The Light of Scarthey: A Romance

by Egerton Castle

  CHAPTER XVI

  THE RECLUSE AND THE SQUIRE

  I thought I should never get away from supper and be alone! Rupert'sair of cool triumph--it was triumph, however he may have wished tohide it--and Tanty's flow of indignation, recrimination, speculation,and amazement were enough to drive me mad. But I held out. I pretendedI did not mind. My cheeks were blazing, and I talked _a tort et atravers_. I should have _died_ rather than that Rupert should haveguessed at the tempest in my heart. Now I am alone at last, thank God!and it will be a relief to confide to my faithful diary the feelingsthat have been choking me these last two hours.

  "Pride must have a fall." Thus Rupert at supper, with reference, it istrue, to some trivial incident, but looking at me hard and full, andpointing the words with his meaning smile. The fairies who attended atmy birth endowed me with one power, which, however doubtful a blessingit may prove in the long run, has nevertheless been an unspeakablecomfort to me hitherto. This is the reverse of what I heard a Frenchgentleman term _l'esprit de l'escalier_. Thanks to this fairygodmother of mine, the instant some one annoys or angers me thererises on the tip of my tongue the most galling rejoinder that canpossibly be made in the circumstances. And I need not add: _I makeit_.

  To-night, when Rupert flung his scoff at me, I was ready for him.

  "I trust the old adage has not been brought home to you, _Sir_Rupert," said I, and then pretending confusion. "I beg your pardon," Iadded, "I have been so accustomed to address the head of the housethese last days that the word escaped me unawares." The shot told_well_, and I was glad--glad of the murderous rage in Rupert's eyes,for I knew I had hit him on the raw. Even Tanty looked perturbed, butRupert let me alone for the rest of supper.

  He is right nevertheless, that is what stung me. I am humbled, _and Icannot bear it_!

  Sir Adrian has left.

  I was so triumphant to bring him back to Pulwick this morning, to havecircumvented Rupert's plans, and (let me speak the truth,) so happy tohave him with me that I did not attempt to conceal my exultation. Andnow he has gone, gone without a word to me; only this miserable letterof determined farewell. I will copy it--for in my first anger I haveso crumpled the paper that it is scarcely readable.

  "My child, I must go back to my island. The world is not for me, noram I for the world, nor would I cast the shadow of my gloomy lifefurther upon your bright one. Let me tell you, however, that you haveleft me the better for your coming; that it will be a good thought tome in my loneliness to know of your mother's daughters so close to me.When you look across at the beacon of Scarthey, child, through thedarkness, think that though I may not see you again I shall everfollow and keep guard upon your life and upon your sister's, and that,even when you are far from Pulwick, the light will burn and the heartof Adrian Landale watch so long as it may beat."

  I have shed more tears--hot tears of anger--since I received this thanI have wept in all my life before. Madeleine came in to me just now,too full of the happiness of having me back, poor darling, to be ableto bear me out of sight again; but I have driven her from me with suchcross words that she too is in tears. I must be alone and I mustcollect myself and my thoughts, for I want to state exactly all thathas happened and then perhaps I shall be able to see my way moreclearly.

  * * * * *

  This morning then, early after breakfast, I started across the watersbetween Rene and Sir Adrian, regretting to leave the dear hospitableisland, yet with my heart dancing within me, as gaily as did ourlittle boat upon the chopping waves, to be carrying the hermit backwith me. I had been deadly afraid lest he should at the last momenthave sent me alone with the servant; but when he put on his big cloak,when I saw Rene place a bag at the bottom of the boat, I knew hemeant to come--perhaps remain some days at Pulwick, and my spiritswent up, up!

  It was a lovely day, too; the air had a crisp, cold sparkle, and thewaters looked so blue under the clear, frosty sky. I could have sungas we rowed along, and every time I met Sir Adrian's eye I smiled athim out of the happiness of my heart. His look hung on me--we Frenchhave a word for that which is not translatable, _Il me couvait desyeux_--and, as every day of the three we had spent together I hadthought him younger and handsomer, so this morning out in the brightsunlight I said to myself, I could never wish to see a more noble man.

