Part 23 (2/2)
”Nonsense, Conny! It was the only way. And what is my life worth, or my reputation, either? It can't hurt a poor devil like me. Con., will you go?”
”I will go straight to Mapleton, Evan. You shall see that I have faith in you. I will do just as you direct, and all will go well.”
”Then I'm off. I stole Frank's horse. I must get him back to avoid a row. Thank you, Conny; you are a true friend.”
”Good-bye, Evan. Come to me with all the news, or when you want help.”
”I won't forget,” wheeling his horse about; then, in a choking voice, ”G.o.d bless you, Conny,” and a moment later, he was away down the road, galloping in a cloud of dust.
Constance followed in his wake, keeping her ponies at a sober pace.
”I wonder how he found out these things. Poor boy!” she murmured, half aloud, ”he is not one at their family councils; of that I am sure. His father has lost all patience with him; and yet, he knows all that is going on. I wonder how.”
If Evan Lamotte had heard this query, and had chosen to answer it, he would have said: ”_I watch and I listen._”
CHAPTER XIII.
CONSTANCE'S DIPLOMACY.
Miss Wardour, being Miss Wardour, was apt to succeed in most things, and it is fair to suppose that her visit to Mapleton, in the character of intercessor for the erring Sybil, was not a fruitless one. Certainly, it was not barren of results.
On the day following the call from Constance, Mrs. Lamotte came forth from her seclusion; her carriage bore her out from the gates of Mapleton, and straight to Wardour Place. Here she took up the heiress and Mrs. Aliston, and the three drove ostentatiously through the streets of W----, bowing smilingly here and there, as calm, serene, and elegant a trio, to all outward seeming, as ever pa.s.sed before admiring eyes on velvet cus.h.i.+ons.
This act informed W---- that Mrs. Lamotte was once more visible, and ”at home,” and when a day or two later, Constance and her aunt, in splendid array, drove again into W----, calling here and there, and dropping upon each hearthstone a bit of manna for family digestion, the result was what they intended it should be.
”Have you heard the news?” asks Mrs. Hopkins, fas.h.i.+onable busybody, running in for an informal call on Mrs. O'Meara, who is warm-hearted and sensible, and who listens to the babblings of Mrs. Hopkins, with a patience and benignity worthy of a Spartan mother.
”No! Well, I am dying to tell it, then. Sybil Lamotte is coming back--actually coming back--and that man with her; and--won't it be queer? We shall have him in society, of course, for I am told, from the _best_ of sources, that the Lamottes will accept him as Sybil's choice, and make the best of him.”
”But _we_ need not accept him, my dear,” comments the Spartan mother, whose lawyer husband is rich and independent, and does not count fees.
”As for Sybil, she was always a favorite with us; we shall be glad to have her back.”
”Yes, that's very well for you and Mr. O'Meara, who are very exclusive, and go out little, but we poor society people will have to submit to the powers that be. Constance Wardour, the Lamottes, the Vandycks, have led us as they would, and queer as it may seem, the Lamottes are backed up in this business of forcing John Burrill upon us, by Constance, on one hand, and the Vandycks, mother and son, on the other.”
”And Mrs. Aliston?”
”Mrs. Aliston, of course. When did she ever oppose Constance? It's making a great furore, I can tell you; but no one is going to step forward and openly oppose Constance and the Vandycks. I for one am Sybil's staunch friend, and--well, as Constance says, 'let us take it for granted that this bear of Sybil's has some good qualities, or he would never have won her,' and then, too, it's so romantic, about Evan you know, and how Sybil, in some way, saved him from something, by marrying this man. I never could get the right end, or any end of that story, nor have I found any one who knows the plain facts. Well, Mrs.
O'Meara, I must go; I have seven more calls to make, and I really have talked too long.”
”_She'll_ take him up fast enough,” mused Mrs. O'Meara, in solitude.
”That's the way of society; they can't oppose wealth and prestige, even when prestige and wealth command them to fellows.h.i.+p with a grizzly bear; rather they will whitewash their bear, and call him a thing of beauty, and laugh in their silken sleeves to see him dance.”
It was quite true, that bombsh.e.l.l of Mrs. Hopkins'--Sybil Lamotte was coming back. Mr. Lamotte went somewhere, n.o.body could name just the place, and returned, having done, n.o.body knew precisely what; and as the result of that journey, so said W----, Sybil and John Burrill were coming soon, to breast the waves of public opinion, and take up their abode in Mapleton.
When this fact became well established, tongues wagged briskly; some were sorry; some were glad; some eager for the advent of the ill a.s.sorted pair.
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