CHAPTER VII.
There came a pleasant luxury in waking in a large room, with a maidpulling up the blinds, and reporting that the day promised to be grand.The maid could be looked upon as a friend, in that she knew the best andthe worst concerning Miss Higham's clothes, and inquiries were put to herconcerning breakfast; the answer came that this meal was ready athalf-past eight; you went down at any time you pleased between this andten o'clock. Mr. Henry breakfasted early; her ladyship and Mr. Langhamwere always the last. A start had to be made for church at twenty pastten. The maid asked whether Miss Higham would like the bathroom now, andMiss Higham, not quite certain whether it was good form to say "Yes" or"No," replied in the affirmative. As they went along the corridor,Gertie heard Henry Douglass singing in the hall below. The mostastonishing detail in this wonderful house proved to be the size of thesponge.
She determined to hurry over her dressing and get downstairs quickly inorder to talk privately with him, and consequent on this resolve, foundherself, later, knocking at Miss Loriner's room and inquiring whetherthat young woman was ready to accompany her. After all, there would betime to make the announcement during the day.
"Have you slept well?"
"Like a top," declared Gertie. "For all the world as though I'd nothingon my mind."
"I don't suppose you have many serious murders to brood about."
"Not exactly murders," she replied. "Plenty of blunders."
Henry rose from the table as she entered; he dropped his open arms onseeing that she was not alone. Miss Loriner poured out coffee, andHenry, at the sideboard, recited the dishes that were being kept warmthere. "Sausages," decided Gertie, "because it's Sunday morning!" Shesmiled, out of sheer content at being thus waited upon, and gave them adescription of Praed Street, where the meal was continually interruptedby purchasers of journals, buyers of half-ounces of shag. She remarkedthat it would have been possible here to take breakfast out of doors, andHenry rang and gave instructions to Rutley, the butler, and the nextmoment, as it seemed, they were at table on the lawn, with sparrowspecking at stray crumbs. Henry, asking permission to smoke, lighted apipe.
"I've only seen you with cigarettes before," she remarked. "Doesn't thetobacco smell good in the morning air! Do you know what I miss most ofall? Sound of cabs going along to Paddington Station. I shouldn't carefor the country, you know, not for always." She rattled on, jumping, aswas her custom when happy, from one subject to another.
"It's miraculous to hear you talking again," he declared. "Last night wecould scarcely get a word out of you."
"Tell me if I babble too much."
"You dear little woman!" he cried protestingly.
Clarence Mills came down, and Miss Loriner was relieved of the difficulttask of keeping her eyes averted. Clarence, on the plea that he had somewriting to do, wondered whether he might be excused from church, andHenry recommended the billiard-room as a quiet place for work; there wasa writing-table at the end, and no one would interfere. Miss Loriner,when Clarence had finished his meal, offered to conduct him to theapartment; it was, it seemed, over the stables at the back of the house,and not easy for a stranger to find; moreover, Miss Loriner felt anxiousto see how writing people started their work. Thus Henry Douglass andGertie Higham would have been left alone, but that Jim Langham,exercising his gift of interference, appeared, rather puffed about theeyes, and one or two indications hinting that the task of shaving had notbeen without accident. Jim Langham's temper in the early hours seemed tobe imperfect; he made only a pretence of eating, crumbling toast andchipping the top of an egg; he admitted he never felt thoroughly in formuntil after lunch. When Henry suggested that Gertie would like to seethe grounds, Jim Langham followed them, pointing out the rose walk, andthe summer-house (that was like a large beehive) with an air ofproprietorship which Henry did not assume. Henry made an inquiry.
"I'm really chapel, if I'm anything," she answered; "but I shall like togo. Especially if you're to be there. It'll be the first time we'veever been in a place of worship together."
"We shall go together again," he said, "some day." She shook her headquickly.
Lady Douglass had breakfasted in her room, and came when they were readyand waiting; she complained severely that she seemed to be always thefirst when any expedition was in train. They walked around the carriagedrive and across fields; at the porch, Lady Douglass offered to Gertiethe hospitable inquiry in regard to the night's rest that Miss Lorinerhad made, and went on without waiting for a reply.
