XV
TWO WOMEN
On the day after the funeral Lady Cromarty for the first time felt ableto see the family lawyer. Simon Rattar came out in the morning in ahired car and spent more than a couple of hours with her. Then for ashort time he was closeted with Sir Malcolm, who, referring to theinterview afterwards, described him as "infernally close andunsatisfactory"; and finally, in company with the young baronet andCicely Farmond, he ate a hurried lunch and departed.
Ever since the fatal evening, Lady Cromarty had been shut up in her ownapartments and the two young people had taken their meals together. SirMalcolm at his brightest and best had been capricious company. He wasnow moody beyond all Cicely's experience of him. His newborn solemnitywas the most marked feature of his demeanour, but sometimes it dissolvedinto pathetic demands for sympathy, and then again froze into profoundand lugubrious silence. He said that he was sleeping badly, and thepallor of his face and the darkness beneath his eyes seemed to confirmthis. Several times he appeared to be on the point of some peculiarlysolemn disclosure of his feelings or his symptoms, but always ended byupbraiding his fellow guest for her lack of sympathy, and then relapsinginto silence.
Every now and then on such occasions Cicely caught him staring at herwith an expression she had never seen before, and then looking hurriedlyaway; a disconcerting habit that made her own lot none the easier. Sofar as the observant Bisset could judge, the baronet seemed, indeed, tobe having so depressing an effect upon the young lady that as her friendand counsellor he took the liberty of advising a change of air.
"We'll miss you vera much, Miss Farmond," he was good enough to say,"but I'm thinking that what you want is a seaside resort."
She smiled a little sadly.
"I shall have to make a change very soon, Bisset," she said. "Indeed,perhaps I ought to have let Lady Cromarty know already that I was readyto go the moment I was sure I could do nothing more for her."
She began her packing on the morning of Simon's visit. At lunch her airwas a little livelier at first, as if even Simon Rattar were a welcomevariety in a regime of undiluted baronet. Sir Malcolm, too, endeavouredto do the honours with some degree of cheerfulness; but short though themeal was, both were silent before the end and vaguely depressedafterwards.
"I can't stand the old fellow's fishy eye!" declared Sir Malcolm. "I'das soon lunch with a cod-fish, dash it! Didn't you feel it too, Cicely?"
"He seemed to look at one so uncomfortably," she agreed. "I couldn'thelp feeling he had something on his mind against me, though I supposehe really doesn't trouble his head about my existence."
"I'm hanged if I like the way he looks at me!" muttered the baronet, andonce again Cicely caught that odd expression in his eye.
That afternoon Bisset informed Miss Farmond that her ladyship desired tosee her. Lady Cromarty's face looked thinner than ever and her lips moretightly compressed. In her deep mourning and with her grave air, sheseemed to Cicely a monumental figure of tragedy. Her thinness and pallorand tight lips, she thought only natural, but there was one note thatseemed discordant with pure desolation. The note was sounded by LadyCromarty's eyes. At all times they had been ready to harden upon anoccasion, but Cicely thought she had never seen them as hard as theywere now.
"What are your plans, Cicely?" she asked in a low, even voice thatshowed no feeling one way or the other.
"I have begun to pack already," said the girl. "I don't want to leave solong as I can be of any use here, but I am ready to go at any time."
She had expected to be asked where she was going, but Lady Cromartyinstead of putting any question, looked at her for a few moments insilence. And it was then that a curious uncomfortable feeling began topossess the girl. It had no definite form and was founded on no reason,beyond the steady regard of those hard dark eyes.
"I had rather you stayed."
Cicely's own eyes showed her extreme surprise.
"Stayed--here?"
"Yes."
"But are you sure? Wouldn't you really rather be alone? It isn't for mysake, is it? because--"
"It is for mine. I want you to remain here and keep me company."
She spoke without a trace of smile or any softening of her face, andCicely still hesitated.
"But would it really be convenient? You have been very kind to me, andif you really want me here--"
"I do," interrupted Lady Cromarty in the same even voice. "I want youparticularly to remain."
"Very well then, I shall. Thank you very much--"
Again she was cut short.
"That is settled then. Perhaps you will excuse me now, Cicely."
The girl went downstairs very thoughtfully. At the foot the youngbaronet met her.
"Have you settled where to go?" he asked.
"Lady Cromarty has asked me to stay on with her."
His face fell.
"Stay on in this house of mourning? Oh, no, Cicely!"
"I have promised," she said.
The young man grew curiously agitated.
"Oh, don't stay here!" he besought her. "It keeps me in such dreadfulsuspense!"
"In suspense!" she exclaimed. "Whatever do you mean, Malcolm?"
Again she saw that look in his eye, and again he raised asympathy-beseeching wail. Cicely's patience began to give way.
"Really, Malcolm!" she cried tartly, "if you have anything to say, sayit, but don't go on like a baby!"
"Like a baby!" repeated the deeply affronted baronet. "Heavens, wouldyou liken me to _that_, of all things! I had meant to confide in you,Cicely, but you have made it impossible. Impossible!" he repeatedsombrely, and stalked to the door.
Next morning, Sir Malcolm left for London, his confidence still lockedin his breast, and Cicely was alone with Lady Cromarty.
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