Part 54 (1/2)

”'But why did you, who are my friend, and Mr. Hugh Wynne, and all of you, leave me in the dark as to this--this man?'

”I said quickly that it was not well to have told her until Mr. Delaney could be found. He had but just now come. She had seemed to trust Captain Wynne's story; Hugh's was but the hearsay of a man just out of a deadly fever. We had waited.

”As I spoke, she stood with her calash bonnet fallen back, clear to see by the full moonlight, and looking with intent face across Arch street, as it might be with envy of the untroubled dead of generations who lay around the meeting-house. As I ended, she said:

”'I have been a fool, Jack, but I loved him; indeed I did. Is there more? I know Hugh hates him. Is there more?'

”'Too much, too much, Darthea,' I said.

”'Then come in. I must hear all--all.' And she knocked impatiently.

”Presently we were in the parlour. 'Fetch a light,' she said to the black who opened for us. When we were alone and seated, she said quietly: 'Jack, you are my only friend. I do trust _you_--oh, entirely.

Now what is it? I must know all. Why has Hugh Wynne been silent? It is not like him.'

”'I have already told you why. Partly because, Darthea, you were away, or would not see us. That you know. Partly because Hugh had only his own word to give; but this I have told you.'

”'Yes, yes,' she cried; 'but what else?'

”'I think,' said I, 'knowing him well, that Hugh meant, when once he had Delaney's evidence, to tell his cousin face to face, and so force him to release you.'

”'That is my business, not his,' she broke in. 'What has Hugh Wynne to do with it! Am I a child?'

”'It had been the kinder and the manlier way,' said I. 'Now there is no need; but Hugh will be furious with his aunt.'

”'I am glad of that. What else is there? You are hiding something.'

”'There was that scene in the garden, Darthea.'

”She coloured at this. 'Yes, I know; but there were reasonable excuses for that, and no one had time to think.'

”'Two people had, Darthea.'

”'We will let that pa.s.s, Jack. Don't play with me.'

”Then, driven to the wall, so to speak, I told her of the sad revelation Andre had made to Hugh, and how, being Hugh's enemy, Arthur had been base enough to involve him in an affair which might have been his ruin.

”'Yes, yes,' she said, 'I see; but who could know, or who think to use such knowledge?'

”I was taken aback at her seeming to have any doubt. I coldly set myself to tell her of Arthur's double dealing about the estate, and of how he had made Hugh's father believe he was minded to consider the ways of Friends, and at last of how he had borrowed money and had set poor Hugh's half-demented father against him. I did not spare her or him, and the half of what I said I have not set down. The Arnold business I did return to, seeing that it struck her, or seemed to, less than it did me; for to my mind it was the worst.

”'Darthea,' I said, 'how could a man of honour or even of good feeling put any gentleman in such peril of worse than death? There were Tories enough to have done his shameful errand. But oh, dear Darthea, to suggest to send on such business an open, frank enemy,--his cousin too,--that was too bad for the lowest and vilest!'

”'Hus.h.!.+' she said, 'I know enough. You have been both brave and good.

You are the best man I know, Jack Warder, and the kindest. I wish I loved you. I am not worthy of you. Now go away.'

”I obeyed her, and this was so far the end of a miserable affair. What Hugh will say to Miss Wynne, G.o.d knows. I have given a thorough rascal his dues; but I cannot do this and not tell him to his face what I have said behind his back.

”This was at night, but I had no better counsel in the morning.