Part 26 (1/2)
”That is beside the point,” she said with a becoming air of pride. ”I expected you would be willing to do whatever you could. To be refused what I plead for is new to me.”
He considered for a moment or two, watching her with keen appreciation.
Bella in her present mood, with her affectations cast aside, appealed to him. She was not altogether the woman he would have chosen, but since he must secure a rich wife, there were obvious benefits to be derived from a match with her. He devoutly wished he could accede to her request.
”Well?” she broke out impatiently.
”I'm sorry,” he said; ”I'm unable to do as you desire. Of course, I wish I could, if only to please you, though I really don't think the thing's necessary.”
”You needn't tell me that again! It's a waste of time; I'm not going to discuss it. Face the difficulty, whatever it is. Do you mean that you can't warn off Batley?”
Gladwyne saw that she would insist on a definite answer and in desperation he told the truth.
”It's out of the question.”
It was a shock to her. In a sudden flash of illumination she saw him as he was, weak and irresolute, helpless in the grip of a stronger man. It was significant that she felt no compa.s.sion for him, but only disgust and contempt. She was no coward, and even Jim, who could so easily be deluded, was ready enough to fight on due occasion.
”You are afraid of the fellow!” she exclaimed.
Gladwyne colored and moved abruptly. He had imagined that she was his for the asking, but there was no mistaking her cutting scorn.
”Bella,” he pleaded, ”don't be bitter. You can't understand the difficulties I'm confronted with.”
”I can understand too much!” Her voice trembled, but she rose, rather white in face, with an air of decision. ”When I came I expected--but after all that doesn't matter--I never expected this!”
He made no answer; the man had some little pride and there was nothing to be said. He had fallen very low even in this girl's estimation and the fact was almost intolerably galling, but he could make no effective defense. She went from him slowly, but with a suggestive deliberation, without looking back, and there was a hint of finality in the way she closed the door.
Once outside, she strove to brace herself, for the interview had tried her hard. She had had to choose between Gladwyne and her brother, but for that she was now almost thankful. The man she had admired had changed and become contemptible. It was as if he had suddenly collapsed and shriveled before her startled eyes. But that was not all the trouble--she was as far from saving Jim as ever.
It cost her an effort to rejoin the others, but she was equal to it and during the rest of her stay her conversation was a shade more audacious than usual.
CHAPTER XVI
GLADWYNE SURRENDERS
Evening was drawing on when Bella strolled aimlessly down the ascending road that led to Marple's residence. On one hand of the road there was a deep rift, filled with shadow, in which a beck murmured among the stones, and the oaks that climbed to the ridge above flung their great branches against the saffron glow in the western sky. Fallen leaves, glowing brown and red, had gathered thick beneath one hedgerow and more came slowly sailing down; but Bella brushed through them unheeding, oblivious to her surroundings. She had suffered during the few days that had followed her interview with Gladwyne and even the sharp encounter with Miss Marple in which she had recently indulged had not cheered her, though it had left her friend smarting.
Presently she looked around with interest as a figure appeared farther up the road, and recognizing the fine poise and vigorous stride, she stopped and waited. Lisle was a bracing person to talk to, and she wanted to see him. He soon came up with her and she greeted him cordially. Unlike Gladwyne, he was a real man, resolute and resourceful, with a generous vein in him, and she did not resent the fact that he looked rather hard at her.
”You don't seem as cheerful as usual,” he observed.
”I'm not,” she confessed. ”In fact, I think I was very nearly crying.”
”What's the trouble?” He showed both interest and sympathy.
”Oh, you needn't ask. It's Jim again. I've tried every means and I can't do anything with him.”
”He is pretty uncontrollable. Seems to have gone back to Batley again. I wonder if it would be any good if I looked for an opportunity for making a row with the fellow?”