Part 28 (2/2)
Across the hall in nervous silence Molly follows her guide until they reach a small anteroom, beyond which lies the ”chamber of horrors,” as, in spite of all her efforts to be indifferent, Molly cannot help regarding it.
Marcia knocking softly at the door, a feeble but rasping voice bids them enter; and, throwing it widely open, Miss Amherst beckons her cousin to follow her into the presence of her dreaded grandfather.
Although looking old, and worn, and decrepit, he is still evidently in much better health than when last we saw him, trundling up and down the terraced walk, endeavoring to catch some faint warmth from the burning sun.
His eyes are darker and fiercer, his nose a shade sharper, his temper evidently in an uncorked condition; although he may be safely said to be on the mend, and, with regard to his bodily strength, in a very promising condition.
Before him is a table covered with papers, from which he looks up ungraciously, as the girls enter.
”I have brought you Eleanor Ma.s.sereene,” says Marcia, without preamble, in a tone so kind and gentle as makes Molly even at this awful moment marvel at the change.
If it could be possible for the old man's ghastly skin to a.s.sume a paler hue, at this announcement, it certainly does so. With suppressed but apparent eagerness he fixes his eyes upon the new grandchild, and as he does so his hand closes involuntarily upon the paper beneath it; his mouth twitches; a shrinking pain contracts his face. Yes, she is very like her dead mother.
”How long has she been in my house?” he asks, presently, after a pause that to Molly has been hours, still with his gaze upon her, though beyond this prolonged examination of her features he has vouchsafed her no welcome.
”She came by the half-past four train. Williams met her with the brougham.”
”And it is nearly six. Pray why have I been kept so long in ignorance of her arrival?” Not once as he speaks does he look at Marcia, or at anything but Molly's pale, pretty, disturbed face.
”Dear grandpapa, you have forgotten. Yesterday I told you the hour we expected her. But no doubt, with so many important matters upon your mind,” with a glance at the littered table, ”you forgot this one.”
”I did,” slowly, ”so effectually as to make me doubt having ever heard it. No, Marcia, no more excuses, no more lies: you need not explain. Be satisfied that whatever plans you formed to prevent my bidding your cousin welcome to my house were highly successful. At intrigue you are a proficient. I admire proficiency in all things,--but--for the future--be so good as to remember that I _never_ forget.”
”Dear grandpapa,” with a pathetic but very distinct sigh, ”it is very hard to be misjudged!”
”Granted. Though at times one must own it has its advantages. Now, if for instance I could only bring myself, now and again, to misjudge you, how very much more conducive to the accomplishment of your aims it would be! Leave the room. I wish to speak to your cousin.”
Reluctant, but not daring to disobey, and always with the same aggrieved expression upon her face, Marcia withdraws.
As the door closes behind her, Mr. Amherst rises, and holds out one hand to Molly.
”You are welcome,” he says, quietly, but coldly, and evidently speaking with an effort.
Molly, coming slowly up to him, lays her hand in his, while entertaining an earnest hope that she will not be called upon to seal the interview with a kiss.
”Thank you,” she says, faintly, not knowing what else to say, and feeling thoroughly embarra.s.sed by the fixity and duration of his regard.
”Yes,” speaking again, slowly, and absently. ”You are welcome--Eleanor.
I am glad I have seen you before--my death. Yes--you are very like---- Go!” with sudden vehemence, ”leave me; I wish to be alone.”
Sinking back heavily into his arm-chair, he motions her from him, and Molly, finding herself a moment later once more in the anteroom, breathes a sigh of thankfulness that this her first strange interview with her host is at an end.
”Dress me quickly, Sarah,” she says, as she gains her own room about half an hour later, and finds that damsel awaiting her. ”And make me look as beautiful as possible; I have yet another cousin to investigate, and something tells me the third will be the charm, and that I shall get on with him. Young men”--ingenuously, and forgetting she is expressing her thoughts aloud--”are certainly a decided improvement on young women.
If, however, there is really any understanding between Philip and Marcia, it will rather spoil my amus.e.m.e.nt and--still I need not torment myself beforehand, as that is a matter I shall learn in five minutes.”
”There's a very nice young man down-stairs, miss,” breaks in Sarah, at this juncture, with a simper that has the pleasing effect of making one side of her face quite an inch shorter than the other.
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