Part 4 (1/2)
Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
”We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about. We're a decorous lot,”
Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amus.e.m.e.nt. ”Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached. It's hardly the thing to discuss Andrew's shortcomings round his table.”
”There are times when it's a duty to overcome one's delicacy,” Robert replied. ”If I have been correctly informed, the matter demands attention. Hitherto the Allinsons have never given their neighbors cause to criticize their conduct.”
”None of them? I seem to remember----”
”None of them,” Robert interposed firmly. ”There was once a malicious story about Arthur, but I am glad to say it was disproved. But this Mrs. Olcott, whom I haven't seen--I suppose she's attractive?”
Wannop smiled.
”Distinctly so; what's more, she has a forlorn and pathetic air which is highly fetching. Still, I'm convinced that there's no harm in her.”
”A married woman living apart from her husband!” Robert exclaimed severely. ”I understand that Andrew is at her house now, and I must confess that after walking some distance I feel hurt at his not being here to receive us.”
”He didn't know you were coming,” Wannop pointed out, and added with a roguish air: ”We have all been young and I don't suppose you used to look the other way when you met a pretty girl; but I'll go bail Andrew only visits her out of charity. However, if you are determined to have your say, you may as well begin and get it over.”
Robert left him and addressed Leonard in a formal tone.
”I am told that Andrew is going out to a.s.sist in the development of the new mine and wishes to be made a director. As a relative and a shareholder, may I ask if you consider him fit for the post?”
Leonard had been waiting for an opening, and he welcomed the inquiry.
”Andrew has every right to demand the position, which I could not refuse.” He paused, for the next suggestion must be skilfully conveyed. ”As it happens, his abilities hardly enter into the question. It is merely needful that we should have a representative on the spot to whom we can send instructions, and I dare say he will get a good deal of the fis.h.i.+ng and shooting he enjoys. All matters of importance will be decided in London.”
”Then I take it that his inexperience and inapt.i.tude can do the company no harm?”
Leonard was grateful to him for so plainly expressing his meaning.
”Oh, no! Besides, I imagine that the change will be beneficial in several ways.”
Glancing at the others, he knew that he had said enough. It would have been difficult for any of the family to cite a remark of his in open disparagement of his brother-in-law, though he had cunningly fostered their disbelief in him. His wife, however, was endowed with courage as well as candor.
”There is nothing to be gained by shutting one's eyes to the truth,”
she observed. ”We all know that Andrew's visits to this woman are being talked about. What is more serious is that he induced her to come here, and let her have The Firs on purely nominal terms.”
”Is it so bad as that?” Mrs. Fenwood, with a shocked look, turned to the clergyman, as if begging him to deal with the painful situation.
”The thing must be stopped; nipped in the bud,” said Robert firmly. ”I agree with Leonard that our infatuated relative should be sent to Canada at once.”
Wannop smiled.
”It strikes me as fortunate that Andrew is willing to go.”
”It's a favorable sign,” said Mrs. Fenwood. ”He may be struggling against the creature's influence, in which case it's our duty to a.s.sist him.”
”That wasn't what I meant. I've a suspicion that we have fallen into a habit of underestimating Andrew's abilities and determination.” Wannop looked hard at Leonard. ”You are going to put him into a position of responsibility and teach him to use his power. Are you prepared for the possible consequences?”
n.o.body paid much attention to this, and Leonard after a moment's hesitation dismissed the matter. The Allinsons regarded Wannop as a thoughtless person whose moral code was somewhat lax. Nevertheless, he was shrewd and had read Andrew's character better than Leonard.