Part 52 (1/2)
”Oh, don't let us talk such nonsense!” she exclaimed, and she moved away, but he followed her.
”It is not nonsense,” he spoke irritably. ”I have established myself as your guardian, and by my mother's will you are bequeathed to my care, therefore I have a right to put questions to you which might seem impertinent if asked by anybody else.”
”I think Mrs. Brenton makes a mistake,” said Caroline, still walking on.
”In what way?”
”Sir Samuel is an old friend of the house, he has been in the habit of coming here freely, I understand; why, therefore, should it be supposed that he comes now only because of me?”
”I don't know why, but I hope to G.o.d he does not come for that reason!”
His voice grew harder. ”You know what I think of this man; I have spoken to you freely about him, and, better than that, your own instinct, which has carried you to such rare judgments, must tell you that he is no fit a.s.sociate for a girl. I was going to say for any decent woman.”
Caroline was silent for a long time. Suddenly she said--
”All women are unreasonable, you know; that is a tradition, and sometimes they see things in a light that is hidden to you men. I don't suppose Sir Samuel is a paragon of perfection, but, at the same time, I don't think he is half so bad as he has been painted. At least he is very harmless, and rather amusing.”
Rupert Haverford looked at her, and a great amazement which bordered on pain took possession of him.
”You like him?” he said, going to the point in his peculiarly direct way.
Caroline shrugged her shoulders.
”I really think I do, but I am not sure; at any rate, I don't bother myself about it very much.” Her tone was flippant. ”How you _do_ love catechising!” she said. It might have been Camilla speaking.
They pa.s.sed up the garden again in silence; beyond the wide expanse of lawn the house stood hospitably open. Lights gleamed everywhere, Mr.
Brenton's tall figure with stooping shoulders was coming slowly towards them.
”Well,” Haverford said, in a cold, dry way, ”if you regard him in this uncertain way it is easier for me to act.”
Caroline looked round sharply. There was indignation in her tone.
”How do you mean ... act?”
”I mean I shall take steps to prevent this acquaintance from becoming an intimate one. However much it may annoy you, the fact remains that I am your guardian, and that until you are twenty-one you are not free to do anything of which I do not approve, and I a.s.suredly do _not_ approve of your friends.h.i.+p with this man.”
Caroline paused and caught her breath.
”This surveillance,” she said coldly, ”is not only very ridiculous, it is very objectionable. You may arrogate to yourself a certain authority where my money is concerned, but in the matter of choosing my friends I demand absolute liberty. Please understand I can recognize no law you may make in this.” She stood a few seconds, then she said ”Good night”
abruptly, and she walked away from him quickly. Indeed, halfway across the lawn she broke into a run, and had gained the house almost before he realized she was gone.
Mr. Brenton called out something to her as she pa.s.sed him so fleetly, but she made no answer.
”What's wrong with Caroline?” he asked as he reached Rupert Haverford.
The young man sat down, and did not reply for a moment; then he said shortly--
”I have been speaking to her about Broxbourne.”
”Oh!” said Mr. Brenton. He stretched himself comfortably in another chair. ”That's what my wife has been putting you up to, I suppose?