Part 65 (1/2)
”With all my heart.”
He took her down to Elmtrees. On the way she said: ”Papa, you must let me get a word with Mr. Wardlaw alone.”
”Oh, certainly. But, of course, you will not say a word to hurt his feelings.”
”Oh, papa!”
”Excuse me. But, when a person of your age is absorbed with one idea, she sometimes forgets that other people have any feelings at all.”
Helen kissed him meekly, and said that was too true; and she would be upon her guard.
To General Rolleston's surprise, his daughter no sooner saw old Wardlaw than she went--or seemed to go--into high spirits, and was infinitely agreeable.
But at last she got him all to herself, and then she turned suddenly grave, and said:
”Mr. Wardlaw, I want to ask you a question. It is something about Robert Penfold.”
Wardlaw shook his head. ”That is a painful subject, my dear. But what do you wish to know about that unhappy young man?”
”Can you tell me the name of the counsel who defended him at the trial?”
”No, indeed, I cannot.”
”But perhaps you can tell me where I could learn that.”
”His father is in our office still; no doubt he could tell you.”
Now, for obvious reasons, Helen did not like to go to the office; so she asked faintly if there was n.o.body else who could tell her.
”I suppose the solicitor could.”
”But I don't know who was the solicitor,” said Helen, with a sigh.
”Hum!” said the merchant. ”Try the bill-broker. I'll give you his address;” and he wrote it down for her.
Helen did not like to be too importunate, and she could not bear to let Wardlaw senior know she loved anybody better than his son; and yet some explanation was necessary. So she told him, as calmly as she could, that her father and herself were both well acquainted with Robert Penfold, and knew many things to his credit.
”I am glad to hear that,” said Wardlaw; ”and I can believe it. He bore an excellent character here, till, in an evil hour, a strong temptation came, and he fell.”
”What! You think he was guilty?”
”I do. Arthur, I believe, has his doubts still. But he is naturally prejudiced in his friend's favor. And, besides, he was not at the trial; I was.”
”Thank you, Mr. Wardlaw,” said Helen, coldly; and within five minutes she was on her way home.
”Arthur prejudiced in Robert Penfold's favor!” That puzzled her extremely.
She put down the whole conversation while her memory was fresh. She added this comment: ”What darkness I am groping in!”
Next day she went to the bill-broker, and told him Mr. Wardlaw senior had referred her to him for certain information.