Part 22 (1/2)
”I don't.” Bella looked up sharply. ”What has that to do with it?”
Lisle thought it had a bearing on the matter, as the lad would have seen less of Batley without Gladwyne's connivance.
”Well,” he countered, ”what would you like me to do?”
”It's difficult to answer. He's obstinate and resents advice. You might, however, talk to him when you have a chance; he's beginning to have a respect for your opinions.”
”That's gratifying,” Lisle commented dryly. ”He was inclined to patronize me at first.”
She spread out her hands.
”You're too big to mind it! Tell him anything you can about disastrous mining ventures; but don't begin as if you meant to warn him--lead up to the subject casually.”
”I'm afraid I'm not very tactful,” Lisle confessed. ”He'll see what I'm after.”
”It's not very likely. Talk as if you considered him a man of experience.
It's fortunate that you can be of help in this case, because I think some Canadian mining shares are to be the latest deal. From what Jim said it looks as if Batley was to give him some information about them on Wednesday, when Gladwyne and he are expected at Marple's. Can't you come?
I understand you have been asked.”
”Yes,” promised Lisle. ”If I have an opportunity, I'll see what can be done.”
Bella rose and smiled at him.
”We'll go back; I'm comforted already. You're not profuse, but one feels that you will keep a promise.”
They walked across the lawn, Bella now conversing in an animated strain about unimportant matters, though it did not occur to Lisle that this was for the benefit of the lookers-on. On approaching the tea-table, she adroitly secured possession of a chair which another lady who stood higher in her hostess's esteem was making for, and sitting down chatted cheerfully with Mrs. Gladwyne. Lisle was conscious of some amus.e.m.e.nt as he watched her. She was clever and her courage appealed to him; but presently he saw Millicent and strolled toward where she was standing.
She spoke to him, but he thought she was not quite so gracious as she had been before he went away.
CHAPTER XIV
LISLE COMES TO THE RESCUE
A few days after his interview with Bella, Lisle overtook Millicent as she was walking up a wooded dale. She looked around with a smile when he joined her and they fell into friendly talk. There were points on which they differed, but a sense of mutual appreciation was steadily growing stronger between them. Presently Lisle happened to mention the Marples, and Millicent glanced at him thoughtfully. She knew that he met Bella at their house.
”You have seen a good deal of these people, one way or another,” she remarked.
”These people? Aren't you a little prejudiced against them?”
”I suppose I am,” Millicent confessed.
”Then won't you give me the reason? Your point of view isn't always clear to an outsider.”
”I'll try to be lucid. I don't so much object to Marple as I do to what he stands for; I mean to modern tendency.”
”That's as involved as ever.”
The girl showed a little good-humored impatience. She did not care to supply the explanation--it was against her instincts--and she was inclined to wonder why she should do so merely because the man had asked for it.