CHAPTER XXX
THE RISING CURRENT
It was very dark along the avenue of pine-trees, darker than she hadanticipated. She almost wished that she had allowed Saltash toaccompany her. She went as quickly as she dared in the gloom, consciousthat it was growing late. The road wound considerably, and she couldnot see the lamp at the gates. Overhead a rising wind moaned desolatelythrough the pines. They swayed and creaked as though whisperingtogether. Very soon the lights of the Castle were obscured behind her,and she was in almost total darkness.
She pressed on with an uneasy suspicion that it must be later than shehad thought. Doubtless Jake had wheeled Bunny back to the house longbefore. Bunny knew whither she had gone, so they would not be anxiousabout her; but they would wonder why she was so late. The afternoon hadfled away like a dream.
She began to quicken her steps somewhat recklessly, but the road curvedmore abruptly than she realized, and she presently ran into the grassybank, nearly falling into the outstretched arms of a fir-tree. Sherecovered herself sharply with a gasp of dismay, and paused to try todiscern more clearly the winding of the way. It was at this point thatthere came to her the sound of advancing footsteps. Someone wasapproaching with a slow, purposeful stride that suddenly sent the bloodto her heart in a quick wave of something that was almost apprehension.She stood quite still and waited.
Nearer and nearer came the leisurely tread. Instinct, blind andunreasoning, prompted her to draw back into the shielding recesses ofthe tree with a desperate desire to escape notice. It was a footfallthat she had come to know, and--why she could not have said--she did notwant to meet Jake at that moment. With a very curious dread at herheart she stood and waited.
He came to within a couple of yards of her, and stopped. "You can comeout," he remarked dryly. "It's just you I've come along to fetch."
His voice was perfectly quiet and natural, but there was that in thewords that fired within her a burning indignation. She came forward andfaced him in the gloom.
"Why should you take that trouble?" she said.
She saw his eyes glitter in the darkness, and knew that they were uponher with a lynx-like intensity. "I reckon I have the right," he said,in his slow way. "You've no objection, I presume?"
Her cheeks burned hotly in the darkness. She knew that he had her at adisadvantage. "I am fully capable of taking care of myself," she said,beginning to walk on down the dim avenue.
He fell into his easy stride beside her. "Is that why Lord Saltash leftyou to walk home alone?" he said.
She clenched her hands in the darkness. "What do you mean?"
"I think I am right in concluding that you have spent the afternoon withhim," Jake said, in his measured tones.
Maud stood suddenly still. She was quivering from head to foot. "Youare--quite right," she said, in a voice that she strove in vain tosteady. "I think I have told you before, Lord Saltash and I are oldfriends."
"Yes, I am aware of that," Jake said.
He reached out a quiet hand and took her by the arm, leading her calmlyforward.
She went with him because she could not do otherwise, but she would havegiven all she had at that moment to wrench herself free. There was noescape for her, however; she was forced to endure his touch, forced togo forward with him along a road that she could not see.
He led her in silence, calmly, unfalteringly, with the utmostconfidence. She was sure that those lynx-eyes of his could see in thedark.
But his silence speedily became intolerable. It seemed to her tobristle with condemnation. It goaded her against her will into speech.
"Lord Saltash has given me his permission to use the piano at theCastle. I did not know when I went that he had returned."
"I could have told you that," commented Jake.
Again her resentment rose to a flame, burning fiercely. Yet his wordsheld no insult. With all her strength she strove for calmness.
"I did not know of it. In any case, I do not see that it was a matterof very vital importance. An hour at the piano is a great treat to me,and I shall probably go again."
"For an hour?" said Jake.
This time the peculiar intonation of his voice was unmistakable, not tobe ignored. She flung him instant defiance.
"For as long as I choose. My time is my own."
He was silent a moment, but she was conscious of the tightening of hishand. At length: "All right, my girl," he said. "But remember, myclaim to it comes before Lord Saltash's. Some day it may happen that Ishall put in my claim. I never have been content to be passed at thewinning-post."
Her heart quivered at the deliberate purpose with which he spoke. Shewalked on, saying no word.
They were nearing the gates, and the glare from the two great lampsshone towards them, lighting the way. She braced herself, and made aresolute attempt to free her arm from his hold.
