Inotherrespects,thesealedtreasuresofRushbrook\'svilla,farfromprovokinganysentimentality,seemedonlytogivetruthtothecurrentrumorthatitwasmerelywaitingtobetransformedintoagorgeouswatering-placehotelunderRushbrook\'sdirection;that,withitsnewball-roomchangedintoanelaboratedining-hall,itwouldundergostillfurtherimprovement,theinevitableendandobjectofallRushbrook\'senterprise;andthatitsformerproprietorhadalreadybegunanothervillawhosemagnificenceshouldeclipsethelast。Therecertainlyappearedtobenolimittothemillionaire\'ssuccessinallthathepersonallyundertook,orinhisfortunatecomplicitywiththeenterpriseandinventionofothers。Hisnamewasassociatedwiththeoldestandsafestschemes,aswellasthenewestandboldest——withanequalguaranteeofsecurity。Afew,itwastrue,lookeddoubtinglyuponthis\"onemanpower,\"butcouldnotrefutethefactthatothershadlargelybenefitedbyassociationwithhim,andthathesharedhisprofitswitharoyalhand。Someobjectedonhighergroundstohisbrutalizingtheinfluenceofwealthbyhismaterialandextravagantlypracticalprocesses,insteadofthegentlersuggestionsofeducationandpersonalexample,andwereimpelledtopointoutthefactthatheandhispatronagewerevulgar。Itwasfelt,however,bythosewhoreceivedhisbenefits,thatapropersenseofthisinferioritywasallthatethicsdemandedofthem。
OnecouldstillacceptRushbrook\'sbarbaricgiftsbyhumorouslyrecognizingthefactthathedidn\'tknowanybetter,andthatitpleasedhim,aslongastheyresentedanyhigherpretensions。
Therain-beatenwindowsofRushbrook\'stownhouse,however,werecheerfullylitthatDecemberevening。Mr。Rushbrookseldomdinedalone;infact,itwaspopularlyallegedthatveryoftentheunfinishedbusinessofthedaywasconcludedoverhisbountifulandperfectboard。HewasdressingasJamesenteredtheroom。
\"Mr。Leytonisinyourstudy,sir;hewillstaytodinner。\"
\"Allright。\"
\"Ithink,sir,\"addedJames,withrespectfulsuggestiveness,\"hewantstotalk。Atleast,sir,heaskedmeifyouwouldlikelycomedownstairsbeforeyourcompanyarrived。\"
\"Ah!Well,telltheothersI\'mdiningonBUSINESS,andsetdinnerfortwointheblueroom。\"
\"Yes,sir。\"
Meanwhile,Mr。Leyton——amanofRushbrook\'sage,butnotsofreshandvigorous-looking——hadthrownhimselfinachairbesidethestudyfire,afteraglancearoundthehandsomeandfamiliarroom。
Forthehousehadbelongedtoabrothermillionaire;ithadchangedhandswithcertainsharesof\"WaterFront,\"——assomeofRushbrook\'sdealingshadthetruebarbaricabsenceofmoneydetail,——andwaselegantlyandtastefullyfurnished。Thecuckoohad,however,alreadylaidafewcharacteristiceggsinthisadoptednest,andawhitemarblestatueofanudeandill-fedVirtue,sentoverbyRushbrook\'sParisagent,andunpackedthatmorning,stoodinonecorner,andmateriallybroughtdownthetemperature。AJapanesepraying-throneofpureivory,and,aboveit,afewyardsofimproper,coloredexposurebyanoldmaster,equalizedeachother。
\"Andwhatisallthisaffairaboutthedinner?\"suddenlyaskedatartly-pitchedfemalevoicewithaforeignaccent。
