Cursed by a Fortune

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

  For some moments neither spoke.

  "Was this your doing?" cried Leigh, at last, and he turned upon hissister angrily.

  At that moment Jenny was lying back, trembling and agitated, with hereyes half closed, but her brother's words stung her into action.

  "You heard what Mr Claud Wilton said," she retorted, angrily. "Howdare you speak to me like this, Pierce, knowing what you do?"

  He uttered an impatient ejaculation.

  "Yes, that is how you treat me now," she said, piteously; "your troubleshave made you doubting and suspicious. Have I not suffered enoughwithout you turning cruel to me again?"

  "How can you expect me to behave differently when I find you encouragingthat cad here? It is all the result of the way in which you forgot yourself-respect and what was due to me."

  "That's cruel again, Pierce. You know why I acted as I did."

  "Pah!" he exclaimed; "and now I find you encouraging the fellow."

  "I was as much taken by surprise as you were, dear," she said.

  "And to use the fellow's words, do you think I am blind? It was plainenough to see that you were pleased that he came."

  "I was not," she cried, angrily now. "I tell you I was quite taken bysurprise. I was horrified and frightened, and I was glad when I saw youcoming, for I wanted you to punish him for daring to come."

  Leigh looked at his sister in anger and disgust.

  "If I can read a woman's countenance," he said, mockingly, "you weregratified by every word he said to me."

  "I don't know--I can't tell how it was," she faltered with her palecheeks beginning to flame again, "but I'm afraid I was pleased, dear."

  "I thought so," he cried, mockingly.

  "I couldn't help liking the manly, brave way in which he spoke up. Itsounded so true."

  "Yes, very. Brave words such as he has said in a dozen silly girls'ears. And he told you before I came that he loved you?"

  "Yes, dear."

  "And you told him that his ardent passion was returned," he sneered.

  "I did not. I could have told him I hated him, but I could not helpfeeling sorry, for I have behaved very badly, flirting with him as Idid."

  "And pity is near akin to love, Jenny," cried Leigh, with a harsh laugh,"and very soon I may have the opportunity of welcoming this uncouth oaffor a brother-in-law, I suppose. Oh, what weak, pitiful creatures womenare! People cannot write worse of them than they prove."

  Jenny was silent, but she looked her brother bravely in the face tillhis brows knit with anger and self-reproach.

  "What do you mean by that?" he cried, angrily.

  "I was only thinking of the reason why you speak so bitterly, Pierce."

  "Pish!" he exclaimed; and there was another silence.

  "Mrs Wilton came this afternoon and brought me a chicken and some wineand grapes," said Jenny, at last.

  "Like her insolence. Send them back."

  "No. She was very kind and nice, Pierce. She was full of self-reproachfor the way in which poor Kate Wilton was treated."

  "Bah! What is that to us?"

  "A great deal, dear. She is half broken-hearted about it, and says itwas all the Squire's doing, and that she was obliged. He wished his sonto marry Kate."

  "The old villain!"

  "And she says that poor Kate is lying drowned in the lake."

  Leigh started violently, and his eyes looked wild with horror, but itwas a mere flash.

  "Pish!" he ejaculated, "a silly woman's fancy. The ladder at the windowcontradicted that. It was an elopement and that scoundrel who was herejust now was somehow at the bottom of it. He helped."

  "No," said Jenny, quietly, "he was not, I am sure. There is somemystery there that you ought to probe to the bottom."

  "That will do," he said, sharply, and she noticed that there was apeculiar startled look in her brother's eyes. "Now listen to me. Youwill pack up your things. Begin to-night. Everything must be ready bymid-day to-morrow."

  "Yes, dear," she said, meekly. "Are you going to send me away?"

  "No, I am going to take you away. I cannot bear this life any longer."

  "Then we leave here?"

  "Yes, at once."

  "Have you sold the place?"

  "Bah! Who could buy it?"

  "But your patients, Pierce?"

  "There is another man within two miles. There, don't talk to me."

  "Won't you confide in me, Pierce?" said Jenny, quickly. "I can'tbelieve that we are going because of what has just happened. You musthave heard some news."

  He frowned, and was silent.

  "Very well, dear," she said, meekly. "I am glad we are going, for Ibelieve you will try and trace out poor Kate."

  "A fly will be here at mid-day," he said, without appearing to hear herwords, and her eyes flashed, for all told her that she was right andthat the sudden departure was not due to the encounter with Claud. Butthat meeting had sealed his lips in anger, just when he had reached homefull of eagerness to confide in his sister that he had at last obtaineda slight clew to Kate's whereabouts.

  For he had been summoned to the village inn to attend a fly-driver, whohad been kicked by his horse. The man was a stranger, and the injurywas so slight that he was able to drive himself back to his place, milesaway. But in the course of conversation, while his leg was beingdressed, he had told the Doctor that he once had a curious fare in thatvillage, and he detailed Garstang's proceedings, ending by asking Leighif he knew who the lady was.