RISING TO THE OCCASION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 80

RISING TO THE OCCASION.

By

Thomas Cobb.

(Copyright.—For the Witness.) Christine Mavor could see that her cousin Helena was longing for Eustace Anderson to go, but though he had been the first to arrive, he showed no sign of saying good-bye. _ ■ Not that he had much to say. He never had, except, it was to be presumed, in the law courts, where he was steadily making a reputation; a tall, well-built, distinguished-looking man, but terribly shy. Conversation languished. Christine was doing her best to play the hostess in her mother’s absence, but she felt confident that Helena was in trouble again. On her father’s death, when Helena was a child, she had come to live at Colonel Mayor’s, and Christine grew to love her better than anyone else, or—well, that would have been true a year ago. But Helena had unfortunately met that scapegrace, Dick Rochester, and in spite of all opposition, insisted on marrying him. Then trouble soon set in, till at last the colonel had put his foot down and refused to put his hand in his pocket again. • “Oh dear!” cried Helena, when at last Eustace made a great effort, rose from his chair, and went away. “I thought the dreadful man was never going. Chris, dearest, we’re in the deepest of holes. Poor Dick has been getting into some sort of mess at the office, and he declares that unless he can have £5O • by the morning he can’t tell what will happen.’*

“How I wish mother were at home!” said Christine. “You know it’s useless to appeal to dad. And I don’t possess fifty shillings in the world.” Bising from her chair, Helena went down on her knees, and, seizing her cousin’s hands, she looked up pitifully into her face. Mrs Dick Rochester was small and.fair, with large blue eyes. “Darling,” she persisted, “it’s really serious this time. Dick says he’s certain to be fired, and what in the world should we do ? He must have the money. He positively must.” “But, if I haven’t got it?” “You have what’s just as good,” urged Helena. “There’s that necklace! Dicksays he could easily borrow what he wants on that. I’m positively ashamed, Chris, but what can I do to help the poor boy? You never take it out of your drawer. You haven’t worn it for ever so long. No one would know. And in a few months you could have it back. The necklace was a sort of heirloom in its way. a double row of good-sized white pearls, which had been given to Christine on her twenty-first birthday by her grandmother, a few months before the old lady’s death. Now, she scarcely hesitated. Her greatest wish was to help Helena at the moment, and going upstairs to her own room she took the black leather case from her dressing table drawer. On second thoughts, however, she took the pearls out, and wrapped them in a piece of tissue paper, very fortunately, for Helena only had time to put them in her handbag before Colonel Mavor entered the sitting room. If he had seen the case in her hands . goodness knows what he would have said. As it was his greeting might have been more cordial. He had never forgiven his niece, and probably never would. Colonel Mavor was not very good at forgiveness. “When do you expect Aunt Alice home?” asked Helena rather hastily. “Thursday,” was the short answer. “Aunt Mary,” Christine explained, “is giving a fancy dress ball for the children on Wednesday. Dad has promised tv go down that afternoon, and mother is coming back with him on Thursday.” “Aren’t yiJfi going?” suggested Helena. “I didn’t much care to go away just now,” said Christine, and a few minutes later her cousin left the house with the pearls in her handbag, and actually a smile on her face. Christine was alone in the sitting room the following Monday afternoon when Eustace Anderson was announced. He had been there some time when Colonel Mavor came in with his light overcoat on and his hat in his hand. “I have just had a letter from mother,” he said, shaking hands with the visitor. “She wants that pearl necklace your grandmother gave you —” “The —the pearl necklace!” Eustace Anderson was watching her face, according to his custom. It ?as well worth watching. He considered it the loveliest face he had ever seen, though he found it difficult to tell her so. She had dark brown hair —shingled, of course, and exposing the most shapely neck in ■ the world. She not only had small, regular features, but the most charming expression, and now as he sat feasting his eyes he became conscious of a sudden, bewildering change in it. Colonel Mavor s words had been perfectly commonplace, yet Christine looked as if she had suddenly received a severe shock. “I am to-take it down with. me on Wednesday morning,” said the colonel. “For goodness sake, don’t let me go without it.” —

