Part 24 (2/2)

The Squire made no answer to this. ”She is _more_ guilty than the other woman,” he went on, as if Humphrey had not spoken. ”She stood by and saw an innocent woman suffer. Humphrey, it was very base.”

”Mrs. Amberley _wasn't_ innocent,” said Humphrey. ”She went to steal the necklace, and found it gone. She _did_ steal the star, and that was what she was punished for. Her punishment was deserved. Besides, it's over now. You know that she was let out. She has gone to America. We shall never hear of her over here again.”

”It's a very terrible story,” said the Squire again. ”I don't know what's to be done. I'm all at sea. I must---- Humphrey, why did you make me promise to keep this a secret? d.i.c.k ought to be told. He's got a cooler head than I have.”

”d.i.c.k shall _not_ be told,” said Humphrey, almost with violence. ”Nor anyone else. We've got to settle this between ourselves. n.o.body must suspect anything, and n.o.body must be put in the position of treating Susan so that others will be tempted to talk about it. If she came down here, and there were two besides you--and me--who knew what she had done, it would be an impossible position. I've made up my mind absolutely about that, and you gave me your word.”

”Susan down here!” repeated the Squire, in a tone that made Humphrey wince.

”You won't be asked to have more to do with her than is necessary to keep away all suspicion,” he said. ”It isn't Susan you have to think of--that's my business--it's yourself, and the whole lot of us. The scandal doesn't bear thinking of if it comes out. Think what it would mean. Think of all you said yourself about Mrs. Amberley. Think of the whole country saying that about one of us; and saying much more, because of what you said--of her keeping quiet about it. Oh, I'm not trying to defend her--but think of the ghastly disgrace. We should never hold up our heads again. Think of the dock for her--and prison!

Father, you must put an end to it. Thank G.o.d it can be done, without touching your honour.”

The knife had gone right home. The Squire sprang up from his chair and strode down the room again. ”My honour!” he cried. ”Oh, Humphrey, what honour is left to us after this?”

”Susan is sorry,” Humphrey went on quickly. ”Bitterly sorry. She has been quite different lately. She had a terrible shock. She is spending next to nothing now, and----”

”Oh!” The Squire glared at him, looking more like himself than he had done since Humphrey's disclosure. ”She paid her debts out of stolen money. Yes, she was different, when she thought the danger had been removed, and that other woman was safe in prison. She was gay and light-hearted when she came here at Christmas, with that--that crime on her conscience. You say that as if it was to her credit!”

”I don't!” said Humphrey sullenly. ”But she is sorry now. She's punished. It isn't for us to punish her again; and punish ourselves.

It's too ghastly to think about. Oh, what's the use of going on talking about it, father, while the risk is still hanging over us? Let me send a wire to Clark; or let Gotch do it, this evening. Then we can breathe freely, and talk about all the rest later.”

The Squire took another turn down the room. ”I won't be hurried into anything,” he said with some indignation. ”I won't think of what may happen until I've made up my mind, in case I should do something wrong, out of fear. Oh, why can't you let me call in d.i.c.k?”

”I won't. And you've _got_ to think of what will happen. The name of Clinton horribly disgraced--held up to the most public scorn--not a corner to hide yourself in. It will last all _your_ lifetime, and mine too, and go on to your grandchildren. You will never know another happy moment. The stain will never come out; it will stick to every one of us.”

”Oh, that's enough,” said the Squire, seating himself again.

He turned sharply round again. ”What do you want me to do?” he asked angrily.

”Send for Gotch--send for him now this moment--and tell him that you have changed your mind. You will arrange to let him have the money he has asked for, and he can go off as soon as he likes.”

”I'm to say I've changed my mind?”

”Yes, of course. You don't want to set him wondering.”

”Then he will let this woman, Clark, know----” He began to speak more slowly.

”Yes. I shall go back to-morrow morning and see her. I shall have a hold over her, and she will certainly keep quiet, for her own sake.”

”She will be liable to prosecution if the truth becomes known from any other source.”

”It won't be. She is the only person who knows anything.”

”And _I_ shall have compounded a felony too, if it becomes known.”

”No. That isn't so. _You_ will have nothing to do with her at all.

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