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If you are to keep alive, it's better to keep well as long as ever you can. Make haste, though, and change your clothes. I hurried away, followed by Clara's merry laugh at my clumsy gait. In a few moments I was ready. Mr Coningham had settled my bill for me.
There I settled and resumed the labour so long and thanklessly interrupted. When I recounted the circumstances of my last interview with Mr Coningham, Charley did not seem so much surprised at the prospect which had opened before me as disappointed at its sudden close, and would not admit that the matter could be allowed to rest where it was.
Not, however, until he came quite close, did I recognize Geoffrey Brotherton. He took off his hat to my companion, and reined in his horse. 'Are you going to give us in charge for trespassing, Mr Brotherton? said Clara. 'I should be happy to take you in charge on any pretence, Miss Coningham. This is indeed an unexpected pleasure. Here he looked in my direction.
Mother and daughter gave me a kind farewell, and I exhausted my German in vain attempts to let them know how grateful I was for their goodness. There was not much time, however, to spend even on gratitude. The sun was nearly down, and I could see Clara mounted and waiting for me before the window. I found Mr Coningham rather impatient. 'Come along, Mr Cumbermede; we must be off, he said.
Observing that the last of the suite of book-rooms furthest from the armoury had still a door into the room beyond, I proceeded to try it, thinking to know at a glance whether it would suit me, and whether it was likely to be yielded for my purpose. It opened, and, to my dismay, there stood Clara Coningham, fastening her collar. She looked sharply round, and made a half-indignant step towards me.
'Have you seen much of him, then? 'Quite enough. I never heard him say anything vulgar, or saw him do anything vulgar, but vulgar he is, and vulgar is every one of the family. A man who is always aware of how rich he will be, and how good-looking he is, and what a fine match he would make, would look vulgar lying in his coffin. 'You are positively caustic, Miss Coningham.
'The best way, said Mr Coningham, 'will be to let the gardener take your horse, while you come in and have some luncheon. We'll see about the mount after that. My horse has to carry me back in the evening, else I should be happy to join you. She's a fine creature, that of yours. 'She's the handiest creature! I said 'a little skittish, but very affectionate, and has a fine mouth.
'Oh! it's all a trap sugar on the outside of a pill! The sting's in the tail of it. They're all like that. I know them. This silenced me, and for a while we went on without speaking. The rain ceased; the mist cleared a little; and I began to think I saw some landmarks I knew. A moment more, and I perfectly understood where we were. 'I'm all right now, sir, I said to Mr Coningham.
I took no trouble to ask her concerning the relationship of which Mr Coningham had spoken. I knew already from my uncle that it was a fact, but Mrs Wilson did not behave in such a manner as to render me inclined to broach the subject. If she wished it to remain a secret from me, she should be allowed to imagine it such.
I wished also to have some talk with Mr Coningham concerning the contents of the letters which at his urgency I had now read. I got up and wrote to him therefore, asking him to ride with me again to Umberden Church, as soon as he could make it convenient, and sent Styles off at once on the mare to carry the note to Minstercombe, and bring me back an answer.
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