Part 23 (2/2)
The girl's surprise was evidently genuine.
”But he said nothing about it a few hours ago,” she exclaimed. ”You are in his confidence, I know. This morning he gave me something to do. I was to get Mr. Blatherwick away from the Hall, and keep him with me as long as I could. You do not know Mr. Blatherwick? then you cannot sympathise with me. Since ten o'clock I have been with him. At last I could keep him no longer. He has gone back to the Hall.”
”Mr. Sabin will probably write to you,” Helene said. ”This house is taken for another fortnight, and you can of course remain here, if you choose. You will certainly hear from him within the next day or two.”
Miss Merton shrugged her shoulders.
”Well, I shall take a holiday,” she declared. ”I've finished typing all the copy I had. Haven't you dropped something there?”
She stooped suddenly forward, and picked up a locket from the floor.
”Is this yours?” she asked. ”Why----”
She held the locket tightly in her hand. Her eyes seemed rivetted upon it. It was very small and fas.h.i.+oned of plain gold, with a coronet and letter on the face. Miss Merton looked at it in amazement.
”Why, this belongs to Wolf--to Lord Wolfenden,” she exclaimed.
Helene looked at her in cold surprise.
”It is very possible,” she said. ”He was here a short time ago.”
Miss Merton clenched the locket in her hand, as though she feared for its safety.
”Here! In this room?”
”Certainly! He called to see Mr. Sabin and remained for some time.”
Miss Merton was a little paler. She did not look quite so pretty now.
”Did you see him?” she asked.
Helene raised her eyebrows.
”I scarcely understand,” she said, ”what business it is of yours. Since you ask me, however, I have no objection to telling you that I did see Lord Wolfenden. He remained some time here with me after Mr. Sabin left.”
”Perhaps,” Miss Merton suggested, with acidity, ”that was why I was sent out of the way.”
Helene looked at her through half-closed eyes.
”I am afraid,” she said, ”that you are a very impertinent young woman. Be so good as to put that locket upon the table and leave the room.”
The girl did neither. On the contrary, she slipped the locket into the bosom of her gown.
”I will take care of this,” she remarked.
Helene laid her hand upon the bell.
”I am afraid,” she said, ”that you must be unwell. I am going to ring the bell. Perhaps you will be good enough to place the locket on that table and leave the room.”
Miss Merton drew herself up angrily.
”I have a better claim upon the locket than any one,” she said. ”I am seeing Lord Wolfenden constantly. I will give it to him.”
”Thank you, you need not trouble,” Helene answered. ”I shall send a servant with it to Deringham Hall. Will you be good enough to give it to me?”
Miss Merton drew a step backwards and shook her head.
”I think,” she said, ”that I am more concerned in it than you are, for I gave it to him.”
”You gave it to him?”
Miss Merton nodded.
”Yes! If you don't believe me, look here.”
She drew the locket from her bosom and, holding it out, touched a spring. There was a small miniature inside; Helene, leaning over, recognised it at once. It was a likeness of the girl herself. She felt the colour leave her cheeks, but she did not flinch.
”I was not aware,” she said, ”that you were on such friendly terms with Lord Wolfenden.”
The girl smiled oddly.
”Lord Wolfenden,” she said, ”has been very kind to me.”
”Perhaps,” Helene continued, ”I ought not to ask, but I must confess that you have surprised me. Is Lord Wolfenden--your lover?”
Miss Merton shut up the locket with a click and returned it to her bosom. There was no longer any question as to her retaining it. She looked at Helene thoughtfully.
”Has he been making love to you?” she asked abruptly.
Helene raised her eyes and looked at her. The other girl felt suddenly very insignificant.
”You must not ask me impertinent questions,” she said calmly. ”Of course you need not tell me anything unless you choose. It is for you to please yourself.”
The girl was white with anger. She had not a t.i.the of Helene's self-control, and she felt that she was not making the best of her opportunities.
”Lord Wolfenden,” she said slowly, ”did promise to marry me once. I was his father's secretary, and I was turned away on his account.”
”Indeed!”
There was a silence between the two women. Miss Merton was watching Helene closely, but she was disappointed. Her face was set in cold, proud lines, but she showed no signs of trouble.
”Under these circ.u.mstances,” Helene said, ”the locket certainly belongs to you. If you will allow me, I will ring now for my maid. I am leaving here this evening.”
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