Part 14 (1/2)
Winnington's grey eyes fixed on the trees outside shewed a man trying to retrace his own course.
”He wrote me a very touching letter. And I have always thought that men--and women--ought to be ready to do this kind of service for each other. I should have felt a beast if I had said No, at once. But I confess now that I have seen Miss Delia, I don't know whether I can do the slightest good.”
”Hold on!” said Lady Tonbridge, sharply,--”You can't give it up--now.”
Winnington laughed.
”I have no intention of giving it up. Only I warn you that I shall probably make a mess of it.”
”Well”--the tone was coolly reflective--”that may do _you_ good--whatever happens to the girl. You have never made a mess of anything yet in your life. It will be a new experience.”
Winnington protested hotly that her remark only shewed how little even intimate friends know of each other's messes, and that his were already legion. Lady Tonbridge threw him an incredulous look. As he sat there in his bronzed and vigorous manhood, the first crowsfeet just beginning to shew round the eyes, and the first streaks of grey in the brown curls, she said to herself that none of her young men acquaintance possessed half the physical attractiveness of Mark Winnington; while none--old or young--could rival him at all in the humane and winning spell he carried about with him. To see Mark Winnington _aux prises_ with an adventure in which not even his tact, his knowledge of men and women, his candour, or his sweetness, might be sufficient to win success, piqued her curiosity; perhaps even flattered that slight inevitable malice, wherewith ordinary mortals protect themselves against the favourites of the G.o.ds.
She was determined however to help him if she could, and she put him through a number of questions. The girl then was as handsome as she promised to be? A beauty, said Winnington--and of the heroic or poetic type. And the Fury? Winnington described the neat, little lady, fas.h.i.+onably Pressed and quiet mannered, who had embittered the last years of Sir Robert Blanchflower, and firmly possessed herself of his daughter.
”You will see her to-morrow, at my house, when you come to tea. I carefully didn't ask her, but I am certain she will come, and Alice and I shall of course have to receive her.”
”She is not thin-skinned then?”
”What fanatic is? It is one of the secrets of their strength.”
”She probably regards us all as the dust under her feet,” said Lady Tonbridge. ”I wonder what game she will be up to here. Have you seen the _Times_ this morning?”
Winnington nodded. It contained three serious cases of arson, in which Suffragette literature and messages had been discovered among the ruins, besides a number of minor outrages. An energetic leading article breathed the exasperation of the public, and pointed out the spread of the campaign of violence.
By this time Lady Tonbridge had carried her visitor into the garden, and they were walking up and down among the late September flowers.
Beyond the garden lay green fields and hedgerows; beyond the fields rose the line of wooded hill, and, embedded in trees, the grey and gabled front of Monk Lawrence.
Winnington reported the very meagre promise he had been able to get out of his ward and her companion.
”The comfort is,” said Lady Tonbridge, ”that this is a sane neighbourhood--comparatively. They won't get much support. Oh, I don't know though--” she added quickly. ”There's that man--Mr. Lathrop, Paul Lathrop--who took Wood Cottage last year--a queer fish, by all accounts. I'm told he's written the most violent things backing up the militants generally. However, his own story has put _him_ out of Court.”
”His own story?” said Winnington, with a puzzled look.
”Don't be so innocent!” laughed Lady Tonbridge, rather impatiently. ”I always tell you you don't give half place enough in life to gossip-'human nature's daily food.' I knew all about him a week after he arrived. However, I don't propose to save you trouble, Mr. Guardian!
Go and look up a certain divorce case, with Mr. Lathrop's name in it, some time last year--if you want to know. That's enough for that.”
But Winnington interrupted her, with a disturbed look. ”I happened to meet that very man you are speaking of--yesterday--in the Abbey drive, going to call.”
Lady Tonbridge shrugged her shoulders.
”There you see their freemasonry. I don't suppose they approve his morals--but he supports their politics. You won't be able to banish him!--Well, so the child is lovely? and interesting?”
Winnington a.s.sented warmly.
”But determined to make herself a nuisance to you? Hm! Mr. Mark--dear Mr. Mark--don't fall in love with her!”
Winnington's expression altered. He did not answer for a moment. Then he said, looking away--
”Do you think you need have said that?”