Volume Ii Part 26 (1/2)
”Considerably less than nothing. One question was asked--introductions--references, and, as I had never thought of an introduction, and could refer to no one as to my ability--I was bowed out. I met with civility, I will say; I had on my best coat, and that tells,” he said, in a tone of satisfaction.
”Perhaps something may turn up,” Grace answered brightly.
”I hope so; you see, I never could do much more than sign my name--my handwriting is simply abominable. It has happened to me to have my address and signature cut out of my own letter and pasted on as the only way of solving the problem of where I lived, and then it sometimes wandered about a good deal before it reached me;” and he laughed at the recollection. Grace laughed with him.
”But what is your plan as regards Margaret, my poor darling sister?”
she asked, and her countenance changed.
”If I was agent to something in which Mr. Drayton was interested I could ask to see him on business, and if I could only get a recommendation or introduction to him all would be easy; once in the house I am not afraid.” The young man drew up his head and looked quite ready for anything that might happen.
Grace clasped her hands. ”I think it is a very good plan,” she exclaimed, ”and I can help you a little myself. What do you call a manufactory that turns out horrible smells, and kills trees and plants and things.”
”Artificial manures?” he said, pulling a list out of his pocket and referring to it.
”Oh, dear no,” said Grace, impatiently, ”it makes all the trees look like skeletons. Who ever heard of manure killing anything? it makes them grow.”
”I spoke without thinking, only remembering that that made an appalling smell, quite enough to kill everything.”
”Well, think, with all your might, or, still better, think, and give me your list--and if I saw the name I should know it--and you can think in the meantime,” said Grace, speaking very quickly.
”I have it!” she exclaimed, joyfully pointing with her finger to it and holding out the paper to him. ”Chemical works! now do not forget, chemical, chemical, chemical--say it over and over again, for fear of forgetting it. Well, Mr. Lyons, at Renton there is a huge large chemical work, and Mr. Drayton used to go there constantly. I remember his saying one day that he had invested money--a quant.i.ty of money--in these things.”
”That will do then,” he said. ”I will boldly ask for Mr. Drayton to-morrow morning, and ask if he is still interested in the Renton chemical works. You will see, all will go well.”
”I pray that it may. I shall write a long letter to my poor darling and entreat her to tell me exactly the state of the case. She has so much cleverness that I _cannot_ understand her not coming to see me. She must have some difficulty to contend with we know nothing of.”
”Ask her to suggest some plan herself, if she requires help of any kind,” said young Lyons.
”Yes, only she is so horribly conscientious, she may make difficulties.
Her spirit seems so broken.”
”Hearing that man laugh is quite enough to make one wish never to laugh again. However, now that I have something definite to do I feel happier.
Oh! if all only goes well.
”I hope Lady Lyons is not uneasy about your being so much away.”
”No, she is quite accustomed to my erratic movements. Good-bye, and if....”
He stopped, turned very red, and went swiftly out of her presence.
CHAPTER X.
Margaret found the days pa.s.s on with a monotony which was very terrible to her. At times her husband joined her at dinner, but she never knew when to expect him. Sometimes he came into the nursery, when he would sit watching her and the child, in whom her love (starved in every other direction) centred so completely.
She learned to be horribly afraid of him. She could not understand how the doctor could reconcile it to his conscience to speak of him as sane; there was such a wildness in his eyes, and a vagueness in his laughter, which made her s.h.i.+ver with fright.
She forgot the great cunning that forms so great a feature in some kind of insanity, and, always viewing him with nervous eyes, she heard him speak rationally at times without noticing it, because her mind was always on the stretch, and mental anxiety is apt to distort everything.