ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 275, 20 November 1899, Page 6

ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE.

By'MARY ANGELA DICKENS.

Author of "Prisoners of Silence," "Against the Tide," "Some Women's Way," "Cross Currents," "A Mere Cypher," "Valiant Ignorance," etc.

etc., etc,

CHAPTER N —Continued.

A matinee at Brighton was not Avithout its attractions for Cecil Cochrane. He liked the consideration and attention which fell to his lot through, his connection Avith Miss Sylvia Maynard. He liked to receive the compliments of those to whom he expressed himself as " desolated" by his inability to grant them an interview with the star herself. He liked to find himself a personage. But he did not like getting up before twelve o'clock in the day, and he did not like the necessity for catching a train; and his demeanour as he followed his -sister and his cousin into a four-wheeled cab on the following morning, though it was eminently characteristic, Avas far from suave. "You ordered this confounded thing at least ten minutes earlier than you need have dope, Ilachel," he said, as he pulled up the windoAV with a clatter. "Hang it all, what a morning!" Both tone and manner ignored the presence of the girl who was not his sister as entirely as if he and Rachel had been alone in the cab; and this was typical of his usual demeanour towards his cousin. Violet Drummond had become for him a remarkably successful money-making machine, and as such he supervised and dictated the broad outline of her movements. But, in detail, he had handed her over entirely to the guardianship of Rachel. In her personal capacity he found her absolutely un* interesting, and in private life he very rarely spoke to her.

Rachel deigned no reply to this speech. It seemed likely from her expression that her temper was as much on edge as was his oavii. Only on Violet's face there Avas a faint touch of pleased anticipation, and this developed into a smile as they drove into Victoria Station. AndreAV Hamer was Avaiting on the pavement, and he moved forward to open the cab door, pushing aside a porter Avith serene unconsciousness.

"At last!" he exclaimed. "I thought you were going to miss the train." Cecil Cochrane smiled sardonically as he got out of the cab. "We've only a quarter of an hour to spare," she said. "No wonder you felt anxious, dear boy."

"I've been Avaiting an interminable time, that's all I know," said Andrew Hamer. "Miss Mayuard, I've brought you a feAv violets. You like violets, I j knoAv." "Thank you so much," said Violet, as she took'thc great bunch he offered her. "Oh, lioav good they are!" She looked up at him as she spoke, her eyes a little shy, but with a touch of happiness which Avas not usual to them, and, somehow, as he met her look, it happened that they walked on together, leaving Rachel and Cecil to folloAv. Almost all tlie company was assembled on the platform, but Hamer had only the most casual greetings to return for the eager attempts made to draw him into more than one chatting group. He Avas talking to Violet rapidly and impetuously, and they moved on side by side, to the end of the platform. Eachel followed them Avith her eyes for a moment, then she turned Avith a reckless curl of her lip and Avalked up to the prompter. "Well, Mr Allen," she said, 'Svhy don't you come and talk to me? You and I have always plenty to say to one another." .

It Avas rather a cruel thing to do, but Rachel Avas eA'idently Aveighing neither her words nor her actions. Mr Allen was a young man, not particularly strong, mentaUy or physically. The strength of Rachel's nature hail attracted him, presumably by sheer force of contrast. The other members of the company respected and disliked her. He feared her and adored her. He hung about her path as a rule only to be treated Avith the utmost disdain. Some of the sharpest of those sharp sayings for Avhich Miss Cochrane was noted in the theatre had been said at his expense. Her notice Avas at all times a terror and delightto him.

He Avas so confused- now by her tone that he became temporarily idiotic, and the total fatuity of his responses Avould have laid him open as a rule to the most scathing sarcasms. But to-day the forthcoming sarcasms Avere not at his expense. Of everybody else in the company Eachel had something clever and spiteful to say in the course of the ten minutes during which she Avalked up and down the platform by- Mr Allen's side. They followed, so to speak, in the wake of AndreAV Hamer and Violet Drummond. And all the time -they laughed and talked Rachel's eyes seldom strayed from the pair in front of her. The train' came up at last and she stopped abruptly.

"Which is our compartment?" she said. "Miss Maynard and I travel alone, of course."

"Of course," said Mr Allen. He Avas intoxicated Avith-delight, and he Avould have assented to any proposition she chose to make. "Here you are, Miss Cochrane."

Rachel turned violently and interrupted Violet and Hamer as they came doAvn' the platform. To say that they were still absorbed in conversation Avould be to overstate the fact. That can hardly be called conversation in Avhich one person talks and the other listens aud smiles. And it Avas on this principle that the tete_-a-tete had been and still Avas conducted.

"Sylvia," said Eachel, "you had better come and get in."

AndreAV Hamer paused in his walk and threw back his head.

"Not yet," he said "Exercise is good for Miss Maynard. I'll take care that she doesn't miss her train. Which compartment?"