"Easy! Easy!" said Jake. "We haven't got there yet. It's dark beyondthose lights."
She abandoned her effort, feeling that she had no choice. They walkedon together silently.
They reached and passed through the gates. The road stretched beforethem steep and winding.
"We'll cut across the fields," said Jake.
He led her to a stile almost concealed in the hedge, and here his holdupon her relaxed. He vaulted the rail, and waited for her.
He did not offer to assist her though the step was high. She mounted innervous haste to avoid his touch.
But for the darkness she would have found no difficulty in springingdown, but as it was she misjudged the distance, slipped, and fell. Shethrew out her hands with a cry, and the next moment she was caught inJake's arms. He held her fast, so fast that for a few palpitatingseconds she felt the hard beating of his heart against her own. Then,in response to her desperate efforts for freedom, he let her go, withoutexcuse, without apology, in a deep-breathing silence that somehowappalled her. They walked side by side along the field-path, saying noword.
There was a gate at the further end that led into the training-fieldbelow the little orchard. As they reached this, Jake paused verydeliberately and spoke.
"I reckon I've got to prepare you for a visitor."
"A visitor!" She stopped in swift dread of she knew not what.
"A friend of mine," drawled Jake, with an odd touch of aggressiveness."You're not precisely dead nuts on my friends as a rule, I know. But Iguess this one may prove an exception. Dr. Capper turned up thisafternoon. I left him having tea with Bunny."
"Dr. Capper!" Maud gasped the name, scarcely conscious of speaking atall.
"Dr. Capper from the States," said Jake, unmoved. "He chanced to be justleaving for this country when my letter reached him, so he thought he'danswer it in person and look us up first. He and Bunny are fast palsalready. He's a regular magician, is Dr. Capper."
"But--but--you never expected him so soon!" faltered Maud. "Surely--hewon't want to--to--examine Bunny yet."
"Not before to-morrow, maybe," said Jake. "We can't expect to keep himvery long, you know. He's a busy man. I've heard that people in thiscountry simply tumble over each other to consult him. He could make ascore of fortunes over here if he would. But he won't. He'll only takeup the cases he fancies, won't waste himself over easy things. That'swhy we're so almighty lucky to get him."
His easy, unhurried speech gave her time to collect herself. She forcedher first, involuntary dismay into the background, facing the suddenexigency of the situation with all the strength at her disposal.
"Jake," she said, "this thing has come very suddenly, but curiouslyenough Lord Saltash was speaking about it only this afternoon. If--ifthere is to be anything of the nature of an operation, he has offered toplace any part of the Castle at our disposal. It is a very generousoffer, and it--it would be an excellent thing for Bunny."
"Then you have decided to accept it?" said Jake.
His tone was perfectly quiet a
nd matter-of-fact, but it amazed her. Shehad expected a determined opposition. Disconcerted, she paused beforereplying.
"I don't think it is especially generous," Jake said, and again itseemed to her that he was talking to give her time. "But it might be agood thing for Bunny. If you like, I will go up to-night and seeSaltash about it."
He opened the gate for her with the words, and she passed through withfeelings too mixed to bear any analysis.
"Am I to go?" he asked, as he dropped back into his sturdy stride besideher.
"Please," she said, in a low voice.
His attitude was a complete puzzle to her. It seemed so utterly atvariance with the absurdly jealous line he had taken but a few minutesbefore. But she could not ask for an explanation. The relief offinding him prepared to act in unison with her on this point was toogreat. She did not understand either his motives or his actions, butshe was thankful to find that there was to be no battle of wills betweenthem. After all, his motives were not of paramount importance.
As they walked through the last field, she tried to banish herembarrassment and recover her normal composure of mien. But strive asshe would, she could not wholly reassure herself. Nor could she forgetthe fast holding of his arms and the strong, deep throbbing of his heartagainst her own. That moment had been a revelation to her upon whichshe dared not dwell.
They reached the dark orchard, and passed up the dim path to the house.Jake went straight up the steps to the French windows of the parlourfrom which a cheery welcoming light shone forth. He raised a hand tothe catch.
