew knew his aunt. He +was aware that if he asked her if there actually was anything which +she wished to speak to him about she would look at him with chilly +gaze, and inquire if she had not been speaking to him on matters of +the most serious import already. Was he a Christian? Was he void of +all human feeling? Did he take no interest in her health? Then what +did he mean? As he did not wish to be asked what he meant in a tone of +voice he had heard before, he listened to her ladyship doubting, now +the lobsters, now the air, with the best grace in the world; for the +Honourable Robert Spencer really was an excellent fellow. And, in +course of time, his virtue was rewarded. + +After dinner--at which there was no fish at all, as if it had been he +who had suffered from the lobsters--she assumed a portentous air, and +requested him to bring a dispatch-box, which stood on a side table, +and place it in front of her; which he did. + +"Robert," she began, "I regret to have to tell you that you are one of +the most careless persons I have ever encountered." He admitted it; +inwardly wondering of what act of carelessness he had been guilty this +time, and what the dispatch-box had to do with it anyhow. Her ladyship +went on. "When you were staying with me in Cairo, after you left me, +you lost a suit-case; or, at least, you said you lost a suit-case." + +"My dear aunt, I not only said, I actually did lose a suit-case; and a +most important loss it was; for all I can tell it may have transformed +the whole course of my life; and--and somebody else's life as well. By +some stroke of good fortune you haven't come across it, have you?" + +"No, Robert, I have not; nor do I imagine that anybody ever will, in +this world." Whether she thought it likely that somebody would in +another world was not quite clear. "I do not know if you are aware +that, apart from your suit-case, you lost something else when you were +staying with me at Cairo. I imagine, from your manner, that you have +not discovered your loss even yet." + +"It's very possible; I seem to have such a genius for losing things +that sometimes I don't know what I do lose." + +"I am grieved to hear you say so; it amazes me. It only shows how +incapable a man is of looking after his own belongings; as I have +always maintained. I never lost anything in my life, except a pair of +house-shoes, which I left at Horsham House, and which have never been +returned to me to this hour." + +"I hope it was nothing very important I left." + +"It depends upon what you call important. There are different +standards in such matters; though you appear to have none. I should +call it important; but then my wardrobe is limited. You left a coat +and waistcoat." + +"Well, I rather fancy that my wardrobe is more limited than yours; +but--I don't recall that coat and waistcoat." + +"I am not surprised; after what you have just said, nothing would +surprise me. Baker brought them to me after you had gone; an admirable +servant, Baker. Were I to repeat to her what you have admitted she +would credit it with difficulty; she knows my ways. In the inside +pocket of the coat were some papers." + +"Papers? Aunt! What papers?" + +Lady Jane unlocked the dispatch-box; took from it a small packet; and, +placing her glasses on her nose, proceeded to read what was written on +half-a-sheet of note-paper. + +"This is an inventory of what was contained in the pockets of your two +garments. Unlike you, fortunately, or I don't know where I should be, +I am a creature of method; I do everything by rule. I drew up this +list after Baker had searched the garments in my presence. In the +waistcoat were three pockets; which contained, one penknife; two +toothpicks--which I threw away; one pencil, or, rather, part of a +pencil; three wax matches, loose, which were most dangerous, and which +I had destroyed; a cigar-cutter, or, rather, what I presume is a +cigar-cutter, Baker didn't know what it was; four visiting-cards, +three of them your own, and the fourth somebody else's, and all of +them shockingly untidy; and the return half of a ticket from Brighton +to London, which was then more than three months old. In the coat were +five pockets; it has always been a mystery to me what men want with so +many pockets; judging from what was in yours I am inclined to think +that they use them merely as receptacles for rubbish. Some of the +things which were in yours I had thrown away; the following are +what I have kept. One pocket-handkerchief; one pair of gloves; one +tobacco-pouch; one pipe, a horrid, smelling thing which I had boiled +in soapy water, but which still smells; one matchbox--empty. I suppose +it was meant to contain the matches which were loose in your +waistcoat; a cigar-case; a golf ball; while in the inside pocket were +the papers of which I have told you." + +"I don't suppose they're anything very serious, after what you've just +been reading." + +"Don't you? Then you must have your own ideas of what is serious; if I +had thought they were of no interest I shouldn't have troubled you to +come to Littlehampton." + +"But, my dear aunt, what are they? You--you do keep a man on +tenter-hooks." + +"I don't know why you say that. I am going to tell you what they are; +but, as you are of opinion that they are not serious, I should have +imagined that you were in no hurry. There are letters written to you +by Miss Lindsay; there are nine of them; some men would have thought +them serious." + +As he took the packet which she held out to him his countenance +changed in a manner which was almost comically sudden. + +"Letters written by---- Why, they're Nora's! But--I thought----" + +"Never mind what you thought, Robert; you see what they are. As this +envelope is sealed, and is inscribed that it is not to be opened till +after the writer's death, some persons might have thought that that +was of interest