Part 26 (2/2)

Last night he had thrown a sop to the ravening, hungry beast, but that, so he now swore to himself, should not happen again.

It was seven o'clock when Athena heard a key being turned in the lock of the Garden Room, and her eyes quickly sought the place where her own key was always kept. It was in its place; Lingard always returned it with scrupulous care immediately after having used it.

Then it must be d.i.c.k Wantele who was coming into the house. She wondered where he had been--perhaps to the Small Farm to fetch Jane Oglander.

What a fool d.i.c.k was! And yet--and yet not such a fool after all. d.i.c.k, if he were patient--Athena smiled a little to herself--and he certainly would be patient, might yet be granted the wish of his heart. Jane Oglander's marriage to d.i.c.k Wantele, so Mrs. Maule now admitted to herself, would be a most excellent thing for them all.

Yes--the two she would fain see become lovers had come in together; she could hear their voices in the corridor. And then, to her surprise, the door opened, and Wantele came in alone.

Athena felt suddenly afraid--afraid and uncomfortable. She told herself angrily that her nerves were playing her odious tricks, for as d.i.c.k came towards her she had the sensation, almost the knowledge, that he longed to strike her, and it was a very odd, a very unpleasant, sensation.

He came up close to her. ”You know that Jane Oglander intends to break her engagement?” he said abruptly, and there was an angry, a menacing expression on his face.

Athena regained complete possession of herself. She felt quite cool, ready to parry any attack.

”Yes,” she said quietly; ”Jane told me this morning. I was surprised, but--not sorry, d.i.c.k.”

He made no answer, dealt her none of those quick, sarcastic retorts of which he was master. She looked at him fixedly. He had no business to come in and speak to her like that!

”No one who knows and--and likes them both can think them suited to one another. You know that as well as I do, d.i.c.k.”

”I deny it absolutely,” he cried, ”and even if it were true I shouldn't care! Our business in this matter--yours and mine--is to stand by Jane.

I take it that you won't deny that Jane loves Lingard?” And then he went on, without waiting for her a.s.sent: ”Do you remember the letter she wrote to you--the letter you showed me? That showed how Jane felt--how she now feels.”

Her lips framed a sentence in answer, but she changed her mind and did not utter it. There was no object in making d.i.c.k angry, angrier than he already was; for Athena was well aware that Wantele was very, very angry with her.

”And what do you think we can do?” she said slowly.

”Look here, Athena.” He tried to make his voice pleasant, conciliating--and he actually succeeded. Then he wasn't angry, she thought, after all. ”This matter is much too serious for you and me to fence about it. I asked you a few days ago to go away--I ask it of you again. After all, what you are doing now can lead to nothing. Lingard must give you but very poor sport, and what is sport to you--eh, what, Athena?”

She remained silent, listening to him with an odd look on her face.

He ventured further: ”I feel sure that you had no idea that the matter would become serious, and I agree that if Jane were a different sort of woman she would understand----”

”Understand what?” she said haughtily. ”Are you accusing me of breaking off Jane's engagement? I did not think, d.i.c.k, that even your dislike of me could go so far. Till she told me this morning, I had no idea she thought of doing such a thing.”

Wantele shrugged his shoulders, but he was determined not to lose his temper.

”I don't accuse you,” he said slowly, ”and I don't wish to be unfair.

We'll put it in another way, Athena. Lingard came--saw--was conquered!

It's no use our discussing it at this time of day. Still less is it any use for you to try to deny it; you and I both know what happened. I think--nay, I'm quite sure--that if you were to go away, everything would come right between these two people.”

”And do you really wish everything to come right between Hew Lingard and Jane Oglander?”

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