Part 15 (1/2)

”Hear, hear!” cried Bob.

”My mind is quite made up,” replied Delia. ”I am going to return it.

Why, we could never hold up our heads in the place again.”

”We don't hold them extra tall as it is,” laughed Clytie, ”yet we manage to rub along somehow. A cool thou, doesn't tumble our way every day, wherefore don't be in a hurry about the thing, Delia; give it, say, till to-morrow. Think it well over.”

”It won't bear thinking about, much less thinking over. I am going to Hilversea as fast as my bicycle will carry me; now, immediately.”

Then her father and brother began upon her again. Ingrat.i.tude for what they had done for her, callous indifference to her father's declining old age and increasing wants, general selfishness--these were but few of the crimes laid to her charge. But she was adamant.

”You'll have to get your bike to carry you first,” snarled Bob, giving up the contest. Hardly had he flung himself from the room than the meaning of his words flashed upon Delia. She flew to the door. Too late. Her bicycle stood in the front hall, and Bob, with a nasty grin on his face, was in the act of replacing a pin in his waistcoat. He had punctured both wheels in two or three places, and, to make a.s.surance doubly sure, had treated Clytie's machine in like manner.

”You cur!” she gasped. ”Never mind; I'll hire one at Warren's.”

”Wagram won't pay the bill this time. Ta-ta! _Bong voyadge_!” And the abominable cub took himself off.

”How could you do such a thing?” she flashed out, turning on her father.

”You have disgraced me for ever. A downright blackmailing fraud!”

”Fraud be d.a.m.ned?” snarled old Calmour. ”What are you talking about, girl? That sort of talk is dangerous. A highly respectable firm like Pownall and Skreet don't deal in frauds.”

”What sort of firm did you say, dad?” said Clytie sweetly.

The old man whirled round upon her.

”What have you got to say to it, I'd like to know? You just mind your own blanked business. Are you backing that idiot up in her lunacy? And look here, my lady Delia. You've grown too big for your boots of late.

If we're not good enough for you, and our ways don't suit your ladys.h.i.+p, you'd better go and look out for yourself. See then how much your swagger friends will do for you.”

”Yes; I will go,” said the girl, ”but not until I've put this matter right. Your 'highly respectable firm' ought to be struck off the rolls for this job. Faugh! it's scandalous!” she flashed out, as angry as he was.

”Here, Delia, come away,” said Clytie. ”We've all let off quite enough steam, and we don't want to go on nagging all day.” And she dragged her sister from the room almost by main force.

The while Bob, heading for the offices of the said ”highly respectable firm,” though hugely incensed at his sister's decision, yet through it discerned a silver lining to that cloud. If Wagram _pere_ had been so quick to respond to her claim--or rather to the spurious claim that he and his father had put forth--and that to the uttermost farthing, by parity of reasoning would not Wagram _fils_ be equally ready to meet his own, issued simultaneously with the other? Clearly these people had a horror of litigation, and already he saw himself master of a thousand pounds, all his own, or at any rate of the result of a substantial compromise. Consequently, when he entered the office--incidentally a little late--it was with a jaunty, rakish air, as though, if he chose, he could buy up the whole concern.

”Pownall wants you, Calmour,” said one of the clerks at once.

”Ha, does he? I thought he would,” answered Bob lightly. Already he saw himself in possession. The reply had come. The only thing now to be reckoned with was that Pownall should not make an undue deduction for costs. Yet, somehow, as he knocked and entered, there was something in Pownall's veined and scrubby-bearded face that was not propitious. And Pownall was not inclined to waste valuable time.

”Look here, Calmour,” he began, ”when you brought me this claim of yours I told you I didn't think there was the slightest chance of your getting anything. Here's the answer.”

”Do they refuse, sir?”

”Absolutely and uncompromisingly. Here, read it yourself,” chucking an open letter across to his discomfited clerk, who took it and read:

”Hilversea Court,

”_23rd June_ 1897.