Part 57 (1/2)
”It was very dramatic.”
”Yes; just like a story, wasn't it?”
”Don't be so unpleasant. I still feel ill. It was horrid to faint. I can't make out why Mrs. Biggs didn't stop you.”
”Do you want to talk about it?”
”N-no--”
”Neither do I.”
”But I can't make out--”
”Never mind. What does it matter? It's over. For you it's over. But don't play with people's lives any more, and ruin them.”
There was a pause, in which the room grew darker.
”Do you think,” Miriam asked in an awed voice, ”he minds so much?”
Helen moved the little clothes-horse and knelt before the fire and its heat burnt her face while her body s.h.i.+vered under a sudden cold. She thought of George, but not as an actor in last night's scenes; her memory swung back, as his had often done, to the autumn night when they sat together in the heather, and his figure and hers became huge with portent. She had thought he was the tinker, and so, indeed, he was, and he no doubt had mistaken her for Miriam, as latterly he had mistaken his own needs. No, she was not altogether responsible. And why had Rupert told her that tale? And why, if she must have a tinker, could she not desire him as Eliza had desired hers?
”Oh, no, no!” she said aloud and very quickly, and she folded her arms across her breast and held her shoulders, shrinking.
”I don't think so either,” Miriam said.
CHAPTER XXVII
Uncle Alfred in a trap and Rupert on foot arrived at the same moment on Sat.u.r.day, and while Rupert asked quick questions about Mildred Caniper, the other listened in alarm.
He was astonished to feel Helen's light touch leading him to the corner where the hats were hanging, to hear her low voice in his ear.
”Pretend that's why you've come!”
He whispered back, ”Where is she?”
”In bed.”
”Miriam?”
”No, no. Dressing up for you!”
”Ah,” he said, relieved, but he felt he was plunged into melodrama.
Nothing else could be expected of a family which had exiled itself mysteriously in such a wilderness, but he felt himself uncomfortably out of place and he straightened his tie and gave his coat a correcting pull before he went into the schoolroom, where John and Lily were sitting by the fire.
”We're all waiting for the doctor,” Helen explained.
”Ah!” Uncle Alfred said again, on a different note. He clasped his hands behind his back and nodded, and in spite of this inadequate contribution he conveyed an impression of stiff sympathy, and gave the youthful gathering the rea.s.surance of his age as they made a place for him by the fire.