Part 37 (1/2)

”Did you know that it was Mrs. Leslie Geoffrey should have married?”

asked Mrs. Savine at length.

”No,” answered Helen, flus.h.i.+ng. With feeling she added. ”Perhaps I ought to have guessed it. She leaves shortly, does the not? It will be a relief. She must be a wicked woman, but please don't talk of her.”

”That is just what I'm going to do,” declared her aunt, gravely. ”I wouldn't guarantee that she is wholly good, but I blame her poison-mean husband more than her. Anyway, she is better than you suppose her.”

”I made no charge against her, and am only glad she is going,” said Helen Savine. Mrs. Savine smiled shrewdly.

”Well, I am going to show you there is nothing in that charge. Not quite logical, is it, but sit still there and listen to me.”

Helen listened, at first very much against her will, presently she grew half-convinced, and at last wholly so. She blushed crimson as she said:

”May I be forgiven for thinking evil--but such things do happen, and though I several times made myself believe, even against, the evidence of my eyes, that I was wrong, appearances were horribly against her. I am tired and will say good-night, auntie.”

”Not yet,” interposed Mrs. Savine, laying a detaining grasp upon her.

”Sit still, my dear, I'm only beginning. Appearances don't always count for much. Now, there's Mrs. Christopher who started in to copy my elixir. Oh, yes, it was like it in smell and color, but she nearly killed poor Christopher with it.”

”She said it cured him completely,” commented Helen, hoping to effect a diversion; but Mrs. Savine would not be put off.

”We won't argue about that, though there'll be a coroner called in the next time she makes a foolish experiment. Now I'm going to give my husband's confidences away. Hardly fair to Tom, but I'll do it, because it seems necessary, and the last time I didn't go quite far enough. To begin with. Did you know the opposition wanted to buy Geoffrey over, paying him two dollars for every one he could have made out of your father?”

”No,” answered Helen, starting. ”It was very loyal of him to refuse.

Why did he do so?”

Mrs. Savine smiled good-humoredly. ”I guess you think that's due to your dignity, but you don't fool me. Look into your mirror, Helen, if you really want to know. Did you hear that he put every dollar he'd made in Canada into the scheme? Of course you didn't; he made Tom promise he would never tell you. Besides--but I forgot, I must not mention that.”

”Please spare me any more, auntie,” pleaded Helen, who was overcome by a sudden realization of her own injustice and absolute selfishness.

”No mercy this time,” was the answer, given almost genially. ”Like the elixir which doesn't taste pleasant, it's good for you. You didn't know, either, for the same reason, that not long ago Tom was badly scared for fear he'd have to let the whole thing go for lack of money.

It would have been the end of Julius Savine if he had been forced to give up this great enterprise.”

”I never thought things were so bad, but how does it concern Mr.

Thurston?” Helen questioned her aunt in a voice that was trembling.

”Geoffrey straightened out all the financial affairs in just this way.

A relative in England left an estate to be divided between him and Mrs.

Leslie. There was enough to keep him safe for life, if he'd let it lie just where it was, but he didn't. No, he sold out all that would have earned him a life income for any price he could, and turned over every cent of it to help your father. Now I've about got through, but I've one question to ask you. Would the man who did all that--you can see why--be likely to fool with another man's wife, even if it was the handsome Mrs. Leslie?”

”No,” said Helen, whose cheeks, which had grown pallid, flushed like a blush rose. ”I am glad you told me, auntie, but I feel I shall never have the courage to look that man in the face again.”

Mrs. Savine smiled, though her eyes glistened in the firelight as she laid a thin hand on one of Helen's, which felt burning hot as the fingers quivered within her grasp.

”You will, or that will hurt him more than all,” she replied. ”It wasn't easy to tell you this, but I've seen too many lives ruined for the want of a little common-sense talking--and I figure Jacob wouldn't come near beating Geoffrey Thurston.”

Helen rose abruptly. ”Auntie, you will see to father--he has been better lately--for just a little while, will not you?” she asked.

”Mrs. Crighton has invited me so often to visit her, and I really need a change. This valley has grown oppressive, and I must have time to think.”