Part 25 (1/2)

Wardlaw smiled a ghastly smile. ”In short,” said he, ”you don't mean to take the three thousand pounds I pay you for this little job.”

”Oh, yes, I do; but for all the gold in Victoria I wouldn't do such a job again. And you mark my words, sir, we shall get the money, and n.o.body will ever be the wiser.” Wardlaw rubbed his hands complacently. His egotism, coupled with his want of imagination, nearly blinded him to everything but the pecuniary feature of the business. ”But,” continued Wylie, ”we shall never thrive on it. We have sunk a good s.h.i.+p, and we have as good as murdered a poor dying girl.”

”Hold your tongue, ye fool!” cried Wardlaw, losing his sang-froid in a moment, for he heard somebody at the door.

It opened, and there stood a military figure in a traveling-cap--General Rolleston.

CHAPTER XVI.

As some eggs have actually two yolks, so Arthur Wardlaw had two hearts; and, at sight of Helen's father, the baser one ceased to beat for a while.

He ran to General Rolleston, shook him warmly by the hand, and welcomed him to England with sparkling eyes.

It is pleasant to be so welcomed, and the stately soldier returned his grasp in kind.

”Is Helen with you, sir?” said Wardlaw, making a movement to go to the door; for he thought she must be outside in the cab.

”No, she is not,” said General Rolleston.

”There, now,” said Arthur, ”that cruel father of mine has broken his promise and carried her off to Elmtrees!”

At this moment Wardlaw senior returned, to tell Arthur he had been just too late to meet the Rollestons. ”Oh, here he is!” said he; and there were fresh greetings.

”Well, but,” said Arthur, ”where is Helen!”

”I think it is I who ought to ask that question,” said Rolleston, gravely. ”I telegraphed you at Elmtrees, thinking of course she would come with you to meet me at the station. It does not much matter, a few hours; but her not coming makes me uneasy, for her health was declining when she left me. How is my child, Mr. Wardlaw? Pray tell me the truth.”

Both the Wardlaws looked at one another, and at General Rolleston, and the elder Wardlaw said there was certainly some misunderstanding here.

”We fully believed that your daughter was coming home with you in the _Shannon.”_

”Come home with me? Why, of course not. She sailed three weeks before me.

Good Heavens! Has she not arrived?”

”No,” replied old Wardlaw, ”we have neither seen nor heard of her.”

”Why, what s.h.i.+p did she sail in?” said Arthur.

”In the _Proserpine.”_

CHAPTER XVII.

ARTHUR WARDLAW fixed on the speaker a gaze full of horror; his jaw fell; a livid pallor spread over his features; he echoed in a hoa.r.s.e whisper, ”The _Proserpine!”_ and turned his scared eyes upon Wylie, who was himself leaning against the wall, his stalwart frame beginning to tremble.

”The sick girl,” murmured Wylie, and a cold sweat gathered on his brow.

General Rolleston looked from one to another with strange misgivings, which soon deepened into a sense of some terrible calamity; for now a strong convulsion swelled Arthur Wardlaw's heart; his face worked fearfully; and, with a sharp and sudden cry, he fell forward on the table, and his father's arm alone prevented him from sinking like a dead man on the floor. Yet, though crushed and helpless, he was not insensible; that blessing was denied him.