Mr。Leytonturnedquickly,andwasjustconsciousofafaintshriek,therustleofaskirt,andtheswiftvanishingofawoman\'sfigurefromthedoorway。Mr。Leytonturnedred。Rushbrooklivedengarcon,withfemininepossibilities;Leytonwasamarriedmanandadeacon。Theincidentwhich,toamanoftheworld,wouldhavebroughtonlyasmile,firedtheinexperiencedLeytonwiththoseexaggeratedideasandintensecredulityregardingvicecommontosomeverygoodmen。Hewalkedontip-toetothedoor,andpeeredintothepassage。AtthatmomentRushbrookenteredfromtheoppositedooroftheroom。
\"Well,\"saidRushbrook,withhisusualpracticaldirectness,\"whatdoyouthinkofher?\"
Leyton,stillflushed,andwitheyebrowsslightlyknit,said,awkwardly,thathehadscarcelyseenher。
\"Shecostmealreadytenthousanddollars,andIsupposeI\'llhavetoeventuallyfixupaseparateroomforhersomewhere,\"continuedRushhrook。
\"Ishouldcertainlyadviseit,\"saidLeyton,quickly,\"forreally,Rushbrook,youknowthatsomethingisduetotherespectablepeoplewhocomehere,andanyofthemarelikelytosee\"——
\"Ah!\"interruptedRushbrook,seriously,\"youthinkshehasn\'tgotonclothesenough。Why,lookhere,oldman——she\'soneoftheVirtues,andthat\'stheriginwhichtheyalwaystravel。She\'sa\'Temperance\'ora\'Charity\'ora\'Resignation,\'orsomethingofthatkind。You\'llfindhernamethereinFrenchsomewhereatthefootofthemarble。\"
Leytonsawhismistake,butfelt——asotherssometimesfelt——adoubtwhetherthissmilelessmanwasnotinwardlylaughingathim。Hereplied,withakeen,rapidglanceathishost:——
\"Iwasreferringtosomewomanwhostoodinthatdoorwayjustnow,andaddressedmeratherfamiliarly,thinkingitwasyou。\"
\"Oh,theSignora,\"saidRushbrook,withundisturbeddirectness;
\"well,yousawheratLosOsoslastsummer。LikelysheDIDthinkyouwereme。\"
ThecoolignoringofanyulteriorthoughtinLeyton\'sobjectionforcedtheguesttobeequallypracticalinhisreply。
\"Yes,butthefactisthatMissNevilhadtalkedofcomingherewithmethiseveningtoseeyouonherownaffairs,anditwouldn\'thavebeenexactlythethingforhertomeetthatwoman。\"
\"Shewouldn\'t,\"saidRushbrook,promptly;\"norwouldYOU,ifyouhadgoneintotheparlorasMissNevilwouldhavedone。Butlookhere!Ifthat\'sthereasonwhyyoudidn\'tbringher,sendforheratonce;mycoachmancantakeacardfromyou;thebrougham\'sallreadytofetchher,andthereyouare。She\'llseeonlyyouandme。\"Hewasalreadymovingtowardsthebell,whenLeytonstoppedhim。
\"Nomatternow。Icantellyouherbusiness,Ifancy;andinfact,Icameheretospeakofit,quiteindependentlyofher。\"
\"Thatwon\'tdo,Leyton,\"interruptedRushbrook,withcrispdecision。\"Oneortheotherinterviewisunnecessary;itwastestime,andisn\'tbusiness。Betterhaveherpresent,evenifshedon\'tsayaword。\"
\"Yes,butnotinthismatter,\"respondedLeyton;\"it\'saboutSomers。Youknowhe\'sbeenveryattentivetohereversinceheruncleleftherheretorecruitherhealth,andIthinkshefancieshim。Well,althoughshe\'sindependentandherownmistress,asyouknow,Mrs。LeytonandIaresomewhatresponsibleforheracquaintancewithSomers,——andforthatmattersoareyou;andasmywifethinksitmeansamarriage,weoughttoknowsomethingmorepositiveaboutSomers\'sprospects。Now,allwereallyknowisthathe\'sagreatfriendofyours;thatyoutrustagooddealtohim;
thathemanagesyoursocialaffairs;thatyoutreathimasasonornephew,andit\'sgenerallybelievedthathe\'sasgoodasprovidedforbyyou——eh?Didyouspeak?\"
\"No,\"saidRushbrook,quietlyregardingthestatueasiftakingitsmeasurementforasuitableapartmentforit。\"Goon。\"
