Part 10 (1/2)

”A fall,” he said, as he stood alone in the prettily furnished bedroom: ”alone in the mountains, and no one by to help. I wish I had been there--with Janet, too, of course.”

Dinah Gurdon was at that moment indulging in similar thoughts--naturally omitting Janet--and as she stood nearly opposite a gla.s.s, she became aware of her face reflected there, when she turned away with a s.h.i.+ver.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

UNDERMINING.

”Hallo, Jess, you here?” cried Clive, as he suddenly encountered his brother at Dr Praed's door in Russell Square.

Jessop Reed started, and in spite of his man-about-town confidence, he looked for the moment confused, but recovered himself directly.

”Might say the same to you,” he retorted. ”I thought you were down some hole in the Midlands.”

”But I've come up again. Just got here from St Pancras now. I say, though, what is it? Out of sorts--been to see the Doctor?”

”Eh? Oh no. I'm all right. But I'm in a hurry. See you at dinner.”

”Why, what's the matter with him?” thought Clive, as his brother hurried away. ”Fast life, I suppose. I'll run in and ask the Doctor before I go up.”

He rang; the Doctor's confidential man opened the door, and stood back for him to enter.

”Patient with the Doctor, Morgan?”

”No, sir; past his time. Gone on to the hospital. Back soon.”

Clive stared.

”Miss Praed's in the drawing-room, sir.”

”Oh, all right. I'll go up,” said Clive; and he began to ascend two steps at a time. ”I hope Jess isn't ill. Disappointed, I suppose, at finding the old man out.”--”Ah, Janet, darling,” he cried, as he entered the drawing-room, to find his fiancee standing with a bouquet in her hand, looking dreamy and thoughtful.

She flushed up as he caught her in his arms and kissed her tenderly, and then frowned slightly, and put on the pouting look of a spoiled child.

”Why, what a bonnie bunch of roses!” he cried. ”Let's have one for a b.u.t.ton-hole.”

”No, no,” she said hastily, and a pained look of perplexity crossed Clive's countenance as she held the bouquet from him. Then with forced playfulness, ”Mustn't be touched.”

”All right,” he cried merrily. ”I came round this way so as to see you first, pet. Raced up by the early train this morning.”

”Indeed!” said Janet, raising her eyebrows; ”been in Derbys.h.i.+re, have you not?”

”My darling!”

”Well, one knows so little of your movements now.”

”Oh, I say, Janet dear, don't be hard upon a poor busy fellow. You know why I am away so much. All for your sake, pet,” he whispered earnestly; ”to make ourselves thoroughly independent, and you a home of which you may be proud.”

There was a slight catching in Janet Praed's breath, as she said jerkily, and with a show of flippancy, to hide the emotion from which she suffered, for self-accusation was busy with her just then, and a pang or two shot through her as she contrasted the frank, honest manner of her betrothed, and his words, so full of simple honest affection, with others to which she had in a foolish, half-jealous spirit listened again and again--

”Oh yes, I know,” she said, curling up her pretty lip, and speaking hastily to hide her feelings; ”but you might have called.”