Part 25 (1/2)
Had she placed those flowers there merely to give them air because the room was warm? Or had she put them in the window as signal to some one in the street below?
Her hand trembled, she grew uneasy, and then I knew that I had guessed the truth.
Those flowers were placed there to warn some one of my presence!
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
CONTAINS A DISCLOSURE.
When the old lady had at last retired and I stood alone with my love, I moved across to draw the blind.
”Oh! do let us have some air,” she urged with a sigh. ”It was so hot downstairs to-night. I feel stifled.”
This could not be, for the night air in Scotland is chilly in September.
Therefore I felt convinced that she wished the bowl of flowers to remain in view of some one outside, a suspicion confirmed by her quick glance at the clock upon the mantelshelf.
For whom could that signal be intended? That it was to warn some one against calling upon her was apparent, and in an instant a great uncontrollable jealousy sprang up within me. The G.o.ddess of my admiration stood there before me calmly, her eyes fixed upon my woe-worn countenance in silence. Her lips moved at last.
”Well?” she asked. ”And why have you come here, to me?”
”Because I am seeking to serve you, Lolita,” was my answer. ”At Sibberton matters have a.s.sumed a very grave aspect. Richard Keene is staying there as George's guest.”
”What?” she gasped, her face white in an instant. ”Impossible! Keene as George's friend!--never?”
”He is guest at Sibberton under the name of Smeeton. George apparently met him when hunting in Africa,” I said.
She stood regarding me, utterly bewildered, as I explained to her further the cunning manner in which the stranger Keene had introduced himself into the house.
”Then for me the future is utterly hopeless,” she exclaimed blankly, her beautiful face pale as death. ”It is just as I have feared. My enemies have triumphed--and I am their victim.”
”How?”
”Richard Keene will not spare me--that I know,” she cried in desperation. ”Ah! Willoughby! I cannot bear it longer. I have either to endure and be accursed here, or seek my fate and still exist the creature of the wrath hereafter. Cowardice some will call my death!
But can it be coward-like to spurn the certainty I have and fly to regions unexplored? Where hope exists, life would become a stake too dear to hazard, but all with me is dreariness; and if I live existence pictures to my mind one cheerless blank; a life of condemnation and despair.” And she stood staring straight before her.
”But, Lolita!” I cried, taking her hand tenderly and gazing into her beautiful face, ”you surely don't know what you are saying. You are my love--my all in all.”
”Ah! yes,” she responded bitterly, glancing quickly at me. ”Until-- until they tell you the truth--only until then!”
How could I determine her meaning? How could I explore the labyrinth that surrounded her?
My brain still conjured up excuse upon excuse and warred against my better reason.
”But I don't understand?” I said. ”Why not speak more plainly--tell me everything?”
”Ah!” she sighed, her eyes fixed before her. ”As I look back upon life's stormy sea my resolution stands appalled, and I more wonder that I am than that I should be thus. Were ever woman's trials such as mine?--or if they were, then show me that creature. Soon the busy tongue of scandal will be unfettered, and the ears of greedy calumny opened wide to swallow every breath of defamation and still add falsehood upon falsehood to blacken and condemn a helpless woman! Ah!
I know,” she added. ”I know what the future holds for me.”
”Then if so, why not allow me to a.s.sist you in arming against these enemies of yours and against Marigold especially?” I urged after those desperate words of hers had fallen upon me.