also." + +He regarded the envelope she offered as if he found it difficult to +believe that his eyes were not playing him a trick. "Aunt, it's--it's +the envelope which Donald Lindsay sent me, and---- But I don't +understand; it's incredible! Aunt, why didn't you let me know this +before?" + +"Why should I? It was in a coat of which you thought so little that +you didn't even know you'd lost it; the natural inference was that you +were hardly likely to leave anything of the least importance in the +pocket of a coat which you valued at nothing." + +"But--I thought I put it in my suit-case--I've chased the case half +round the world. Aunt, what have you done?" + +"What have I done? You mean, what have you done? If anything has been +done I trust it is something from which you will learn a lesson. I +said to myself, if these are of the least consequence, he will ask for +them; since he has been guilty of such culpable carelessness I'll wait +till he does ask. But I waited, and I waited, and you never asked, you +never once alluded to them. What could I conclude? At last they +slipped my memory, as sometimes trifles will do; I came upon them, by +mere accident, as I was looking through this dispatch-box last night; +so I sent for you that I might give them to you in person, though, +naturally, I had long ago come to the conclusion that they were not of +the slightest importance." + +He drew a long breath. + +"Well, this is the most extraordinary thing that ever has happened to +me!" + +"If that is the case I can only hope that it will teach you not to +leave papers in the pockets of a coat which you fling down anywhere, +anyhow, and instantly forget." + +"I--I hope it will teach me something of the kind. As this envelope +may contain a communication of much consequence, may I ask you to +excuse me while I go to examine it at once? + +"Why is it necessary that you should leave me? Why can't you examine +it here? You know what an interest I take in all that concerns you. +Sit down; open your envelope; see what's inside; you need fear no +interruption from me." + +"Then--if you don't mind--I will." Inside the envelope were two sheets +of large letter paper, closely covered, on all eight sides, with +Donald Lindsay's fine handwriting. Robert Spencer had not read far +before he broke into exclamation. "What the--I beg your pardon, +aunt--I didn't quite--but this is most extraordinary." As he read on, +more than once he punctuated his reading with interjectional remarks; +evidently what he read occasioned him profound surprise. When he had +finished he looked about him as if he was not quite sure where he was. +When he perceived Lady Jane he started from his chair in evident +perturbation; as good as her word, she had not interrupted him by so +much as a movement, and now sat eyeing him grimly. He turned to her +with a laugh which did not sound very natural. "Well, aunt, we've done +it, you and I, between us!" + +"Pray attribute nothing to me; I decline to accept any responsibility +for your criminal carelessness." + +"I can only say that while Nora Lindsay has been treated like a +fraudulent pauper, turned out of house and home, sent out into the +world to earn her bread, she may be starving for all I know; I've left +no stone unturned, but I've been able to find no trace of her; all the +time the letter has been lying in your desk which shows that she is +one of the richest women in England, and I verily believe that her +father owed no man anything." + +"If that is so, Robert, then I don't envy you your feelings when you +reflect that Miss Lindsay's sufferings are solely and entirely the +result of your own misconduct." + +"If you had only let me know you had the letter!" + +"Are you attempting to fasten blame on me? For your monstrous and +incredible negligence in doing nothing, and less than nothing, to +safeguard a document which you now assert is of such importance!" + +"Well, what's done's done! And Nora has had her home taken from her, +and the things she cared for scattered to the four winds; it's been +one of the greatest steals on record! and she's been shamed in the +face of all the world, and she may be eating out her heart in some +last refuge of the destitute, and all the while---- It's a pretty +story, on my word!" + +"It all comes from your mother and father taking it for granted that +the girl was a beggar; I nearly had a serious quarrel with your mother +because I told her I shouldn't be surprised if, after all, she was +mistaken; but your mother's like her son." + +"Thank you, aunt; my mother only took for granted what others took for +granted. I've heard you say some severe things about Miss Lindsay." + +"I've simply said that you're not in a position to marry a penniless +girl; and you're not." + +"If I could only have found her I'd have made her marry me, though she +hadn't a shoe to her foot, nor a penny in her pocket; I'd not have let +her go until she did. Thank God, she knew it, and that's why she's +hidden herself. Poor Nora! Will she--will she ever forgive any of us! +It's a tragedy I've never heard the like of; and all through some +one's blundering. But, as I've said, talk's no healer. I can't go +to-night, there's no train; but I shall go up to town in the morning +to investigate some of the statements which are contained in this +letter; and now, if you don't mind, aunt, I must get out of doors; I +must have what you're so fond of--air." + +He wanted something more than air; he wanted a vent for the feelings +which filled his breast, as it seemed to him, to bursting point. He +tore up and down the front; he had it to himself at that hour, so that +the unusual pace at which he strode along did not attract inconvenient +attention. The promenade at Littlehampton is not a very long one, but +he walked ever so many miles before he had done with it. It was easy +enough to blame Lady