Part 31 (2/2)

Peg followed. He did not want her company, she knew, but she had made up her mind to tell him of her suspicions, and nothing in the world would have prevented her.

Forrester looked round, hearing her step behind him. ”I'm busy,” he said. ”I've a lot of writing to do. If you want to speak to me would you mind putting it off until later?”

”I must speak now,” said Peg, breathlessly. She rushed at once to her point. ”I went home this morning. I saw my stepfather and Ben Travers.

You don't know him, but he works at Heeler's.” She stopped, breathless.

”Is there any trouble round there?” she asked tensely.

Forrester did not answer at once, then he said evasively:

”There has been a little discontent, but nothing serious. Travers was sacked with several others. I know the man quite well. He's an insolent young cub.”

Peg flushed darkly.

”He hates you!” she said, falling into her favourite melodrama. ”He would like to do you an injury--if he dared!”

Forrester smiled.

”I don't think there is any cause for alarm,” he said cynically. ”I am certainly not afraid of Travers.”

There was an impatient dismissal in his voice, and Peg could see that he thought she was making a fuss about nothing. She wished she could think the same, but her heart was full of apprehension.

She knew the cla.s.s of men her stepfather and Travers were, even better than Forrester knew, and she was about to renew her pleading when the door opened and Faith came in.

There was a little silence, then Peg laughed.

”You've got back, then,” she said.

Faith did not answer, and Peg shrugged her shoulders and walked past her out of the room.

Faith shut the door and looked at her husband.

”I suppose she told you,” she said breathlessly.

The Beggar Man raised his brows.

”Told me? What has she told me?”

”That I have asked her to go.”

”Asked her to go?” He echoed her words with blank incredulity.

”Yes.” Faith looked at him with burning eyes. Was he really surprised, or was this an arranged thing between them, she wondered.

”Yes, I ... I think I would rather live here alone,” she said unsteadily.

Forrester's eyes never left her face.

<script>