  When we landed--and it was but a little way, for the tide waslow--there was the carriage waiting, and Rene, all grins, handed overour parcels to the footman. Then we got in, the wheels began slowlydragging across the sand to the road, the poor horses pulling andstraining, for it was heavy work. And Rene stood watching us by hisboat, his hand over his eyes, a black figure against the dazzlingsunshine on the bay; but I could see his white teeth gleam in thatbroad smile of his from out of his shadowy face. As, at length, wereached the high road and bowled swiftly along, I would not let SirAdrian have peace to think, for something at my heart told me he hatedthe going back to Pulwick, and I so chattered and fixed his attentionthat as the carriage drew up he was actually laughing.

  When we stopped another carriage in front moved off, and there on theporch stood--Rupert and Tanty!

  Poor Tanty, her old face all disfigured with tears and a great blackbonnet and veil towering on her head. I popped _my_ head out of thewindow and called to them.

  When they caught sight of me, both seemed to grow rigid withamazement. And then across Rupert's face came such a look of fury, andsuch a deathly pallor! I had thought, certainly, he would not weep theeyes out of his head for me; but that he should be stricken with_anger_ to see me alive I had hardly expected, and for the instant itfrightened me.

  But then I had no time to observe anything else, for Tanty collapsedupon the steps and went off into as fine a fit of hysterics as I haveever seen. But fortunately it did not last long. Suddenly in themiddle of her screams and rockings to and fro she perceived Sir Adrianas he leant anxiously over her. With the utmost energy she clutchedhis arm and scrambled to her feet.

  "Is it you, me poor child?" she cried, "Is it you?"

  And then she turned from him, as he stood with his gentle, earnestface looking down upon her, and gave Rupert a glare that might haveslain him. I knew at once what she was thinking: I had experiencedmyself that it was impossible to see Sir Adrian and connect hisdignified presence for one second with the scandalous impressionRupert would have conveyed.

  As for Rupert, he looked for the first time since I knew himthoroughly unnerved.

  Then Tanty caught me by the arm and shook me:

  "How _dare_ you, miss, how dare you?" she cried, her face was flaming.

  "How dare I what?" asked I, as I hugged her.

  "How dare you be walking about when it is dead you are, and give usall such a fright--there--there, you know what I mean.--Adrian," shewhimpered, "give me your arm, my nephew, and conduct me into yourhouse. All this has upset me very much. But, oh, am I not glad to seeyou both, my children!"

  In they went together. And my courage having risen again to its usualheight, I waited purposely on the porch to tease Rupert a little. Ihad a real pleasure in noticing how he trembled with agitation beneathhis mask.

  "Well, are you glad to see me, Cousin Rupert?" said I.

  He took my hand; his fingers were damp and cold.

  "Can you ask, my fair cousin?" he sneered. "Do you not see me overcomewith joy? Am I not indeed especially favoured by Providence, for isnot this the second time that a beloved being has been restored intomy arms like Lazarus from the grave?"

  I was indignant at the heartlessness of his cynicism, and so theanswer that leaped to my lips was out before I had time to reflectupon its unladylikeness.

  "Ay," said I, "and each time you have cried in your soul, like Martha,'Behold, he stinketh.'"

  My cousin laughed aloud.

  "You have a sharp tongue," he said, "take care you are not cut with ityourself some day."

  Just then the footmen who had been unpacking Tanty's trunks from thefirst carriage laid a great wooden b
ox upon the porch, and one of themasked Rupert which room they should bring it to.

  Rupert looked at it strangely, and then at me.

  "Take it where you will," he exclaimed at last. "There lies goodmoney-value wasted--though, after all, one never knows."

  "What is it?" said I, struck by a sinister meaning in his accents.

  "Mourning, beautiful Molly--mourning foryou--crape--gowns--weepers--wherewith to have dried your sister'stears--but not needed yet, you see."

