Part 37 (2/2)
”I suppose you know the Applebirds are leaving my farm?”
”Yes, Mrs. Applebird told my mother. Going to Sticklepath.”
”Not easy to get a tenant to take their place.”
”Is it not? Such a farm as yours? I should have thought there need be no difficulty.”
”There are tenants and tenants. How would you like it--you and your mother? Then you could marry and be comfortable. No doubt Chris Blanchard would make a splendid farmer's wife.”
”It would be like walking into paradise for me; but--”
”The rent needn't bother you. My first care is a good tenant. Besides, rent may take other shapes than pounds, s.h.i.+llings, and pence.”
Hicks started.
”I see,” he said; ”you can't forget the chance word I spoke in anger so long ago.”
”I can't, because it happened to be just the word I wanted to hear. My quarrel with Will Blanchard's no business of yours. The man's your enemy too; and you're a fool to stand in your own light, You know something that I don't know, concerning those weeks during which he disappeared.
Well, tell me. You can only live your life once. Why let it run to rot when the Red House Farm wants a tenant? A man you despise, too.”
”No. I promised. Besides, you wouldn't be contented with the knowledge; you'd act on it.”
Grimbal showed a lightning-quick perception of this admission; and Hicks, too late, saw that the other had realised its force. Then he made an effort to modify his a.s.sertion.
”When I say 'you'd act on it,' I mean that you might try to, though I much doubt really if anything I could tell you would damage Blanchard.”
”If you think that, then there can be no conscientious objection to telling me. Besides, I don't say I should act on the knowledge. I don't say I shall or I shall not. All you ve got to do is to say whether you'll take the Red House Farm at a nominal rent from Michaelmas.”
”No, man, no. You've met me in a bad moment, too, if you only knew. But think of it--brother and sister; and I, in order to marry the woman, betray the man. That's what it comes to. Such things don't happen.”
”You re speaking plainly, at any rate. We ought to understand each other to-day, if ever. I'll make you the same offer for less return. Tell me where he was during those weeks--that's all. You needn't tell what he was doing.”
”If you knew one, you'd find out the other. Once and for all, I'll tell you nothing. By an accidental question you discovered that I knew something. That was not my fault. But more you never will know from me--farm or no farm.”
”You're a fool for your pains. And the end will be the same. The information must reach me. You're a coward at heart, for it's fear, not any tomfoolery of morals, that keeps your mouth shut. Don't deceive yourself. I've often talked with you before to-day, and I know you think as I do.”
”What's that to do with it?”
”Everything. 'Good' and 'evil' are only two words, and what is man's good and what is man's evil takes something cleverer than man to know.
It's no nonsense of 'right' and 'wrong' that's keeping you from a happy home and a wife. What is it then?”
Hicks was silent a moment, then made answer.
”I don't know. I don't know any more than you do. Something has come over me; I can't tell you what. I'm more surprised than you are at my silence; but there it is. Why the devil I don't speak I don't know. I only know I'm not going to. Our characters are beyond our own power to understand.”
”If you don't know, I'll tell you. You're frightened that he will find out. You're afraid of him.”
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