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Hicks was taken in an inspired attitude regarding the chandelier, and pretending he didn't know that Miss Pettifer was looking at him. Poor Miss Meggot is not so lucky as Miss Bunion. Nobody comes to dance with HER, though she has a new frock on, as she calls it, and rather a pretty foot, which she always manages to stick out.
Margaret Pettifer sat down in her chair. "Where was Dick yesterday afternoon?" "Margaret, I don't know." "I do. I saw him. He was with Stella Ballantyne on the river in the dusk in a Canadian canoe." She uttered each fresh detail in a more indignant tone, as though it aggravated the crime. Yet even so she had not done. There was, it seemed, a culminating offence.
I did not even know that she was in India and married until I was told so in Bombay." Thresk was prepared for that question. He had the truth ready and he spoke it frankly. Mr. Pettifer turned away to Hazlewood, who was watching him expectantly. "We have nothing more to do, Hazlewood, but to thank Mr. Thresk for answering our questions and to apologise to him for having put them." Mr.
"Therefore," he continued, "he is anxious that I should discover in these reports some solid reason for believing that the verdict which acquitted Stella Ballantyne was a grave miscarriage of justice. For any such reason must have weight." "Of course," said Mrs. Pettifer. "And will justify him this is his chief consideration in withholding publicly his consent." "I see."
"We knew that there would be a little struggle, didn't we? But the worst of that's over. You make friends daily." "Not with your father, Dick. I go back with him. Ever since that night it's three weeks ago now when you took me home from Little Beeding." "No," cried Dick, but Stella nodded her head gloomily. "Mr. Pettifer dined here that night. He's an enemy of mine."
Pettifer's presence. Somehow Mrs. Pettifer must be dismissed. No such anxiety, however, harassed Mr. Hazlewood. "Say it, Margaret," he said, smiling benignantly upon her. "You cannot annoy me this morning. I am myself again," and Dick's eyes turned sharply upon him. "All my old powers of observation have returned, my old interest in the great dark riddle of human life has re-awakened.
"You are satisfied then?" he asked of Pettifer; and Pettifer showed him unexpectedly a cordial and good-humoured face. "Yes. Let me say to you, Mr. Thresk, that ever since I began to study this case I have wished less and less to bear hardly upon Mrs. Ballantyne.
Behind him walked the Pettifers, Robert ill-at-ease and wishing himself a hundred miles away, Margaret Pettifer boiling for battle. Hazlewood himself dropped into an arm-chair. "I am very glad that you came to-night, Margaret," he said boldly. "You have seen for yourself." "Yes, I have," she replied. "Harold, there have been moments this evening when I could have screamed."
"Only since you are here and since so much is at stake for me my son's happiness I hoped that you might perhaps give us an answer or two which would disperse the doubts of some suspicious people." "Who are they?" asked Thresk. "Neighbours of ours," replied Hazlewood, and thereupon Robert Pettifer stepped forward. He had remained aloof and silent until this moment.
Captain Jorgan followed the lovers out, quite sheepishly, pausing in the shop to give an instruction to Mr. Pettifer. "Here, Tom!" said the captain, in a low voice. "Here's something in your line. Here's an old lady poorly and low in her spirits. Cheer her up a bit, Tom. Cheer 'em all up." Mr. Raybrock, administering soft words of consolation.
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