  He bared his teeth at me over his shoulder--I could not call it asmile--and then paused, as he was about to brush past into the hall,to give me the _pas_, with a mocking bow.

  He does not even attempt now to hide his dislike of me, nor to drawfor me that cloak of suave composure over the fierce temper that isalways gnawing at his vitals as surely as fox ever gnawed littleSpartan. He sees that it is useless, I suppose. As I went upstairs togreet Madeleine, I laughed to myself to think how Fate hadcircumvented the plotter.

  Alas, how foolish I was to laugh! Rupert is a dangerous enemy, and Ihave made him mine; and in a few hours he has shuffled the cards, andnow he holds the trumps again. For that there is _du Rupert_ in thissudden departure of my knight, I am convinced. Of course, _his_reasons are plain to see. It is the vulgarest ambition that promptshim to oust his brother for as long as possible--for ever, if he can.

  And now, _I_ am outwitted. _Je rage._

  I have never been so unhappy. My heart feels all crushed. I see nohelp anywhere. I cannot in common decency go and seek Sir Adrian uponhis island again, and so I sit and cry.

  * * * * *

  Immediately upon his arrival Tanty was closeted with Sir Adrian in thechamber allotted to her for so long a space of time that Rupert,watching below in an inward fever, now flung back in his chair bitinghis nails, now restlessly pacing the room from end to end, his mindworking on the new problem, his ears strained to catch the least soundthe while, was fain at last to ring and give orders for the immediatesounding of the dinner bell (a good hour before that meal might beexpected) as the only chance of interrupting a conference which bodedso ill to his plans. Meanwhile Madeleine sobbed out the story of hergrief and joy on Molly's heart; and Miss Sophia, who thusinconsiderately arrested in the full congenial flow of a new grief,was thrown back upon her old sorrows for consolation, had feltimpelled to pay a visit to the rector's grave with the watering-can,and an extra pocket-handkerchief.

  Never perhaps since that worthy clergyman had gasped out his laststruggling breath upon her bosom had she known more unmixedsatisfaction than during those days when she hovered round poorprostrate Madeleine's bed and poured into her deaf ear the tale of herown woes and the assurances of her thoroughly understanding sympathy.She had been looking forward, with a chastened eagerness, to thearrival of the mourning, and had already derived a good deal ofpleasure from the donning of certain aged weeds treasured in herwardrobe; it was therefore a distinct though quite unconsciousdisappointment when the news came which put an untimely end to allthese funereal revels.

  At the shrill clamour of the bell, as Rupert anticipated, Adrianemerged instantly from his aunt's room, and a simultaneous jingle ofminor bells announced that the ladies' attention was in all hastebeing turned to toilet matters.

  Whatever had passed between his good old relative and his sensitivebrother, Rupert's quick appraising glance at the latter's face, as hewent slowly down the corridor to his own specially reserved apartment,was sufficient to confirm the watcher in his misgiving that matterswere not progressing as he might wish.

  Sir Adrian seemed absorbed, it is true, in grave thought, but hiscountenance was neither distressed nor gloomy. With a spasm of fierceannoyance, and a bitter curse on the meddling of old females andyoung, Rupert had to admit that never had he seen his brother lookmore handsome, more master of the house and of himself, more _sane_.

  A few minutes later the guests of Pulwick assembled in the library oneby one, with the exception of Sophia, still watering the lastresting-place of the Rev. Herbert Lee.

  Adrian came first, closely followed by Tanty, who turned a markedshoulder upon her younger nephew and devoted all her attention to theelder--in which strained condition of affairs the conversation betweenthe three was not likely to be lively. Next the sisters, attired alikein white, entered together, bringing a bright vision of youth andloveliness into the old room.

  At sight of them Adrian sprang to his feet with a sudden sharpejaculation, upon which the two girls halted on the threshold, halfshy, half smiling. For the moment, in the shadow of the doorway, theywere surprisingly like each other, the difference of colouring beinglost in their curious similarity of contour.

  My God, were there then two Ceciles?

