Part 6 (1/2)

Instead of answering, Frida stretched her hand towards him, with an expression which would have excused any lover for pressing the little hand to his lips. But this one calmly held it in his own, nodded protectingly, and said--

”I was sure of it.”

”I will do all in my power to relieve what is painful in your position,” said Jessie, rea.s.suringly. ”And now may I keep you with me?”

”We had better wait till to-morrow,” said Gustave. ”It would very much surprise my brother to find a complete stranger, of whose arrival he had not even been warned, established as a member of his household.

That might at once arouse his suspicions. It would be better for Frida to return to the hotel where I stopped with her and left her things. In the course of the evening some opportunity of speaking of her is sure to arise, and then the removal can be effected without any trouble.”

Jessie was annoyed at the suggestion, in proportion as she recognized its justice.

”You are incredibly prudent, Mr. Sandow! I really admire all these precautions, and this clever calculation of all possible emergencies.”

Gustave bowed as if he had really received a compliment.

”Yes, yes, Frida,” said he, in reply to the look of surprise with which the girl listened to this perpetual bickering. ”Miss Clifford and I have an excessive mutual admiration. You see already, what great respect we show each other. But now it is time to start, or my brother will surprise us here.”

Frida rose obediently. Jessie felt a deep sympathy with the poor girl who resigned herself so completely to the selfish plans of her lover, and bade her a hearty farewell.

Gustave accompanied Miss Palm to the carriage, which waited to take her back to the hotel; but just as they were descending the steps a second carriage drove up, and Sandow, whose office hours were now over, stepped out.

”My brother,” said Gustave in a low voice.

Miss Palm must have stood greatly in awe of this terrible brother, for she suddenly turned deadly pale, and made an involuntary movement as if to fly, while the arm which rested in her companion's trembled violently.

”Frida!” said the latter, in an earnest, reproachful tone.

Frida struggled for composure, but her timidity this time was not the cause of her agitation. It was not the look of a startled dove which met the new arrival, but one in which lay gloomy, almost wild resistance, and the energetic side of her nature was shown so distinctly in her features that it seemed as if she were rather beginning a struggle with a dreaded enemy than trying to conciliate him.

Sandow had meanwhile entered, and met the pair face to face in the vestibule. He bowed slightly, but seemed surprised to see his brother accompanied by a perfect stranger.

Frida returned the greeting, but instead of stopping hastened anxiously forwards, and thus prevented the possibility of an introduction.

Gustave saw that it would be useless to try to effect it, so placed her in the carriage, closed the door, and directed the coachman to the hotel.

”Who is that girl?” asked Sandow, who had waited for his brother.

”A certain Miss Palm,” said he lightly, ”an acquaintance of Miss Clifford's.”

”And to whom you act as cavalier.”

”Not at all; my service is paid to Miss Clifford. At her wish, I fetched the young lady, in whom she is much interested, from the station, and brought her here. You know I left the office earlier than usual.”

”Ah, indeed! Are you already on such good terms with Jessie that she entrusts you with such commissions?” said Sandow, much gratified to find his brother had made such decided progress, while they re-ascended the stairs and walked along the corridor together.

As they entered the drawing-room, Gustave took the thing promptly in hand.

”My brother has already seen your protegee, Miss Clifford,” he began.