CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
A SHATTERED IDEAL.
By four o'clock that afternoon the vicarage grounds presented a festiveappearance, as the hundred guests strolled to and fro, arrayed in light,summer-like garments. The tennis-lawn was occupied by a succession ofplayers, a ping-pong table stood in a quiet corner and attracted acertain number of devotees, and the grass-plot in front of the studywindow had been marked out for golf croquet. For those less activelydisposed there were seats in the prettiest corners, and an endlesssupply of refreshments served on little tables under the trees.
Ruth was looking lovely and radiant, blissfully conscious of Victor'spresence, even if he were at the further end of the garden; of a dressand hat which suited her to perfection, and of her own importance in theeyes of the assembly--Miss Farrell, the squire's nearest livingrelation, his image in appearance, and reputed to be his favourite.Surely this must be the future mistress of the Court! The intoxicatingwhisper followed her wherever she went, and heightened the flush in hercheek.
"Berengaria!" cried a laughing voice; and she turned to see Lady MargotBlount standing by her side, holding out a slim, gloved hand. Whilemost of the girls present were arrayed in chiffons and laces, she wore aperfectly simple lawn dress, with a coarse straw hat shading her face;but the accessories of shoes, gloves, belt, parasol, and dainty jewelledfastenings were all of an immaculate perfection, and with her tall,graceful carriage she was by far the most striking figure present.
The two girls had met several times at different houses in theneighbourhood since the formal exchange of calls, and it was notMargot's fault that the friendship had not progressed still further.She was always cordial, almost demonstrative in manner, eager to planfresh meetings and mutual occupations. It was Ruth who persistently putobstacles in the way. In spite of Victor's protestations, sheinstinctively recognised in Lady Margot a formidable rival, and theknowledge gave her courage to disregard her uncle's expressed wishes,and neither give nor accept informal invitations.
To-day, however, in the flush of her success she was full of good-willto the whole world, and the former jealousy was replaced bycommiseration. Poor Lady Margot, poor everybody whom Victor did notlove as he loved herself!
"Oh, Lady Margot, I am so glad to see you," she cried frankly. "Do comefor a stroll with me! I am so tired of being asked how I like Raby, andtalking commonplaces to curious strangers. Doesn't it all look brightand pretty? If only it will keep fine to the end."
"Oh, we may have a shower, but I don't think it will be anything moreserious Yes; Mrs Thornton has done wonders. Shall we take this path?It is the narrowest and quietest, so there is the less fear ofinterruption."
Ruth turned in the direction indicated with a somewhat doubtful look. Anarrow path, bordered on one side by prickly gooseberry-bushes, washardly the promenade for her perishable fineries; but while shehesitated Margot led the way forward, and she followed, drawing herskirts tightly together. Even so, disaster awaited her, for in theinterest of an animated discussion some of the filmy folds slipped fromthe hand which held the parasol, dragged along the ground, and finallycaught with a rip and a jerk, leaving a long jagged tear at the hem.
Of the two exclamations, Margot's was far the most distressed.
"Oh, my poor Berengaria! How thoughtless of me to bring you here! It'sall my fault. I am such a plain-hemmed creature myself that I forgotyour frills. You must fasten it up at once or you may trip. I can giveyou some pins, and there is a little summer-house at the end of thepath, where you can sit down and fasten it properly. I'll stand beforethe door and screen you from the public gaze."
"Oh, thanks, it will be all right; I am thankful it was not further up.The hem can always be shortened," said Ruth practically. She sat downin a corner of the summer-house, the windows of which were screened bythickly growing tendrils of hop, and, spreading out the tear, began topin it daintily together, while Lady Margot mounted guard outside.
A minute passed--two minutes--then came the sound of a man's quicktread, and a voice spoke, a voice broken by a quiver of emotion whichcould tell only one tale.
"Lady Margot! You here? I have been looking for you all afternoon.Why did you hide yourself in this out-of-the-way place? You knew Ishould be waiting."
The pin fell from Ruth's hand, she sat motionless as a statue behind theleafy screen. It could not, could not be Victor's voice!
"I have not been here many minutes," Lady Margot replied quietly. "Iknew we should meet sooner or later; but you are a public character to-day, and I must not monopolise your attention."
"Monopolise!" cried the voice again, the familiar voice with thestrange, unfamiliar thrill. Ruth's head dropped forward and her handsclasped the seat on either side. "You talk of monopolising, while Istarve all week with just a chance five minutes now and then to keep mealive! I rode for about three hours yesterday morning without even aglimpse of you in the distance. I have been counting the hours untilthis afternoon."
"Count them just a little bit longer, then; I have not spoken to half myfriends, and we would certainly be interrupted. Do me a favour and goback to the lawn now, and later on--say in half an hour--come to meagain, and you shall have your reward."
"I'd wait a hundred years if I could have what I wanted at the end!"said the voice passionately.
Footsteps crunched down the path, then came silence, and the falling ofa shadow across the doorway. Ruth lifted an ashen face, and saw LadyMargot looking down upon her with tender, liquid eyes.
"Dear," she said gently, "you heard! I _meant_ you to hear. Don'tthink me cruel; it was the truest kindness. You and I have something tosay to each other. I know a quiet nook where we can be alone. Come,Ruth--come with me!"