  Beautiful, miraculous, consoling had been to the mourner in hisloneliness the apparition of his dead love restored to life, everytime his eyes had fallen upon Molly during these last few blesseddays; but this new development was only like a troublous mockingdream.

  Tanty turned in startled amazement. She could feel the shudder thatshook his frame, through the hand with which he still unconsciouslygrasped at the back of her chair. An irrepressible smile crept toRupert's lips.

  The little interlude could not have lasted more than a few secondswhen Molly, recovering her usual self-possession, came boldly forward,leading her sister by the tips of her fingers.

  "Cousin Adrian," she said, "my sister Madeleine has many things to sayto you in thanks for your care of my valuable person, but just now sheis too bashful to be able to utter one quarter of them."

  As the girls emerged into the room, and the light from the greatwindows struck upon Madeleine's fair curls and the delicate pallor ofher cheek; as she extended her hand, and raised to Adrian's face,while she dropped her pretty curtsey, the gaze of two unconsciouslyplaintive blue eyes, the man dashed the sweat from his brow with agesture of relief.

  Nothing could be more unlike the dark beauty of the ghost of hisdreams or its dashing presentment now smiling confidently upon himfrom Tanty's side.

  He took the little hand with tender pressure: Cecile's daughter mustbe precious to him in any case. Madeleine, moreover, had a certainappealing grace that was apt to steal the favour that Molly won bystorm.

  "But, indeed, I could never tell Sir Adrian how grateful I am," saidshe, with a timidity that became her as thoroughly as Molly'sfearlessness suited her own stronger personality.

  At the sound of her voice, again the distressful nightmare-likefeeling seized Sir Adrian's soul.

  Of all characteristics that, as the phrase is, "go in families,"voices are generally the most peculiarly generic.

  When Molly first addressed Sir Adrian, it had been to him as a voicefrom the grave; now Madeleine's gentle speech tripped forth upon thatself-same note--Cecile's own voice!

  And next Molly caught up the sound, and then Madeleine answered again.What they said, he could not tell; these ghosts--these speakingghosts--brought back the old memories too painfully. It was thusCecile had spoken in the first arrogance of her dainty youth andloveliness; and in those softer tones when sorrow and work and failurehad subdued her proud spirit. And now she laughs; and hark, the laughis echoed! Sir Adrian turns as if to seek some escape from thisstrange form of torture, meets Rupert's eye and instinctively braceshimself into self-control.

  "Come, come," cried Miss O'Donoghue, in her comfortable, commonplace,cheerful tone: "This dinner bell of yours, Adrian, has raised falsehopes, which seem to tarry in their fulfilment. What are we waitingfor, may I ask?"

  Adrian looked at his brother.

  "Rupert, you know, my dear aunt," he said, "has the ordering of thesematters."

  "Sophia is yet absent," quoth Rupert drily, "but we can proceedwithout her, if my aunt wishes."

  "Pooh, yes. Sophia!" snorted Miss O'Donoghue, grasping Sir Adrian'sarm to show herself quite ready for the march, "Sophia! We all knowwhat she is. Why, my dear Adrian, she'll never hear the bell till ithas stopped this half hour."<
br />
  "Dinner," cried Rupert sharply to the butler, whom his pull of thebell-rope had summoned. And dinner being served, the guests troopedinto that dining-room which was full of such associations to SirAdrian. It was a little thing, but, nevertheless, intensely galling toRupert to have to play second gentleman, and give up his privileges ashost to his brother. Usually indeed Adrian cared too little to standupon his rights, and insisted upon Rupert's continuing to act in hispresence as he did in his absence; but this afternoon Tanty had lefthim no choice.

  Nevertheless, as Mr. Landale sat down between the sisters, and turnedsmiling to address first one and then the other, it would have taken avery practised eye to discern under the extra urbanity of hisdemeanour the intensity of his inward mortification. He talked a greatdeal and exerted himself to make the sisters talk likewise, banteringMolly into scornful and eager retorts, and preventing Madeleine fromrelapsing into that state of dreaminess out of which the rapidsuccession of her recent sorrow and joy had somewhat shaken her.