Rachel indicated it by a gesture. "Miss Maynard and I," she said emphatically, "travel alone." Her. voice grated a little and. she

looked him full in the face. But her words made evidently not the slightest impression on him. He nodded carelessly and walked on. Eachel Avent back to the carriage door. Mr Allen Avas busy with some duties Avhich might not be neglected, and she stood there alone. Moments passed on, the rest of the company took their places, still she stood there, still Andrew Earner walked Violet up and doAvn. At last, and it Avas growing indeed toAvards the very last, Rastrick's voice called out.

"Noav then. Earner, we can't go without Miss Maynard." AndreAv Hamer started, laughed, and brought Violet quickly up to where Rachel still stood, grimly waiting. "All right," he said. "Do you think I want yon to?" He stood aside while Violet got into the carriage, and Eachel followed her. Then he jumped in after them. Eachel turned upon him like lightning. "You go with Kastrick and Cecil," she said. He smiled. He Avas gloAving with that genial assurance that made him so extraordinarily popular. "No, I don't,"'he said. "I want to talk to Miss Maynard about the new play. You're not going to turn me out?" Her lips parted as if she were going to speak even violently. But she shut them again, threw herself into the opposite corner of the railway carriage, , and opened a book.

CHAPTER XL RASTRICK'S POINT OF VIEW. Brighton Avas looking its best._ It was a clear, sunshiny day, with.just sufficient suggestion of frost in the j air to make the atmosphere thoroughly invigorating. The sea was dancing and sparkling in brilliant blue. King's Road was crowded Avith carriages, and the loungers on the pavement Avere all more or less Avell-dressed. .

Cecil Cochrane was not wholly satisfied Avith life. His morning mood had passed aAvay, it is true, under the influence of luncheon and the advancing day, but his sister had reached Brighton in AA'hat he described to himself as a "deA'il of a temper." She had declined to accept Hamer's invitation to luncheon, asserting that she had herself already asked Mr Allen to lunch with them. And these proceedings on her part had annojred Cochrane very considerably. Hamer Avas a celebrity; and Cochrane would have liked to be able to refer, with any friends he might meet afterwards, to the fact of having been his guest:

"Don't believe she'd ever said a Avord to Allen!" he said to himself angrily. "Confound her jealousy! Does she think I don't see what's up? Why, she Avas hand in glove with Hamer when he Avas nothing but a swell!"

He Avas Avalking doA\-n the King's Road as these reflections rose to his mind. He had just shaken off a minor member of the touring company at present playing at Brighton; a young man from Avhom he would gladly have borrowed five shillings a few months earlier; and he smiled a little smile of self-congratulation as he saAV strolling along towards him a certain eminent London manager who happened to be recruiting his health at Brighton. This distinguished personage might speak, or he might not. But if he did so, it AA^as obviously desirable that the honour should be undivided. It rapidly became clear that the personage did intend to speak. Not only so, but his heart Avas Avarm"towards Mr Cecil Cochrane. He held out his hand effusively.

"Ah, Cochrane!" he said, "glad to ■c you! Delightful day, isn't it?"

To this Cochrane made answer that it Avas on the Avhole the most- delightful day of all his experience, and that his only Avish in life was that the great man before him might find himself benefited by it. The great man smiled amiably.

"Yes, yes," he said, "I'm quite right again. I shall be back in town in a few- days. You're down here with Rastrick's' company, I suppose?" This with a kindly air of impersonal interest in Cochrane's doings which Avas eminently effective.

Cochrane assented. "One is never sorry for an excuse to get out of London for a day," he said, expansively. "Exactly," returned the great man. "Miss Sylvia Maynard is a connection of yours, I think they tell me. Clever girl! Eeally, very cleA'er girl, you know!"

A little smile touched Cecil Cochrane's lips, and a look of comprehension came into his shreAvd eyes.

"Yes," he said, "I think she's clever. She's no connection of ours, thoug-h." He spoke airily, as though his next words Avould certainly dismiss the unimportant topic of' Miss Maynard. And in the same casual manner, the other answered.

"Ah," he said, "no connection? But you do her business for her, I think, don't you? Somebody said so."

Cochrane made a gesture of assent.

"She has no head for business herself," he said. "Yes, I think I may say she has placed herself unreservedlyill my hands." "Quite so." The manner of the great man became, if possible, more suave than before. "Would it be indiscreet, my dear Cochrane"—this with the utmost carelessness—"to ask kov. long her present engagement vvith .East-rick holds good?" Cochrane shrugged his shoulders. "It is subject to circumstances,'* he said. His tone was as confidential as his Avords Avere vague. "Subject to circumstances." "I am told," said the great man— he was deeply interested in the proi gress of a ship on the far horizon, and he spoke absently, even dreamily—"l am told Rastrick gives her thirty. If at any time she should care to try her fortune under'a different nianagemnt, I should say myself that forty '

His voice died aimlessly away. The watching of a distant ship is to some men a most entrancing occupation. "Or , 5 perhaps fifty," interpolated Cecil Cochrane, softly.

"Or perhaps fifty," assented the great man.

Then he seemed to tear his mind from the distant ship; to Avake up as it AA*ere, and to wake up in a hurry. He held out his hand to- Cochrane, effusiA'ely.

"Well, goodbye, my dear felloAV," he said. "Pleased to have met you! You must come and have supper with :ue some day soon."