Jane; he felt strongly that that lady had not +behaved so well as she might have done; keeping a letter from him +while the weeks stretched out into months seemed to him to be a course +of action for which there was no excuse; but, all the same, he was +perfectly well aware that the fault was originally his. The parable of +the grain of mustard-seed came into his mind as he thought of the +Upas-tree of disaster which had sprung from a beginning which was +apparently so insignificant; he thought he had put the letter in his +suit-case and he had left it in one of his pockets instead; because of +that slight misadventure ruin had come to Nora; such ruin! His aunt +had punished him severely. He could not recall the coat even then; the +only explanation of which he could think was that he had supposed he +had packed the coat itself in his suitcase. If Lady Jane had but +dropped so much as a hint! He did not know how much cause he had to +rejoice because the letter was not where he had believed it to be; if +Mr. Morgan had only found it when he reclaimed the suit-case it might +have provided him with the means of keeping Nora Lindsay out of her +own for an indefinite length of time; the tragedy might have become a +tragedy indeed. + +In the morning, when Mr. Spencer reached the station, on the platform +were two familiar figures. He advanced to greet them. + +"Why, Mr. Nash, and Miss Harding! this is an unexpected pleasure; I +didn't expect to find such pleasant memories of Cloverlea at +Littlehampton." + +"Miss Harding," exclaimed the gentleman, "is now my wife; she is Mrs. +Nash. We"--he hesitated, and then went on--"we are just finishing our +honeymoon." + +Mr. Spencer's face expressed astonishment which was hardly flattering +to either of the parties concerned. + +"You--don't say so; then--that's another unexpected pleasure. Mrs. +Nash, you must allow me to offer you my congratulations." + +He was about to go with some of the banal remarks which are made on +such occasions when he was struck by the look which was on the young +wife's face, and by the singularity of her attitude. She seemed to be +in mortal terror. Shrinking back, cowering, she clung to her husband's +arm, as if she was afraid that Spencer would have struck her. Nor did +Herbert Nash wear the expression of beatitude which is supposed to be +proper to a bridegroom who is returning from his honeymoon. It was +apparently with an effort that he said to Robert Spencer-- + +"If you are going up by this train, Mr. Spencer, will you allow my +wife and me to travel with you? If--if we can get a compartment to +ourselves we have something to tell you, touching Miss Lindsay's +affairs, which--which I think we ought to tell you." + +The separate compartment was found; and, as a consequence, between +Littlehampton and London, Robert Spencer read human nature, as it +were, by flashes of lightning. Both husband and wife laid bare their +breasts to him; and what they left unsaid he saw between the lines. It +was a journey neither of the trio ever forgot. By the time the train +entered the terminus his soul shuddered at the thought of the mountain +of wrong which had been laid upon the woman he loved; who, after all, +was the merest girl. Yet, acutely though he felt for her, he felt also +for the miserable pair who were in front of him; already they had +probably suffered even more than Nora; and the worst of their +sufferings were still to come. + +The three got into a four-wheeled cab and drove to Memorial Buildings. +Mr. Clifford was out. Then, the clerk who received them asked if they +were Messrs. Morgan and Nash. + +"This is Mr. Nash," explained the Honourable Robert, "but my name's +Spencer. Has Mr. Morgan been here?" + +No, he had not. Mr. Clifford had been at the office till eleven +o'clock; and had then left word that if Messrs. Nash and Morgan called +in his absence they were to be informed that he had gone to Mr. +Hooper, of Fountain Court, Temple, where they would find him if they +liked to follow. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXIII + + THE AUTOGRAPH ALBUM + + +Mr. Hooper, leaning back in his chair, surveyed his cousin as if he +were some strange animal. + +"Although your conduct strikes me as--shall I say?--abnormal, I don't +wish to insinuate anything disagreeable, my dear Frank; still, if you +are sane I wish you'd prove it." + +Mr. Clifford passed his handkerchief across his brow, as if he found +the temperature trying. + +"It's all very well to laugh--if you're supposed to be laughing--but, +if you were in my position, you'd find it no laughing matter. I'm to +be married next week." + +"That is a prospect calculated to turn the strongest brain; granted!" + +"Look here, Jack, I'll throw something at you if you talk like that; +I've come for sense, not idiocy. Under the circumstances Mr. +Oldfield's continued absence--and silence--was pretty bad to bear; and +now to be told he's dead----" + +"Dead? you don't mean to say that Oldfield's dead!" + +"So I was informed last night by two men, one named Nash, and the +other Morgan. Nash introduced himself as Oldfield's solicitor, and +Morgan said he was his sole executor. A more unclubable man than +Morgan I never met; he's not even a good imitation of a gentleman; how +Oldfield came to appoint him as his sole executor is beyond my +comprehension." + +"What can you expect from a pill-man? I should take anything as a +matter of course from the proprietor of Peter Piper's Popular Pills." + +"They're a sound, wholesome medicine." + +"Of course; we won't flog a dead donkey. And when did Oldfield die? +and what of? did you know that he was ill?" + +"I hadn't the ghost of a notion. And the best--or rather the worst--of +it is that Messrs. Nash and Morgan seem to take it for granted that I +knew all about it; especially the man Morgan." + +"Why should he do that? And what's the harm