Part 3 (1/2)

”A little surprised, but most awfully glad, too. Is all well?”

”Oh, far from that, I'm afraid. But I haven't got any time--and, oh my, I don't know how to say it,--but to be frank with you--could you lend Richard two pounds--?”

Loveday coloured to the roots of his hair.

He could not tell her: ”Open that envelope in your hand”, for that would have meant that it was he who had sent the 50 it contained; and he had now only one sixpence in Priddlestone.

”That is”, she said--”if it is not an inconvenience to you--”

He could find no words. Some fifteen minutes before, having enclosed the notes, he had descended to the bar to get mine host to find him a messenger, and direct the envelope--for Hogarth knew his handwriting.

Mine host was not there--his wife could not write: but she had pointed out the Jewish park-keeper sipping beer; so Loveday had had the man upstairs, had made him write the address, and had bribed him to deliver the envelope with a mum tongue.

”I'm afraid I've taken a great liberty--” she said, shrinking at his silence.

Then he spoke: ”Oh, liberty!--but--really--I'm quite broke myself--!”

”Then, good-afternoon to you”, said she: ”I am very sorry--but you will excuse the liberty, won't you--?”

In the forest she began to cry, covering her eyes, moaning: ”Why, how could he be so _mean_? And I who loved that young man with all my heart, G.o.d knows--!”

Her eyes searched the ground for two sovereigns. Then she happened to look at the envelope: and instantly was interested. ”Why, it is the Jew's hand!” she thought, for the letters were angular in the German manner, making a general similarity with Frankl's writing.

Curiosity overcame her: she opened, and saw...

”Oh, well, this is _generous_ though, after all!” she exclaimed.

And now she ran, coming out from mossy path upon wide forest-road: and there, taking promenade, was Frankl, quite near, with phylacteried left arm.

”Why, sweetheart...” said he.

She stopped before him. ”Well, you can call me what you like for the time being”, said she, laughing rather hysterically; ”for I am most grateful to you for your generous present to my brother, Mr. Frankl!”

She had still no suspicion of Richard's visit of chastis.e.m.e.nt to the Hall!

”Now, what do you mean?” said Frankl.

”Why, you might guess that I know your handwriting by this time!” she said coquettishly, and held out the notes and the envelope.

His eyes twinkled; he meditated; he had, more than ever, need of her; and he said: ”Well, you are as 'cute as they make them!”

”But instead of sending us this, which I am not at all sure that Richard will touch, why couldn't you pay it to yourself, and not turn us out--”

”I let business take its course: and afterwards I do my charity. But it wasn't for your brother, you know, that I sent it--but for _you_”.

”I must be running--”

When she reached the farm, she gave the carman a secret glimpse of the notes, while Hogarth, who was now there, went to seek the old Hogarth, for whom a nest had been made among the furniture in the cart.