Part 50 (1/2)
Poor--Charley poor! For one moment--one--the impulse came upon her to give up all--to go with him to beggary if need be. Only for one moment--I will do Miss Darrell's excellent worldly wisdom this justice--only one.
”I see you are dressed for a party--I will not detain you a second longer. I could not depart comfortably, considering that you came over in our care, without informing you why we leave so abruptly. You are safe. Your destiny is happily settled. I can give to your father a good account of my stewards.h.i.+p. You have my sincerest wishes for your health and happiness, and I am sure you will never quite forget us.
Good-by, Miss Darrell.” He held out his hand. ”My congratulations are premature, but let me offer them now to the future Lady Catheron.”
”Miss Darrell!” When, in all the years that were gone, had he ever called her that before? She arose and gave him her hand--proud, pale.
”I thank you,” she said coldly. ”I will send Lady Helena and Sir Victor to you at once. They will wish to see you, of course. Good-by, Mr. Stuart Let us hope things may turn out better than you think. Give my dearest love to Trix, if she will accept it. Once more, good-by.”
She swept to the door in her brilliant dress, her perfumed laces, her s.h.i.+ning jewels--the glittering fripperies for which her womanhood was to be sold. He stood quite still in the centre of the room, as she had left him, watching her. So beautiful, so cold-blooded, he was thinking; were all her kind like this? And poets sing and novelists rave of woman's love! A half smile came over his lips as he thought of it. It was very pretty to read of in books; in real life it was--like this!
She laid her hand on the silver handle of the door--then she paused--looked back, all the womanliness, all the pa.s.sion of her life stirred to its depths. It was good-by forever to Charley. There was a great sob, and pride bowed and fell. She rushed back--two impetuous arms went round his neck; she drew his face down, and kissed him pa.s.sionately--once--twice.
”Good-by, Charley--my darling--forever and ever!”
She threw him from her almost violently, and rushed out of the room.
Whether she went to tell Lady Helena and Sir Victor of his presence he neither knew nor cared. He was in little mood to meet either of them just then.
Five minutes later, and, under the blue silvery summer night, he was whirling away back to Chester. When the midnight stars shone in the sky he was half way up to London, with Edith's farewell words in his ears, Edith's first, last kiss on his lips.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE SUMMONS.
The sun was just rising over the million roofs and spires of the great city, as Charley's hansom dashed up to the door of Langham's hotel. He ran up to his father's room, and on the threshold encountered Trix, pale and worn with her night's watching, but wearing a peculiarly happy and contented little look despite it all. Charley did not stop to notice the look, he asked after his father.
”Pa's asleep,” Trix replied, ”so's ma. It's of no use your disturbing either of them. Pa's pretty well; stupid as you left him; doesn't care to talk, but able to eat, and sleep. The doctor says there is nothing at all to hinder his travelling to Liverpool to-day. And now, Charley,”
Trix concluded, looking compa.s.sionately at her brother's pale, tired face, ”as you look used up after your day and night's travelling, suppose you go to bed; I'll wake you in time for breakfast, and you needn't worry about anything. Captain Hammond has been here,” says Trix, blus.h.i.+ng in the wan, morning light, ”and he will attend to everything.”
Charley nodded and turned to go, but his sister detained him.
”You--you saw her, I suppose?” she said hesitatingly.
”Edith do you mean?” Charley looks at her full. ”Yes, I saw her. As I went down for the purpose, I was hardly likely to fail.”
”And what has she to say for herself?” Trix asks bitterly.
”Very little; we were not together ten minutes in all. She was dressed for a party of some kind, and I did not detain her.”
”A party?” Trix repeats; ”and we like this! Did she send no message at all?”
”She sent you her dearest love.”
”She may keep it--let her give it to Sir Victor Catheron. I don't want her love, or anything else belonging to her!” Trix cries, explosively.
”Of all the heartless, ungrateful girls--”
Her brother stops her with a look. Those handsome gray eyes of Charley's can be very stern eyes when he likes.
”As I said before, that will do, Trix. Edith is one of the wise virgins we read of--she has chosen by long odds the better part. What could we do with her now? take her back and return her to her father and step-mother, and the dull life she hated? As for grat.i.tude, I confess I don't see where the grat.i.tude is to come in. We engaged her at a fixed salary: so much cleverness, French, German, and general usefulness on her part; on ours, so many hundred dollars per annum.