\"Well,\"saidLeyton,alittleimpatiently,\"that\'sthebeliefeverybodyhas,andyou\'venotcontradictedit。Andonthatwe\'vetakentheresponsibilityofnotinterferingwithSomers\'sattentions。\"
\"Well?\"saidRushbrook,interrogatively。
\"Well,\"repliedLeyton,emphatically,\"youseeImustaskyoupositivelyifyouHAVEdoneanything,orareyougoingtodoanythingforhim?\"
\"Well,\"repliedRushbrook,withexasperatingcoolness,\"whatdoyoucallthismarriage?\"
\"Idon\'tunderstandyou,\"saidLeyton。
\"Lookhere,Leyton,\"saidRushbrook,suddenlyandabruptlyfacinghim;\"JackSomershasbrains,knowledgeofsociety,tact,accomplishments,andgoodlooks:that\'sHIScapitalasmuchasmineismoney。Iemployhim:that\'shisadvertisement,recommendation,andcredit。Now,onthestrengthofthis,asyousay,MissNeviliswillingtoinvestinhim;Idon\'tseewhatmorecanbedone。\"
\"Butifheruncledon\'tthinkitenough?\"
\"She\'sindependent,andhasmoneyforboth。\"
\"Butifshethinksshe\'sbeendeceived,andchangeshermind?\"
\"Leyton,youdon\'tknowMissNevil。Whateverthatgirlundertakesshe\'sweighedfully,andgoesthroughwith。Ifshe\'strustedhimenoughtomarryhim,moneywon\'tstopher;ifshethinksshe\'sbeendeceived,YOU\'LLneverknowit。\"
TheenthusiasmandconvictionweresounlikeRushbrook\'susualcynicaltolerationofthesexthatLeytonstaredathim。
\"That\'sodd,\"hereturned。\"That\'swhatshesaysofyou。\"
\"OfME;youmeanSomers?\"
\"No,ofYOU。Come,Rushbrook,don\'tpretendyoudon\'tknowthatMissNevilisagreatpartisanofyours,swearsbyyou,saysyou\'remisunderstoodbypeople,and,what\'sinfernallyoddinawomanwhodon\'tbelongtotheclassyoufancy,don\'ttalkofyourhabits。
That\'swhyshewantstoconsultyouaboutSomers,Isuppose,andthat\'swhy,knowingyoumightinfluenceher,Icameherefirsttowarnyou。\"
\"AndI\'vetoldyouthatwhateverImightsayordowouldn\'tinfluenceher。Sowe\'lldropthesubject。\"
\"Notyet;foryou\'reboundtoseeMissNevilsoonerorlater。Now,ifsheknowsthatyou\'vedonenothingforthisman,yourfriendandherlover,won\'tshebejustifiedinthinkingthatyouwouldhaveareasonforit?\"
\"Yes。Ishouldgiveit。\"
\"Whatreason?\"
\"ThatIknewshe\'dbemorecontentedtohavehimspeculatewithHER
moneythanmine。\"
\"Thenyouthinkthatheisn\'tabusinessman?\"
\"Ithinkthatshethinksso,orshewouldn\'tmarryhim;it\'spartoftheattraction。Butcome,Jameshasbeenforfiveminutesdiscreetlywaitingoutsidethedoortotellusdinnerisready,andthecoastclearofallothercompany。Butlookhere,\"hesaid,suddenlystopping,withhisarminLeyton\'s,\"you\'rethroughyourtalk,Isuppose;perhapsyou\'dratherwe\'ddinewiththeSignoraandtheothersthanalone?\"
ForaninstantLeytonthrilledwiththefascinationofwhathefirmlybelievedwasaguiltytemptation。Rushbrook,perceivinghishesitation,added:——
\"Bytheway,Somersisoftheparty,andoneortwoothersyouknow。\"
Mr。Leytonopenedhiseyeswidelyatthis;eitherthetemptationhadpassed,ortheideaofbeingseenindoubtfulcompanybyayoungermanwasdistasteful,forhehurriedlydisclaimedanypreference。\"But,\"headdedwithhalf-significantpoliteness,\"perhapsI\'mkeepingYOUfromthem?\"
\"Itmakesnottheslightestdifferencetome,\"calmlyreturnedRushbrook,withsuchevidenttruthfulnessthatLeytonwasbothconvincedandchagrined。