if he does?" + +Clifford was drumming on the table with his finger-tips, nervously; as +a rule he was one of the coolest and most collected of men; now his +embarrassment was obvious. + +"That's one of the charms of the position; showing that one man may +know another for a long time, and yet know nothing at all about him. +According to the two gentlemen Joseph Oldfield lived a double life, +and his name wasn't Oldfield at all." + +"There you are again, the pill-man! It at least looks as if he had the +saving grace of being ashamed to have it known that he was connected +with his own pills." + +"I admit it does make it look as if he were ashamed, though I don't +see why he should have been; since, as I say, they are a sound and +wholesome medicine." + +"No doubt; the elixir of life; cure all ills; see advertisements." + +"There is no reason why a man should be more ashamed of being +associated with an honest medicine than with the profession of the +law, which is not all honesty." + +"True, O king! Still, however, let's pass on. If his name wasn't +Oldfield, what was it?" + +"Can't you guess?" + +"Can't I--would you mind saying that again; only let me warn you that +if you've come here to ask riddles there'll be ructions." + +"Don't be an ass, if you can help it! I saw the girl who's in the next +room in his room, yesterday." + +"You saw her? I don't believe it." + +"At least I saw her likeness; it was on his writing-table. She seemed +to be looking at me during the whole of a very unpleasant scene; it +was odd how the feeling that she was looking at me affected me; the +excellence of the likeness is proved by the fact that I recognized her +as the original the moment I saw her." + +"Then do you mean----" + +"I mean that, according to Messrs. Nash and Morgan, Oldfield's real +name was Lindsay, Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea. What's Miss Lindsay +doing here?" + +It was Mr. Hooper's turn to look surprised. As was his custom, when at +all moved, getting up from his chair, he began to wander about the +room. + +"Why--she's typing, very badly, some absolutely worthless rubbish, for +the magnificent payment of two guineas a week, which I can't afford to +pay her." + +"That sounds involved. Do you mean that she acts as your typewriter?" + +"No, sir; she's my jobbing secretary; though I don't know what that +is; nor does she. And in that position she's earning two guineas a +week; which is more than I am." + +"What's the idea?" + +"The idea is that she's a lady; and that she wanted to earn her daily +bread, desperately badly. Mind, you're not to breathe a word of this +to her, or she'll go away at once, and probably never forgive me into +the bargain." + +"It strikes me that you've been entertaining an angel unawares. She +says she's the daughter of Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea." + +"What she says goes. That girl wouldn't tell a lie--well, she +wouldn't." + +"Then in that case she must be worth piles of money. I don't +understand why she's here; unless---- Is it possible that she doesn't +know of the connection between Lindsay and Oldfield?" + +"Frank, there's a mystery about that girl; I've suspected it all +along; now suspicion's growing to certainty. Let's ask her to come in, +and we'll put her in the box. I'd give--more than I am ever likely to +have, to be to her a bearer of good tidings." + +"Jack! Is it like that?" + +"You idiot! I've only known her about two minutes; besides, she'd +never look at the likes of me; I feel it in the marrow of my bones. +But that's no reason why, if you have good news for her, she shouldn't +know them." + +"One moment! The point on which I've come to consult you I haven't yet +reached; and a very nasty one it is; all the same, my dear Jack, we +must leave Miss Lindsay till we've discussed it. I'm accused of having +committed forgery." + +"Frank! you're jesting!" + +"It would be a grim jest if I were; but I'm not. Yesterday Mr. Morgan +charged me, point-blank, with having forged--and uttered--bills, for +over forty thousand pounds; more, he seemed amazed because I did not +at once confess my guilt and throw myself upon his mercy." + +"The man's a lunatic!" + +"Mr. Nash did not directly associate himself with Mr. Morgan's +charges; on the other hand, he did not dissociate himself. His +attitude puzzled me. I fancy that he had no doubt about my guilt until +he met me, and that, afterwards, his judgment was in suspense." + +"But what foundation had either of these men for such a monstrous +accusation?" + +"That's the difficulty; Morgan professes to believe he has a sound +one." + +"Whose name are you supposed to have forged?" + +"Donald Lindsay's." + +"But you never heard it till yesterday." + +"That is so; but Morgan called me a liar, right out, when I said so; +and appearances may be against me. Jack, I'm in an awkward position." + +"I don't see why; you can bring Mr. Morgan to book, and there's an end +of him." + +"There's more in it than you suppose; it's not so simple. Let me +explain; or at least try to. You've heard me speak of a man named +Trevor, Harry Trevor?" + +"I know! Sir Henry Trevor! He's a blackguard!" + +"I'm afraid he's not all that he might be, but that has only begun to +dawn upon me lately. At one time he and I were intimate. When I was +last in Paris I met him one day on the Boulevard. Although, somehow, +we'd drifted apart; our paths in life lay in different directions; +still I was very glad to see him, and we chummed up at once. He was +living in Paris; had an apartment on the Champs Elysee, at the top +there, near the Arch. He knew everybody; took me about; I had a royal +time. One night I dined with him in his rooms, he and I alone +together. Now I'm reluctant to make a direct charge, because I've no +proof to offer, but I wondered then, and I've wondered still more +since, if he hadn't done something