Part 34 (2/2)
”He is with Colonel Neilson, at the kennels,” replies Miss Hescott promptly.
”Ah, I told you you were a good sister,” says Mrs. Bethune.
”Because I said Tom was with Colonel Neilson? Do you think he _isn't_ with him?” asks Minnie, looking at her fixedly.
”My _dear_ girl! What a _betise!_ No! Because you take such care to know what he is doing. And so he is now with Colonel Neilson?”
”Yes,” shortly.
”I'm afraid I must go,” says Sir Maurice; ”if I don't catch those Wickses at this hour I shall never catch them at all.” He nods to Minnie. For a second his eyes meet Marian's. There is something in them that so satisfies her, that on way back with Minnie she makes herself thoroughly agreeable to that astute damsel. What _was_ there in his eye?--rage, hatred, revenge!
In truth, Rylton's mind is full of evil thoughts as he strides onward into the recesses of the wood. The falling autumn leaves crackle beneath his swift tread, and through the trees the sky shows signs of storm. But what storm in all Nature can be compared with the rage that stirs the heart of man?
Marian Bethune's coverts hints, added to his own suspicions, have set his heart on fire! And that girl's attempts at evasion, her hiding of her brother's faults--all that, too, had been laid bare to him by Marian!
Just now it seems to him as true as life itself that t.i.ta and Tom Hescott have gone for a walk together; somewhere--anywhere beyond the ken of those of her own household. To think that he should have sacrificed his whole life--that he should have married this child, who is less to him that thistledown, to be cast aside by her, and to let her bring down his good name with ignominy to the dust.
He is striding onwards, lost in miserable thought, when suddenly footsteps, coming quickly towards him, rouse him. Someone is laughing. The laughter strikes to his very soul. When people laugh seldom, one always knows their laugh. Before Tom Hescott turns the corner Rylton knows it is his. But his companion!
”Why, there you are, Rylton!” says Colonel Neilson at the top of his voice. ”By Jove! well met! We've been disputing about a point in the tenant right down here, and you can set us straight!”
Rylton can hardly account to himself for the terrible revulsion of feeling he endures at this moment. Is it joy? _Can_ it be joy? What is she to him or he to her? Yet positively it is a most thankful joy he feels as he sees these two men approaching him together. After all, Minnie Hescott had been right. It is perhaps worthy of notice that he does not say to himself that Marian Bethune had been wrong!
He sets Colonel Neilson straight on a point or two, and then goes on again, striking now, however, into a pathway that leads him very far from the farm he had proposed to visit. It opens out into a pleasant little green sward dotted with trees, through which the sun glints delicately. One of these trees is a gnarled old oak.
As Rylton steps into this open glade the oak attracts him. He looks at it--first carelessly, and then with sharp interest. What strange fruit is that hanging on it? A foot!--an exquisite little slipper!
He stands still, and looks higher; and there he sees t.i.ta embedded amongst the leaves, half reclining on a giant bough and reading. The book is on her knees, her eyes upon her book.
CHAPTER XX.
HOW t.i.tA TAKES HIGH GROUND, AND HOW SHE BRINGS HER HUSBAND, OF ALL PEOPLE, TO HER FEET.
She looks like a little elf. All at once the pretty beauty of her breaks upon Rylton. The reaction from such extreme doubt of her to a clear certainty has made his appreciation of her kinder--has, perhaps, opened his eyes to the perfections she possesses. However this may be, there is, beyond question, a great deal of remorse in his soul as he walks towards the tree in which she sits enshrined.
How will she receive him? Not a word, save those much-begrudged ones at breakfast, has pa.s.sed between them since last night; and this hurrying away from the others, does it not mean a dislike to meet _him?_
”You have mounted very high in the world!” says he, stopping beneath the tree and addressing her.
He has come towards her very softly on the gra.s.s--so softly that she has not heard his coming. And now, as he speaks, she starts violently, and looks down at him as if surprised out of all measure.
In a second, however, she recovers herself.
”True!” says she; ”I have married you!”
It is to be still war, then! Rylton bites his lips, but controls himself. It is plain he is not forgiven. But, after all, she has had something to forgive, and more--_far_ more than she even knows. That last suspicion of her was base.
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