He'pressed Cochrane's hand warmly and walked on. There Avas a Avell satisfied curl about Cecil Cochrane's lips as he, too, resumed his stroll. His annoyances were smoothed away; he was at peace Avith the world. His expression developed into the blandest possible smile a few minutes later, when he saAV Rastrick coming toAvards him. Eastrick had a man with him, also a member of the touring com-

pany, who was known to Cochrane only by sight, and just before they met, the stranger said farewell to E as . trick and turned out of one of .the openings to cross the road. . ■ "That was young Vibart," said Kastrick, as he joined Cochrane. "Re's gone off to see the piece. I don't knoAV whether he'll get standing room. The house is crammed."

"The place seems full enough," said Cochrane.

"Splendid season they say," returned the other." Met anyone yon know?"

Cochrane took out his cigar-case am} chose a cigar. The two were strolliso along side by side.

"Just met Winstanley," he said, nonchalantly. Winstanley was the, great man.

Bastrick looked at him curiously. "Winstanley?" he repeated. "Is he a pal of yours?" His tone was a singular mixture of the deferential and the sneering. ."_.;.-.

Cochrane Avas lighting his cigar. He completed the process thoroughly b e . fore he said: "He'd like to be." "Oh!" ?.;. "Yes," repeated Cochrane, with his sardonic little smile. "He'd like jt very much. I don't know if it's ever occurred to you, Rastrick, that you'll have to raise Miss Maynard's salary j again before long?"

Alfred Rastrick stroked his long, fair moustache. ;.-

"Oh!" he said again. This time there Avas a curious sound in his voice, "Winstanley's made you an offer, has he?" , .

Cochrane's lips parted to admit a little cloud bf smoke.

"He has," he said. "And you'll have to better it, dear boy. I Avant sixt|;"

"And if I don't see my way?"-in. quired Eastrick. .v; "Then I go to Winstanley."

There Avas a pause. Neither man looked at the other. They sauntejed some twenty yards side by side, aad then Ifastrick spoke. *. | "Cochrane," he said, "it's no go.''; Cochrane did not remove his cigar, "Yes. I think it is," he niur_.ui.ed. placidly. "Your scheme's a very good one, but there's this little flaw in- it. I S pened to have - spotted its weak places." v|| "I wasn't avArare that it had aij, Aveak places." Alfred' Rastrick gazed at him almpl admiringly: ; "You're a cool hand," he said. "Upoi. my Avord I don't know a cooler. We| it's like this. In the first place I ha| Avatched Miss Maynard. T was ver; much struck, early in the proceeding, by the sameness of her performance; She lifts the same finger at the saw Avord, standing on the same place pi the stage to an inch, every night j her life. What's more, she did exactly the same thing yesterday Avhen thej were running through the piece for the neAV Pierre. Noav that's not inspiration, Cochrane. The chances an it's teaching." Cochrane was smoking with the lit. most composure.

"Really!" he said-. "You should write an article on teaching and in. spiration if you know so much about them." "It's teaching!" repeated -Rastrl. angrily. "And I've not the slightesfc doubt but it's Miss Cochrane's teaching. It's exceedingly clever, mmd; that, aud the effect is simply .mar-A-ellous. But I don't think that Miss Maynard would be so popular,. at anji rate with the critics, if it got about; that every word and gesture was? put into her by someone else." "Don't you? Well, try the expew ment." ji Rastrick changed colour. He wasai irritable man and his temper was no1. proof against the exasperation tif finding a shot Avhich he believed to be ay.ll directed fall apparently Without result. . "That's all very well," he said, vindictively, "but that's not all. I don't believe in Miss Maynard herself—as I've just told you. And more than that —I don't believe in the cock ami bull story you tell about her. Where you picked her up I don't know—Jet But there's something fishy about the affair, I'll swear. And something that Avould upset your apple-cart altogether if it came out.- You and Miss Cochrane don't hang on to the girl as you do, for nothing. You don't .rant her to talk. She daren't talk, for the matter of that. It's pretty plain that you've all something to conceal;« He paused, eyeing Cochrane hungrily. Cochrane's -face had become perfectly impassive. The movement W his lips' as he spoke was only a little mechanical. "I should offer my services at Scotland Yard if I were you, Rastrick," he said. ' "You've obviously "mistaken your vocation." Bastrick turned White with rage. . . "I shall pay a visit to Scotland Yard," he retorted, "unless you choose to treat me on the square and come to some arrangement. But it will. to engage another man's services. Look here, Cochrane, there's money in this girl if she's properly worked! Butt don't see why you should "have it-all to yourself. You're taking quite enough with her now. I don't say the management won't raise her sattfy. But when it does, the extra bit won't go .into your pocket, and you wont take her to Winstanley." "I think. I shall," returned ' Cochrane. ■ , ■ • "If you do you'll spoil your o*W game, that's all," returned Rastricl' furiouslj*. "For I'll ferret out the whole affair and sell you, as surras you're alive!" Cochrane had finished his cigar, and he flung the end over the esplanade, "Try it!" he said, coolly. (To be continued.) •