“Surely,” cried Christine, “mother isn’t thinking of wearing it.” “No, no, but your Aunt Mary is going to make herself ridiculous by appearing as Mary Queen of Scots. A woman of her age! But tl at’s no business of rune, and mother has promised to lend her the pearls. Don’t forget to put them in my room some time to-day.” “But you’re not going till the day after to-morrow,” faltered Christine, eager at least to gain time, though she could not imagine what to do. “All women, are alike,” exclaimed her father. “I don’t know whether you have noticed, Anderson, that they all like to put off till to-morrow what can just as well be done to-day. Everything is better done to-day.” A few minutes later he left the room, it being well understood between himself and his wife that every opportunity should be placed in Eustace Anderson’s way. Christine, at least, was not likely to make an injudicious marriage, if only Anderson could ever muster “’sufficient courage to come up to the scratch. Most girls would have taken care to drag him there somehow by this time! K As Colonel Mavor shut the door, Euqtace rose from his chair. Christine thought he was going, and for once in a way, felt almost pleased to get rid of him. She was in an agitated condition. A little more and she might collapse altogether. What in the world was she to do? It would be impossible to get back the necklace without repaying the £5O which Dick Rochester had borrowed on it. If she owned up, her father would be furious. He would go to Dick and say what he thought of him, not for the first time. “Now,” said Eustace, “I want you to tell me all about; it.” t “About —about what,” she murmured. Eustace had never spoken to her so firmly "before. “Why were you upset just now when the colonel said he wanted the pearl necklace?” „ Christine, was leaning back in her chair, while Eustace stood, leaning forward over her shoulder.

“I I can’t tell you,” she answered. She felt that she positively could not. “Indeed, you’ve got to,” he insisted. “I can see there’s something up, and I’m not going to leave you till I know what it is.” With a sigh and a shrug, she let him have his way. She told him all about it, wishing her cheeks would not tingle, and feeling certain the effect must be horribly unbecoming, though he was far from agreeing with her. He was standing in front of her now, with his hands in his trousers pockets, and an air of quite unwonted determination. “Where,” he demanded, “do the Rochesters hpjjg out?” • “They have rooms in Regent’s Park road.” “If you put on your hat I’ll take yon there at once,” he said. “What is the use?” she cried. /‘Dick was to borrow £5O on the necklace. He wanted the money for the next morning.” “That’s all right,” returned Eustace. “You have only to leave it to me.” “You are actually proposing to—to give me the money,” she said, indignantly. “Nothing of the kind. Only to lend it. Quite a different thing. I can let you have £5O without the least trouble, and you can pay it back whenever you like, you know.” Though humiliating, it proved a great relief. « “You really mean that?” she exclaimed. “You really promise to let me repay you.” She could save the amount by degrees from her dress allowance. “You’ll find I shall actually dun you,” he answered. “Why,'’ she asked, “is it necessary to go to Regent’s Park road?” He explained that Rochester having no doubt pledged the necklace, it would be necessary to obtain possession of the ticket before it could be retrieved. “I will see to that,” Eustace insisted. “We can get there and back before dinner. I will stay in the taxi while you speak to Rochester, then I’ll get the necklace and bring it to you the moment I can get away to-morrow afternoon. All you have to do is -to keep the colonel amused till .1 turn up.” ■■Christine felt very grateful, but a little embarrassed during the drive. In the taxi, Eustace seethed to return to his usual tongue-tied condition. On ner arrival at Helena’s rooms, however, a surprise awaited her. Her .cousin was dressing,, and Dick came to receive her in his dinner-jacket, a good-looking, fair-haired fellqw, with whom it was difficult to feel angry, though Christine came near to it a few minutes later.

“We’re giving ourselves a bit of a treat for once,” he explained. ‘‘All work and jip play, you know, Chris. Helena will be ready directly. We’re dining at the oavoy.” ,■> she cried, “Mother has written for that necklace. I must have it for Dad to take with Jiim on Wednesday morning.” ' . “The dickens you must. What about thq needful?” he suggested. “I’ve —I’ve arranged that,” she said. «. 1 4? ve mana S ed to get the fifty pounds—” Two hundred and fifty!” he answered, with a deprecatory expression. Helena told me you only wanted fiftv,” she expostulated. (< ‘/Uv dear girl,” he said with a laugh. I m like most others. I want just as much as I can get. It seemed a sin to ask only for fifty on those pearls. I’ll give you the ticket. A beastly nuisance that Mrs Mavor should want the bally thing.” “How much money have you got left?” Christine demanded. “Afraid I’ve nothing—nothing worth mentioning. ; Sorry, Chris!” She -took the ticket and declined to stay to see Helena, who probably was not making much haste to finish her toilette. Outside the house she saw Eustace nacing the pavement and smoking a cigarette. When he opened tlm door of the taxi, she took her seat and suddenly covered her face with her hands, nor was she capable of giving a lucid explanation till they were half wav homg. “Give me th e ticket, anyhow,” said Eustace. But Christine shook her head. ‘‘l shall make a clean breast to Dad this evening,” she murmured. ‘‘You? will do nothing of the kind,” he insisted. “It wouldn’t, be playing the game. You promised to let me see you through.” - “When 1 thought it was only a question of fifty pounds,” she returned. “But it would take me years and years to save two hundred and fifty.” “You don’t grasp the. situation,” urged Eustace. “You want your necklace tomorrow. Within a week you will get it back from Mrs Mavor. I can take it out to-morrow morning, and put it in again a few days hence. What could be simpler?” • ; ; ; Before they parted, he had succeeded in convincing her that the pearls could easily be pledged afresh, so that he need be deprived of his money only for a short time, and that evening he spent a quarter of an hour studying his passbook. Reaching the bank shortly after half-past nine the next morning, an interview with the manager was necessary before he could cash a cheque for the desired amount. Then Eustace, with considerable distaste, made'his way to Charing Gross Road, and, entering the shop where Dick Rochester had deposited the nearls, came out with Christine’s property in his pocket. After a busy and successful day in court, he set forth to Colonel Mavor’s •aV a few minutes th six, but was acutely disappointed, -even alarmed to see Christine and her father in. the sitting-room.