PrecededbythegraveandubiquitousJames,theycrossedthelargehall,andenteredthroughasmallerpassageacharmingapartmenthungwithbluedamask,whichmighthavebeenaboudoir,study,orsmallreception-room,yethadtheairofneverhavingbeenanythingcontinuously。ItwouldseemthatRushbrook\'shabitof\"campingout\"indifferentpartsofhismansionobtainedhereasatLosOsos,andwiththeexceptionofasmallclosetwhichcontainedhisSpartanbed,theroomswereusedseparatelyorinsuites,asoccasionorhisfriendsrequired。ItisrecordedthatanEasternguest,newlyarrivedwithletterstoRushbrook,afteratediousjourney,expressedhimselfpleasedwiththissameblueroom,inwhichhehadsumptuouslydinedwithhishost,andsubsequentlyfellasleepinhischair。Withoutdisturbinghisguest,Rushbrookhadthetableremoved,abed,washstand,andbureaubroughtin,thesleepingmandelicatelylaidupontheformer,andlefttoawakentoanArabiannight\'srealizationofhiswish。
CHAPTERV
JameshadbarelydisposedofhismasterandMr。Leyton,andleftthemtotheministrationsoftwoofhisunderlings,beforehewasconfrontedwithoneofthosedifficultproblemsthatitwaspartofhisfunctionstosolve。TheporterinformedhimthatayoungladyhadjustdrivenupinacarriageostensiblytoseeMr。Rushbrook,andJames,descendingtotheoutervestibule,foundhimselffacetofacewithMissGraceNevil。Happily,thatyounglady,withherusualtact,sparedhimsomeembarrassment。
\"Oh!James,\"shesaidsweetly,\"doyouthinkthatIcouldseeMr。
RushbrookforafewmomentsIFIWAITEDFORTHEOPPORTUNITY?Youunderstand,Idon\'twishtodisturbhimorhiscompanybybeingregularlyannounced。\"
Theyounggirl\'spracticalintelligenceappearedtoincreasetheusualrespectwhichJameshadalwaysshownher。\"Iunderstand,miss。\"Hethoughtforamoment,andsaid:\"Wouldyoumind,then,followingmewhereyoucouldwaitquietlyandalone?\"Asshequicklyassented,heprecededherupthestaircase,pastthestudyanddrawing-room,whichhedidnotenter,andstoppedbeforeasmalldoorattheendofthepassage。Then,handingherakeywhichhetookfromhispocket,hesaid:\"ThisistheonlyroominthehousethatisstrictlyreservedforMr。Rushbrook,andevenherarelyusesit。YoucanwaitherewithoutanybodyknowingituntilIcancommunicatewithhimandbringyoutohisstudyunobserved。
And,\"hehesitated,\"ifyouwouldn\'tmindlockingthedoorwhenyouarein,miss,youwouldbemoresecure,andIwillknockwhenI
comeforyou。\"
GraceNevilsmiledattheman\'sprudence,andenteredtheroom。
Buttohergreatsurprise,shehadscarcelyshutthedoorwhenshewasinstantlystruckwithasingularmemorywhichtheapartmentrecalled。ItwasexactlyliketheroomshehadalteredinRushbrook\'svillaatLosOsos!Morethanthat,oncloseexaminationitprovedtobetheverysamefurniture,arrangedassherememberedtohavearrangedit,eventotheflowersandgrasses,now,alas!fadedandwitheredonthewalls。Therecouldbenomistake。Therewastheopenebonyescritoirewiththesatinblotteropen,anditsleavesstillbearingthemarksofherownhandwriting。Socompletetohermindwastheideaofherowntenancyinthisbachelor\'smansion,thatshelookedaroundwithahalfindignantalarmforthephotographorportraitofherselfthatmightfurtherindicateit。Buttherewasnootherexposition。Theonlythingthathadbeenaddedwasagiltlegendonthesatincaseoftheblotter,——\"LosOsos,August20,186-,\"thedayshehadoccupiedtheroom。
