Part 55 (1/2)
”Not formally, perhaps, but it was your father's wish. We were all agreeable, because Gervase seemed devoted to you. You seemed wonderfully pleased with the idea when you first came to Trewinion; and, after all, it is no small thing to marry a man with Gervase's prospects.”
”Marriage is a serious thing, Beryl,” Madeline said, gently. ”When I met Gervase first I was only a school girl. I did not know my own mind. I own he attracted me greatly, and all the time he was away I cherished, and almost wors.h.i.+pped, an ideal----”
”But surely Gervase has realised your ideal?” Beryl questioned. ”He may not be as handsome as some men, but think how brave he is, how self-sacrificing, how devoted! He would almost lay down his life for you!”
”I don't want any man to do that,” Madeline said, quietly.
”But surely such devotion as his is deserving of some recompense? He has waited patiently for you week after week, and month after month, and I am sure your coldness is driving him to the gaming-tables.”
”Would you have me marry him, Beryl, if I do not love him?”
”Oh, you can love him well enough if you try, unless--unless----”
”Unless what, Beryl?”
”Oh, unless you have given way to some romantic nonsense about another man!”
”What do you mean by that?” Madeline asked, raising her eyebrows slightly.
”You know well enough what I mean, Madeline; so you need not pretend.”
”I am not pretending. Besides, it is not fair to fling out mere hints that may mean a great deal, or may mean nothing at all.”
”Oh, I am not blaming you very much. It was only natural, perhaps, that he should take your fancy for a moment.”
”That who should take my fancy?”
”Why, the young man who saved your life, of course. You knew nothing about him, and there is no denying that he is very good-looking. But you have discovered his true character since.”
”I have, Beryl.”
”He pretended, too, to have made a discovery and induced, it is said, a number of people to lend him their savings, so that he might develop it, and now that is gone to smash. I pity the people he has swindled.”
”Who said it had gone to smash?” Madeline questioned eagerly.
”It's in the St. Gaved _Express_ that came by post last evening.”
”Are you sure?”
”Quite sure. There is quite a long paragraph about it. Besides, I heard father talking to mother about it last evening.”
”I wish I could see the paper. Where can I find it?”
”I will run and fetch it for you if you like? But it is quite true, what I have told you.”
Beryl watched Madeline's face with great interest while she read, but it revealed nothing to her. Madeline was conscious that Beryl's eyes were upon her, and so held herself resolutely in check. Not for the world would she betray what she felt.
The St. Gaved _Express_ was printed and published mainly in the interests of the landed and moneyed cla.s.ses. Its politics were those of the people who held the shares. Its comments on local matters were coloured by its political views. Its sn.o.bbery was beyond dispute.
Rufus Sterne received scant courtesy at its hands. He had been heard to say that he believed in the government of the people by the people, for the people. That was quite sufficient for the _Express_. Politically he was a dangerous character--a little Englander and a pro-foreigner.
When it became known that Rufus had failed, that he had been forestalled with his invention, the _Express_ openly rejoiced. Such unpatriotic characters did not deserve to succeed. It hinted that there was a rough and ready justice in the world that dealt out to men the measure of their deserts--which, being interpreted, meant, that to those who had was given, and from those who had not was taken away even what they had.