to his wine." + +"How--done something?" + +"You know I'm an abstemious man, I don't care for wine; as a rule I +drink nothing at meals, not even water. But on an occasion like that +it was different. I had one glass of champagne, one of those small +tumblers; when the servant began to fill it up I stopped him; not that +there was anything wrong with the champagne, I feel sure there wasn't. +After dinner, with our fruit, we had some port; I wanted neither the +port nor the fruit, but Trevor insisted. The servant had left the +room; he himself took a bottle out of a cupboard; he laid it in a +cradle; he drew the cork; you know the fuss some men make about +drawing a cork of what they allege is a remarkable bottle of wine. He +made all that fuss, he insisted upon my sampling it; of course after +all the business he had gone through, I had no option; he poured me +out a glassful. Now I believe that wine was not all he pretended." + +"What makes you think it?" + +"As soon as I tasted it I didn't like it, I told him so. He said +I should change my opinion by the time I'd finished the glass; +so--merely to get rid of it--I finished the glass in a hurry, and I +liked it less than ever." + +"How did it affect you?" + +"It upset me; I was conscious that I was not in a condition in which I +should care to do business." + +"Did you say anything?" + +"I told him that I thought the wine had a very funny taste; but he +only laughed and said it was evident that I was no judge of port." + +"You only had one glass?" + +"One only; nothing short of physical force would have induced me to +touch another drop." + +"Then what did you do?" + +"We went into the other room, his sitting-room. He took out an +autograph album, it seemed that he collected autographs; though that +was the first I'd heard of it. He began to talk about imitating +people's handwriting, how good some were at it. Now it's a fact that +I've always had an unfortunate facility for imitating handwriting." + +"It is, as you say, an unfortunate facility; one not overmuch to be +desired." + +"When I was at school I used to imitate the masters' writing, the +other fellows' writing, anybody's writing; it used to give me a sort +of importance in the eyes of the other boys, and I'm afraid I +sometimes used my gift in ways which weren't altogether to my credit; +you haven't forgotten what boys are. Trevor was at school with me, so +he knew all about it. As he turned over page after page of his album, +he kept saying that I couldn't imitate this writing, and I couldn't +imitate that; I hadn't tried my hand since I had left school; I didn't +know if he was right or wrong, and I didn't care. Finally he came to a +signature which, so far as I remember, was on a scrap of paper which +might have been torn off the bottom of a letter; the name itself was +recalled to my memory with unpleasant vividness yesterday--it was +Donald Lindsay." + +"Frank!" + +"We are fearfully and wonderfully made. It had gone clean out of my +mind till Mr. Morgan showed it to me yesterday on a bill of exchange; +then it came back with a rush of recollection which frightened me. +Wasn't that an extraordinary thing?" + +"Go on; I don't see yet what you are coming to." + +"Trevor made a special point of this signature. He sat down and +imitated it himself, and then challenged me to do better. His +imitation was a bad one; and--I did better." + +"What did you write on?" + +"I have a vague impression that it was on a blank sheet of paper; but +I was in such a state of muddle that I couldn't positively affirm. Had +I been myself I should have changed the conversation before, but I was +in such a condition that I could only sit and listen, with but a dim +appreciation of his meaning." + +"But you do remember copying Donald Lindsay's signature on what you +believe was a blank sheet of paper?" + +"Unfortunately I do; the name meant nothing to me; I had never heard +of such a person; I acted on Trevor's persistent suggestion +practically like a man might do who was in a mesmeric trance. When I +had finished, Trevor, taking it up, declared it wasn't a bit like, +and, if I couldn't do better than that, he'd beaten me. So I tried +again." + +"You mean that you copied Donald Lindsay's signature a second time?" + +"I did." + +"On the same sheet of paper?" + +"I couldn't positively say, but it wouldn't surprise me to be told +that it was on a fresh sheet. I've a hazy notion that I copied it a +third and fourth time; Trevor each time declaring that it was not a +bit like. By that time my brain was torpid, all I could do was move my +fingers; presently I could no longer move those. I lost consciousness. +The next thing I can recollect is waking up in bed at my hotel feeling +very ill. I rang for the waiter. When he appeared he told me, with a +grin, that I had been brought to the hotel in a cab; that I had had to +be carried out, borne up-stairs, undressed, and put to bed; the +inference being that I was drunk. But I knew better. There happened to +be staying in the hotel a doctor who practises at Karlsbad, with whom +I had some acquaintance, Dr. Adler, a man of cosmopolitan reputation. +I sent for him, and when he came he at once pronounced that I had been +poisoned." + +"Poisoned? Actually poisoned?" + +"Actually poisoned. Adler saved my life; I believe that without him I +should have died. It was three days before I could get out of bed; and +then I was so weak that I had to be helped across the room." + +"What did you do?" + +"I sent a note to Trevor, by hand. The messenger returned with it, +saying Trevor had left Paris the day after I had dined with him, and +his apartment was shut up." + +"And then?" + +"I returned to London. I had already overstayed my time; I was wanted +at the office; I resumed my duties, and forgot all about it; or, at +least, I tried to. What could I do? The conclusion to which I came