Part 23 (1/2)

”Go on,” prompted Evelyn impatiently. ”What has his visit to the Clayton's to do with it?”

”Well, you don't know that I saw Gerald in the afternoon. After all, he's the only brother I've got; and as Jim was going to the station with the trap I made him take me. The Claytons were in the garden; we were scattered about, and I heard Frank and Gerald, who had strolled off from the others, talking. Gerald was telling him about some things he'd bought--they must have been expensive, because Frank asked him where he got the money. Gerald laughed and said he'd had an unexpected stroke of luck that had set him straight again. Now, of course Gerald got no money from home, and if he'd won it he would have told Frank how he did so.

Gerald always would tell a thing like that.”

Evelyn was filled with confusion and hot indignation. She had little doubt that Mabel's surmise was correct.

”I wonder whether he has told anybody; though it's scarcely likely.”

Mabel laughed.

”Of course he hasn't. We all know what Gerald is. Before I came home, I asked him what he thought of Wallace. He said he was a good sort, or something like that, and I saw that he had a reason for saying it; but he must go on in his patronizing style that Wallace was rather Colonial, though he hadn't drifted too far--not beyond reclamation.

After all, Wallace was one of--us--before he went out; and if Carroll's Colonial he's the kind of man I like. I was so angry with Gerald I wanted to slap him!”

There was no doubt that Mabel was a staunch partizan, and Evelyn sympathized with her. She was, of course, acquainted with her brother's character, and she was filled with indignant contempt for him. It was intolerable that he should have allowed Vane to discharge his debts and then have alluded to him in terms of indulgent condescension.

”It strikes me Wallace ought to get his money back, now that you have sent him away,” Mabel added. ”But of course that's most unlikely. It wouldn't take Gerald long to waste it.”

Evelyn rose and, making some excuse, left the room. She could feel her face growing hot, and Mabel had unusually keen eyes and precocious powers of deduction. A suspicion which had troubled her more than Gerald's conduct had lately crept into her mind, and it now thrust itself upon her attention; several things pointed to the fact that her father had taken the same course her brother had done. She felt that had she heard Mabel's information before the interview with Vane, she might have yielded to him in an agony of humiliation. Mabel had summed up the situation with stinging candor and crudity--Vane, who had been defrauded, was ent.i.tled to recover his money. For a few moments Evelyn was furiously angry with him, and then, growing calmer, she recognized that this was unreasonable.

She could not imagine any idea of a compact originating with the man, and he had quietly acquiesced in her decision.

Soon after she left her sister, Vane walked into the room which Chisholm reserved for his own use. It was handsomely furnished, and the big, light-oak writing-table and gla.s.s-fronted cabinets were examples of artistic handicraft. The sight of them jarred on Vane, who had already surmised that it was the women of the Chisholm family who were expected to practise self-denial. Chisholm was sitting at the table with some papers in front of him and a cigar in his hand, and Vane drew out a chair and lighted his pipe before he addressed him.

”I've made up my mind to sail on Sat.u.r.day, instead of next week,” he said abruptly.

”You have decided rather suddenly, haven't you?” Chisholm suggested.

Vane knew that what his host wished to know was the cause of the decision, and he meant to come to the point. He was troubled by no consideration for the man.

”The last news I had indicated that I was wanted,” he replied. ”After all, there is only one reason why I have abused Mrs. Chisholm's hospitality so long.”

”Well?”

”You will remember what I asked you some time ago. I had better say that I retire from the position--abandon the idea.”

Chisholm started and his florid face grew redder, while Vane, in place of embarra.s.sment, was conscious of a somewhat grim amus.e.m.e.nt. It seemed curious that a man of Chisholm's stamp should have any pride.

”What am I to understand by that?” Chisholm asked with some asperity.

”I think that what I said explained it. Bearing in mind your and Mrs.

Chisholm's influence, I've an idea that Evelyn might have yielded, if I'd strongly urged my suit; but that was not by any means what I wanted. I'd naturally prefer a wife who married me because she wished to do so.

That's why, after thinking the thing over, I've decided to--withdraw.”

Chisholm straightened himself in his chair in fiery indignation, which he made no attempt to conceal.

”You mean that after asking my consent, and seeing more of Evelyn, you have changed your mind! Can't you understand that it's an unpardonable confession--one which I never fancied a man born and brought up in your station could have brought himself to make?”