Part 51 (1/2)

”Was it his duty to ruin my father?”

”He must have thought so; but we are getting on dangerous ground. I don't know much about the matter. Do you?”

Clare lowered her eyes. Since Richter's visit, she had had disturbing doubts about the nature of Kenwardine's business; but after a few moments she asked in a hard, suspicious voice: ”How do you know so much about Mr.

Brandon?”

”Well,” said Ida calmly, ”it's plain that I'm not in love with him, because if I were, I should not have tried to make his peace with you. As a matter of fact, I'm going to marry somebody else before very long.

However, now I think I've cleared away a possible mistake, I'll own that I like d.i.c.k Brandon very much and am grateful to him for the care he has taken of my brother.”

”He stopped Jake from coming here,” Clare rejoined with a blush.

”That is so,” Ida agreed. ”He has done a number of other things that got him into difficulties, because he thought it right. That's the kind of man he is. Then I understand he was out of work and feeling desperate when my father engaged him, he got promotion in his employment, and I asked him to see that Jake came to no harm. I don't know if he kept his promise too conscientiously, and you can judge better than me. But I think you ought to read the letters your father gave him.”

She first put down Kenwardine's statement about the theft of the plans, and Clare was conscious of overwhelming relief as she read it. d.i.c.k knew now that she was not the thief. Then Ida said: ”If you will read the next, you will see that your father doesn't feel much of a grievance against Brandon.”

The note was short, but Kenwardine stated clearly that if Clare wished to marry Brandon he would be satisfied and advised her to do so. The girl's face flushed as she read and her hands trembled. Kenwardine certainly seemed to bear d.i.c.k no ill will. But since the latter had his formal consent, why had he not used it?

”Did Mr. Brandon send you with these letters?” she asked as calmly as she could.

”No, I brought them without telling him, because it seemed the best thing to do.”

”You knew what they said?”

”I did,” Ida admitted. ”They were open.”

Clare noted her confession; but she must deal with matters of much greater importance.

”Then do you know why he kept the letters back?”

Ida hesitated. If Clare were not the girl she thought, she might, by appealing to her compa.s.sion, supply her with a reason for giving d.i.c.k up, but if this happened, it would be to his advantage in the end. Still she did not think she was mistaken and she must take the risk.

”Yes,” she said. ”I feel that you ought to understand his reasons; that is really why I came. It looks as if you had not heard that shortly after he met your father d.i.c.k fell down the steamer's hold.”

Clare made an abrupt movement and her face got anxious. ”Was he hurt?”

”Very badly. He broke two ribs and the fever he got soon afterwards stopped his getting better; but that is not the worst. One of his eyes was injured, and there is some danger that he may lose his sight.”

It was plain that Clare had got a shock, for she sat in a tense att.i.tude and the color left her face; but Ida saw that she had read her character right and taken the proper course. Indeed, she wondered whether she had not unnecessarily harrowed the girl's feelings.

”Now,” she resumed, ”you understand why d.i.c.k Brandon kept back the letters. It is obvious that he loves you, but he is disfigured and may have to give up his profession----”

She stopped, for Clare's face changed and her eyes shone with a gentle light.

”But what does that matter?” she exclaimed. ”He can't think it would daunt me.”