was +that there had been something wrong with the wine. I had known Trevor +the greater part of his life; I had never known him to be guilty of a +disreputable action; I could conceive of no motive which might induce +him to play tricks with an old friend, at his own table; I resolved +that, when occasion offered, I would tell him the tragic tale of how +his port had affected me; until yesterday I supposed that it was by +sheer accident that so far an opportunity had not arisen, and that I +had heard and seen nothing of Trevor from that day to this; and there +you are!" + +"That's not all the story." + +"So far as I've actual knowledge it is; the rest is mere surmise, +based on what Mr. Morgan told me yesterday. He says that bills for +over forty thousand pounds, purporting to be signed by Donald Lindsay, +have been discounted by Trevor, who asserted that he had them from me. +If that's true it looks as if those pieces of paper on which I copied +Lindsay's signature were bill stamps." + +"Have you no recollection of them whatever?" + +"None. If that is so then the possibility is that Trevor knew of the +connection between Lindsay and Oldfield; and that that is why he +hocussed me--Oldfield's managing man--into copying Lindsay's name; +which points to a plot, on Trevor's part, of the most iniquitous +kind." + +"Where is Sir Henry Trevor now?" + +"That I don't know. After leaving Morgan last night I hunted for him +everywhere; wired to Paris, searched all over London. Nothing has been +heard of him at any of his old haunts for at any rate the last three +or four months; he seems to have vanished." + +"Who discounted the bills?" + +"That, also, I can't tell you; we shall probably hear all about that +from Mr. Morgan. What I want to learn is, legally, in what position do +I stand?" + +"It's not easy to say. To begin with they'll have to prove that the +bills were forged." + +"And then?" + +"Then they'll have to produce Trevor. A man who is capable of behaving +as he has done is quite likely to be willing to swear that he received +the bills in their completed state from you." + +"Which means?" + +"Your word against his; to clear yourself you'll have to convict him, +which mayn't be easy, or agreeable for you." + +"Sounds cheerful; especially as I'm to be married next week!" + +"There's one hope for you." + +"Only one? Let's have it." + +"The fact that Miss Lindsay is in the next room. If she has anything +to do with it she'll even forgive you for allowing yourself to get +mixed up with such a scamp as Trevor; I know more about him than it +seems you do. That girl could forgive anybody anything, she's a saint +in embryo. I suggest that we invite her to come in here, and that we +then put to her some leading questions." + + + + + CHAPTER XXXIV + + UNTO THE LIGHT + + +When Nora entered she looked from one man to the other, as if she +wondered by which of them her presence was desired. She declined the +chair which Mr. Hooper offered. On his persisting in his request to +her to be seated she observed, with the naive mixture of humility and +pride which became her so well, that she would rather not sit, as she +was engaged in copying a passage which was more than usually involved, +and to which she would like to return as soon as she could. Mr. +Hooper, at her back, directed a glance at Mr. Clifford, of which, had +she intercepted it, she would probably have required a prompt +explanation. + +"I think, Miss Lindsay," he said, "that it is possible that you will +do no more copying for me, and that the passage of which you speak may +remain unfinished." + +She turned quickly round to him, alarm on her face. + +"Mr. Hooper! Why do you say that? What have I done?" + +"Everything you have done, Miss Lindsay, you have done excellently; if +you will permit me to ask you a few questions, you will understand why +I say it. Please sit down." + +"Thank you; I much prefer to stand." + +"You, of course, are at liberty to please yourself; but, in that case, +Mr. Clifford and I must also continue to stand, and that may be +inconvenient." Thereupon she subsided on to the chair which he had +placed for her, glancing as she did so at the two men in front of her +as if she suspected them of having conspired together to compel her to +seat herself against her will. Mr. Hooper assumed an air which was +almost judicial. "I beg you to believe, Miss Lindsay, that in putting +to you the questions I am about to put I am actuated only by +considerations of your own interests. If they seem at all impertinent, +I assure you that it is in appearance only; as, if you will answer +them frankly, you will immediately perceive. To begin with, how many +children had your father beside yourself?" + +It is possible that she looked as surprised as she felt; she could +hardly have felt more surprised than she looked. She hesitated; then +briefly answered-- + +"None." + +"Then--pardon me if I pain you--were you not on good terms with your +father when he died?" + +Her eyes opened wider; it seemed that her amazement grew. + +"Of course I was; what do you mean? If you had ever known my father +you wouldn't have dreamt of asking such a--such a silly question; I +don't wish to be rude, but you wouldn't. My father never said an angry +word to me in the whole of his life." + +"But, in that case, to whom did he leave his money?" + +"To me." + +"To you?" + +"He left everything he had in the world to me absolutely; I don't know +quite what it means, but I know that's what they said, absolutely." + +"Then now it's my turn not to understand you. Your father was an +immensely wealthy man. If you are his heiress, how is it I have the +honour, and happiness, of seeing you here, in receipt of a modest +weekly salary?" + +"Every one thought papa was rich; I did; I understood him to tell me +himself that he was; but it seemed, after all, that he wasn't. Indeed, +as soon