  The girls were both excited, both ready to laugh and jest. Tanty,satisfied to see Adrian preside at the head of the table with a grave,courteous, and self-contained manner that completely fulfilled hernotions of what family dignity required of him, cracked her jokes, ateher dinner, and quaffed her cup with full enjoyment, laughingindulgently at her grand-nieces' sallies, and showing as marked adisfavour to Rupert as she deemed consistent with good manners.

  The poor old lady little guessed how the workings in each brother'smind were all the while, silently but inevitably, tending towards thedestruction of her newly awakened hopes.

  * * * * *

  There was silence between Sir Adrian and Rupert when at last they wereleft alone together. The elder's gaze wandering in space, his absenthand softly beating the table, his relaxed frame--all showed that hismind was far away from thought of the younger's presence. The reliefto be delivered from the twin echoes of a haunting voice--once thedearest on earth to him--was immense. But his whole being was stillquivering under the first acuteness of so disturbing an impression.

  His years of solitude, moreover, had ill prepared him for socialintercourse; the laughter, the clash of conversation, the noise onevery side, the length of the meal, the strain to maintain a fit andproper attitude as host, had tried to the utmost nerves by naturehypersensitive.

  Rupert, who had leisure to study the suddenly lined and tiredlineaments of the abstracted countenance before him, noted withself-congratulation the change that a few hours seemed to have wroughtupon it, and decided that the moment had come to strike.

  "So, Adrian," he said, looking down demurely as he spoke into theglass of wine he had been toying with--Rupert was an abstemious man."So, Adrian, you have been playing the chivalrous role of rescuer ofdistressed damsels--squire of dames and what not. The last one wouldhave ascribed to you at least at this end of your life. Ha," throwingup his head with a mirthless laugh; "how little any of us would havethought what a blessing in disguise your freak of self-exile wasdestined to become to us!"

  At the sound of the incisive voice Adrian had returned with a slightshiver from distant musing to the consciousness of the other'spresence.

  "And did you not always look upon my exile as a blessing undisguised,Rupert?" answered he, fixing his brother with his large grave gaze.

  Rupert's eyelids wavered a little beneath it, but his tone was coollyinsolent as he made reply:

  "If it pleases you to make no count of our fraternal affection foryou, my dear fellow; if by insisting upon _our_ unnatural depravityyou contrive a more decent excuse for your own vagaries, you have myfull permission to dub me Cain at once and have done with it."

  A light sigh escaped the elder man, and then he resolutely closed hislips. It was by behaviour such as this, by his almost diabolicalingenuity in the art of being uncongenial, that Rupert had so largelycontributed to make his own house impossible to him. But where was theuse of either argument or expostulation with one so incapable of evenunderstanding the mainsprings of his actions? Moreover (_he_, aboveall, must not forget it) Rupert had suffered through him in pride andself-esteem. And yet, despite Sir Adrian's philosophic mind, despitehis vast, pessimistic though benevolent tolerance for erring humannature, his was a very human heart; and it added not a little to thesadness of his lot at every return to Pulwick (dating from that firstmost bitter home-coming) to feel in every fibre of his being howlittle welcome he was where the ties of flesh and blood alone, not tospeak of his most ceaseless yet delicate generosity, should haveensured him a very different reception.

  Again he sighed, this time more deeply, and the corners of Rupert'slips, the arch of his eyebrows, moved upwards in smilinginterrogation.

  "It must have given you a shock," said Mr. Landale, carelessly, "tosee the resemblance between Molly and poor Cecile; not, of course,that _I_ can remember her; but Tanty says it is something startling."

  Adrian assented briefly.

  "I daresay it seems quite painful to you at first," proceeded Rupert,much in the same deliberate manner as a surgeon may lay bare a wound,despite the knowledge of the suffering he is inflicting, "I noticedthat you seemed upset during dinner. But probably the feeling willwear off."

  "Probably."

