Part 27 (1/2)
”Would you like Mr. Morris to corroborate all I have said?” asked Hal, struck with the change in her, and feeling she was all she described herself.
The waiter was summoned, and bidden to fetch Morris.
”Reg, I have told Miss Goodchild all about Wyck. Will you give her your version?” said Hal, as Reg entered the room.
Reg told his story, and Miss Goodchild listened attentively, and said:
”Your accounts certainly tally, but you can give me, doubtless, further proof. You have now a desperate woman to deal with, and if you have lied to me, I will be revenged on both of you.”
Hal for a moment was nonplussed. He had not doubted that his statements would not be believed.
But Reg came to his rescue.
”We could procure that telegram from Port Arthur, and we could get the landlord to certify to his story.”
”That is certainly a small point in your favour, but is it the best proof you can produce?” asked May.
”No, I have a letter here addressed to Wyckliffe. I know the hand-writing, and I am confident it would afford you conclusive proof that he is involved with other ladies.”
”Do you mean to say you would be mean enough to suggest that the letter should be opened?” asked May, in a disgusted tone.
”Yes, I mean it, since you doubt our word.”
Here Reg deliberately tore open the envelope.
”Mr. Morris, you are a thief,” cried May, excitedly. ”Had I known you were capable of such a low action, I would never have received you here.”
”Miss Goodchild, your hard words are uncalled for, but in spite of them I shall go farther yet. We met your father when your conduct had left him heart-broken, and we promised him to save you from the clutches of this scoundrel Wyckliffe. And we will keep our word with or without your a.s.sistance. Your conduct to your father has been disgraceful, and it is not for your sake that we do this, but for his. And now I shall put the police on Wyck's tracks, and have him arrested. It is not the course I wanted to pursue, but having gone thus far I will go on to the end. Are you coming, Hal?” said Reg, as he got up to leave.
”Really, Reg, I think you ought to control yourself in this lady's presence, and not be too strong in your expressions,” said Hal, going to him.
”Stay, Mr. Morris,” said May, rising. ”You are quite right in every word you have said about me. It is quite enough to convince me you are in earnest and, to show my belief I will read that letter.”
Reg pa.s.sed it to her, without a word, and she read aloud:
”Melbourne, ”Sunday.
”My own darling Wyck,
”Your poor little Kitty is crying and fretting for you; come back to her, my darling. I received your last letter, and roared over the contents. What fun you must have had with that old chap Goody, and his daughter. I would have given anything to have seen the old fellow lying on the deck yelling. But I say, my darling, I'm not jealous, but I did not like the other part of it. What a hussey the daughter must be! You say you are going to take her yachting, and that's she's a proud sort. I guess she won't be so proud when she comes back. You are a terror for girls, but I won't be jealous, as I know you only love me. But be quick and come back. I forgot to say that two fellows looking like toffs have been enquiring for you, and from what I can learn they don't mean you any good. They tried to pump d.i.c.k, and he sent you a wire, which you will have had long ago. My dear boy, do be careful. I am rather busy, but your little wife sends you hundreds of kisses. Good-bye, my own darling,
”Your ever loving ”KITTY HARRIS.”
May read the letter through calmly, without a tremor in her voice. There was a supercilious curl of contempt on her lips as she finished. She gave vent to neither grief nor rage, for she was made of sterner stuff than those of her s.e.x who faint and give way under stress of disappointment. A change had come over her whole being, one of those subtle changes that a moment of crisis can produce. The fickle, light-hearted girl had disappeared, the injured woman came to the front.
There is this peculiarity about Australian girls. Outsiders consider them empty-headed and frivolous, for they have a light, lackadaisical manner of spending their lives, but lying dormant beneath is a nature with a purpose which once roused is relentless in its desire for exacting satisfaction. May Goodchild was a typical daughter of her land.
She had given her heart honestly and wholly to the man she loved; she found he had accepted it only to trifle with it and dishonour her. It was enough. There was no trait in her nature to lead her to repine; it was entirely controlled by a dominant desire to punish the traitor. Hal could scarcely believe that this stern, resolute woman was the same woe-begone inanimate girl he had interviewed. She examined the letter carefully, noting its date and post-mark, and putting it into her pocket, said:
”I will keep this letter, Mr. Morris.”