Ruth rose mechanically and followed her guide through a door in thewall, which led to a square piece of ground, bare and ugly,--a cabbage-patch in name and in deed. There against the unromantic background thetwo girls stood looking at each other, face to face with the greatquestion of their lives.
"Ruth," said Margot gently, "let us be honest with each other. It isthe only way. This man--Victor Druce--has come into both our lives; letus find out where we stand! Shall I tell you my story first? I met himlast summer, when we were thrown constantly together for six weeks, andhe attracted me. I came nearer loving him than any man whom I had met.Why, I don't know. I saw he admired me; but others had done that, andwhen I was alone and could think about him quietly there were manythings about him I did not like. Still, he fascinated me. I thought ofhim a great deal during the winter. I looked forward to seeing himagain. He was not of my world, and it seemed impossible that anythingserious could come of it; but I dreamt dreams... Then I came here, andfound, to my amazement, that he was staying at the Court. He met me onemorning going out for my ride, and since then it has often happened.From the first his manner was different; more assured. He told me ofMr Farrell's proposition, and insisted that the chances were in hisfavour. He wished me to look upon him as the future owner of the Court;a man who would be in my own position. He has been making love to meall these weeks, Ruth, but he has not definitely asked me to marry him.That's my story! Will you tell me yours in exchange?"
Ruth looked drearily round the bare, ugly patch. A moment before shehad been living mentally and physically in a land of roses; now, in aninstant, the scene had changed and the beauty had disappeared.
"I think," she said slowly, "that he has been making love to me too...He has insisted from the first that I am Uncle Bernard's favourite, theothers think so too, and he has made me believe--only this morning hemade me believe--that he was afraid to speak plainly because of thedifference in our position. He said I should be a great lady, and hewould be working for his bread far away, and thinking of me." Ruth'svoice broke pitifully, but the red flamed in Margot's cheek, and shereared her proud head with a disdainful gesture.
"So! It is as I thought; he has been playing a waiting game, makinglove to us both, but keeping himse
lf free until he saw how the land lay.If he inherited, Lady Margot Blount would be useful in society; if hewere cut off, he would reserve the chance of marrying the heiress. Andwe have both been deceived, and have imagined that he was in earnest! Ihave seen him on the stage, and congratulated him on his success, but Iwas not prepared for such finished acting in real life."
"No!" said Ruth drearily, "you have not been deceived; he was not actingwith you. I heard him speak just now, and I felt the difference. Oh,Margot, he is playing with me, but he is in earnest with you; he doesreally love you!"
Margot's lip curled scornfully.
"It is hardly my idea of love. If I am ever married, it shall be to aman who will risk something for my sake, not to a mercenary who thinksfirst of himself. I suspected something of this from the firstafternoon I called at the Court. You were sitting together on theterrace, and something in his attitude... Oh, well, why dwell on it anymore?--it is none too pleasant. Ruth dear, you have avoided me, and Ihave seemed to force myself upon you, but I was determined to find outthe truth, for both our sakes. It is better so, is it not?"
Ruth's dull glance of misery was pathetic to behold.
"I suppose it is," she said slowly, "but just now I cannot feel glad.Everything seems over. I was so happy, and it will be so difficult togo on living in the same house, meeting at every hour of the day. It iseasier for you, for you need not see him unless you wish, and you do notcare as I did."
"Don't I?" queried Margot gently. "He has been first in my thoughts fornearly a year, Ruth, and you have known him for a few weeks. It is noteasy for me, either; but we must both realise that the Victor Druce ofour imagination never existed, but was a creation of our own brains.This man--this adventurer--who has used us as his tool, must neversuspect that he has caused us pain; we must play our parts withoutflinching, and let him see more and more clearly that we desire nothingfrom him. It will be difficult, but there is nothing else for it, if weare to keep our dignity. Ruth, you have plenty of will-power;--one cansee it in your face; you will not let this man deceive you again withhis plausible words?"
Ruth shook her head. The grey eyes shone hard and bright, then suddenlybrimmed with tears.
"Perhaps, after all, he is not worse than I am myself. Perhaps Ideserve this lesson. Another man asked me to marry him before we lefthome. I did not love him, but he was well-off and had a nice house, andfor a few minutes I was tempted. I told him so, and he said he did notwant me if I could not care for himself alone... Perhaps if he hadbegged very hard I might have said `yes.'"
Margot smiled--a very kindly smile.
"The cases are not precisely similar, are they? Instead of playing adouble game you were absolutely honest; much more honest than is usualon such occasions. And he was a wise man. I think I should have likedthat man! Compare him with Victor Druce sometimes, Ruth; it may helpyou to be brave... Now I am going back to the garden to act my part.We will meet and talk again, but we can't stay away any longer just nowwithout attracting attention... Just tell me one thing before I go--Canyou forgive me for shattering your dream?" She held out her hand, andRuth took it in both hers.
"I have nothing to forgive. It is only wakening a little sooner; that'sall!" she said tremulously.
Margot bent down lightly, and touched her forehead with her lips, thenturned swiftly away, and Ruth was left alone. Poor, disenchanted Ruth,wideawake at last, in the midst of the deserted cabbage-patch!