CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
JACK MELLAND'S SECRET.
When Mr Farrell's guests assembled for dinner, on their return from thegarden-party, it was at once evident that the old gentleman was in oneof his difficult moods. From the beginning he had affected todisapprove of Mrs Thornton's extravagance in attempting to entertain onso large a scale, while sedulously keeping himself informed as to everydetail of the preparations. The anonymous present of fruit hadfurnished him with a subject for much satirical comment, as had also thegirls' endeavours to beautify the house and grounds.
Now he found a fresh grievance in the fact that dinner was delayed a fewminutes past its usual hour, and that the young people appeareddepressed, rather than elated by their experiences. Ruth's plea of aheadache was justified by her wan looks; Jack was moody, and even Victorwas for once silent and distrait. It was left to Mollie to stem thetide, and she raised herself nobly to the effort, albeit her own heartwas none too light.
"It went off beautifully, Uncle Bernard! Shall I tell you all about itfrom the beginning?" she cried, smiling at his grim visage across thedinner-table; and when he declared his lack of interest in the wholeconcern, she smiled again, and refused to be convinced. "Oh, but youmust hear, because in a kind of way it was your party, as you are thepatron, and give them all that they have... There were such crowds ofpeople, and they looked so gay. Old Lady Everett wore a magenta satin,quite the most awful garment I ever beheld, and she got hot, poor dear,and it matched her face. And such an awkward thing happened; shebrought a little basket with a few under-sized grapes, about a pound,perhaps, and presented them to Mrs Thornton with such an air ofmunificence, and then turned round and saw the table spread with allthat exquisite fruit! She was quite angry even when Mrs Thorntonexplained that it also was a gift."
"Why need she have explained at all? No other woman would have thoughtof doing so. Why should a clergyman's wife be expected to explain herprivate affairs to any inquisitive stranger? Surely it is her ownbusiness what she puts on her own table?" This from Jack, in a burst ofquerulous impatience which brought his host's eyes upon him with ananswering flash.
"If a woman in a public position provides what is obviously unsuited toher means, the least she can do is to offer an explanation. Aclergyman's means do not run to expensive entertainments."
"Exactly; yet he is expected to entertain, and to humble his pride to doit in an inferior style to his neighbours. And his wife is expected toaccept paltry gifts from her neighbours which another woman in herposition would look upon as an insult, and to be thankful for thechance. I suppose she often is thankful, poor creature, as she has notthe means of providing properly for herself."
Mr Farrell put down his knife and fork, and, leaning back in his seat,stared fixedly in Jack's face. His thin lips worked, and his eyesgleamed ominously.
"May I ask if you are speaking in general terms, or individually of theclergyman's wife in my own parish?"
Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, I suppose she would be included, since her husband's income isinsufficient for her needs."
"You are aware, of course, that I am responsible for that income?"
"I suppose so--in a way, since the living is in your gift."
"And what grounds may you have for considering it insufficient?"
Jack burst into a short laugh, undeterred by the appealing glances castupon him by three frightened feminine listeners.
"What grounds? Why, the house is an advertisement of shabbiness; thevicar's coat is green with age, and the poor little kiddies look as ifthey had come out of the ark! Mrs Thornton has pluck enough for adozen, or she would never keep things going as she does; but she looksan old woman before her time."
"Then it is your deliberate conclusion that I ought to increase theVicar's stipend?"
Under cover of the tablecloth a little hand stole along and laid agentle pressure on Jack's arm. He turned and met Mollie's eyes, graveand appealing, with no trace of the frivolity of which he had complainedearlier in the day, and, at the sight, his irritation died a suddendeath. Mollie must indeed have forgiven him when she condescended to sosweet an intimacy. The rush of joy which accompanied the thought puthim at once at peace with all men.
"The labourer is worthy of his hire, sir," he answered quietly. "I callThornton a rattling good fellow, and I should like to see him relievedof monetary troubles. It's hard lines to expect a man to be an exampleof all the virtues when he is constantly wondering how to make both endsmeet. I don't set much store on money, as you know, but I should enjoybeing in the position to do a good turn to a man like that."
Mr Farrell's sunken eyes gave forth a malicious gleam.
"You speak with feeling. Perhaps you have been enjoying a foretaste ofthe experience. Surely you must be the generous Unknown who contributedthe hamper of fruit of which we have heard so much during the last fewdays!"
There was a simultaneous gasp of surprise round the table, and everyoneturned to stare with curious eyes at Jack's scarlet face. Scarlet, withan embarrassment which plainly proved the truth of the accusation; withanger, too, and thwarted self-will. His nostrils inflated in the oldhaughty manner, as he replied coldly--
"I thought we were discussing Mr Thornton's income! I fail to see whatthe hamper has to do with the case."
Mr Farrell gave the short, staccato sound which did service for alaugh.