  "Madeleine resembles her father, I am told; but then you never saw the_feu Comte_, did you? Well, they are both fine handsome girls, full oflife and spirits. It is our revered relative's intention to leave themhere--as perhaps she has told you--for two months or so."

  "I have begged her," said Sir Adrian gravely, "to make them understandthat I wish them to look upon Pulwick as their home."

  "Very right, very proper," cried the other; "in fact I knew that waswhat you would wish--and your wishes, of course, are my law in thematter. By the way, I hope you quite understand, Adrian, how ithappened that I did _not_ notify to you the arrival of these guestsextraordinary--knowing that you have never got over their mother'sdeath, and all that--it was entirely from a wish to spare you.Besides, there was your general prohibition about my visitors; I didnot dare to take the responsibility in fact. And so I told Tanty."

  "I do not wish to doubt the purity of your motives, though it wouldhave grieved me had _these_ visitors (no ordinary ones as you yourselfadmit) come and gone without my knowledge. As it fell out, however,even without that child's dangerous expedition, I should have beeninformed in any case--Rene knew."

  "Rene knew?" cried Rupert, surprised; and "damn Rene" to himself withheart-felt energy.

  That the infernal little spy, as he deemed his brother's servant,should have made a visit to Pulwick without his knowledge wasunpleasant news, and it touched him on his tenderest point.

  But now, replenishing his half-emptied glass to give Adrian no excusefor putting an end to the conference before he himself desired it, heplunged into the heart of the task he had set himself without furtherdelay:

  "And what would you wish me to do, Adrian," he asked, with a prettyair of deference, "in the matter of entertaining these ladies? I havethought of several things likely to afford them amusement, but, sinceyou are here, you will readily understand that I should like yourauthorisation first. I am anxious to consult you when I can," headded, apologetically. "So forgive my attacking you upon businessto-night when you seem really so little fitted for it--but you knowone cannot count upon you from one minute to another! What would yousay if I were to issue invitations for a ball? Pulwick was noted forits hospitality in the days of our fathers, and the gloom that hashung over the old home these last eight years has been (I suppose)unavoidable in the circumstances--but none the less a pity. No fearbut that our fair cousins would enjoy such a festivity, and I think Ican promise you that the sound of our revels should not reach as faras your hermitage."

  A slow colour had mounted to Adrian's cheeks; he drew his browstogether with an air of displeasure; Rupert, quick to read thesesymptoms, hastened to pursue the attack before response should bemade:

  "The idea does not seem to p
lease you," he cried, as if in hurtsurprise. "'Tis true I have now no legal right to think of revivingthe old hospitable traditions of the family; but you must remember,Adrian, you yourself have insisted on giving me a moral right to acthost here in your absence--you have over and over again laid stressupon the freedom you wished me to feel in the matter. Hitherto I havenot made use of these privileges; have not cared to do so, beyond anoccasional duty dinner to our nearest neighbours. A lonely widowerlike myself, why should I? But now, with these gay young things in thehouse--so near to us in blood--I had thought it so much our duty toprovide fitting entertainment for them that your attitude isincomprehensible to me. Come! does it not strike you as savouring alittle of the unamiable dog in the fable? I know you hate companyyourself, and all the rest of it; but how can these things here affectyou upon your island? As for the budget, it will stand it, I assureyou. I speak hotly; pray excuse me. I own I have looked forward to thethought of seeing once more young and happy faces around me."

  "You mistake me," said Sir Adrian with an effort; "while you areacting as my representative you have, as you know, all liberty toentertain what guests you choose, and as you see fit. It is natural,perhaps, that you should now believe me anxious to hurry back to thelighthouse, and I should have told you before that it is my intentionthis time to remain longer than my wont, in which circumstance thearrangements for the entertaining of our relatives will devolve uponmyself."

  Rupert broke into a loud laugh.

