Part 51 (1/2)

As she handed him the bread and b.u.t.ter she said, ”Should you eat b.u.t.ter, Freddy! Tell me the truth--are you not feeling so well to-day?

Has there been any return of the trouble?”

Freddy looked at her in astonishment. His thoughts were so far removed from his own health. If abstaining from the flesh of animals and the eating of fruit would ease his anxiety, he felt that for the rest of his life, he would never ask for any other food than watery arrowroot.

”I'm perfectly all right. That trouble's quite gone--your care has done the trick. Thanks awfully.”

”Then what is it, Freddy?” Meg laid her hand on his arm, her eyes held his. If he attempted to deny the fact that there was something on his mind, she knew that he knew that his eyes could not hide it from her.

”I am bothered about something, Meg. There's an ugly report going about--I've made up my mind to tell you.”

”Report about whom? You?” Meg's eyes showed battle. The Lampton fighting instinct was roused.

”No, I wish it was about me--I'd soon settle it!” Freddy's eyes were still searched by his sister's.

”It's about Michael,” she said. She rose from her seat. ”I have expected it. I knew it was coming.”

”What?” Freddy looked at her in amazement. ”You expected it?”

”I felt there was some trouble. I don't know what--I can't even guess--but I felt it was coming.” She stood in front of her brother.

”Out with it, old boy! Tell me the worst at once. Is he dying? Has he been murdered? I can bear anything except suspense.”

”It's something uglier than death, Meg.”

”Treachery?”

”Yes, treachery.” Freddy thought that Meg meant treachery on her lover's part. She had thought of treachery from enemies. Had some one forestalled Michael with the treasure?

He paused. What could he tell her next?

”Oh, go on!” Meg cried. ”For heaven's sake, don't spare me! A woman can stand almost anything, Freddy, anything but uncertainty.”

”Can she stand unfaithfulness, Meg, dishonour?” Freddy's eyes dropped.

He could not inflict upon himself the pain which Meg's trusting eyes would cause him.

A cry rang through the room. ”No, not that, not that! Go on, go on--what more?” As she spoke, she threw up her head. ”It's a lie, Freddy, a hideous lie!”

”I'm afraid there must be some truth in the story, Meg.” Freddy's voice was terrible. It conveyed his reluctant, yet absolute, belief that her lover was guilty. Before he had finished speaking, another cry rang through the room. It startled Freddy with its intensity, its rage and independence.

”I tell you it's a lie! It's not true! And what's more, until I hear it from his own lips, I will never believe a word of the scandal.”

”Poor old chum!” Freddy tried to comfort her with the a.s.surance of his sympathy.

Meg flashed round upon him. ”Don't pity me! Don't dare to pity me!

It's all the basest treachery. I'll have no pity. I don't need it!”

Freddy was silent. It was like Meg not to cry or collapse, as most girls would have done. She was fighting splendidly for her man, whose honour was dearer to her than his life. He wished that Michael could have been there to see her, unworthy though he apparently was of such unwavering loyalty.

”What is this report?” she asked. Her cheeks were as white as a blanched almond; her eyes splendidly alight. The excitement of battle vitalized her. Margaret was beautiful in her wrath.