Part 52 (1/2)
”Don't talk rubbis.h.!.+ Have you got that old bee in your bonnet again? I'm not afraid of Miss Margaret Wallace.”
”Aren't you? Then that's all right, because I fancy that her agents are about you on every side.”
”Her agents? What do you mean by her agents?”
”I imagine that Miss Margaret Wallace is more popular in this part of the world than you are. I can put two and two together.
From what I've seen, and heard, since our arrival, I shouldn't be surprised to learn that she has n.o.bbled every creature in the neighbourhood. The station-master has received a hint from her--that explains the peculiarity of his manner; nothing else could. That poor wretch lying on the ground has been acting on her instructions. Don't you make any mistake; I'm sure of it.
I'm equally sure that other friends of hers are waiting for you in there.”
He pointed over the gate, along the avenue. His words, far from causing her alarm, seemed to act as a fillip.
”Friends of hers upon my property!--if they dare! Do you think that I'm afraid of what you call her friends?--of any number of them?--of the tricks they've set themselves to play?
I'd like to see them; I'd like to meet them. This is my property--mine!--every stick and stone on it! Neither Margaret Wallace nor any one else has a right to set foot upon it without my sanction. If I do find any trespa.s.sers I promise you that it won't be me who'll come off worst. Are you coming? You understand, if you're to earn that thousand pounds you're to stick to me through thick and thin--to the end! If you show the white feather, the bond is cancelled.”
”Are you going to accept the invitation of the spider to the fly? You intend to walk into the trap?”
”Trap! Do you think that any trap was ever set that could catch me? I believe you're talking the purest piffle; but if there is a trap, and I do walk into it, it'll be to smash it all to pieces. Once more, are you coming?”
”Oh, I'm coming. I'll do my best to earn the thousand, though I'm beginning to perceive that it wants more earning than I supposed. Lead on; where you lead I'll not only follow, I'll keep as close to your side as circ.u.mstances permit.”
She threw the gate wide open. It swung back on its rusty hinges with a harsh, creaking sound. Then they entered the avenue, the lantern swinging in her hand.
CHAPTER x.x.xIII
AT THE DOOR
Between the trees the darkness was as if you might have cut it.
Where the lantern looked there were momentary revelations as they strode along. Its rays seemed to cut pieces out of the surrounding gloom. But the pieces were small. Its penetrating power was slight; where its penetration ceased the darkness was blacker than before. The silence which prevailed had its own peculiar property; it served to exaggerate the slightest disturbance. Their very footsteps were differentiated with an almost morbid clearness. The firm, resolute descent of the woman's foot, the loose, indeterminate shuffle of the man's; the sounds seemed to set themselves against each other and to ring through the trees. They gradually became conscious of the movements of unseen creatures among the gra.s.ses and the herbage, disturbed by their approach. Once she observed, as she swung the lantern to one side--
”That's a rabbit. There used to be thousands of them when I was here. I expect there are more now. I daresay the whole place is overrun with them.”
”It may be a rabbit, though, with due deference to your superior woodcraft, I doubt if there are many rabbits abroad at this hour of the night----But that's not!”
”What? Where?”
”Are there deer about the place as well?”
”Deer? I don't think so. I don't remember seeing any.”
”Then give me the lantern!”
Mrs. Lamb was holding the lantern out in front of her. s.n.a.t.c.hing it, he swung it slightly round. As he did so it went out.
”Luker!” she exclaimed. ”How did you manage that? What a clumsy fool you are!”
There was a new intonation in his voice.