Part 50 (1/2)
”Poor Miss Ross! But why does she have him there?”
”Oh, it's a long story--and here we are at the junction, and I'm not going on first to Amber Guiting--so there!”
Jan in the pony-cart was waiting outside when Meg came from the little station. Captain Middleton followed in her train, laden with parcels like a Father Christmas.
He packed her and the parcels in, covered both the ladies with the dust-holland, announced that he had bought a charger, and waited to get into the Manor motor till they had driven out of the station.
They neither of them spoke till they had turned into the road. Then Jan quoted softly: ”When I go to see my poor little papa, I shall go by train _by myself_.”
CHAPTER XXV
A DEMONSTRATION IN FORCE
Hugo was dissatisfied. So far, beyond a miserable ten pounds to buy some clothes, he had got no money out of Jan; and he was getting bored.
To be sure, he still had most of the ten pounds, for he had gone and ordered everything in the market-town, where the name of Ross was considered safe as the Bank of England. So he hadn't paid for anything.
Then there was that fellow Ledgard--what did he want hanging about, pretending to fish? He was after Jan and her money, that was his game.
But however clear Peter Ledgard's nefarious intentions might be, Hugo confessed his sister-in-law puzzled him. She wasn't nearly as much afraid of him as he had expected. She was always gentle and courteous, but under the soft exterior he had occasionally felt a rock of determination, that was disconcerting.
He had ceased to harp upon the string of his desolation. Somehow Jan contrived to show him that she didn't believe in it, and yet she never said one word to which he could take exception.
It was awkward that his own people were all of them so unsympathetic about the children. His father and mother declared themselves to be too old to undertake them unless Hugo could pay liberally for their board and for a thoroughly capable nurse. Neither of his sisters would entertain the idea at all; and both wrote pointing out that until Hugo was able to make a home for them himself, he would be most foolish to interfere with the arrangements of a devoted aunt who appeared not only willing but anxious to a.s.sume their entire maintenance.
He had told his people that his health forced him to relinquish his work in India. His brothers-in-law, although they had no idea of the real cause, thought there was something fishy about this, and were unsympathetic.
Peter got at the doctor, and the doctor declared sea-air to be the one thing necessary to insure Hugo's complete restoration to health. Jan happened to mention that her brother-in-law's people lived in Guernsey, close to the sh.o.r.e. The doctor said he couldn't do better than go and stay with them, and that the journey wouldn't hurt him a bit.
Still Hugo appeared reluctant to leave Wren's End.
Peter came one day and demanded a business talk with him. It was a most unpleasant conversation. Peter declared on Jan's behalf that she was quite ready to help him to some new start in life, but that if it meant a partners.h.i.+p in any rubber plantation, fruit-farm, or business of any sort whatsoever, the money required must be paid through her lawyer directly into the hands of the planter, farmer, or merchant concerned.
Hugo declared such an offer to be an insult. Peter replied that it was a great deal better than he deserved or could expect; and that he, personally, thought Miss Ross very silly to make it; but she did make it, and attached to its acceptance was a clause to the effect that until he could show he was in a position to maintain his family in comfort, he was to give their aunt an undertaking that he would not interfere with her arrangements for the welfare of the children.
”I see no reason,” said Hugo, ”why you should interfere between my sister-in-law and me, but, of course, any fool could see what you're after. _You_ want her money, and when you've married her, I suppose my poor children are to be thrown out into the street, and me too far off to see after them.”
”Up to now,” Peter retorted, ”you have shown no particular desire to 'see after' your children. Why are you such a fool, Tancred? Why don't you thankfully accept Miss Ross's generous offer, and try to make a fresh start?”
”It's no business of yours what I do.”
”Certainly not, but your sister-in-law's peace and happiness is my business, because I have the greatest admiration, respect and liking for her.”
”_Les beaux yeux de sa ca.s.sette_,” growled Hugo.
”You _are_ an a.s.s,” Peter said wearily. ”And you know very little of Miss Ross if you haven't seen by this time ...” Peter stopped.
”Well, go on.”