Part 18 (2/2)

Eve came in, and at her heels Captain Bontnor, who sheered off as it were from the butler, and gave him a wide berth.

Mrs. Harrington could be gracious when she liked. She liked now, and she would have kissed her visitor had that young lady shown any desire for such an honour. But there was a faint reflex of Spanish ceremony in Eve Challoner, of which she was probably unaware. A few years ago it would not have been noticeable, but to-day we are hail- fellow-well-met even with ladies--which is a mistake, on the part of the ladies.

”So you received my letter, my dear,” said Mrs. Harrington.

”Yes,” replied Eve. ”This is my uncle--Captain Bontnor.”

Mrs. Harrington had the bad taste to raise her eyebrows infinitesimally, and Captain Bontnor saw it.

”How do you do?” said Mrs. Harrington, with a stiff bow.

”I am quite well, thank you, marm,” replied the sailor, with more aplomb than Eve had yet seen him display.

Without waiting to hear this satisfactory intelligence, Mrs.

Harrington turned to Eve again. She evidently intended to ignore Captain Bontnor systematically and completely.

”You know,” she said, ”I am related to your father--”

”By marriage,” put in Captain Bontnor, with simple bluntness. He was brus.h.i.+ng his hat with a large pocket-handkerchief.

”And I have pleasant recollections of his kindness in past years. I stayed with him at the Casa d'Erraha more than once. I was staying there when--well, some years ago. I think you had better come and live with me until your poor father's affairs have been put in order.”

Captain Bontnor raised his head and ceased his operations on the dusty hat. His keen old eyes, full of opposition, were fixed on Eve's face. He was quite ready to be rude again, but women know how to avoid these shallow places better than men, with a policy which is not always expedient perhaps.

”Thank you,” replied Eve. ”Thank you very much, but my uncle has kindly offered me a home.”

Mrs. Harrington's grey face suggested a scorn which she apparently did not think it worth while to conceal from a person who wiped the inside of his hat with his pocket-handkerchief in a lady's presence.

”But,” she said coldly, ”I should think that your uncle cannot fail to see the superior advantages of the offer I am now making you, from a social point of view, if from no other.”

”I do see them advantages, marm,” said the captain bluntly. He looked at Eve with something dog-like peering from beneath his s.h.a.ggy eyebrows.

”Of course,” continued Mrs. Harrington, ignoring the confession, ”you have been brought up as a lady, and are accustomed to refinement, and in some degree to luxury.”

”You needn't make it any plainer, marm,” blurted out Captain Bontnor. ”I don't need you to tell me that my niece is above me. I don't set up for bein' anything nor what I am. There's not much of the gentleman about me. But--”

He paused, and half turned towards Eve.

”But, 'cording to my lights, I'm seeking to do my duty towards the orphan child of my sister Amelia Ann.”

”Not overlooking the fact, I suppose, that the orphan child of your sister Amelia Ann has a very fair income of her own.”

Captain Bontnor smiled blandly, and smoothed his hat with his sleeve.

”Not overlooking that fact, marm,” he said, ”if you choose to take it so.”

Mrs. Harrington turned to Eve again with a faint reflex of her overbearing manner towards the Ingham-Bakers and other persons who found it expedient to submit.

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