Part 25 (1/2)

You will never see her.”

”That's true. But she will know why I pay this money.”

”Not necessarily. No, she needn't know. I shall tell her I persuaded you. She doesn't know you were so definitely against it. She thinks it was just hanging fire.”

The Squire rose from his seat, and went to the empty fireplace, where he took his stand, facing his son.

He looked at him steadily, and said in a quiet but firm voice, ”I won't do it, Humphrey.”

CHAPTER II

A VERY PRESENT HELP

Virginia among her flowers, in the sweet, old-fas.h.i.+oned retired garden of the Dower House was a sight to refresh the eyes. She was gathering a sheaf of long-stalked May-flowering tulips as Humphrey pushed open the gate leading from the park, and came in.

He was not able to keep all signs of the terrible blow that had been dealt him, and the disappointment that had come of the appeal he had just made to his father, from showing on his face; but he had schooled himself, walking across the park, to a natural bearing. He had to make another effort to avert such ruin and disgrace as would overwhelm him utterly, and make the rest of his life a burden and a reproach.

The sun was setting behind the tall elms that bordered the garden of the Dower House. The rooks were busy with their evening conference.

The westward windows of the ancient, mellowed house were s.h.i.+ning.

Peace and hope sat brooding on the fair, home-enchanted place, and a lump sprang up in Humphrey's throat as he came upon it, and saw his brother's wife, so sweet and gracious, protected here and shut in from the ugliness of life, and quietly happy in her seclusion. The contrast between Virginia in her garden, and the desperate wreck of his own married life, was too poignant. He turned round to shut the door in the wall, but by the time she had looked up and seen him he had hardened himself against emotion.

She gave a little cry of pleasure. ”Why, Humphrey!” she said, ”I had no idea you were here. I am so glad to see you. I am all alone. d.i.c.k has gone up to dine and sleep in London.”

The disappointment was so keen that his taut-stretched nerves gave way for a moment, and he felt physically ill.

”Why, what's the matter?” she said. ”Is there any bad news? You look dreadful, Humphrey.”

He forced a laugh. ”I'm not very fit,” he said. ”But I had made sure of seeing d.i.c.k, about something rather important. When will he be back?”

”To-morrow afternoon. But isn't there anything that I can do? Do tell me, Humphrey. d.i.c.k has no secrets from me, you know.”

He was afraid to make any mystery. ”Oh, it's only about the keeper, Gotch,” he said at once. ”Clark is leaving us, and they want to get married. They have both set their hearts on going to Canada, and I came down to see if I could get the Governor to consent to helping them. But he won't do it, and I was going to ask d.i.c.k if _he_ could possibly raise the money.”

”Oh, but, Humphrey--easily--if it isn't too much. What do they want?”

”Three hundred pounds--only as a loan. He would pay it back after the first year--in instalments--when he had got himself settled. He has a fine opportunity waiting for him over there. He ought not to miss it.

I do feel that I owe him a lot. That scoundrel would have battered me to death, very likely, if he hadn't come on the scene. I wish to goodness I could give him the money myself. I _could_ raise it, but it would take time. I want to go back to-morrow and tell Clark that it is all settled.”

”Oh, you shall, Humphrey. Let me do it for you. I have heaps of money that I don't know what to do with. d.i.c.k won't let me spend a penny on living here. I believe he hates to think he has married a rich woman.

I can write you a cheque now. Come indoors.”

The relief was enormous. But many things had to be thought of. It was not only the money he had come for. He could have got that, as he had said, elsewhere, and no sacrifice would have been too great to make for it, if it had been all that was wanted.

”My dear Virginia,” he said, ”you are generosity itself; but I shouldn't like to take it from you without d.i.c.k knowing of it.”

”Oh, I shall tell him, of course. But he won't mind. Why should he?”

”I don't know how he feels about Gotch going. The Governor is up in arms at his wanting to leave Ken cote at all. d.i.c.k may feel the same, for all I know.”