  "Forgive me, but the idea is too ludicrous! What sort of funeralfestivities do you propose to provide to the neighbourhood, with youand Sophia presiding, the living images of mourning and desolation?There, my dear fellow, I _must_ laugh. It will be the skeleton at thefeast with a vengeance. Why, even to-night, in the bosom of yourfamily, as it were, your presence lay so like a wet blanket upon usall that, 'pon my soul, I nearly cracked my voice trying to keep thosegirls from noticing it! Seriously, I am delighted, of course, that youshould feel so sportive, and it is high time indeed that theneighbourhood should see something of you, but I fear you arereckoning beyond your strength. Anyhow, command me. I shall be anxiousto help you all I can in this novel departure. What are your plans?"

  "I have laid no plans," answered Sir Adrian coldly, after a slightpause, "but you do not need me to tell you, Rupert, that to surroundmyself with such gaiety as you suggest is impossible."

  "You mean to make our poor little cousins lead as melancholy anexistence as you do yourself then," cried Rupert with an angry laugh.Matters were not progressing as he could have wished. "I fear thiswill cause a good deal of disappointment, not only to them but to ourrevered aunt--for she is very naturally anxious to see her chargesmarried and settled, and she told me that she more or less countedupon my aid in the matter. Now as you are here of course I have, thankHeaven, nothing more to say one way or another. But you will surelythink of asking a few likely young fellows over to the house,occasionally? We are not badly off for eldest sons in theneighbourhood; Molly, who is as arrant a little flirt, they tell me,as she is pretty, will be grateful to you for the attention, on thescore of amusement at least."

  Mr. Landale, speaking somewhat at random out of his annoyance to havefailed in immediately disgusting the hermit of the responsibilitieshis return home might entail, here succeeded by chance in producingthe desired impression.

  The idea of Molly--Cecile's double--marrying--worse still, makinglove, coquetting before his eyes, was intolerable to Adrian. To haveto look on, and see _Cecile's_ eyes lavish glances of love; _her_lips, soft words and lingering smiles, upon some country fool; to havehimself to give this duplicate of his love's sweet body to oneunworthy perhaps--it stung him with a pain as keen as it wasunreasonable. It was terrible to be so made, that the past was ever asliving as the present! But he must face the situation, he must grapplewith his own weakness. Tender memories had lured him from his retreatand made him for a short time almost believe that he could live withthem, happy a little while, in his own home again; but now it wasthese very memories that were rising like avengers to drive him hence.

  Of course the child must marry if there her happiness lay. Ay, andboth Cecile's children must be amused, made joyful, while they stillcould enjoy life--Rupert was right--right in all he said--but he,Adrian, could not be there to see. That was beyond his endurance.

  It was impossible of course, for one so single-minded himself, tofollow altogether the doublings of such a mind as Rupert's; butthrough the melancholy relief of this sudden resolution, Adrian wasdistinctly conscious of the underlying duplicity, the unworthy motiveswhich had prompted his brother's arguments.

  He rose from the table, and looked down with sad gaze at the younger'sbeautiful mask of a face.

  "God knows," he said, "God knows, Rupert, I do not so often inflict mypresence upon you that you should be so anxious to show me how muchbetter I should do to keep away. I admit nevertheless the justice ofall you say. It is but right that Mesdemoiselles de Savenaye should besurrounded with young and cheerful society; and even were I in a stateto act as master of the revels (here he smiled a little dreamily), myvery presence, as you say, would cast a gloom upon theirmerrymaking--I will go. I will go back to the island to-night--I canrely upon you to assist me to do so quietly without unnecessary scenesor explanations--yes--yes--I know you will be ready to facilitatematters! Strange! It is only a few hours ago since Tanty almostpersuaded me that it was my duty to remain here; now you have made mesee that I have no choice but to leave. Have no fear, Rupert--I go. Ishall write to Tanty. But remember only, that as you treat Cecile'schildren, so shall I shape my actions towards you in future."

  Slowly he moved away, leaving Rupert motionless in his seat; and longdid the younger brother remain moodily fixing the purple bloom of thegrapes with unseeing eyes.

  PART III

  "CAPTAIN JACK," THE GOLD SMUGGLER