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She laughed, but the laughter ended in a sob. She bent her head, and Johnny, strangely puzzled, slipped his arm about her and drew her a little closer to him. He had thought her a child; but she was a woman, and he had seen in her eyes that which set his dull wits wondering. It was exactly a week since his departure that Hugh returned to Starden, and found Mrs.
Neither at Marlbury, nor at Morchester had any marriage been registered in the name of Hugh Alston and Joan Meredyth in the year nineteen eighteen; and having discovered that fact beyond doubt, Philip Slotman took train for London. A fortnight had passed since Johnny Everard's first visit to Starden, and during that time he had been again and yet again.
Still, in spite of Joan's coldness, he found his way over to Starden very often during the days that followed. He had picked up a small secondhand car, which he strenuously learned to drive, and thereafter the little car might have been seen plugging almost daily along the six odd miles of road that separated Buddesby from Starden.
He had just time to write and catch the early outward mail from Starden, to-day was Thursday. "I have had your letter, and it has worried me not a little. I can't bear to think of you as unhappy, little girl. I shall come back to Hurst Dormer, and shall be there to-morrow, Friday, early in the afternoon. Send me a wire to say if you will come, or if you would rather that I came to Cornbridge.
Once he had caught a glimpse of John Everard hurrying to Starden Hall in his little car, he himself had been standing by Mrs. Bonner's gate. Everard had turned his head and glanced at him, with that curiosity about strangers that all dwellers in rustic places feel. "An artist, I suppose," Johnny thought as he drove on.
What is his name, Con?" "Slotman." "Don't know it. I suppose I'd better see him. Wait, I'll light the lamp. If Ellice isn't back soon I shall go and hunt for her. Do you know which direction she went in?" "I I think " Connie hesitated; she was never any good at concealment. "I think she went towards Starden." "Then when we've got rid of this fellow I'll get out the car and go and find her.
Ten thousand pounds, or I'll give you away, so that every man and woman in Starden will count 'emselves your betters! I'll give you away to the poor fool you think you are going to marry! There won't be any wedding. I'll swear a man couldn't marry a thing with such a name as I shall give you! Money, yes! you'll pay! I want ten thousand pounds!
"Oh, we can manage it somehow," he said hopefully. Constance looked at him out of the corner of her eyes. "It will be useful for you to run over to Starden to see Helen won't it?" "Yes, to see Helen. She's a good sort, one of the best, dear old Helen! Isn't it ripping to have her near us again?" "She could always have come to Buddesby if she had wanted to." "Oh, there isn't much room there!"
And silence is worth a lot, my girl, when a woman's engaged to be married, and when there's things in her past she don't care about people knowing of. Yes, Miss Joan Meredyth, my lady clerk on three quid a week was one person, but Miss Meredyth of Starden Hall, engaged to be married to Mr. John Everard of Buddesby, is another, ain't she?" "Please say what you have to say," she said coldly.
I hated the thought of you having to work for such a man as Slotman. I am thankful you are freed from any such need." She had wronged him by that thought, she was glad to realise it. He had not known, then. "My uncle died. He left me his fortune and the old home of our family, which he had recently bought back, Starden Hall, in Kent. I am living there now with Mrs.
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