Part 28 (2/2)

That the Nun had taken a fancy to him he had been informed by that candid young woman herself; her a.s.surance that he was ”attractive” held good as regarded Belfield at least; even Andy's modesty could not deny that. Belfield singled him out for especial attention, drew him out, listened to him, advised him. It was at the first of the two evenings at Halton that he kept Andy with him after dinner, while the rest went into the garden--Wellgood and Vivien were there, but not Isobel, who had pleaded a cold--and insisted on hearing all about his business, listening with evident interest to Andy's description of it and of his partner, Gilly Foot.

”And in your holiday you're going to help Harry, I hear?”

”Help him!” laughed Andy. ”I'm going to listen to him.”

”I recommend you to try your own hand too. You couldn't have a better opportunity of learning the job than at these village meetings.”

”I could never do it. It never entered my head. Why, I know nothing!”

”More than your audience; that's enough. If you do break down at first, it doesn't matter. After a month of it you wouldn't mind Trafalgar Square.”

”The--the idea's absolutely new to me.”

”So have a lot of things been lately, haven't they? And they're turning out well.”

A slow smile spread over Andy's face. ”I should look a fool,” he reflected.

”Try it,” said Belfield, quite content with the reception of his suggestion. He saw that Andy would turn it over in his mind, would give it full, careful, impartial consideration. He was coming to have no small idea of Andy's mind. He pa.s.sed to another topic.

”You were at Nutley two or three times when we were away, Harry tells me. Everything seems going on very pleasantly?”

Andy recalled himself with a start from his rumination over a possible speech.

”Oh, yes--er--it looks like it, Mr. Belfield.”

”And Harry's not been to town more than once or twice!” He smiled. ”He really seems to have said farewell to the temptations of London. An exemplary swain!”

”I think it's going on all right, sir,” said Andy.

Belfield was a little puzzled at his lack of enthusiasm. Andy showed no actual signs of embarra.s.sment, but his tone was cold, and his interest seemed perfunctory.

”I daresay you've been too busy to pay much attention to such frivolous affairs,” he said; but to Andy's ears his voice sounded the least bit resentful.

”No; I--I a.s.sure you I take the keenest interest in it. I'd give anything to have it go all right.”

Belfield's eyes were on him with a shrewd kindness. ”No reason to suppose it won't, is there?”

”None that I know of.” Now Andy was frowning a little and smoking rather fast.

Belfield said no more. He could not cross-examine Andy; indeed he had no materials, even if he had the right. But Andy's manner left him with a feeling of uneasiness.

”Ah, well, there's only six weeks to wait for the wedding!”

The next Sat.u.r.day found him again at Halton. One of the six weeks had pa.s.sed; a week of happy work, yet somewhat shadowed by the recollection of Belfield's questions and his own poor answers. Had he halted midway between honest truth and useful lying? In fact he knew nothing of what had been happening of late. He had not visited Nutley again--since that night. Suddenly it struck him that he had not been invited. Then--did they suspect? How could they have timed his entrance so exactly as to suspect? He did not know that Harry had seen his retreating figure.

Still it would seem to them possible that he might have seen--possible, if unlikely. That might be enough to make him a less desired guest.

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