Shewaspleased,astonished,butmorethanall,disturbed。Theonlymanwhomightclaimarighttothisfigurativepossessionofhertastesandhabitswastheonewhomshehadquietly,reflectively,andunderstandinglyhalfacceptedasherlover,andonwhoseaccountshehadcometoconsultRushbrook。ButSomerswasnotasentimentalist;infact,asayounggirl,forcedbyherindependentpositiontosomewhatcriticallyscrutinizemasculineweaknesses,thishadalwaysbeenapointinhisfavor;yetevenifhehadjoinedwithhisfriendRushbrooktoperpetuatethememoryoftheirfirstacquaintanceship,histastemerelywouldnothaveselectedachambredegarconinMr。Rushbrook\'shomeforitsexhibition。Herconceptionoftheoppositecharactersofthetwomenwassingularlydistinctandreal,andthismomentaryconfusionofthemwasdisagreeabletoherwoman\'ssense。ButatthismomentJamescametoreleaseherandconducthertoRushbrook\'sstudy,wherehewouldjoinheratonce。Everythinghadbeenarrangedasshehadwished。
EvenamorepracticalmanthanRushbrookmighthavelingeredoverthepictureofthetall,gracefulfigureofMissNevil,quietlyenthronedinalargearmchairbythefire,herscarlet,satin-linedcloakthrownoveritsback,andherchinrestingonherhand。Butthemillionairewalkeddirectlytowardsherwithhisusualfranknessofconsciousbutrestrainedpower,andshefelt,asshealwaysdid,perfectlyathereaseinhispresence。Evenasshetookhisoutstretchedhand,itsstraightforwardgraspseemedtoendowherwithitsownconfidence。
\"You\'llexcusemycomingheresoabruptly,\"shesmiled,\"butI
wantedtogetbeforeMr。Leyton,who,Ibelieve,wishestoseeyouonthesamebusinessasmyself。\"
\"Heisherealready,anddiningwithme,\"saidRushbrook。
\"Ah!doesheknowIamhere?\"askedthegirl,quietly。
\"No;ashesaidyouhadthoughtofcomingwithhimanddidn\'t,I
presumedyoudidn\'tcaretohavehimknowyouhadcomealone。\"
\"Notexactlythat,Mr。Rushbrook,\"shesaid,fixingherbeautifuleyesonhiminbrightandtrustfulconfidence,\"butIhappentohaveafullerknowledgeofthisbusinessthanhehas,andyet,asitisnotaltogethermyownsecret,Iwasnotpermittedtodivulgeittohim。NorwouldItellittoyou,onlyIcannotbearthatyoushouldthinkthatIhadanythingtodowiththiswretchedinquisitionintoMr。Somers\'sprospects。KnowingaswellasyoudohowperfectlyindependentIam,youwouldthinkitstrange,wouldn\'tyou?ButyouwouldthinkitstillmoresurprisingwhenyoufoundoutthatIandmyunclealreadyknowhowliberallyandgenerouslyyouhadprovidedforMr。Somersinthefuture。\"
\"HowIhadprovidedforMr。Somersinthefuture?\"repeatedMr。
Rushbrook,lookingatthefire,\"eh?\"
\"Yes,\"saidtheyounggirl,indifferently,\"howyouweretoputhimintosucceedyouintheWaterFrontTrust,andallthat。Hetoldittomeandmyuncleattheoutsetofouracquaintance,confidentially,ofcourse,andIdaresaywithanhonorabledelicacythatwaslikehim,but——Isupposenowyouwillthinkmefoolish——allthewhileI\'dratherhehadnot。\"
\"You\'dratherhehadnot,\"repeatedMr。Rushbrook,slowly。
