Part 26 (1/2)
”I'm afraid we have been very remiss,” apologized Nasmyth, when they joined her. ”Still, we didn't know, and we had some business to talk about.”
”There will be plenty of time for that to-morrow.”
”The trouble is that I shall be in the city then,” said Gordon.
Mrs. Acton laughed. ”Oh, no!” she contradicted. ”We are all going for a sail on the straits to-morrow, and we certainly expect you to join us. In the meanwhile, I believe there are two young women waiting for partners.”
She silenced Gordon's objections as they turned back towards the house. They found the dancing had commenced, and Nasmyth failed to secure Miss Hamilton as a partner for any time in the evening. He could not help a fancy that she had taken some little trouble to bring about this result.
CHAPTER XIX
NASMYTH HEARS THE RIVER
Darkness had settled down on Bonavista next evening when Nasmyth lay in a canvas chair on the veranda, while Gordon leaned against the bal.u.s.trade in front of him with a cigar in his hand. A blaze of light streamed out from one of the long open windows a few yards away, and somebody was singing in the room behind it, while the splash of the gentle surf came up from the foot of the promontory in a deep monotone. Now and then a shadowy figure strolled into the veranda or crossed it to the terrace below, but for the time being n.o.body disturbed the two men.
”I haven't had a word with you since last night,” said Nasmyth. ”How are the boys at the settlement?”
”Hustling along as usual.” Gordon laughed. ”Is there anybody else you feel inclined to ask about?”
”Yes,” said Nasmyth, ”there certainly is. How is Miss Waynefleet?”
Gordon looked down at his cigar. ”Well,” he said, ”I'm a little worried on her account. She was attempting to do a great deal more than was good for her when I last saw her. They have no longer a hired man at the ranch. Waynefleet, I understand, is rather tightly fixed for money, and, as you know, he isn't the kind of man who would deny himself. He was talking of selling some stock.”
Nasmyth suddenly straightened himself, and closed one hand rather hard on the arm of his chair.
”What right have you and I to be lounging here when that girl is working late and early on the ranch?” he asked. ”Gordon, you will have to buy two or three head of that stock at double value for me.”
”It's rather a big question;” and Gordon's tone was serious. ”In fact, I fancy it's one that neither you nor I can throw much light upon.
Anyway, I may as well point out that I arrived here only yesterday, and I'm going on again in the morning. As to the other matter, Laura Waynefleet has friends who will stand by her.”
”Don't you count me one of them?” Nasmyth demanded. ”That girl saved my life for me.”
Gordon glanced round sharply, for there were light footsteps on the veranda, and he almost imagined that a white figure in filmy draperies stopped a moment. It, however, went on again and vanished in the shadow.
”I believe she did,” he admitted. ”Well, if there's anything that can be done, you may rely on me.” He made an abrupt gesture, and as he turned, the light from the window fell upon his face, showing the curious smile on it. ”What are you doing here?”
He flung the question at his comrade, and Nasmyth, who knew what he meant, sat for a moment or two with wrinkled forehead. There was no reason why he should not stay there so long as Mr. and Mrs. Acton desired his company, but it did not seem fitting that he should spend those summer days in luxurious idleness while Laura Waynefleet toiled late and early at the lonely ranch. Again, he seemed to see her steady eyes with the quiet courage in them, and the gleam of her red-gold hair. Even then she was, he reflected, in all probability occupied with some severe drudgery. It was a thing he did not like to contemplate, and he almost resented the fact that Gordon should have brought such thoughts into his mind. His comrade had broken in upon his contentment like a frosty wind that stung him to action. Still, he answered quietly.
”I am within easy reach of the city here,” he explained. ”Acton, who has once or twice given me good advice, is acquainted with most of the folks likely to be of any use to us, and has laid the scheme before one or two of them. That, at least, is one reason why I am staying at Bonavista. It's perfectly evident that it wouldn't be any benefit to Miss Waynefleet if I went back to the Bush.”
”No,” agreed Gordon grimly; ”if you were likely to be of any use or consolation to her, you'd go, if I had to drag you.”
Nasmyth smiled. He was too well acquainted with his comrade's manner to take offence at this remark, and the man's devotion to the girl who, he knew, would never regard him as more than a friend also had its effect.
”Well,” he said, ”since plain speaking seems admissible, you are probably aware that Laura Waynefleet has nothing beyond a kindly interest in me. She is, I needn't point out, a remarkably sensible young lady.”
He stopped somewhat abruptly, for Wisbech emerged from the shadows beneath the pillars, and sat down in a chair close by.
”Yes,” said Wisbech, ”I heard, and it seems to me Derrick's right in one respect. Though I don't know how far it accounts for the other fact he has just impressed on you, Miss Waynefleet certainly possesses a considerable amount of sense. She is also a young lady I have a high opinion of. Still, if he had gone back to the Bush merely because you insisted on it, I think I should have cast him off.”