Gertie found herself wishing the service would continue for ever. It wassoothing, beautiful, appropriate. "Forgiving us those things whereof ourconscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are notworthy to ask," said the first collect of the day. "Grant that this daywe fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger," said the thirdcollect. "Fulfil now," said the prayer, "the desires and petitions ofThy servants, as may be most expedient for them." Announced the nervousyoung curate from the pulpit, "The eighth chapter of John, thethirty-second verse. 'The truth shall make you free.'" The curate hadan artificial voice, and he glanced anxiously at Lady Douglass's aspectof jaded resignation; but it soon became evident he had something to say;Gertie, listening attentively, wondered whether he might, in someremarkable manner, have become acquainted with the particulars of her owncase. Truth, he contended, was indispensable to the wise and comfortableconduct of life. Truth could only run on the main line; any deviationled to serious disaster. Truth might, at times, hurt others at themoment, but, in the end, it did nothing but good. Gertie felt impressed,and the effect of the address upon her was not decreased when, outsidethe church, and in accepting Lady Douglass's invitation to lunch, theyoung curate mentioned that he well remembered the great pleasure ofmeeting Miss Higham at a garden party, given up in town by the Bishop ofLondon.
Folk had been asked for three o'clock to play tennis, and in walkingacross the lawn to look for them, Henry found the first opportunity ofspeaking to her alone.
"Tell me, dear girl," he said urgently, "why did you take no notice of myletters?"
"I never received any."
"Are you sure? I don't mean that," he went on hurriedly. "Only, I wroteto you three times, and no answer came."
"They must have been wrongly addressed. What number did you put on theenvelopes?"
"But I also called, and saw your aunt."
"I didn't know that," admitted Gertie.
"Looks as though she stopped your notes. I'm sorry if that's the case."
"It worried me frightfully at the time," he said; "but it doesn't matternow."
"I rather fancy it does matter now." The tennis players came in sight,waving a salutation with their rackets.
Henry's mother apologized for a late appearance; no longer young, nolonger indeed middle-aged, she found it necessary to save up strength, touse it economically. Gertie listened, content to be free from thepresence of Lady Douglass, and genuinely interested in the other'sconversation. Mark, the eldest son, she explained, arrived within a yearafter her marriage; then came two baby girls who went back to Heaven;then, after a long interval--
"It was because I had given away the rocking-horse," she declared.
--Then Henry. Mark was a good lad, but Henry had always been a dear lad.Poor Mark made the one great mistake of his life when he selected a wife,and Mrs. Douglass hoped the girl would understand why she felt anxiousthat Henry should not commit a similar error.
"I don't care whom he marries," declared the old lady resolutely,"providing he loves her, that she loves him, and that she is a good girl."
"That sort ought not to be hard to find."
"They are less plentiful," said the other, "than some people imagine.Now I want you to tell me something, my dear."
The girl was preparing to use caution when Jim Langham strolled up; hisexpectations of increased cheerfulness appeared to be realized, and hismanner was almost rollicking. He suggested that Gertie sh
ould walkaround with him; and the girl, to evade the threatened cross-examination,nodded an acceptance.
"You don't go in for many games, I suppose?"
"Wish I did," replied Gertie. "I shouldn't feel quite so much out of it."
"Henry will expect you to play him at billiards this evening. If youcare to come across now," he offered, "I shall be delighted to give yousome idea how to start."
As they turned to go along the path that led to the back of the house,Gertie glanced over her shoulder. Henry, watching their departure,missed an easy serve, and endured the reproaches of his partner.
"Rutley, I want the key of the billiard-room. Rutley, get it at once."
"I think I know where it was put last," said the butler.
They went up the steps, and waited until Rutley came. Jim Langham calledhim a slow-coach, a tortoise, a stick-in-the-mud, and a few other names.Rutley, unmoved, inquired whether his services were wanted as marker.Mr. Langham retorted that the butler might take it that whenever his helpwas required, definite instructions would be given.
