CHAPTER XIV
ADELAIDE FORTRESS'S GUEST
My father did not appear at breakfast time the next morning, andAlice, who took him up some tea, came down in some concern.
"Father is not getting up until this afternoon, at any rate," sheannounced. "He is very unwell. I wish he would let us send for adoctor. He has looked so dreadfully ill since he came back fromLondon."
Under the circumstances I was perhaps less alarmed than I might haveotherwise been. It was clear to me that he did not wish to see thegirl who had called upon me yesterday. I was strongly inclined to lookupon his present indisposition as somewhat exaggerated with a viewto escaping a meeting with her. But I was soon to be undeceived. Iwent up to him after breakfast, and, gaining no answer to my knock atthe door, I entered softly. He was lying quite still upon the bed,partially dressed, and at first I thought that he was asleep. I movedto his side on tiptoe, and a sudden shock of fear drove the color frommy face, and set my heart beating wildly. His eyes were closed, hischeeks were pale as death. Upon his side, underneath his waistcoat,was a linen bandage, half soaked with blood. Evidently he had faintedin the act of fastening it.
I got some brandy and forced it between his lips, chafed his hands,and gradually the life seemed to return to him. He opened his eyes andlooked at me.
"Don't move!" I whispered. "I will see to the bandage."
He lay quite still, groaning every now and then until I hadfinished. Then I drew the counterpane over him and waited for a momentor two. He opened his eyes and looked at me.
"I am going to send for a doctor," I whispered, leaning over him.
He clutched my hand.
"I forbid it," he answered, hoarsely. "Do not dare to think of it,Kate! Do you hear?"
"But this is serious!" I cried. "You will be very ill."
"It is only a flesh wound," he muttered. "I scarcely feel it; only--Idrew the bandage too tightly."
"How long have you had it?" I asked.
He looked towards the door; it was closed.
"Since I was in London. It was a cowardly attack--the night before Ireturned. I have gone armed ever since. I am safe now--quite safe."
I was sorely perplexed. He was watching me with bright, feverish eyes.
"Promise, Kate, that you will not send for a doctor, unless I give youleave," he whispered, eagerly. "Your solemn promise, Kate; I must haveit."
"On condition that you let me see to the bandages for you then," Ianswered, reluctantly.
"Very good! You can. They will want changing to-night. I am going tosleep now."
He closed his eyes and turned his face to the wall. I stole softlyout of the room and down stairs. The sight of Alice's calm and placidfeatures as she busied herself about the affairs of the house and theparish was a constant irritation to me. I could not sit down or settleto any work. A fit of nervous restlessness came over me. Outside wasa storm of wind and rain but even that I felt at last was better thaninaction; so I put on my coat and hat and walked across the soddenedturf and down the drive with the fresh, stinging rain in my face. Ipassed out into the road, and after a moment's hesitation took theturn towards the Yellow House.
I do not know what prompted me to go and see Adelaide Fortress. It wasa sudden impulse, and I yielded to it promptly. But I had scarcelytaken half a dozen steps before I found myself face to face with BruceDeville. He stopped short, and looked at me with surprise.
"You are not afraid of rough weather, Miss Ffolliot," he remarked,raising his cap, with, for him, unusual courtesy.
"I fear many things worse," I answered, looking down into thewood. "Are you going to see Mrs. Fortress?"
"Yes, presently," he assented. "In the meantime, I was ratherthinking--I want a word with your father."
"What about?" I asked, abruptly.
He looked at me intently. There was a new look upon his face which Iscarcely understood. Was it pity. It was almost like it. He seemed tobe wondering how much I knew--or surmised.
"It is a matter of some importance," he said, gravely. "I wish I couldtell you. You look sensible, like a girl who might be told."
His words did not offend me in the least. On the contrary, I thinkthat I was pleased.
"Mr. Deville," I said, firmly, "I agree with you. I am a girl whomight be told. I only wish that my father would be open with me. Thereis some mystery around, some danger. I can see it all in your faces;I can feel it in the air. That man's death"--I pointed into thewood--"is concerned in it. What does it all mean? I want to know. Iwant you to tell me."
"Tell me who that man was, and who killed him?" I asked, firmly. "Ihave a right to know. I am determined to know!"
He was certainly paler underneath the dark tan of his sun andweather-burned cheeks. Yet he answered me steadily enough.
"Take my advice, Miss Ffolliot, ask no questions about it, have nothought about it. Put it away from you. I speak for your happiness,which, perhaps, I am more interested in than you would believe."
Afterwards I wondered at that moment of embarrassment, and the littlebreak in his voice. Just then the excitement of the moment made mealmost oblivious of it.
"You are telling me!" I cried.
"I am not telling you; I am not telling you because I do notknow. For God's sake ask me no more questions! Come and see AdelaideFortress. You were going there, were you not?"
"Yes, I was going there," I admitted.
"We will go together," he said. "She will be glad to see you, I amsure. Mind the mud; it's horribly slippery."
We descended the footpath together. Just as we reached the gates ofthe Yellow House, I turned to him.
He sighed.
"I am not the one to whom you should appeal," he said. "I have not theright to tell you anything; you may know very soon. In the meantime,will you tell me where your father is?"
"He is at home," I answered, "in bed. He is ill. I do not think thathe will see you. He is not going to get up to-day."
Mr. Deville did not appear in the least disturbed or disappointed. Onthe contrary, his face cleared, and I think that he was relieved.
"I am glad to hear it," he answered.
"Why?"
"He is better out of the way just for the present. When does he takeup his new appointment?"
"I am not sure that any definite time has been fixed," I answered. "Inabout a month I should think."
"I heard about it yesterday," he remarked. "Your stay here has notbeen a long one, has it?"
"Would to God that we had never come at all!" I exclaimed,fervently. "It has been the most miserable time in my life."
"I don't know that I can echo that wish," he said, with a faintsmile. "Yet so far as you are concerned, from your point of view, Isuppose your coming here must have seemed very unfortunate. It is apity."
"Mr. Deville," I said, drawing close to his side, "I am going to askyou a question."
He looked down at me shaking his head.
"I should rather you asked me no question at all," he answered,promptly. "Can't we talk of other things?"
"No, we cannot! Listen!"
I laid my hand upon his arm, and forced him to turn towards me.
"You were speaking of going to see my father this afternoon," Isaid. "Can I give him any message for you?"
"Tell him that I am sorry to hear of his illness, but that I am gladthat he is taking care of himself," he answered, looking down atme. "Tell him that the weather is bad, and that he will do well totake care of himself. He is better in his room just at present."
We were inside the gates of the Yellow House, and I had not timeto ask him the meaning of this unusual solicitude for my father'shealth. I was still puzzling over it when we were shown into thedrawing room. Then for a moment I forgot it, and everything elsealtogether. Adelaide Fortress had a visitor sitting opposite to herand talking earnestly.
The conversation ceased suddenly, and she looked up as weentered. There was no mistaking the long, sallow face and anxiouseyes. She looked at me with indifference,
but at the sight of mycompanion she jumped up and a little cry broke from her lips. Her eyesseemed to be devouring him.
"At last!" she cried. "At last!"