Part 98 (1/2)
She remembered that George had told her she need not mention his having left Prior's Ash until she saw Thomas G.o.dolphin on Monday morning.
Therefore she did not reply to Isaac that she could not ask George because he was absent. ”Isaac, I wish _you_ to tell me,” she gravely rejoined. ”Anything you know, or may think.”
”I really know very little, Maria. Nothing, in fact, for certain.
Prior's Ash is saying that the Bank will not open again. The report is that some message of an unfavourable nature was telegraphed down last night by Mr. G.o.dolphin.”
”Telegraphed to whom?” she asked eagerly.
”To Hurde. I cannot say whether there's any foundation for it. Old Hurde's as close as wax. No fear of his spreading it, if it has come; unless it lay in his business to do so. I walked out of church with him, but he did not say a syllable about it to me.”
Maria sat a few minutes in silence. ”If the Bank should not go on, Isaac--what then?”
”Why--then, of course it would not go on,” was the very logical answer returned by Mr. Isaac.
”But what would be done, Isaac? How would it end?”
”Well--I suppose there'd be an official winding-up of affairs. Perhaps the Bank might be reopened afterwards on a smaller scale. I don't know.”
”An official winding-up,” repeated Maria, her sweet face turned earnestly on her brother's. ”Do you mean bankruptcy?”
”Something of that sort.”
A blank pause. ”In bankruptcy, everything is sold, is it not? Would these things have to be sold?”--looking round upon the costly furniture.
”Things generally are sold in such a case,” replied Isaac. ”I don't know how it would be in this.”
Evidently there was not much to be got out of Isaac. He either did not know, or he would not. Sitting a few minutes longer, he departed--afraid, possibly, how far Maria's questions might extend. Not long had he been gone, when boisterous steps were heard leaping up the stairs, and Reginald Hastings--noisy, impetuous Reginald--came in. He threw his arms round Maria, and kissed her heartily. Maria spoke reproachfully.
”At home since yesterday morning, and not have come to see me before!”
she exclaimed.
”They wouldn't let me come yesterday,” bluntly replied Reginald. ”They thought you'd be all down in the mouth with this bother, and would not care to see folks. Another thing, I was in hot water with them.”
A faint smile crossed Maria's lips. She could not remember the time when Reginald had _not_ come home to plunge into hot water with the ruling powers at the Rectory. ”What was the matter?” she asked.
”Well, it was the old grievance about my bringing home no traps. Things do melt on a voyage somehow--and what with one outlet and another for your pay, it's of no use trying to keep square. I left the s.h.i.+p, too, and came back in another. I say, where's Meta? Gone out? I should have come here as soon as dinner was over, only Rose kept me. I am going to Grace's to tea. How is George G.o.dolphin? He is out, too?”
”He is well,” replied Maria, pa.s.sing over the other question. ”What stay shall you make at home, Reginald?”
”Not long, if I know it. There's a fellow in London looking out for a s.h.i.+p for me. I thought to go up and pa.s.s for second mate, but I don't suppose I shall now. It's as gloomy as ditch-water this time at home.
They are all regularly cut up about the business here. Will the Bank go on again, Maria?”
”I don't know anything about it, Reginald. I wish I did know.”
”I say, Maria,” added the thoughtless fellow, lowering his voice, ”there's no truth, I suppose, in what Prior's Ash is saying about George G.o.dolphin?”
”What is Prior's Ash saying?” returned Maria.
”Ugly things,” answered Reginald. ”I heard something about--about swindling.”
”About swindling!”