The Bars of Iron

by Ethel M. Dell

  CHAPTER XIX

  THE DAY OF TROUBLE

  Lennox Tudor spent hours at the Vicarage that day in close attendanceupon Mrs. Lorimer in company with Avery who scarcely left her side.Terrible hours they were, during which they battled strenuously to keepthe poor, quivering life in her weary body.

  "There is no reason why she shouldn't pull round," Tudor assured Avery.

  But yet throughout the day she hovered on the verge of collapse.

  By night the worst danger was over, but intense weakness remained. Shelay white and still, taking notice of nothing. Only once, when Avery wasgiving her nourishment, did she rouse herself to speak.

  "Beg my husband not to be vexed with me!" she whispered. "Tell him therewon't be another little one after all! He'll be glad to know that."

  And Avery, cut to the heart, promised to deliver the message.

  A little later she stole away, leaving the children's nurse in charge,and slipped up to the schoolroom for some tea. Tudor had gone to seeanother patient, but had promised to return as soon as possible.

  The children were all gathered round the table at which Olive verycapably presided. Gracie, looking wan and subdued, sat on the end ofJeanie's sofa; but she sprang to meet Avery the moment she appeared.

  Avery sat down, holding the child's hand in hers. She glanced round thetable as she did so.

  "Where is Julian?"

  "Upstairs," said Ronald briefly. "In disgrace."

  Avery felt her heart contract with a sick sense of further trouble in theair. "Has he been there all day?" she asked. Ronald nodded. "And anotherflogging to-night if he doesn't apologize. He says he'll die first."

  "So would I," breathed Gracie.

  At this juncture the door swung open with stately precision, and Mr.Lorimer entered. Everyone rose, according to established custom, with theexceptions of Avery and Jeanie. Gracie's fingers tightened convulsivelyupon Avery's hand, and she turned as white as the table-cloth.

  Mr. Lorimer, however, looked over her head as if she did not exist, andaddressed Avery.

  "Mrs. Denys, be so good as to spare me two minutes in the study!" he saidwith extreme formality.

  "Certainly," Avery made quiet reply. "I will come to you before I go backto Mrs. Lorimer."

  He raised his brows slightly, as if he had expected a more promptcompliance with his request. And then his eyes fell upon Gracie, clingingfast to Avery's hand.

  "Grace," he said, in his clear, definite tones, "come here!"

  The child gave a great start and shrank against Avery's shoulder. "Ohno!" she whispered. "No!"

  "Come here!" repeated Mr. Lorimer.

  He extended his hand, but Gracie only shrank further away. She wastrembling violently, so violently that Avery felt impelled to pass asustaining arm around her.

  "Come, my child!" said the Vicar, the majestic composure of his featuresgradually yielding to a look of dawning severity.

  "Go, dear!" whispered Avery.

  "I don't want to," gasped Gracie.

  "I shall not punish you," her father said, "unless I find you disobedientor still unrepentant."

  "Darling, go!" Avery urged softly into her ear. "It'll be all right now."

  But Gracie, shaking from head to foot and scarcely able to stand, onlyclung to her the faster, and in a moment she began agitatedly to cry.

  Mr. Lorimer's hand fell to his side. "Still unrepentant, I fear," hesaid.

  Avery, with the child gathered closely to her, looked across at him withwide, accusing eyes.

  "She is frightened and upset," she said. "It is not fair to judge her inthis condition."

  Mr. Lorimer's eyes gleamed back malignantly. He made her an icy bow. "Inthat case, Mrs. Denys," he said, "she had better go to bed and stay thereuntil her condition has improved."

  Avery compressed her lips tightly, and made no rejoinder.

  The Reverend Stephen compressed his, and after a definite pause of mostunpleasant tension, he uttered a deep sigh and withdrew.

  "I know he means to do it again!" sobbed Grade. "I know he does!"

  "He shall not!" said Avery.

  And with the words she put the child from her, rose, and with greatdetermination walked out of the room.

  Mr. Lorimer had scarcely settled himself in what he called his "chair ofease" in the study when her low knock reached him, and she entered. Hergrey eyes were no longer angry, but very resolute. She closed the doorsoftly, and came straight to the fire.

  "Mr. Lorimer," she said, her voice pitched very low, "I want you to bepatient with me just for a minute. Will you?"

  Mr. Lorimer sighed again. "I am yearning for the refreshment of a littlesolitary meditation, Mrs. Denys," he said.

  "I shall not keep you," Avery rejoined steadily. She stood before him,very pale but wholly composed. "What I have to say can be said in a veryfew seconds. First, with regard to Gracie; the child is so upset that Ithink any further punishment would make her downright ill."

  "Pooh, my dear Mrs. Denys!" said the Reverend Stephen.

  Avery paused a moment. "Will you try to listen to me with an openmind?" she said.

  "I am listening," said Mr. Lorimer.

  "I know she was naughty this morning," Avery continued. "I am not tryingto defend her behaviour. But her punishment was a very severe one, and ithas so terrified her that at present she can think of nothing else. Giveher time to be sorry! Please give her time!"

  Mr. Lorimer glanced at the clock. "She has already had nine hours," heobserved. "I shall give her three more."

  "And then?" said Avery.

  His eyes travelled up to her troubled face. "And if by then," he saiddeliberately, "she has not come to me to express her penitence, I shallbe reluctantly compelled to repeat the punishment."

  "You will drive the child out of her senses if you do!" Avery exclaimed.

  He shrugged his shoulders. "My dear Mrs. Denys, permit me to remind youthat I have had considerable experience in the upbringing of children."

  "And they are all afraid of you," Avery said.

  He smiled. "In my opinion a little wholesome awe is salutary. No, Mrs.Denys, I cannot listen any further to your persuasion. In fact I fearthat in Grace's case I have so far erred on the side of laxness. She hasbecome very wild and uncontrolled, and--she must be tamed."

  He closed his lips upon the word, and despair entered Avery's heart. Shegripped her self-control with all her might, realizing that the momentshe lost it, her strength would be gone.

  With a great effort she turned from the subject. "I have a message foryou from Mrs. Lorimer," she said, after a moment, and proceeded todeliver it in a low, steady voice, her eyes upon the fire.

  The man in the chair heard it without the movement of a muscle of hisface. "I will endeavour to look in upon her presently," was all thereply he made.

  Avery turned to go, but he stopped her with a gesture.

  "Mrs. Denys," he said smoothly, "you forget, I think, that I also hadsomething to say."

  Avery paused. She had forgotten.

  He turned his eyes deliberately up to hers, as he leaned back in hischair. "I am sorry to have to tell you," he said, "that in consequence ofyour unfortunate zeal in encouraging the children in insubordination, Ican no longer look upon you as in any sense a help in my household. Itherefore desire that you will take a month's notice from now. If I canfill your place sooner, I shall dispense with your services earlier."

  Calmly, dispassionately, he uttered the words. Avery stood quite still tohear them. And through her like a stab there ran the thought of the poorlittle woman upstairs. The pain of it was almost unbearable. She caughther breath involuntarily.

  But the next moment she was herself again. She bowed without a word, andturned to go.

  She had nearly reached the door ere she discovered that it stood open,and that Lennox Tudor was on the threshold, more grimly strong than shehad ever before realized him to be.

  He stood back for her to pass, holding the door for her without speaking.
And in silence Avery departed.