The long room being well lighted by windows on both sides, the assistanceof green shaded lamps that hung dependent above the table was notrequired. At the end, a raised platform with table and corner couches;on the mantelpiece rested a box of cigars, a silver case containingcigarettes and matches. A dozen cues stood upright in a militaryposition on a stand. Jim Langham placed the red ball in its position,and Gertie took spot white. In showing her how to hold the cue, hetouched her hand, and looked quickly to see if she resented this.
"You are going to make a very fine player," he declared presently. "Allyou need is practice."
Because of the pronounced scent of spirits, she drew away when he cametoo near; Jim Langham instantly became more deferential. By the luckthat often comes to beginners, Gertie presently made five, potting thered and effecting a cannon; she beamed with the delight of success. Spotwhite was left in the centre of the table, and Langham, obtaining thelong rest, explained the manner of using it. In doing so, he placed hishand upon her neck; the next moment he was on his knees conducting anactive search under the table. Gertie, flushed with annoyance, wenttowards the door. Before she reached it, a knock came; the door wasrattled impatiently.
"Open it from your side," ordered the high-pitched voice of Lady Douglass.
"The key is not here," answered Gertie.
"It must be there. Why is the door locked?"
"How should I know?" retorted the girl sharply. "You don't suppose Ilocked it, do you?" She heard Lady Douglass call for the useful Rutley;and when the butler came, there was a consultation outside. The doorcreaked, the lock gave way; Rutley, falling in with the door, justescaped collision with the perturbed girl. He was told to go.
"What does this mean?" demanded Lady Douglass. "Why are you in thebilliard-room alone, Miss Higham?"
"I'm not alone. Your brother is here."
"That scarcely improves the look of affairs.--Jim, where are you?"
The gentleman, half emerging, made a mumbled, indistinct request formatches. Gertie, walking to the end of the room, found a box.
"There's your set of teeth," she pointed out, "just by the corner leg.It half frightened me when I saw I'd knocked the whole lot out."
"This is a serious matter," said Lady Douglass judicially. "The greatthing will be to keep it from the knowledge of Henry."
"I'm not ashamed of my part in it!" She turned indignantly upon thered-faced man; his mouth was again furnished with the productions of thedentist, but he scowled in an alarming way. "What did you mean by it?Was this a dodge of yours, or of hers?"
"I simply, and by the merest chance," he complained to his sister,"happened to touch her near the shoulder, and you saw for yourself howshe treated me. I shall go off and get a drink, and leave you both toclear it up as best you can. Serves her right!" He repeated this remarkseveral times, with additions, as he stamped out of the room.
"My brother," said Lady Douglass, "is peculiar in his manners."
"I haven't met his sort before."
"But I wonder you did not know better than to trust yourself with him.Fortunately, you can rely upon me to say nothing about the affair. Itwould have been very unlucky if someone else had happened to come to thedoor."
"I don't particularly like being under any sort of obligation to you."
"We won't say anything more about it," ordered the other. "I have anenormous objection to a scandal."
"You're not alone in that respect," she retorted.
"And we will of course avoid all references to Wormwood Scrubbs."
"I don't know what you mean by that!"
The tennis folk, after they had replayed their games over the tea-table,left; Gertie was quiet, and her cousin inquired anxiously whetheranything had occurred. Clarence urged her to keep up courage, declaringshe had managed admirably up to the present.
"I feel as though there's thunder in the air," she said.
"There isn't," he assured her; "not a trace of it. It's a beautiful day.And," with enthusiasm, "Mary tells me she doesn't mind waiting until Imake three hundred a year."
"Lucky boy!" she remarked absently.
They were still out on the lawn, and Henry had made a suggestion thatthey should all play golf-croquet when Rutley came to clear the table.Lady Douglass gave an instruction aside. "Very well, my lady," saidRutley; "it shall be seen to first thing in the morning. If we couldonly find the key I'd manage it myself." Henry asked whether anythingwas missing; his sister-in-law replied that it was nothing ofimportance--nothing that he need trouble about. Henry had quite enoughto occupy his mind, and he must please allow her to take charge of someof the domestic anxieties.
