Part 102 (2/2)
”I'm not afraid.”
Miss Van Tuyn held out her hand.
”No doubt you have your reasons for doing what you have done. I don't pretend to understand them. And I don't understand you. But women are often incomprehensible to me. Perhaps that is why I usually prefer men.
They don't plunge you in subtleties. They let you understand things.”
”Ah!” exclaimed Lady Sellingworth.
And there was a pa.s.sion of acute irony in the exclamation.
”What's the matter?” said Miss Van Tuyn, looking surprised, almost startled.
But Lady Sellingworth did not tell her.
”If you will go like this, Beryl--go!” she said. ”I cannot force you to do, or not to do, anything. But”--she laid a hand on the girl's arm and pressed it till her hand almost hurt Beryl--”but I tell you that you are in danger, in great danger. I dread to think of what may be in store for you.”
Something in the grasp of her hand, in her manner, in her eyes, impressed Miss Van Tuyn in spite of herself. Again fear, a fear mysterious and cold, crept in her. Garstin had warned her in his way. Now Adela was warning her. And she remembered that other warning whispered by something within herself. She stood still looking into Lady Sellingworth's eyes. Then she looked down. She seemed to be considering something. At last she looked up again and said:
”You said to me to-night that you did not know Mr. Arabian--now.”
”I don't know him.”
”But have you known him? Did you know him long ago?”
”I have never known him.”
”Then I don't understand. And--and I will not act in ignorance. It isn't fair to expect me to do that.”
”I have done all that I can do,” said Lady Sellingworth, with a sort of despair, taking her hand from the girl's arm.
”Very well.”
Beryl moved and went slowly towards the door. Lady Sellingworth stood looking after her. She thought the hideous interview was over. But she did not know Beryl even yet, did not realize even yet the pa.s.sionate force of curiosity which possessed Beryl at this moment. When the girl was not far from the door, and when Lady Sellingworth was reaching out her hand to touch the bell in order that the footman might know that her visitor was leaving her, Beryl turned round.
”Adela!” she said.
”Yes. What is it?”
”Perhaps you think that I have been very persistent to-night, that I have almost cross-examined you.”
”I don't blame you. It is natural that you wished to know more.”
”Yes, it is natural, because Mr. Arabian wants me to marry him.”
”To marry him!”
Lady Sellingworth started forward impulsively.
”Marry? He wants--you--you--”
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