Part 38 (2/2)

”Oh, I don't know! I think one can have too much of anything, even of money.”

At this Sir Samuel laughed loudly.

”Well, I must say you are a clever woman. Yes, by Jove! you are. I used to think in the old days, when Ned was on the scene, that you were a fool and a saint combined. I know a little bit better now.”

Camilla's lips quivered. She turned to him. There was an unconscious entreaty in her voice.

”Dear Sammy,” she said, ”why are you so cross with me?”

But he only answered with another laugh.

”Yes, in the old days,” he went on, ”you played the part of the prude to perfection. Kept a fellow at arm's length, and pretended all sorts of things.”

”Why go back to those old times?” asked Mrs. Lancing, in a very low voice.

”Because I choose to do so; because there is something that has to be settled between us, and you know that! I suppose you think I was taken in by the sweet way you treated me when we met down here in November.

But it was the other way about. I took you in, didn't I?”

It was very cold in this damp country road; all the world seemed grey; the trees with their bare, seemingly withered branches stood like spectres against the dull sky.

Camilla's colour had faded. She looked haggard.

”Please speak a little more plainly,” she said.

And Broxbourne answered her.

”Not I. There is nothing to be gained by telling the truth to a woman, especially to a woman like you.”

She caught her breath sharply, almost as if she had been struck. Her mind, trained to work with almost incredible swiftness, fathomed the significance of these words.

She put out her hand and gripped his arm.

”What has to be said must be said to me, and to me only.” Then suddenly she broke down. ”Oh, Sammy!” she said, ”I know. Don't you believe I know I did you a great wrong? There is nothing to excuse it, except that you don't know what a corner I was in!... What an awful temptation it was! It has all been so easy for you. You have never had to face hard times and black, killing difficulties. You can't be expected to understand what these things mean.”

”Why didn't you ask me?” the man said surlily; and she answered in that same broken way--

”I ... I could not. First of all, you had gone away, and then I was afraid....”

She broke off abruptly; he looked at her sharply, and again he laughed.

”You thought I would want payment,” he said. ”Well, you're right there.

I have a good business instinct. I always like to get full value for what I spend, or what is taken from me.”

At this juncture they had reached the gates of Yelverton Park, and Sir Samuel caught sight of a gardener. He hailed the man, gave the horse into his charge, and burdened him with all sorts of commands to the head-groom.

”I'll be round at the stables very shortly,” he said.

Camilla had walked on, but he overtook her. Her white, drawn face seemed to give him a great deal of satisfaction.

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