as he was dead, some man said he owed him a great deal of +money, for bills." + +"Bills!" + +The interruption came from Clifford. + +"I don't know what kind of bills they were; but I know they were bills +of some kind, because I was told so; then they came and sold +everything to get money to pay the bills, and I was left with +nothing." + +The two men eyed each other as if the significance of what the girl +said surpassed their comprehension. Mr. Clifford continued his +interposition. + +"Miss Lindsay, Mr. Hooper has told you my name; it is Clifford--Frank +Clifford. I believe I knew your father for many years, and am indebted +to him for many kindnesses. Did he never mention my name to you?" + +"Clifford? No, I don't remember his ever having done so." + +"I saw your portrait in his rooms yesterday, and when I saw you this +morning I recognized you at once." + +"His rooms? What rooms?" + +"His rooms in town." + +"I didn't know he had any; we couldn't find out that he had an address +in town." + +"You couldn't find out that he had an address in town? I don't +understand; there is something very strange here. Do you know a Mr. +Nash?" + +"Herbert Nash? He acted as my solicitor after my father was dead." + +"Your solicitor, or your father's?" + +"Mine. He went through my father's papers with a friend, and it was he +who discovered that he had left no money." + +"This is stranger and stranger. How many executors did your father +appoint?" + +"Executors?" + +"How many executors did your father appoint in his will?" + +"I never heard that he appointed any." + +"Then did you ever hear of a Mr. Morgan?" + +"Morgan? Stephen Morgan? Stephen Morgan was our butler at Cloverlea." + +Mr. Clifford gave what seemed like a gasp of astonishment. + +"Your butler! Miss Lindsay, would you mind describing your butler?" +She did it so minutely that he identified his visitor of yesterday +beyond a doubt. "I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Morgan, Miss +Lindsay; but he did not introduce himself as your father's butler. +Would it be asking too much to ask you to describe your father?" + +"I can do better than that. He never would be photographed by a +professional, but I managed to snap him two or three times with my own +camera; I have a print of the very last snapshot I took of him here. +It's not much as a photograph, but it's not a bad likeness." She took +an old-fashioned gold locket from the bosom of her dress, and, opening +it, held it out for Mr. Clifford to see. On one side was the portrait +of her father; on the other was the portrait of some one else. "That," +she explained, rather lamely, "is a portrait of--of some one I used to +know." + +"This," declared Mr. Clifford, looking at the likeness on the other +side, "is the portrait of the man I have known for many years as +Joseph Oldfield." + +"As who? That's my father!" + +"Do you not know he had a business in town?" + +"I did not know he had a business anywhere." + +"He had; he carried on that business under a pseudonym; I have always +known him as Joseph Oldfield; for the first time yesterday I heard the +name of Donald Lindsay. It seems to have been his wish that his +commercial and his private lives should be wholly distinct, +overlapping at no point; he appears to have succeeded in carrying out +that wish almost too well." + +"How--how extraordinary; and yet I'm not surprised. That is what he +has been trying to tell me all the time." + +"All what time?" + +There was something in her tone and manner which struck the two men as +curious; a sort of exaltation. + +"He has been coming to me, night after night, in my dreams, always in +such trouble; always trying so hard to tell me something; but he never +could. Now I know what it was. If he comes again he'll understand that +I know, and his trouble will have gone. You mustn't laugh at me; in my +dreams his coming has been so real." Judging from their faces neither +of her hearers was inclined for laughter. She turned to Mr. Clifford. +"What was my father's business?" + +"He was the proprietor of Peter Piper's Popular Pills, of which you +have probably heard." + +"Why"--her face was illumined by a smile--"he always had a stock of +them in the house; it was a standing joke. He used to give a box to +nearly every one who came, declaring that they were a simple, safe +medicine for what he called 'common complaints.'" + +Mr. Clifford bestowed on Mr. Hooper what might be described as a glare +of triumph. + +"So they are, Miss Lindsay; it is only ignorant people who doubt it. +No one was in a better position to know than your father was, and he +was their sole proprietor. If he left you all his property, then I am +fortunate in being the first to tell you that, of my own knowledge, +you are the owner of at least a million." + +"A million! Mr. Clifford! Then--then----" + +She had the locket still open, and was looking at the likeness which +she had described as the portrait of some one she used to know; as she +looked her sentence came to a premature end, and her face was dyed +with blushes. Mr. Clifford went on, a little heatedly. + +"You have been badly used, Miss Lindsay; monstrously used; and by +those who should have made it their first aim to use you well." + +Her radiant face contrasted oddly with his warmth. + +"What does it matter? It has done me no harm. All the while I've felt +that God was leading me through the darkness unto the light; and +that's what He has done. So see how much I have to thank Him for." + +The door was opened by Mr. Gibb. + +"Two gentlemen and a lady to see Mr. Frank Clifford." + +Without waiting for further announcement the visitors came in; in +front Robert Spencer; behind him Herbert Nash, with Elaine at his +side. When the lovers saw each other, each stood gazing as if fearful +that the other was some entrancing vision which might resolve itself +into air and vanish. Both cried, as if it was the most delightful and +wonderful thing in the world that it should be so-- + +"You!" + +They advanced, and only just in the nick of time remembered that there +were others there; they could not have got closer and kept out of each +other's arms. Mr. Spencer spoke as if in an ecstasy. + +"You queen of dear women, I've ransacked all the stray corners of the +world for you! Where have you been hiding?" + +"Why," she replied, "I've been trying to earn my living." + +"My Lady Quixote! all the while you've been a millionaire!" + +"So Mr. Clifford has just told me. I haven't had time to realize it +yet; but I think I'm glad." + +"You only think?" + +"I'm sure." She added--they were so close!