"Wouldn't it be better to go round?" Maud said.
She was suddenly trembling all over in an agitation that seemed topossess her, body and soul.
Jake did not pause. Steadily he raised the latch. "Come right in!" hesaid.
The door opened, the light poured out upon them?
There came to her the sound of Bunny's cracked, difficult laugh. Sheentered in front of Jake, dazzled, hesitating, uncertain.
Instantly a man's voice greeted her, a quiet, casual voice with anunmistakable New York accent. "Ah, I guess this is the lady of thehouse. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, madam. Mr. Boltonwill have told you who I am."
Tall and gaunt and meagre, he bent over the hand she offered him,holding it in a strong, sustaining clasp.
She looked at him rather piteously, aware of green eyes darting over herwith lizard-like swiftness, eyes that shone intensely in a face that wasthe colour of old ivory. She also saw a yellow pointed beard that for amoment prejudiced her and the next was forgotten.
"It was so kind of you to come," she said, with a quivering smile.
He smiled in answer, a sudden, transforming smile that warmed her heart."I guess I followed my own inclination," he said. "Say, now, you'recold. Bunny and I have been keeping up a good fire for you. Sit downand make your husband do the waiting!"
His manner was so kind and withal so courteous that Maud's embarrassmentpassed like a cloud. She came to the fire, pulling off her gloves andstretching her fingers to the blaze.
Bunny accosted her with eager eyes. "Maud, he's going to overhaul meand see if he can do anything for me. Maud, can't he do it to-night? Iwon't sleep a wink if he doesn't."
Her heart sank inexplicably. She seemed to have stepped into a newatmosphere that seethed with possibilities that somehow frightened her.She was as one in the grip of a force indomitable that hurled herheadlong towards a goal she dreaded.
She leaned upon the mantelpiece, looking towards Capper with more ofappeal than she knew. "You are much too kind," she said.
He pushed up a chair for her. "Say, now, there's no need to hustleany," he said. "I suspect there is no harm in my looking at the lad;but we don't take any further action at present. I've a lot to getthrough in this old country, and I'd just like to know right now if thisis a case for me or not."
He patted the back of the chair with fatherly insistence, and she sankinto it with a feeling of utter weariness and impotence. It seemedfutile to battle any longer against the torrent that bore her. She wasas a straw in the whirlpool of Fate.
"It is so good of you even to think of helping us," she said ratherunsteadily. "Please make your examination whenever it suits you best!But Bunny is not a good sleeper. You will remember that, won't you?"
Capper took up the cup of tea that Jake had prepared, and handed it toher. "Let me have the pleasure of seeing you drink this!" he said. "Ishould like to make my examination to-night, if you have no objection.In fact, I have come down for the purpose. My time, madam, is morelimited than anyone on this side could ever be made to realize. I won'thustle you, but if I didn't hustle myself I guess I'd have to accountsome day for a waste of good material."
He sat down in a chair facing her with the words, and fell to crackinghis finger-joints one after the other with absent energy. It was a wayhe had, as Maud was soon to discover.
"You have had tea?" she asked.
He nodded. "I am ready to get to work. I shan't want an audience. IfI want anything I'll let you know. But I've a very decided notion thatmy patient and I will get on best alone."
Jake raised his eyes suddenly. "That so, doctor?" he drawled. "Then Iguess I'll carry the youngster up right now."
Capper looked at him with a smile, and pulled his beard speculatively.Bunny beamed approval.
Maud drank her tea in utter silence, feeling as if it would choke her.
The silence became prolonged, but she did not realize that anything wasexpected of her till Capper leaned slightly towards her, and spoke.
"Have I your permission, madam?" he asked courteously.
She met his keen eyes and was struck afresh by the kindly reassurancethey held. "Of course," she said, in a low voice. "I--am very gratefulto you."
"I hope--some day--you may have cause to be," he rejoined.
Jake went to Bunny's side. She saw the boy raise his arms as he bent,and clasp his neck. A few muttered confidences passed between them;then Jake's strong arms lifted the frail, impotent body as they aloneknew how to lift. And in that moment it seemed to Maud that the belovedburden had been taken finally from her, and she was left to wander alonein a desert that was very dark and bare.