Part 22 (2/2)

”Yes; I should like her to see him between now and the day when I must leave England. I cannot possibly be back under from four to five months, and if my mind can be relieved of a very pressing anxiety, you would not deny me the satisfaction, would you?”

”But why should your mind be anxious?” I asked boldly. I looked full into his face as I spoke, and then I met a look which caused me to turn faint, and yet to feel happy, as I had never felt happy before.

I lowered my eyes and looked out of the window. He gave a quick sigh, and then said suddenly--

”How like your father you are.”

”My father? But you never knew him.”

”I never knew him, but I have often looked at his picture. Can you tell me how he won his V.C.?”

”Saving a comrade, bringing one of his brother officers out of the thick of the fight; he received his own fatal wound in doing so. He did not survive the action two months.”

”A fine fellow! A splendid action,” said Mr. Randolph, enthusiasm in his voice. ”You will think over what I have said, and I will not keep you now. We shall meet at the Criterion this evening. Good-bye for the present.”

CHAPTER XV

DR. READE

I cannot recall anything about the play. I only know that we had excellent seats and a good view of the house, and that mother seemed to enjoy everything. As to Mr. Randolph, I doubt if he did enjoy that play. He was too much a man of the world to show any of his emotions, but I saw by a certain pallor round his mouth, and a rather dragged look about his eyes, that he was suffering, and I could not imagine why. I had always in my own mind made up a sort of story about Jim Randolph. He was one of the fortunate people of the earth; the good things of the world had fallen abundantly to his share. He was nice to look at and pleasant to talk to, and of course he had plenty of money.

He could do what he pleased with his life. I had never a.s.sociated him with sorrow or trial of any sort, and to see that look now in his eyes and round the corners of his somewhat sensitive and yet beautifully-cut mouth, gave me a new sensation with regard to him. The interest I felt in him immediately became accelerated tenfold. I found myself thinking of him instead of the play. I found myself anxious to watch his face. I even found, when once our eyes met (his grave and dark, mine, I daresay, bold enough and determined enough), that my heart beat fast, and the colour flew into my face; then, strange to say, the colour came into his face, dying his swarthy cheek just for a moment, but leaving it the next paler than ever. He came a little nearer to me, however, and bending forward so that mother should not hear, said in a semi-whisper--

”You have thought about what I said this morning?”

”I have thought it over a good deal,” I replied.

”You think it can be managed?”

”Dr. Anderson, mother's family physician, would do what you require, Mr. Randolph.”

”That is a good idea,” he said. ”Anderson can arrange a consultation.

I will see him to-morrow, and suggest it.”

I did not say any more, for just then mother turned and said something to Mr. Randolph, and Mr. Randolph bent forward and talked to mother in that wors.h.i.+pping son-like way with which he generally addressed her.

If mother had ever been blessed with a son, he could not have been more attentive nor sweeter than Jim Randolph was, and I found myself liking him more than ever, just because he was so good to mother, and my heart ached at the prospect of his enforced and long absence. So much did this thought worry me, that I could not help saying to him as we were leaving the theatre--

”I am very sorry that you are going.”

”Is that true?” he said. His face lit up, his eyes sparkled; all the tired expression left his eyes and mouth.

”Are you saying what you mean?” he asked.

”I am most truly sorry. You have become indispensable to mother; she will miss you sorely.”

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