Part 25 (1/2)
The painter took the miniature after which he had been working, from a table near, handed it to her with a proud obeisance, and the same moment dashed a brushful of dark paint across the face of the picture.
”Thank you, sir,” said Florimel, and for a moment felt as if she hated him.
She turned away and walked from the study. The door of the drawing room was open, and Caley stood by the side of it. Florimel, too angry to consider what she was about, walked in: there sat Malcolm in the window, in her father's clothes, and his very att.i.tude, reading the newspaper. He did not hear her enter. He had been waiting till he could reach the bedroom unseen by her, for he knew from the sound of the voices that the study door was open. Her anger rose yet higher at the sight.
”Leave the room,” she said.
He started to his feet, and now perceived that his sister was in the dress of a servant. He took one step forward and stood--a little mazed--gorgeous in dress and arms of price, before his mistress in the cotton gown of a housemaid.
”Take those clothes off instantly,” said Florimel slowly, replacing wrath with haughtiness as well as she might. Malcolm turned to the door without a word. He saw that things had gone wrong where most he would have wished them go right.
”I'll see to them being well aired, my lady,” said Caley, with sibilant indignation.
Malcolm went to the study. The painter sat before the picture of the marquis, with his elbows on his knees, and his head between his hands.
”Mr Lenorme,” said Malcolm, approaching him gently.
”Oh, go away,” said Lenorme, without raising his head. ”I can't bear the sight of you yet.”
Malcolm obeyed, a little smile playing about the corners of his mouth. Caley saw it as he pa.s.sed, and hated him yet worse. He was in his own clothes, booted and belted, in two minutes. Three sufficed to replace his father's garments in the portmanteau, and in three more he and Kelpie went plunging past his mistress and her maid as they drove home in their lumbering vehicle.
”The insolence of the fellow!” said Caley, loud enough for her mistress to hear notwithstanding the noise of the rattling windows.
”A pretty pa.s.s we are come to!”
But already Florimel's mood had begun to change. She felt that she had done her best to alienate men on whom she could depend, and that she had chosen for a confidante one whom she had no ground for trusting.
She got safe and unseen to her room; and Caley believed she had only to improve the advantage she had now gained.
CHAPTER x.x.xI: THE TWO DAIMONS
Things had taken a turn that was not to Malcolm's satisfaction, and his thoughts were as busy all the way home as Kelpie would allow. He had ardently desired that his sister should be thoroughly in love with Lenorme, for that seemed to open a clear path out of his worst difficulties; now they had quarrelled; and besides were both angry with him. The main fear was that Liftore would now make some progress with her. Things looked dangerous. Even his warning against Caley had led to a result the very opposite of his intent and desire. And now it recurred to him that he had once come upon Liftore talking to Caley, and giving her something that shone like a sovereign.
Earlier on the same morning of her visit to the studio, Florimel had awaked and found herself in the presence of the spiritual Vehmgericht. Every member of the tribunal seemed against her. All her thoughts were busy accusing, none of them excusing one another.
So hard were they upon her that she fancied she had nearly come to the conclusion that, if only she could do it pleasantly, without pain or fear, the best thing would be to swallow something and fall asleep; for like most people she was practically an atheist, and therefore always thought of death as the refuge from the ills of life. But although she was often very uncomfortable, Florimel knew nothing of such genuine downright misery as drives some people to what can be no more to their purpose than if a man should strip himself naked because he is cold. When she returned from her unhappy visit, and had sent her attendant to get her some tea, she threw herself upon her bed, and found herself yet again in the dark chambers of the spiritual police. But already even their company was preferable to that of Caley, whose officiousness began to enrage her. She was yet tossing in the Nessus tunic of her own disharmony, when Malcolm came for orders. To get rid of herself and Caley both, she desired him to bring the horses round at once.
It was more than Malcolm had expected. He ran: he might yet have a chance of trying to turn her in the right direction. He knew that Liftore was neither in the house nor at the stable. With the help of the earl's groom, he was round in ten minutes. Florimel was all but ready: like some other ladies she could dress quickly when she had good reason. She sprang from Malcolm's hand to the saddle, and led as straight northward as she could go, never looking behind her till she drew rein on the top of Hampstead Heath. When he rode up to her ”Malcolm,” she said, looking at him half ashamed, ”I don't think my father would have minded you wearing his clothes.”
”Thank you, my lady,” said Malcolm. ”At least he would have forgiven anything meant for your pleasure.”
”I was too hasty,” she said. ”But the fact was, Mr Lenorme had irritated me, and I foolishly mixed you up with him.”
”When I went into the studio, after you left it, this morning my lady,” Malcolm ventured, ”he had his head between his hands and would not even look at me.”
Florimel turned her face aside, and Malcolm thought she was sorry; but she was only hiding a smile: she had not yet got beyond the kitten stage of love, and was pleased to find she gave pain.
”If your ladys.h.i.+p never had another true friend, Mr Lenorme is one,” added Malcolm.
”What opportunity can you have had for knowing?” said Florimel.