"Rather unusual," said old Mrs. Douglass, "to find you so considerate."
"I get very little credit," sighed Lady Douglass.
As they waited on the croquet lawn to take their turn, Henry remarked toGertie that no opportunity had yet been found for their long talk;looking down at her affectionately, he added that perhaps she could guessall that was in his mind. It had been perfectly splendid, he went on inhis boyish way, simply magnificent, to be near to her for so long aperiod of time; they would have many week-ends similar to this. Hismother had spoken approvingly of Gertie, and nothing else mattered. Thegirl kept her eyes on her mallet; she could not bring herself to thepoint of arresting his speech.
"We are waiting for yellow," said Lady Douglass resignedly.
Miss Loriner and Clarence seemed to lose interest in the game as itproceeded; later, they were missing when their colours were called. LadyDouglass, throwing down her mallet, delivered a brief oration. If peopleintended to play golf-croquet, they should play golf-croquet; if, on theother hand, they did not propose to play golf-croquet, they should say,frankly and openly, that they did not propose to play golf-croquet.Deploring the lack of candour and straight-forwardness, she pronouncedthe game at an end.
"Where are you going, Henry?" He answered promptly. "Come back! Idon't want you to go to the billiard-room. You dare not ask me why; youmust just comply with this one wish of mine."
"Have you any reasons?"
"The best of reasons." She exhibited a considerable amount of agitation;her head went from side to side. "Do please obey me. If you do not, youwill regret it to the last hour of your life."
He stared at her curiously.
"I rather fancy," interposed Gertie, breaking the pause, "that I'm thebest one to explain." She was standing beside old Mrs. Douglass, and asshe spoke she gripped at the back of the wicker chair. "I don't likethis mystery where I am concerned. Lady Douglass came to the door of thebilliard-room whilst Mr. Langham and me--Mr. Langham and I were there.The door was locked. She had it burst open."
Henry held out his hand appealingly. "That can't be all," he urged.
"It's all that matters."
"Where is Jim?" he demanded of Lady Douglass.
"I am not my brother's keeper, but I be
lieve he has gone down into thevillage."
"There's something more I've got to say," Gertie went on. Her voicetrembled; she made an effort to control it. "It's kind of you to ask medown here, but I wish you had invited Clarence alone. He knows how tobehave in company like this; I don't. I'm not in it. It was foolish ofme to come. It's like anybody trying to go Nap without a single picturecard in their hand. And I want to tell you something more--I'm engaged!Engaged to a youngish man in my own station of life."
"No, no!" he cried.
"My dear," said old Mrs. Douglass, looking up concernedly, "surely you'renot in earnest!"
"I think," remarked Lady Douglass impartially, "that she is acting withgreat wisdom."
"I was wishing to-day," the girl went on, raising her voice, "that Ihadn't got myself engaged. It happened because of a misunderstanding,and I did it on the impulse of the moment; all the same, it can't behelped. And I was pretty jolly before I met Henry, and--I don't know--Imay be pretty jolly again. If I go right out of his life now--why, Ishall only think, I shall only remember--"
Old Mrs. Douglass turned in her chair and patted the girl's hand.
"I shall only remember how happy I was all the time after I was luckyenough to meet him. It's over and done with now, and I'm going backhome, where I can be trusted. I must be trusted. Here, you don't quitebelieve me." She bent down to old Mrs. Douglass. "Not even you. I'm aforeigner at this place; a foreigner, trying to learn your habits andcustoms, and trying to forget my own. Perhaps, one day, you'll see thatalthough I wasn't very refined, and not too well brought up," she raisedher face, and her chin went out, "all the same, I did know how to keepmyself straight."
Young Mills came across the croquet lawn.
"Want you for a moment, Clarence," she said.
Henry Douglass, descending the staircase slowly and thoughtfully at eighto'clock, asked Rutley whether Miss Higham was in the drawing-room.Rutley answered that the young lady and Mr. Mills had gone. Walked toCholsey to catch the evening train to town. One of the under-gardenerscarried their luggage.
"Quite thought you knew, sir," mentioned Rutley.
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