\"Yes,\"continuedGrace,leaningforwardwithherroundedelbowsonherknees,andherslim,archedfeetonthefender。\"Nowyouaregoingtolaughatme,Mr。Rushbrook,butallthisseemedtometospoilanyspontaneousfeelingImighthavetowardshim,andlimitmyindependenceinathingthatshouldbeamatteroffreewillalone。Itseemedtoomuchlikeabusinessproposition!There,mykindfriend!\"sheadded,lookingupandtryingtoreadhisfacewithahalfgirlishpout,followed,however,byamaturersigh,\"I\'mbotheringyouwithawoman\'sfoolishnessinsteadoftalkingbusiness。And\"——anothersigh——\"IsupposeitISbusinessformyuncle,whohas,itseems,boughtintothisTrustonthesepossiblecontingencies,has,perhaps,beenaskingquestionsofMr。Leyton。
ButIdon\'twantyoutothinkthatIapproveofthem,oradviseyouransweringthem。Butyouarenotlistening。\"
\"Ihadforgottensomething,\"saidRushbrook,withanoddpreoccupation。\"Excusemeamoment——Iwillreturnatonce。\"
Helefttheroomquiteasabstractedly,andwhenhereachedthepassage,heapparentlycouldnotrememberwhathehadforgotten,ashewalkeddeliberatelytotheendwindow,where,withhisarmsfoldedbehindhisback,heremainedlookingoutintothestreet。A
passer-by,glancingup,mighthavesaidhehadseenthepale,sternghostofMr。Rushbrook,framedlikeastonyportraitinthewindow。
Buthepresentlyturnedaway,andre-enteredtheroom,goinguptoGrace,whowasstillsittingbythefire,inhisusualstronganddirectfashion。
\"Well!Nowletmeseewhatyouwant。Ithinkthiswoulddo。\"
Hetookaseatathisopendesk,andrapidlywroteafewlines。
\"There,\"hecontinued,\"whenyouwritetoyouruncle,inclosethat。\"
Gracetookit,andread:——
DEARMISSNEVIL,——PrayassureyourunclefrommethatIamquitereadytoguarantee,inanyformthathemayrequire,theundertakingrepresentedtohimbyMr。JohnSomers。Yoursverytruly,ROBERTRUSHBROOK。
Aquickflushmountedtotheyounggirl\'scheeks。\"ButthisisaSECURITY,Mr。Rushbrook,\"shesaidproudly,handinghimbackthepaper,\"andmyuncledoesnotrequirethat。NorshallIinsulthimoryoubysendingit。\"
\"ItisBUSINESS,MissNevil,\"saidRushbrook,gravely。Hestopped,andfixedhiseyesuponheranimatedfaceandsparklingeyes。\"Youcansendittohimornot,asyoulike。But\"——araresmilecametohishandsomemouth——\"asthisisalettertoYOU,youmustnotinsultMEbynotacceptingit。\"
Replyingtohissmileratherthanthewordsthataccompaniedit,MissNevilsmiled,too。Nevertheless,shewasuneasyanddisturbed。Theinterview,whatevershemighthavevaguelyexpectedfromit,hadresolveditselfsimplyintoabusinessindorsementofherlover,whichshehadnotsought,andwhichgavehernosatisfaction。Yettherewasthesamepotentandindefinablyprotectingpresencebeforeherwhichshehadsought,butwhoseomniscienceandwhosehelpsheseemedtohavelostthespellandcouragetoputtothetest。Herelievedherinhisabruptbutnotunkindlyfashion。\"Well,whenisittobe?\"
\"It?\"
\"Yourmarriage。\"
\"Oh,notforsometime。There\'snohurry。\"
ItmighthavestruckthepracticalMr。Rushbrookthat,evenconsideredasadesirablebusinessaffair,theprospectivecompletionofthiscontractprovokedneitherfranksatisfactionnorconventionaldissimulationonthepartoftheyounglady,forheregardedhercalmbutslightlyweariedexpressionfixedly。Butheonlysaid:\"ThenIshallsaynothingofthisinterviewtoMr。
Leyton?\"
\"Asyouplease。Itreallymatterslittle。Indeed,IsupposeIwasratherfoolishincomingatall,andwastingyourvaluabletimefornothing。\"
