Part 54 (1/2)

DRUMMLE.

He left the house half-an-hour ago, to stroll about the lanes; just now a note came from him, a scribble in pencil, simply telling Alice that she would receive a letter from him to-morrow. What's the matter? There's nothing very wrong, is there! My dear chap, pray forgive me if I'm asking too much.

AUBREY.

Cayley, you--you urged me to send her away!

DRUMMLE.

Ellean! Yes, yes. But--but--by all accounts this is quite an eligible young fellow. Alice has been giving me the history----

AUBREY.

Curse him! [_Hurling his book to the floor._] Curse him! Yes, I do curse him--him and his cla.s.s! Perhaps I curse myself too in doing it. He has only led ”a man's life”--just as I, how many of us, have done! The misery he has brought on me and mine it's likely enough we, in our time, have helped to bring on others by this leading ”a man's life”! But I do curse him for all that. My G.o.d, _I've_ nothing more to fear--I've paid _my_ fine! And so I can curse him in safety.

Curse him! Curse him!

DRUMMLE.

In Heaven's name, tell me what's happened?

AUBREY.

[_Gripping_ DRUMMLE's _arm._] Paula! Paula!

DRUMMLE.

What?

AUBREY.

They met to-night here. They--they--they're not strangers to each other.

DRUMMLE.

Aubrey!

AUBREY.