Part 29 (1/2)

”Yes, I know you are. So am I fond of you. It was not enough, of course; I ought to have known better.”

”And I. I can't forgive myself, Nell, for having been in a way the cause of the mischief. Take courage, dear. All may yet be well. G.o.d knows what happiness is in store for you.”

”G.o.d knows,” she echoed; but there was no a.s.surance in her tone.

The General, lying in wait for him, drew him into his own den. He put his hand on Robin's shoulder, leaning heavily on it, like an old man with his son.

”I'm sorry for this, so far as it concerns you, my lad,” he said. ”But my great trouble is for my girl. She is taking it too quietly. I don't know what is happening--inside. One knows so little about women--how they take those things. She ought to have a woman with her.”

”His sister. She is a good little woman, and she adores him. She would be good to Nelly.”

”You can't go tearing off to people's houses at this hour of the evening”--it was nine o'clock--”and asking them to come with you. To be sure, the sister knows. I don't want Nell talked about.”

”Nor I. Let him come home well and then they can talk of the nine-days'

happy wonder. I'm going to the sister. If she fails, there is Miss Gray.”

The General s.n.a.t.c.hed at the idea.

”She came to see Nell the other day and I liked her. I began with a prejudice--I've no liking for women who take up the trade of politics.

Writing books, too! I'm glad my Nell doesn't write books. I shouldn't like to see her name stuck up in the papers. But this Miss Gray of yours. She overcame my prejudice. She looks clean, my lad, clean outside and within. Nell's fond of her. The dogs pawed her as if they had known her all her life. I trust a dog's judgment. She didn't mind it either, though she was fresh as a daisy. What do you propose to do? To ask her to come round and see Nell to-morrow, if the sister fails? You can't very well ask her to come to-night.”

He looked wistfully at Robin.

”Miss Gray often works late,” the other said, consulting his watch. ”If she is at home, why shouldn't she come back with me? She may be out, of course; the world has begun to run after her. She is not much attracted by the world, but she gives kindness for what she takes to be kindness.

She is not conventional. If she feels she is wanted she won't mind coming in at ten o'clock.”

”I believe Nell would talk to her,” the father said eagerly. ”If Nell would talk to someone my mind would be at rest. Poor Nell! The purpose of my life was to keep her from pain and sorrow.”

He went back to his room shaking his old head, and Robin Drummond went out into the night. He drove first to Mrs. Rooke's house, and found the mistress absent. She had gone off to an old mother who had to be consoled.

Fortunately it was not far to Mary Gray's little flat, not more than ten minutes' hansom drive. He told the driver to wait while he ran up the stone steps. To his relief, when he had rung the bell at the white door he heard someone stirring within. Mary herself opened the door.

”Forgive my coming at this hour,” he began apologetically. Even as he spoke he remembered that he had had a chance of seeing those little rooms that held Mary and had relinquished it on that bygone Good Friday.

He looked enviously beyond Mary herself to the glimpse of lamplit room.

He could see a white wall with pictures on its panels, a bit of a dwarf bookcase, a chair drawn to a table heaped with books, a green-shaded reading-lamp. Against the lighted background Mary's cloudy hair stood out illumined.

”What is it?”

”It is my cousin. She is in great trouble. I will explain to you as we go along. Can you come to her? Her father is anxious about her.”

She was a woman in ten thousand. She asked no questions, although it occurred to him that it must seem odd to her that she should be summoned, that Nelly should be in great trouble, seeing that he and her father were well.

”Shall I stay the night?” she asked. ”Your cousin was so very anxious that I should come and stay with her. She showed me the room I should have--next to hers. Sir Denis seconded the invitation warmly. I said that I would try to come.”

”It will be the best thing in the world. How long will you take to get ready? I have a hansom at the door.”

”Five minutes.”