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Her cheerful laugh brought Colonel Faversham's anxious eyes to her face, and he began to realize the disadvantages of a secret engagement. "I think," she was remarking, "that I used to know Miss Clynesworth." "A liberal education," said Jimmy, "and I hope you will soon improve it. Quite infuriating," he added. "What is?" asked Bridget. "The cussedness of destiny!
A man of the people then using probably some old muzzle-loader, begged or borrowed? Faversham's thought ran to the young fellow who had denounced Melrose with such fervour at Mainstairs the day of Lydia Penfold's visit to the stricken village. But, good heavens! there were a score of men on Melrose's estate, with at least as good reason or better for shooting, as that man. Take the Brands!
"Ten o'clock to-morrow," said Melrose, accompanying him to the door. "Ten o'clock, sharp." He stood, with raised forefinger, on the threshold of the newly opened room, bowing a stiff farewell. Undershaw escaped. But as he turned into the pillared hall, Nurse Aston hurriedly emerged from Faversham's room.
When a couple of vases and a statuette, captured in Paris from some remains of the Spitzer sale, arrived at the Tower, it was to Faversham's room that Melrose first conveyed them; and it was from Faversham's mouth that he also, for the first time, accepted any remarks on his purchases that were not wholly rapturous.
And yet there was something strange something monstrous in the old man's venomous temper. After all his bribes, after all his tyranny, did he still feel something in Faversham escape him? some deep-driven defiance, or hope, intangible? He seemed indeed to be always on the watch now for fresh occasions of attack that should test his own power, and Faversham's submission.
As Jimmy bowed, he coolly took the chair which would have already been occupied, if caution and time had not been desirable this afternoon in Colonel Faversham's movements. "I should have known you anywhere," said Bridget, without the least hesitation. "Your photograph," she explained, as Mrs. Reynolds changed her position to engage her host's attention, "has represented you during your absence.
Faversham's leg had been already placed in a rough splint and his head bandaged. They lifted him, quite unconscious, upon the hurdle, and made him as comfortable as they could.
Ten times had he been on the point of dashing down his papers at Melrose's feet, and turning his back on the old madman, and his house, forever. It was, of course, the thought of the gifts he had already accepted, and of that vast heritage waiting for him when Melrose should be in his grave, which had restrained him that alone; no cynic could put it more nakedly than did Faversham's own thoughts.
Melrose and her daughter detains us. Whether we shall obtain justice for them in the end I do not know. At present the adverse influences are very strong and the indignation of all decent people seems to make no difference. Mr. Faversham's position is indeed difficult to understand. "Please remember me kindly to your mother and sister. Next year I hope we shall be able to meet as usual.
A little tact, a little prudent maneuvering; some money here, possibly out of his, Faversham's, own pocket; judicious temporizing there; white lying when necessary a certain element of intrigue in Faversham rose to the business with alacrity. In the pride of his young brain and his recovered strength he did not regard it as possible that he should fail in it.
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