CHAPTER XV
THREE INTERVIEWS
The next day was a Sunday, and the Colonel went to church, wearing ahat-band four inches deep. Morris, however, declined to accompany him,saying that he had a letter to write to Mary; whereon his father, whoat first was inclined to be vexed, replied that he could not be betteremployed, and that he was to give her his love. Then he asked if MissFregelius was coming, but somewhat to his disappointment, was informedthat she wished to stay with her father.
"I wonder," thought the Colonel to himself as he strolled to the church,now and again acknowledging greetings or stopping to chat with one ofthe villagers--"I wonder if they are going to have a little sacred musictogether in the chapel. If so, upon my soul, I should like to makethe congregation. And that pious fellow Morris, too--the blamelessMorris--to go philandering about in this fashion. I hope it won't cometo Mary's ears; but if it does, luckily, with all her temper, she is asensible woman, and knows that even Jove nods at times."
After the service the Colonel spoke to various friends, accepted theircondolences upon the death of Mr. Porson, and finally walked down theroad with Eliza Layard.
"You must have found that all sorts of strange things have happened atthe Abbey since you have been away, Colonel Monk," she said presently ina sprightly voice.
"Well, yes; at least I don't know. I understand that Morris has improvedthat blessed apparatus of his, and the new parson and his daughter havefloated to our doors like driftwood. By the way, have you seen MissFregelius?"
"Seen her? Yes, I have seen her."
"She is a wonderfully captivating girl, isn't she? So unusual, withthose great eyes of hers that seem to vary with the light----"
"Like a cat's," snapped Eliza.
"The light within--I was going to say."
"Oh! I thought you meant the light without. Well, she may befascinating--to men, but as I am only a woman, I cannot be expected toappreciate that. You see we look more to other things."
"Ah. Well, so far as I am a judge she seemed to me to be pretty well setup in them also. She has a marvellous voice, is certainly a first-classviolinist, and I should say extremely well-read, especially in Norseliterature."
"Oh! I daresay she is a genius as well as a beauty."
"I gather," said the Colonel with a smile, "that you do not like MissFregelius. As my acquaintance with her is limited, would you think merude if I asked why?"
"How can I be expected to like her, seeing----" and she paused.
"Seeing what, Miss Layard?"
"What, haven't you heard? I thought it was common property."
He shook his head. "I have heard nothing. Go on, pray, this is quiteinteresting."
"That she led on that silly brother of mine until he proposed toher--yes, proposed to her!--and then refused him. Stephen has been likea crazy creature ever since, moaning, and groaning, and moping tillI think that he will go off his head, instead of returning thanks toProvidence for a merciful escape."
The Colonel set his lips as though to whistle, then checked himself.
"Under the circumstances, presuming them to be accurately stated, Iam not prepared to say who is to be congratulated or who should thankProvidence. These things are so individual, are they not? But if onething is clear, whatever else she is or is not, Miss Fregelius cannot bea fortune-hunter, although she must want money."
"She may want other things more."
"Perhaps. But I am very stupid, I am afraid I do not understand."
"Men, for instance," suggested Eliza.
"Dear me! that sounds almost carnivorous. I am afraid that there arenot many about here to satisfy her appetite. Your brother, Morris,the curate at Morton, and myself, if at my age I may creep into thathonourable company, are the only single creatures within four miles, andfrom these Stephen and Morris must apparently be eliminated."
"Why should Morris be eliminated?"
"A reason may occur to you."
"Do you mean because he is engaged? What on earth does that matter?"
"Nothing--in the East--but, rightly or wrongly, we have decided upon amonogamous system; a man can't marry two wives, Miss Layard."
"But he can throw over one girl to marry another."
"Do you suggest that Morris is contemplating this experiment?"
"I? I suggest nothing; all I know is----"
"Well, now, what do you know?"
"If you wish me to tell you, as perhaps I ought, I know this, ColonelMonk, that the other night, when I was driving along the Rectory road,I saw your son, Mr. Monk, kissing this wonderful Miss Fregelius; that isall, and Stephen saw it also, you ask him."
"Thank you; I think I would rather not. But what an odd place for him tochoose for this interchange of early Christian courtesies! Also--if youare not mistaken--how well it illustrates that line in the hymn thismorning:
"'How many a spot defiles the robe that wraps an earthly saint.'
Such adventures seem scarcely in Morris's line, and I should havethought that even an inexperienced saint would have been more discreet."
"Men always jest at serious things," said Eliza severely.
"Which do you mean--the saints or the kissing? Both are serious enough,but the two in combination----"
"Don't you believe me?" asked Eliza.
"Of course. But could you give me a few details?"
Eliza could and did--with amplifications.
"Now, what do you say, Colonel Monk?" she asked triumphantly.
"I say that I think you have made an awkward mistake, Miss Layard. Itseems to me that all you saw is quite consistent with the theory that hewas buttoning or arranging the young lady's hood. I understand that thewind was very high that night."
Eliza started; this was a new and unpleasant interpretation which shehastened to repudiate. "Arranging her hood, indeed----"
"When he might have been kissing her? You cannot understand suchmoderation. Still, it is possible, and he ought to have the benefit ofthe doubt. Witnesses to character would be valuable in such a case, andhis--not to mention the lady's--is curiously immaculate."
"Of course you are entitled to your own opinion, but I have mine."
Suddenly the Colonel changed his bantering, satirical tone, and becamestern and withering.
"Miss Layard," he said, "does it occur to you that on evidence whichwould not suffice to convict a bicyclist of riding on a footpath, youare circulating a scandal of which the issue might be very grave to boththe parties concerned?"
"I am not circulating anything. I was telling you privately;" repliedEliza, still trying to be bold.
"I am glad to hear it. I understand that neither you nor your brotherhave spoken of this extraordinary tale, and I am quite certain that youwill not speak of it in the future."
"I cannot answer for my brother," she said sulkily.
"No, but in his own interest and in yours I trust that you will make himunderstand that if I hear a word of this I shall hold him to account.Also, that his propagation of such a slander will react upon you, whowere with him."
"How?" asked Eliza, now thoroughly frightened, for when he chose theColonel could be very crushing.
"Thus: Your brother's evidence is that of an interested person which noone will accept; and of yours, Miss Layard, it might be inferred thatit was actuated by jealousy of a charming and quite innocent girl; or,perhaps, by other motives even worse, which I would rather you did notask me to suggest."
Eliza did not ask him. She was too wise. As she knew well, when rousedthe Colonel was a man with a bitter tongue and a good memory.
"I am sure I am the last person who would wish to do mischief," she saidin a humble voice.
"Of course, I know that, I know that. Well, now we understand eachother, so I must be turning home. Thank you so much for having beenquite candid with me. Good morning, Miss Layard; remember me toStephen."
"Phew!" reflected the Colonel to himself, "that battle is won--after afashion--but just about forty-eight hours too late. By this
time thatvixen of a woman has put the story all over the place. Oh, Morris, youegregious ass, if you wanted to take to kissing like a schoolboy, whythe deuce did you select the high road for the purpose? This must be puta stop to. I must take steps, and at once. They mustn't be seen togetheragain, or there will be trouble with Mary. But how to do it? how to doit? That is the question, and one to which I must find an answer withinthe next two hours. What a kettle of fish! What a pretty kettle offish!"
In due course, and after diligent search, he found the answer to thisquestion.