Shehadrisen,asiftakinghislastquestioninthesignificanceofapartingsuggestion,andwasstraighteninghertallfigure,preparatorytoputtingonhercloak。Asshereachedit,hesteppedforward,andlifteditfromthechairtoassisther。Theactwassounprecedented,asMr。Rushbrookneverindulgedinthoseminormasculinecourtesies,thatshewasmomentarilyasconfusedasayoungergirlatthegallantryofayoungerman。Intheirpreviousfriendshiphehadseldomdrawnnearherexcepttoshakeherhand——
acircumstancethathadalwaysrecurredtoherwhenhisfreeandfamiliarlifehadbeenthesubjectofgossip。Butshenowhadamorefrightenedconsciousnessthathernerveswerestrangelyrespondingtohispowerfulpropinquity,andsheinvoluntarilycontractedherprettyshouldersashegentlylaidthecloakuponthem。Yetevenwhentheactwascompleted,shehadasuperstitiousinstinctthatthesignificanceofthisrarecourtesywasthatitwasfinal,andthathehadhelpedhertointerposesomethingthatshuthimoutfromherforever。
Shewasturningawaywithaheightenedcolor,whenthesoundoflight,hurriedfootsteps,andtherustleofawoman\'sdresswasheardinthehall。Aswiftrecollectionofhercompanion\'sinfelicitousreputationnowreturnedtoher,andGraceNevil,withaslightstiffeningofherwholeframe,becamecoldlyherselfagain。Mr。Rushbrookbetrayedneithersurprisenoragitation。
Begginghertowaitamomentuntilhecouldarrangeforhertopasstohercarriageunnoticed,helefttheroom。
YetitseemedthatthecauseofthedisturbancewasunsuspectedbyMr。Rushbrook。Mr。Leyton,althoughlefttotheconsolationofcigarsandliquorsintheblueroom,hadbecomeslightlywearyofhiscompanion\'sprolongedabsence。SatisfiedinhismindthatRushbrookhadjoinedthegayerparty,andthathewasevennowpayinggallantcourttotheSignora,hebecameagaincuriousanduneasy。Atlasttheunmistakablesoundofwhisperingvoicesinthepassagegotthebetterofhissenseofcourtesyasaguest,andherosefromhisseat,andslightlyopenedthedoor。Ashedidsothefiguresofamanandwoman,conversinginearnestwhispers,passedtheopening。Theman\'sarmwasroundthewoman\'swaist;thewomanwas——ashehadsuspected——theonewhohadstoodinthedoorway,theSignora——but——themanwasNOTRushbrook。Mr。Leytondrewbackthistimeinunaffectedhorror。ItwasnoneotherthanJackSomers!
Somewarninginstinctmustatthatmomenthavestruckthewoman,forwithastifledcryshedisengagedherselffromSomers\'sarm,anddashedrapidlydownthehall。Somers,evidentlyunawareofthecause,stoodirresoluteforamoment,andthenmoresilentlybutswiftlydisappearedintoasidecorridorasiftointercepther。
ItwastherapidpassageoftheSignorathathadattractedtheattentionofGraceandRushbrookinthestudy,anditwasthemomentafteritthatMr。Rushbrookleft。
CHAPTERVI
Vaguelyuneasy,andstillperplexedwithherpreviousagitation,asMr。Rushbrookclosedthedoorbehindhim,Grace,followingsomefeminineinstinctratherthananydefinitereason,walkedtothedoorandplacedherhanduponthelocktopreventanyintrusionuntilhereturned。Hercautionseemedtobejustifiedamomentlater,foraheavierbutstealthierfootstephaltedoutside。Thehandleofthedoorwasturned,butsheresisteditwiththefulleststrengthofhersmallhanduntilavoice,whichstartledher,calledinahurriedwhisper:——
\"Openquick,\'tisI。\"
Shesteppedbackquickly,flungthedooropen,andbeheldSomersonthethreshold!
