United States or Algeria ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
It was hard; but, loyally, Billy made answer. "Yes; Ronnie says it is only right; and I think so too. I've come to do it, if you will let me." Lady Ingleby sat, with clasped hands, considering. After all, what did it matter? What did anything matter, compared to the trouble with Jim? She looked up at the portrait; but Michael's pictured face, intent on little Peter, gave her no sign.
I must go now. In twenty-four hours, I will come back to talk it over." He turned, without another word; without a touch; without a look. He swung round on his heel, and walked away across the lawn. Myra's dismayed eyes could scarcely follow him. He mounted the terrace; passed into the house. A door closed. Jim Airth was gone! Myra Ingleby rose and wended her way slowly towards the house.
She had followed its ascent with a small interested finger, and her nurse had come by with a duster, and saying: "Nasty thing!" had ruthlessly flicked it off. The fly had fallen fallen dead, on the nursery carpet.... Lady Ingleby felt she too was falling. She gave one agonised glance upward to the towering cliff, with the line of sky above it. Then everything swayed and rocked.
A maid, at a window, dropped the blind, and ran to tell the anxious household all was well. Meanwhile, Lady Ingleby read her telegram. Visiting patient in your neighbourhood. Can you put me up for the night? Arriving 4.30. Deryck Brand. Lady Ingleby turned to the footman. "William," she said, "tell Mrs. Jarvis, Sir Deryck Brand is called to this neighbourhood, and will stay here to-night.
He could feel the regular motion of her quiet breathing, beneath his hand. "Thank God!" said Jim Airth, with his eyes on the morning star. When Lady Ingleby opened her eyes, she could not, for a moment, imagine where she was. Dawn was breaking over the sea. A rift of silver, in the purple sky, had taken the place of the morning star. She could see the silvery gleam reflected in the ocean.
I am terrified; yet I know you are right. And, oh, you dear, don't leave me! See me through." "I am never away from Garth for a night, as you know," said Mrs. Dalmain. "But he and little Geoff went down to Overdene this morning, with Simpson and nurse; so, if your man can motor me over during the evening, I will stay as long as you need me." "Ah, thanks," said Lady Ingleby.
In this difficulty, Ingleby found an instrument ready to his hand in an orphan girl of barely twelve years old, a marvel of precocious ability, whom Miss Blanchard had taken a romantic fancy to befriend and whom she had brought away with her from England to be trained as her maid. That girl's wicked dexterity removed the one serious obstacle left to the success of the fraud.
"Dear Lady Ingleby," he said, "little Peter is dead. He must have died during the night, in his sleep. He was lying just as I left him, curled up in the coat; but he is quite cold and stiff. Faithful little heart!" said the doctor, with emotion, holding his burden, tenderly. "What!" cried Myra, with both arms outstretched.
"Think what it means to Jim Airth!" said Lady Ingleby. "Think of the despair and misery through which he passed; and, after all, he had not done it." "May we see?" asked Ronald eagerly, holding out his hand for the telegram. Billy licked his dry lips, but no sound would come. "Read it," said Myra. Ronald took the telegram and read it aloud. "To Lady Ingleby, Shenstone Park, Shenstone, England.
"Dear!" he cried, "Oh, my dear, what is the matter? Selfish fool, that I am! I thought you were just resting, quiet and content." His groping hands found and held her. "Oh, Jim," sobbed Lady Ingleby, "I am so sorry! It is so weak and unworthy. But I am afraid I feel faint. The whole cliff seems to rock and move. Every moment I fear it will tip me over. And you seemed miles away!"
Word Of The Day