Part 61 (2/2)
”But I suppose you did it all under her direction?”
”Well, I don't know how to answer that;” and Bence grinned, and twirled his moustache. ”No. I suppose I ought to say no. I had full scope--and was never interfered with.... We used to meet at Hyde & Collins's; and I reported things--just reported them. She used to look at me in that inscrutable way of hers, and say, 'I can't advise. I have nothing to do with your business--beyond having my money in it: just as I might have it in any other form of investment. But speaking merely as an outsider, I think you are going on very nice. Go on just the same, Mr. Bence.'
Sometimes she did drop a word. It was always light.... Oh, she's unique, Mr. Prentice--quite unique.”
Bence grinned more broadly as he went on.
”Of course it was by her orders--or I ought to say, it was acting on a hint she let fall, that I made myself so popular with the authorities.
You never came to one of my dinner-parties?... No, I did ask you; but you wouldn't come.... Well, you're acquainted with Mallingbridge oratory. After dinner, when the speeches began, they used to b.u.t.ter me up to the skies; and I used to tell them straight--though of course they couldn't see it--that I was only a figure-head, a dummy. 'Don't praise _me_,' I told 'em, 'I'm n.o.body--just the outward sign of the enterprise and spirit that lays behind me.' Yes, and I put it straighter than that sometimes--it tickled me to give 'em the truth almost in the plainest words.... And I knew there was no risk. _They_'d never tumble to it.”
After this delightful conversation, Mr. Prentice went across the road again. He felt that he could not any longer refrain from calling upon Mrs. Marsden; and, as the afternoon was now well advanced, he thought that she might perhaps invite him to drink a cup of tea with her.
In St. Saviour's Court the house door stood open; men from Bence's Furniture department were busily delivering chairs and sofas; and the narrow pa.s.sage was obstructed by further goods. Mr. Prentice heard a familiar voice issuing instructions with a sharp tone of command.
”This is for the top floor. Front bedroom. Take this up too--same room.... Who's that out there? Oh, is it you, Mr. Prentice?”
”What, Yates, you are soon on duty again.”
Old Yates laughed and tossed her head. ”Yes, sir, here I am.... That's for the top floor--back. Take it up steady, now.”
”You seem to be refurnis.h.i.+ng--and on a large scale.”
”Oh, no,” said Yates. ”We're only putting things straight. We're expecting Mrs. Kenion and the young lady up from Eastbourne to-night--and it's a job to get the house ready in the time.”
”Ah, then I am afraid visitors will hardly be welcome just now.”
”No, sir, not ordinary visitors--but Mrs. Thompson never counted you as an ordinary visitor--did she, sir? I'll take on me to say _you_'ll be welcome to Mrs. Thompson. Please go upstairs, sir. She's in the dining-room.”
And truly this visitor was welcomed most cordially.
”My _dear_ Mr. Prentice. How kind of you--how very kind of you to come!
I have been wis.h.i.+ng so to see you.”
Yates without delay disengaged herself from the furniture men, and brought in tea. Then the hostess seated herself at the table, and insisted that the visitor should occupy the easiest of the new armchairs--and she smiled at him, she waited upon him, she made much of him; she lulled and soothed and charmed him, until he felt as if twenty years had rolled away, and he and she were back again in the happiest of the happy old days.
”I trust that dear Mrs. Prentice is well.... Ah, yes, it _is_ headachy weather, isn't it. I have ventured to send her a few flowers--and some peaches and grapes.”
It seemed incredible. But she _looked_ younger--many years younger than when he had seen her in the shadow cast by his office wall less than a week ago. Her voice had something of the old resonance; she sat more upright; she carried her head better. She was still dressed in black; but this new costume was of fine material, fas.h.i.+onable cut, very becoming pattern; and it gave to its wearer a quiet importance and a sedate but opulent pomp. Very curious! It was as if all that impression of shabbiness, insignificance, and poverty had been caused merely by the shadow; and that as soon as she came out of the shadow into the sunlight, one saw her as she really was, and not as one had foolishly imagined her to be.
This thought was in the mind of Mr. Prentice while he listened to her pleasantly firm voice, and watched the play of light and life about her kind and friendly eyes. The shadow that had lain so heavy upon her was mercifully lifted. She had been a prisoner to the powers of darkness, and now the suns.h.i.+ne had set her free. This was really all that had happened.
”I am so particularly glad,” she was saying, ”that you came to-day, because I want your advice badly.”
”It is very much at your service.”
”Then do you think there would be any objection--would you consider it might seem bad taste if henceforth I were to resume my old name? I have an affection for the name of Thompson--though it isn't a very high-sounding one.”
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