"Your pardon! It is to me a very interesting sidelight. I am indebtedto you for stepping in to make up for my deficiencies."
"It was very kind of you, Mr Melland--very, very kind! You don't knowhow much pleasure it gave. I envy you for having had such a nicethought," said Ruth earnestly. For a wonder Mollie was silent, whileVictor shrugged his shoulders, and cried, between a sneer and a laugh--
"You are a sly dog, Melland. I had no idea that you were such a devotedadmirer of the redoubtable Mrs Thornton."
The sneer brought Jack to his bearings in a moment. Every trace ofembarrassment disappeared as he faced Victor across the table, wide-eyedand defiant.
"It is the truth, none the less. I admire Mrs Thornton immensely. Sheis a capital little woman, and fights the odds like a Spartan. Thisgarden-party business was a great event in her life, and she preparedfor it by a series of make-shifts. I got sick of hearing about them.Poor little soul, why shouldn't she be able to do the thing decentlyonce in a while? She's been very kind to us; it was little enough to doin return."
"Oh, well, everything is comparative. You must be pretty flush to sendabout hampers of that description. I have never tasted finer fruit. Iam sorry that such generosity is beyond my means," said Victor, whereatJack scowled all the more.
"You would have spent as much on your lunches and teas if you had beenin town these last weeks. What is the use of money if you can't bereckless once in a way? I am sorry that this subject has come up; but,as it has, I must ask you all to be good enough not to speak of it toMrs Thornton. She would gush, and I loathe gush. The secret is myown, not yours, so you must please respect my wishes."
Once more Ruth came to the rescue.
"Of course, we will keep your secret. We have no right to tell withoutyour consent," she said decisively.
Her grey eyes smiled at him across the table with a wistful sweetness.This man, at least, was true and honest. Quick-tempered he might be,self-willed and impatient, but one could never imagine Jack Mellandplaying a double part, nor selling his soul for greed. And yet--andyet, one glance from Victor's eyes had power to affect her as JackMelland's most earnest effort could never do; and Uncle Bernard, sharp-sighted as he was, treated Jack with far less confidence and favour.
"But I was never sure of him all the time, except for those few hoursyesterday," she thought. "I _felt_ there was something behind. WhenDr Maclure spoke to me that afternoon I knew that he meant all, andmore than all, that he said; but it is not easy to make the imitationlike the real thing. The moment I heard him speak to Margot I kn
ew thedifference--oh, such a difference! I shall never be deceived again."
She sat trifling with her fruit, unheeding the conversation around her,yet dimly conscious that a passage-at-arms was still being carried onbetween Mr Farrell and Jack; the former indulging in caustic remarks atthe young man's expense, Jack replying with more or less irritation.
A sudden gleam of excitement on Victor's face recalled her wanderingthoughts, in time to hear Jack reply quickly--
"You are quite right, I am an invalid no longer. I walked about most ofthe afternoon and feel none the worse. I can manage even the stairswith a little help. In another few days I shall be ready for work.There will then be no need for me any longer to trespass--"
Suddenly he stopped; and though Mr Farrell sat waiting in silence forseveral moments, he did not attempt to finish the sentence; for anothergentle pressure on the elbow had reminded him of the wisdom of self-control. He sat with downcast eyes and firmly shut lips until MrFarrell's mocking voice broke the silence.
"Since Mr Melland has nothing more to say, it would perhaps be as wellif we made a move. I will ask you to excuse me for the rest of theevening, as I am feeling fatigued."
He rose as he spoke and turned towards the door, but even as he did sohe staggered, and uttered an exclamation of pain. Mrs Wolff echoed thecry and sank back in her chair helpless and unnerved; but in an instantVictor was at his side, supporting him with a strong, steady arm.
"Send for James," he said, addressing the butler in the quiet tones ofone who knows how to keep his head in an emergency. "Let me help youinto the hall, sir; you will have more air there. Lean upon me!"
They moved slowly forward together, the bowed figure seeming momentarilyto shrink in stature, while the glimpse of cheek, as he turned towardsthe door, was so ashen in colour that the girls clasped each other'shands in dismay. Then James appeared, alert, composed, capable, acarrying-chair was brought forward from some secret hiding-place, andthe invalid was borne upstairs to his room.
"It's one of his `turns,' miss," the butler explained to Ruth. "He usedto have them constantly, but it's the first since you came. We'll senddown for the doctor, and he'll probably stay all night. You can nevertell how things may go!"
Jack Melland limped off towards the deserted smoking-room. Five minutesbefore, as he sat resolutely silent, he had determined to go to MrFarrell as he sat in the library that evening, and, in the quiet of a_tete-a-tete_, announce his determination to leave the Court before theweek was out; but now, once again, circumstances conspired against him.There was a greater question at stake than his own miserable comings orgoings, for the shadow of death hovered over the Court, and none couldtell what the morning might bring forth.