Part 25 (2/2)

But, of course, Mollie did not hear her, and the carriage pa.s.sed her, and Dolly sank back into her corner catching her breath.

”It was not a mistake,” she said; ”it was true. It is worse than I thought. Miss MacDowlas was right. It was no accident which brought them both here. He is a cowardly scoundrel and is playing upon her ignorance.

If I had believed in him before, I should know that he is not to be trusted now. She is walking on the edge of a precipice, and she thinks she is safe and never dreams of its existence. Oh, Mollie! Mollie! the world means nothing to you yet, and it is we who have to show you all the thorns!”

She finished her errands and drove homeward as quickly as possible. She could think of nothing but Mollie, and by the time she reached Barbrazon Lodge her head ached with the unpleasant excitement. The servant who opened the door met her with a piece of information. Mr. Gowan had called to see her on some special business, and was awaiting her arrival in the drawing-room. He had been there almost an hour.

She did not go to her room at all, but ran up-stairs to the drawing-room quickly, feeling still more anxious. It was just possible that somebody was ill, and Ralph Gowan had come to break the news to her because no one else had been at liberty. With this idea uppermost, she opened the door and advanced toward him, looking pale and troubled.

He met her half-way, and took her outstretched hand, looking troubled himself.

”You are not very well,” he said at once. ”I am sorry to see that.” And his voice told her immediately that he had not come with good news.

She smiled faintly, but when she sat down she put her hand to her forehead.

”Am I pale, then?” she answered. ”I suppose I must be. It is nothing but a trifle of headache, and,” with a hesitant laugh, ”that I half fancied you had come to tell me something unpleasant.”

He was silent for a moment,--so silent that she looked up at him with a startled face.

”It _is_ something unpleasant!” she exclaimed. ”You have come with ill news, and you are afraid to begin.”

”Not so bad as that,--not afraid, but rather reluctant,” he answered.

”It is _not_ pleasant news; and but that I felt it would be wisest to warn you at once, I would rather any one else had brought it. I have stumbled upon a disagreeable report.”

”Report!” Dolly echoed, and her thoughts flew to Mollie again.

”Don't be alarmed,” he said. ”It is only a disagreeable one because the subject of it has managed to connect himself with some one whose happiness we value.”

Dolly rose from her chair and stood up, turning even paler than before.

”This some one whose happiness we value is Mollie,” she said. ”And the report you have heard is about Mr. Gerald Chandos. Am I not right?”

”Yes,” he returned, ”you are right. The hero of the report is Gerald Chandos.”

”What has he been doing?” she asked, 'sharply. ”Don't hesitate, please.

I want to know.”

He was evidently both distressed and perplexed. He took two or three hurried steps across the room, as if to give himself a little extra time to settle his words into the best form. But Dolly could not wait.

”Mr. Gowan,” she said, ”what has that man been doing?”

He turned round and answered her.

”He has been pa.s.sing himself off to your brother as an unmarried man,”

he said.

She slipped back into her chair again, and wrung her hands pa.s.sionately.