After a trying day, she had hoped that her rather would go to his club as usual before Eustace Anderson’s arrival. At breakfast that Tuesday morning he had reminded her that she had not yet given him the necklace. .“I don’t want to forget it,” he insisted. “I can’t imagine why you didn’t put it in my room last night, as I asked you.” ‘lt wiU be quite all right, Dad,” she answered. “I will see you don’t go without it.” At luncheon he was at it again. ( “Look here, Christine,” he exclaimed, “I understand what you’re after. Anyone would think you didn’t want your aunt to wear the pearls. Kindly let there be no more delay. The best thing vou can do is to get them out directly you finish your meal.” “I will see to it,” replied, and probably when she left the table he thought she had gone to her room to fetch the pearls, about which he appeared so anxious. Not, however, nearly so anxious as his daughter! At afternoon tea he seemed out of humour. He complained of a cold, coughing to impress her with the fact. To her dismay he insisted that he should not dream of going to the club to-day. “I e can scarcely breathe,” he said. “I can’t smoke, can’t do anything.” It would be hard to be wrecked sight of port. Her father was quite capable of ordering her to go upstairs to fetch the necklace forthwith. He was, however, too deeply concerned about his cold to think of the pearls for the present, and shortly after, six Eustace arrived. .‘’lnfernally changeable weather, Anderson,” cried the Colonel. “I’ve got a chill. I’m nursing it for Wednesday.” While he. was discussing the cricket season, which would soon be beginning, though it was to be hoped the weather would improve before May 1, Christine could not help thinking that Eustace Anderson looked rather like a man at some public meeting whose turn was approaching to make a speech. One moment he unbottoned his overcoat as if the room were too hot, to re-button it the xt as if he were feeling too cold. He thrust his fingers between his collar and his neck, he leaned forward with his arms on his thighs, only to sit upright again with a jerk, coughing as violently as his host. = :“You seem to have caught it, too, Anderson,” said the Colonel. • . Meanwhile, Christine was wondering how Eustace, who doubtless had the necklace safely in his pocket, would succeed in transferring it without being seen. And when presently he rose from his chair, her heart sank. Had he,' after all his trouble, given up the hope of putting the pearls into her hands? Did he intend in desperation to take them away again? What could she do? She could not very well offer to see him out of the liouSe. Shc looked up reproachfully into his embarrassed face. “Must you—must you really go?”, .she cried. “Won’t you sit down again?” ’ “N—no, I won’t sit down, thank you,” ho answered, then turned to Colonel Mavor. “The fact is,” he added, “I crime this afternoon for a special—a rather particular purpose, you know.” Good gracious!. Surely he would never be foolish enough to blurt out the truth before her father. “What's that, Anderson, eh? y demanded Colonel Mayor. “I—er—l wanted the opportunity for a few words with Miss Mavor alone if you’ve no objection,” said Eustace, looking more embarrassed than ever. “Quite,” said the colonel. “Quite,” he repeated, rising and going to the door. As it closed Christine breathed a sigh of intense relief, and Eustace, thrusting his hand into his pocket, brought out a small tissue paper parcel. “Well, here’s the necklace,” he cried. “Oh, thank you,” she murmured. “I couldn’t imagine how you would be able to give it to me.” “I had to —to take extreme measures, anyhow,” he said. “I shall never be able to show you how grateful I feel,’’ she said. “There’s no need for anything of that sort,.” he assured her, a short silence, he added : “Though if I had the cheek, I could easily tell you.” Christine held her hands behind her. her fingers fidgetting with the pearls in the tissue paper. “How?” she asked, suddenly raising her eyes. “Well, if you could only see your way. you could promise to be my wife, you know.” As she smiled he took her in his arms, and when Colonel Mavor re-entered the room 10 minutes later the aspect of affairs was such that little war necessary to explain the situation. He embraced his daughter warmly, and shook hands with Eustace. “Dear me,” he said mendaciously, “what a surprise for your mother. By the way, Christine,” he added, “what about that necklace? With one thing and another I shall be going without it if I’m not careful.” “Suppose I fetch it at once to make certain,” she cried holding the pearls carefully behind her. And with a smile to Eustace she left the room.