Part 7 (1/2)
”It is an ignominious way out of the difficulty,” said the other: but he consented; and yard after yard of the thread-like chain was unrolled.
When allowed to drop together, it seemed to go into no compa.s.s at all.
They went outside.
”What are you going to do now, Brand?”
The other was looking cheerless enough.
”I?” he said, with the slightest possible shrug. ”I suppose I must go down to the club, and yawn away the time till dinner.”
”Then why not come with me? I have a commission or two from my sisters--one as far out as Notting Hill; but after that we can drive back through the Park and call on the Linds. I dare say Lind will be home by that time.”
Lord Evelyn's friend was more than delighted. As they drove from place to place he was a good deal more talkative than was his wont; and, among other things, confessed his belief that Ferdinand Lind seemed much too hard-headed a man to be engaged in mere visionary enterprises. But somehow the conversation generally came round to Mr. Lind's daughter; and Brand seemed very anxious to find out to what degree she was cognizant of her father's schemes. On this point Lord Evelyn knew nothing.
At last they arrived at the house in Curzon Street, and found Mr. Lind just on the point of entering. He stayed to receive them; went up-stairs with them to the drawing-room, and then begged them to excuse him for a few minutes. Presently Natalie Lind appeared.
How this man envied his friend Evelyn the frank, sister-like way in which she took the little present, and thanked him, for that and his kind wishes!
”Ah, do you know,” she said, ”what a strange birthday gift I had given me this morning? See!”
She brought over the old-fas.h.i.+oned silver locket, and told them the whole story.
”Is it not strange?” she said. ”'_From Natalie to Natalushka_:' that is, from myself to myself. What can it mean?”
”Have you not asked your father, then, about his mysterious messenger?”
Brand said. He was always glad to ask this girl a question, for she looked him so straight in the face with her soft, dark eyes, as she answered,
”He has only now come home. I will directly.”
”But why does your father call you Natalushka, Natalie?” asked Lord Evelyn.
There was the slightest blush on the pale, clear face.
”It was a nickname they gave me, I am told, when I was child. They used to make me angry.”
”And now, if one were to call you Natalushka?”
”My anger would be too terrible,” she said, with a smile. ”Papa alone dares to do that.”
Presently her father came into the room.
”Oh, papa,” said she, ”I have discovered who the lady is whom you got to bring me the flowers. And see! she has given me this strange little locket. Look at the inscription--'_From Natalie to Natalushka_.'”
Lind only glanced at the locket. His eyes were fixed on the girl.
”Where did you see the--the lady?” he asked, coldly.
”In the Park. But she did not stay a moment, or speak; she hurried on, and Anneli thought she was crying. I almost think so too. Who was it, papa? May I speak to her, if I see her again?”
Mr. Lind turned aside for a moment. Brand, who was narrowly watching him, was convinced that the man was in a pa.s.sion of rage. But when he turned again he was outwardly calm.