第78章

His father accepted this explanation,and neither knew that Margaret had artfully prepared the way for it.It fitted in too well with their view of feminine nature.In the smoking-room,after dinner,the Colonel put forward the view that Miss Schlegel had jumped it out of devilry.

Well he remembered as a young man,in the harbour of Gibraltar once,how a girl--a handsome girl,too--had jumped overboard for a bet.He could see her now,and all the lads overboard after her.But Charles and Mr.Wilcox agreed it was much more probably nerves in Miss Schlegel's case.Charles was depressed.That woman had a tongue.

She would bring worse disgrace on his father before she had done with them.

He strolled out on to the castle mound to think the matter over.

The evening was exquisite.On three sides of him a little river whispered,full of messages from the west;above his head the ruins made patterns against the sky.He carefully reviewed their dealings with this family,until he fitted Helen,and Margaret,and Aunt Juley into an orderly conspiracy.

Paternity had made him suspicious.He had two children to look after,and more coming,and day by day they seemed less likely to grow up rich men."It is all very well,"he reflected,"the pater saying that he will be just to all,but one can't be just indefinitely.Money isn't elastic.What's to happen if Evie has a family?And,come to that,so may the pater.There'll not be enough to go round,for there's none coming in,either through Dolly or Percy.It's damnable!"He looked enviously at the Grange,whose windows poured light and laughter.

First and last,this wedding would cost a pretty penny.Two ladies were strolling up and down the garden terrace,and as the syllables "Imperialism"were wafted to his ears,he guessed that one of them was his aunt.

She might have helped him,if she too had not had a family to provide for.

"Every one for himself,"he repeated--a maxim which had cheered him in the past,but which rang grimly enough among the ruins of Oniton.

He lacked his father's ability in business,and so had an ever higher regard for money;unless he could inherit plenty,he feared to leave his children poor.

As he sat thinking,one of the ladies left the terrace and walked into the meadow;he recognized her as Margaret by the white bandage that gleamed on her arm,and put out his cigar,lest the gleam should betray him.She climbed up the mound in zigzags,and at times stooped down,as if she was stroking the turf.It sounds absolutely incredible,but for a moment Charles thought that she was in love with him,and had come out to tempt him.Charles believed in temptresses,who are indeed the strong man's necessary complement,and having no sense of humour,he could not purge himself of the thought by a smile.

Margaret,who was engaged to his father,and his sister's wedding-guest,kept on her way without noticing him,and he admitted that he had wronged her on this point.But what was she doing?Why was she stumbling about amongst the rubble and catching her dress in brambles and burrs?

As she edged round the keep,she must have got to leeward and smelt his cigar-smoke,for she exclaimed,"Hullo!Who's that?"Charles made no answer.

"Saxon or Kelt?"she continued,laughing in the darkness."But it doesn't matter.Whichever you are,you will have to listen to me.I love this place.I love Shropshire.

I hate London.I am glad that this will be my home.Ah,dear"--she was now moving back towards the house--"what a comfort to have arrived!""That woman means mischief,"thought Charles,and compressed his lips.In a few minutes he followed her indoors,as the ground was getting damp.Mists were rising from the river,and presently it became invisible,though it whispered more loudly.There had been a heavy downpour in the Welsh hills.