Part 48 (1/2)

”Why? Has anything happened?” asked Billy Foot.

”I think so.” He bent down to the Nun again. ”Miss Vintry has got to sleep here to-night.” His voice was low, but they were all very still, and the voice carried.

”There's no room for her--with Gilly here as well as us,” the Nun protested rather fretfully.

”You must make room somehow,” he returned firmly. ”I'm going to bring them in now.” He looked significantly at Billy Foot. ”We're rather a large party.”

Billy turned to his brother. ”I'm off home. Will you stroll with me as far as Halton?”

Gilly nodded in a bewildered fas.h.i.+on--he was not up in Meriton affairs--and slowly rose.

”And when I come back I'll go straight to bed,” he said, looking at Andy to see whether what he suggested met with acceptance.

Andy nodded approval; Gilly would be best in bed.

With the briefest farewell the brothers pa.s.sed out. As they went, they saw Harry Belfield, with a woman on his arm, walking slowly up and down on the other side of the street.

Sally Dutton rose. ”I'll go to bed too.” As she reached the door she turned round and said, ”At least I'll wait in my room. She--she can come in with me, if she likes, Andy.”

”Thank you,” said Andy gravely.

”What is it, Andy?” the Nun asked.

”A general break-up,” he answered briefly, as he followed Sally Dutton out of the room.

The Nun sat on amidst the relics of her feast--the fruit, the flowers, the empty bottles. Somehow they all looked rather ghastly. She gave a little s.h.i.+ver of disgust.

Andy came in with Isobel Vintry clinging to his arm, Harry following and carefully closing the door.

Andy made Isobel sit down at the table and offered her some wine from a half-emptied bottle. She refused with a gesture and laid her head between her hands on the table. Harry threw his hat on a chair and stood helplessly in the middle of the room. The Nun sat in a hostile silence.

”She'd better go straight to bed,” said Andy.

”She can have my room. I'll go in with Sally.”

He looked at her. ”She'd better have somebody with her, I think. Will you call Sally?”

The Nun obeyed, and Sally came. As she pa.s.sed Harry, she smiled in her queer derisive fas.h.i.+on, but her voice was kind as she took hold of Isobel's arm and raised her, saying, ”Come, you're upset to-night. It won't look half so bad in the morning.”

Harry met Isobel and clasped her hands. Then she and Sally Dutton went out together.

Harry sat down heavily in a chair by the table and poured out a gla.s.s of wine.

”Do you two men want to be alone together?” the Nun asked.

Harry shook his head. ”I'm just off home.”

”It's all arranged,” said Andy. ”Harry goes to London by the early train to-morrow. I shall get her things from Nutley directly after breakfast and bring them here. You and Sally will look after her till twelve o'clock. Then I'll take her to the station. Harry will meet her at the other end, and--well, they've made their plans.”

Harry lit a cigarette and smoked it very quickly, between gulps of wine.