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"I am going to make a confession, and you will see, after all, that the trouble I am in has something to do with you. You remember that night at Beauleys?" "Yes!" he answered. "We won't talk about it," she continued. "We mustn't talk about it. Only it gave me foolish thoughts. From being utterly incredulous or indifferent, I went to the other extreme. I became, I suppose, absolutely foolish.
He stood before the open window, his face set, his eyes riveted upon a spot in the distance, where the great white front of Beauleys flashed out from amongst the trees. Its windows had caught the dying sunlight, and a flood of fire seemed to be burning along its front. The flag floated from the chimneys. There was no sign of any disturbance.
"He might still have been useful. You quarrel with people as though it were worth the trouble. To speak angry words is the most foolish thing I know." Saton glanced at the clock upon the mantelpiece. "I am going out for an hour," he said. "To Beauleys?" she asked, mockingly. "Somewhere near there," he answered. "Good night!"
There are limits to my patience as there are limits to my generosity and my affection. If you refuse, it can be but for one reason, and that reason you will not dare to tell me. Do you refuse? Answer me, now, I will have no more evasions." "She would not marry me," he said. "I have not seen her for days." "Where is she?" Rachael demanded. "In the country, at Beauleys," he answered.
"Lady Mary Rochester of Beauleys," the other answered "got a town house, and a big country place down in Mechestershire." Something flashed for a moment in Saton's eyes, but he said nothing. His companion commenced to draw leisurely a sheet of paper from his breast coat pocket. He was fair and middle-aged, respectably dressed, and with the air of a prosperous city merchant.
The little hands which his still clasped were as cold as ice. It seemed to him that they were unwilling prisoners. Once, when he would have passed his arm around her waist, she even shuddered and drew away. The car rushed on its way, turned into the great avenue, and drew up in front of Beauleys. Lois stepped out quickly, and went on ahead.
The silence was broken for a moment by the cry of a lonely bird, drifting homewards on wings that seemed almost motionless. Rochester was quite convalescent now, and with the aid of a stick was able to walk almost as far as he chose. Pauline had remained at Beauleys, and her presence had divested those last few weeks of all their irksomeness.
The quiet stillness of evening which rested upon the landscape, seemed everywhere undisturbed. Yet Saton, as he looked, shivered. Down in the lane a motor-car rushed by. His eyes followed it, fascinated. It was one of the Beauleys cars, and inside was seated a tall, spare man, white-faced and serious, on whose knees rested a black case.
He even sat for a moment or two smoking a cigarette in his very luxurious dressing-room, fingering the gold-topped bottles of his dressing-case, and wondering what would be the most effectual and least painful means of coming to an understanding with her! The guests at Beauleys were all grouped together in the hall after dinner, the men, and some of the women, smoking cigarettes.
You see my house down there Beauleys, they call it? At twelve o'clock to-morrow, if you come to me, I will give you a sum of money sufficient to keep you for several years. I do not specify the amount at this moment, I shall think it over before you come." The boy had no words. He simply stared at his chance companion in blank astonishment.
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