Theastonishment,agitation,andaboveall,theawkwardconfusionofthisusuallyself-possessedandreadyman,wassounlikehim,andwithalsopainful,thatGracehurriedtoputanendtoit,andforaninstantforgotherownsurpriseatseeinghim。Shesmiledassuringly,andextendedherhand。
\"Grace——MissNevil——Ibegyourpardon——Ididn\'timagine\"——hebeganwithaforcedlaugh。\"Imean,ofcourse——Icannot——but\"——Hestopped,andthenassumingapeculiarexpression,said:\"ButwhatareYOUdoinghere?\"
Atanyothermomentthegirlwouldhaveresentedthetone,whichwasasnewtoherashispreviousagitation,butinherpresentself-consciousnesshersituationseemedtorequiresomeexplanation。\"Icamehere,\"shesaid,\"toseeMr。Rushbrookonbusiness。Yourbusiness——OURbusiness,\"sheadded,withacharmingsmile,usingforthefirsttimethepronounthatseemedtoindicatetheirunityandinterest,andyetfullyawareofavagueinsincerityindoingso。
\"OurBUSINESS?\"herepeated,ignoringhergentlermeaningwithachangedemphasisandalookofsuspicion。
\"Yes,\"saidGrace,alittleimpatiently。\"Mr。LeytonthoughtheoughttowritetomyunclesomethingpositiveastoyourprospectswithMr。Rushbrook,and\"——
\"Youcameheretoinquire?\"saidtheyoungman,sharply。
\"Icameheretostopanyinquiry,\"saidGrace,indignantly。\"I
cameheretosayIwassatisfiedwithwhatyouhadconfidedtomeofMr。Rushbrook\'sgenerosity,andthatwasenough!\"
\"WithwhatIhadconfidedtoyou?Youdaredsaythat?\"
Gracestopped,andinstantlyfacedhim。Butanyindignationshemighthavefeltathisspeechandmannerwasswallowedupintherevulsionandhorrorthatovertookherwiththesuddenrevelationshesawinhiswhiteandfrightenedface。Leyton\'sstrangeinquiry,Rushbrook\'scoldcomposureandscornfulacceptanceofherowncredulousness,cametoherinaflashofshamefulintelligence。
Somershadlied!Theinsufferablemeannessofit!Alie,whoseveryuselessnessandignobilityhaddefeateditspurpose——aliethatimpliedthebasestsuspicionofherownindependenceandtruthfulness——suchalienowstoodoutasplainlybeforeherashisguiltyface。
\"Forgivemyspeakingsorudely,\"hesaidwithaforcedsmileandattempttorecoverhisself-control,\"butyouhaveruinedmeunlessyoudenythatItoldyouanything。Itwasajoke——anextravagancethatIhadforgotten;atleast,itwasaconfidencebetweenyouandmethatyouhavefoolishlyviolated。Saythatyoumisunderstoodme——thatitwasafancyofyourown。Sayanything——hetrustsyou——
he\'llbelieveanythingyousay。\"
\"HeHASbelievedme,\"saidGrace,almostfiercely,turninguponhimwiththepaperthatRushbrookhadgivenherinheroutstretchedhand。\"Readthat!\"
Hereadit。Hadheblushed,hadhestammered,hadheevenkeptuphisformerfranticandpitiableattitude,shemightatthatsuprememomenthaveforgivenhim。Buttoherastonishmenthisfacechanged,hishandsomebrowcleared,hiscareless,happysmilereturned,hisgracefulconfidencecameback——hestoodbeforehertheelegant,courtly,andaccomplishedgentlemanshehadknown。Hereturnedherthepaper,andadvancingwithextendedhand,saidtriumphantly:——
\"Superb!Splendid!Noonebutawomancouldthinkofthat!Andonlyonewomanachieveit。YouhavetrickedthegreatRushbrook。
Youareindeedworthyofbeingafinancier\'swife!\"