--these words, which reached +his ear only, "For your sake!" As she whispered her face crimsoned. +Before he could answer she had moved forward. "Elaine!" When she +advanced the other shrank back. "Why, Elaine, what's the matter?" + +Mr. Spencer spoke. + +"Miss Harding is now Mrs. Nash. If you will go with her into the next +room I think you will find that she has something which she wishes to +say to you." + +So Nora went with Elaine into the adjoining chamber. The four men, +left to themselves, began, with each other's aid, to piece together, +into a comprehensible whole, the scattered parts of Donald Lindsay's +strange history. While in the little room, where she had had such +struggles with the typewriter, in the hour of her happiness, Nora had +to listen to a tale of sin; and even while she listened, her one +thought was how to comfort the sinner, to lead her, through the +darkness, unto the light. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXV + + BREAD UPON THE WATERS + + +Although so recently returned to the House of Commons, Robert Spencer +has already made his mark; discerning judges on both sides of the +House prophesy that ere long he will become a power in the State. If +he does he will owe his success in no slight measure to his wife. Few +things help a man more than a happy marriage; about the happiness of +his marriage there can be no question. His wife is one of the +loveliest women in London; one of the most charming, in the best sense +of the word. All decent folk are proud to know she is their friend; +the other sort know she is not their enemy. She has help and sympathy +for all. + +Peter Piper's Popular Pills still belong to Nora. Mr. Clifford not +only continues to manage them; he has a share in the fruits of their +prosperity. He was married on the appointed day, to Miss Ross's +relief. Nora and Mr. Spencer were both present at the wedding, and Mr. +Hooper was the groom's best man. The honeymoon tour was carried out on +the lines originally planned. Nothing was done in the business of the +forged bills. When matters were explained to Nora she insisted that +nothing should be done. Probably hers was the part of wisdom; it is +difficult to see how good would have resulted. Sir Henry Trevor still +continues vanished; but it seems not unlikely that he is flourishing +somewhere on the other side of the world. Occasionally remittances are +received, sometimes for considerable sums, posted from different towns +on the American continent, in envelopes which contain, beside the +remittances, nothing but a half-sheet of paper, on which is always the +same line, "Towards the discharge of a debt due to Donald Lindsay's +estate." The inference is that these amounts come from Sir Henry +Trevor, who has chosen this method of salving an obligation of which +he alone knows the precise history. + +Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Nash are in Canada, where they have not done +badly. Nash is an honest and hard-working man; if anything, a trifle +hard and stern. His wife is a good mistress of his home. She is the +mother of three children. It is her continual prayer that they may not +be led into temptation, but delivered from evil. + +Stephen Morgan died in a London hospital on the day before Frank +Clifford was married. He was knocked down by a motor omnibus. When he +was taken to the hospital he was already unconscious, and already +dying. On his return to consciousness, he was plainly near the end. +With what seemed to be almost his last breath he begged that they +would send for Mr. Clifford. Before, however, Mr. Clifford reached the +hospital, he was dead. His ill deeds died with him. + +Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have a house in the country, but not at +Cloverlea. Nora had no desire to renew associations which had suffered +so severe an interruption. The lodge at the gate of the new house is +in the occupation of Mrs. Gibb and Miss Gibb--Angel Gibb. Miss Gibb is +engaged to the second gardener. A question has lately arisen as to +whether, on the occasion of their approaching marriage, he shall go +and live with his wife and her mother, or whether his wife and her +mother shall come and live with him. The point has been referred by +both parties to Mrs. Spencer, who finds it rather a difficult one to +decide. + +Mr. Gibb is still with Mr. Hooper. He reports that business is looking +up. It is a fact that of late several briefs have found their way into +Mr. Hooper's hands. It is whispered that he is indebted for them to +influence in certain quarters. However that may be, it is beyond doubt +that he has handled them as well as could possibly be desired. + + + + THE END + + + + * * * * * + _Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London and Bungay_ + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Woman Perfected, by Richard Marsh + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN PERFECTED *** + +***** This file should be named 38181.txt or 38181.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/1/8/38181/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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