Part 91 (2/2)
”Not much, me lad. I'm Fate, I am, an' when Fate comes up agin murder, Fate ain't t' be shook off.”
”Murder!” gasped Spike. ”Oh, my G.o.d! I--I ain't--”
The lad sprang to his feet and was running on the instant, but turning to glance back, tripped over some obstacle and fell. Swaying he rose and stumbled on, but slower now by reason of the pain in his wounded arm.
Thus, when at last he came out upon the road, the Old Un was still close behind him.
CHAPTER XLVI
IN WHICH GEOFFREY RAVENSLEE OBTAINS HIS OBJECT
Mrs. Trapes glanced sadly around her cosy housekeeper's room and sighed regretfully; she was alone, and upon the table ready to hand lay her neat bonnet, her umbrella, and a pair of white cotton gloves, beholding which articles her lips set more resolutely, her bony arms folded themselves more tightly, and she nodded in grim determination.
”The labourer is worthy of his hire!” she sighed, apparently addressing the bonnet, ”but, if so be the labourer ain't worthy, why then, the sooner he quits--”
A sound of quick, light feet upon the stair and a voice that laughed gaily, a laugh so full of happiness that even Mrs. Trapes's iron features relaxed, and her grim mouth curved in her rare smile. At that moment the door opened and Hermione appeared, a radiant Hermione who clasped Mrs. Trapes in her arms and tangled her up in her long motor veil and laughed again.
”Oh, Ann, such a day!” she exclaimed, laying aside her long dust-coat.
”New York is a paradise--when you're rich! No more bargain days and clawing matches over the remnant counter, Ann! Oh, it's wonderful to be able to buy anything I want--anything! Think of it, Ann, isn't it just a dream of joy? And I've shopped and shopped, and he was so dear and patient! I bought Arthur a complete outfit--”
”Arthur!” said Mrs. Trapes, and groaned.
”And you, Ann, you dear thing, I bought you--guess what? But you never could! I bought you a gold watch, the very best I could find, and he bought you a chain for it, a long one to go around your dear neck, set with diamonds and rubies, I mean the chain is--it's the cutest thing, Ann! You remember you used to dream of a gold chain set with real diamonds, some day? Well, 'some day's' to-day, Ann.”
”But--oh, Hermy, I--I--”
”He wants to give it you himself, because he says you're the best friend he ever had and--oh, here he is! You did say so, didn't you, Geoffrey?”
”And I surely mean it!” answered Ravenslee, tossing his driving gauntlets into a chair, ”though you certainly threw cold water upon my peanut barrow, didn't you, Mrs. Trapes?”
”Oh, Geoffrey, dear, do give her that precious package; I'm dying to see her open it!”
So Ravenslee drew the jeweller's neat parcel from his pocket and put it into Mrs. Trapes's toil-worn hand. For a moment her bony fingers clutched it, then she sighed tremulously and, placing it on the table, rose and stood staring down at it. When at last she spoke, her voice was harsher than usual.
”Hermy, dear--I mean Mrs. Ravenslee, ma'am, I--can't--take 'em!”
”But, dear--why not?”
”Because they're coals o' fire.”
”But you must take them, dear; we bought them for you and--”
”Which jools, ma'am, I can in no wise accept.”
”Why, Ann, dear, whatever--”
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