Part 35 (1/2)
”That implies a doubt. And your sister; is she on my side?”
”She's reserving her opinion.”
”You can't say that the Jernynghams are convinced of my innocence.”
”No,” said Muriel. ”I think they're cruelly and unreasonably bitter.”
”Then that leaves only one person with unshaken faith.” His eyes rested on the girl with deep grat.i.tude and tenderness. ”Miss Hurst, I think I may say it's quite enough.”
She looked up fearlessly, with heightened color.
”We won't pay each other compliments. Will you tell me why you went away?”
”Yes; I went to look for Cyril Jernyngham.”
Muriel made an abrupt movement and her eyes sparkled with relief which she did not try to hide.
”Oh,” she said, ”that's such a complete explanation; it answers everything! But why didn't you tell people the reason you were going? You must have known that stealing away, as you did, would count against you!”
”I told Miss Jernyngham.”
”Gertrude knew?” Muriel started. Then her face hardened. ”After all, that doesn't matter; there are much more important things. You didn't find Cyril?”
”I followed him across three provinces and lost him in the end.”
”Ah!” she said. ”How unfortunate, how terribly disappointing! But tell me all you did; I'm not asking from mere curiosity.” She hesitated. ”I think you owe me that.”
He told her the story of his wanderings and what he had learned about Kermode's adventures. She listened with eager attention, and laughed now and then.
”It's convincing on the face of it,” she declared. ”One feels that everything is exactly what Cyril Jernyngham must have done. Will you tell his father?”
”No,” Prescott answered gravely. ”He wouldn't believe the tale.”
”But I feel it can't be doubted, after what I have heard of Cyril's character and his conduct in England.”
”You have an open mind. I think you hate injustice; you try to be fair.
That, I guess, is why you came to see me.”
Muriel glanced at him sharply, and then smiled.
”I suppose it was; I felt that you have been badly treated. But I only meant to stay a minute or two, and you seem to be busy.”
He did not deny it. Conscious as he was of her charm and his longing for her, he feared to detain her lest he should be driven into some rash avowal.
”I'm very grateful for your confidence,” he answered slowly.
”Well,” said Muriel, ”I must go.” She rose, but stood still a moment.
”Mr. Prescott, it hurts me to see suspicion fall on my friends. You must clear yourself somehow.”