[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] IN DOUBLE HARNESS

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XVII, 23 April 1904, Page 10

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] IN DOUBLE HARNESS

By

ANTHONY HOPE.

AUTHOR OF “DOLLY DIALOGUES,” PRISONER OF ZENDA,” “RUPERT OF HENTZAN,” ETC.

’ CHAPTER XXVI. THE GREAT WRONG. The Ray-mores were lodging over the post-oftiec at Milldean, in the rooms once occupied by the curate. The new curate did not need them; lie was staying at the rectory, and meant, after his marriage with Dora Hutting, to build himself a little house, go on being curate, and ultimately be rector. He had a well-to-do father vlio had bought the advowson for him as a wedding present. His path ’in life . was . clear, visible to the very end, and entirely* peaceful—unless Dora decided otherwise. So the rooms came in handy for the Raymores; and it suited Jeremy’s inclination and leisure to stay the while with his sister on the hill. He had a bit of work to finish down at Milldean, while the Raymores were there. However assiduous you may be. love-making in Dondon is liable to interruption: it must be to a certain degree spasmodic there; business, society, and such like trifles keep breaking in. A clear week in the country will do wonders. Thus thought Jeremy, and it was his brilliant suggestion which brought the Ray mores io Milldean for a month. What more obvious,'since Charley* was to land at Fairhaven and stay a month in England? Spend that month in London, where things interrupted and people stared, and old-time talk was remembered? No! Kate Raymore jumped at. the idea that this wonderful month should be spent in the country, in quiet and seclusion, among old friends whose lips would be guarded, whose looks friendly, whose hearts in sympathy. When Jeremy made this arrangement. —so excellent a one that he may be pardoned for almost forgetting the selfish side of it—he had not failed io remember Dora Hutting. There had always been alternative endings to that story. Jeremy’s present scheme was a variation from both of them. None the less, ho had come decidedly to prefer it to either. Hut he had not allowed for the presence of the curate; and this circumstance, casually brought to his knowledge by Grantley Imason on the evening of his arrival, had rather disturbed him. There was another feature in the case for which he was quite unprepared. The name of the curate was a famous one—actually famous through the length and breadth of the land! This was rather a staggerer for Jeremy, who might deride, but could not deny, the curate's greatness. Certain forms of glory* may appeal more io one man than io another, but all are glorious. The curate was Mallam of Somerset. “The Mallam?” asked Jeremy. “Yes, the Mallam," said Grantley gravely. “By Jove!" Jeremy murmured. “I think you ought to forgive her,” Grantley suggested. ‘Tie’s played twice for England, you know, and made a century the first time.” “I remember,’’ Jeremy’ acknowledged, looking very thoughtful. This was quite a different ma iter from the ordinary curate. Ritualistic proclivities, however obnoxious to Jeremy’ in their essence, became a pardonable eccentricity in a man whoso solid reputation bad b,<p*n won in other fields. It was not surprising that Dora carried her head, very high, or that the cohl politeness of her. Low relegated Jeremy to a fathomless oblivion. Knowing the. ways of girls, nnd reluctantly conscious of Mr MaJlam's greatness—conscious, too, perhaps, that his own riches and tamo wore not as yet much in evidence —he was prepared for that. But, alas!

Charley was a cricketer too, and had infected Eva with his enthusiasm for the game. She was quite excited about Mallam. Jeremy did not appreciate this feeling as generously as he might have; yet Eva made no attmept to conceal it. She lather emphasised it; for she had come to the stage when she sought defences. After the first eager spring to meet the offered and congenial love, there comes often this recoil. The girl would have things stay as they are, since they are very pleasant, and the next step is into the unknown. She loves delay, then, and since the man will not have it for its own sake (not knowing its sweetness nor the fear that aids its charm), she enforces it on him by trickery, and makes him afraid of losing the draught altogether by insisting on his sipping it at first. She will use any weapon in this campaign, and an ardent admiration for Mr Mallam was a very* useful weapon to Eva Raymore. She said more than once that she considered Dora Hutting a very lucky girl. She thought Dora must be charming, since Mallam was in love with her. She held Mallam to be very handsome, and refused to believe—well, that his talent was so highly specialised ns Jeremy 1 ried 1 e persuade her in words some: what less gentle than these. Jeremy's knowledge of girls gave out before this unexpected eall upon it. He recollected how Dora had served him, and how Anna ,Selford had trilled with Alec Turner. Tie grew’ apprehensive and troubled—also more and more in love. He forecast complicated tragedies, and saw Mallam darkening his life wherever he turned. But the women understood —Kate Raymore, Christine, even Sibylla. They glanced at one another, and laughed among themselves. Thcv were rather proud of Eva, who played their sex’s game so well. “Thank goodness, she's learnt to flirt! said ( hristine. “A woman’s nowhere without -that, my dear, and I don't care whether she’s married or not.” “She just adores Jeremy,” Kate assured Sibylla "Only men can’t see, vou know.” Sibylla laughed. She understood now better than in the days when she herself was wooed. But she blushed a perchance, she found some parallel m Eva's conduct which Evas conduct in Eva’s conduct which She was not inclined to discuss with her friends. Jeremy was not the only man who went courting just now in Milldean. Nor was Kate Raymore the only woman whose heart expected a wanderer home, and trembled at the joy of a long-desired meetIng. Ihe period of Mrs Muinple’s expectation was almost done. In two or three weeks she was to go on a journey; she would come back to the bld Mill House not alone. The house was swept ami garnished, and Mrs. Mumple had a. new silk gown. The latter she showed to Kate, and a new bonnet, too, which was a trifle gayer than her ordinary wear; it had a touch of youth about it. Mrs Mumple knew very well who was the best person to show these treasures to, who the best listener to her speculations as to the manner of that meeting. And she in turn, was eager to listen to Kate when the news came that Charley's ship was to be in quite soon. Kate “could not say much about that to any- * body except to Mrs Mumple; but she was sure that Mrs Mumple would understand. When on the top of all this came the announcement that Dora Hutting's wedding was fixed for that day three

week’s, Christine Fanshaw was* moved to protest. “Really Grantley,” she exclaimed, “this village is a centre of love-making of one sort or another.” “All villages are,” said Grantley, suavely tolerant, “or they couldn’t go on being villages. It's life or death to them, Christine.” “That’s a contemptible evasion. The atmosphere is horribly sentimental. I don't think I’m in sympathy with it at all.” "Don’t talk to me, then,” said Grantley. “I like it, you know. Oh, you needn’t fret, my dear friend! There's been lots of trouble—and there’ll be lots more.” “Yes, trouble—and hatred, too?” “Oh, well, suppose we Suppose there won’t be that?” he suggested. “But the trouble, anyhow.” "Then everybody oughtn’t to pretend that there won’t! The way people talk about marriages is simply hypocrisy.” “When the bather is on the bank it's no moment for remarking that the water is cold. And the truth is in our hearts all the time. Am I likely to forget it, for instance? Or are you likely to forget poor old Tom and that unhappy woman?” “Or am I likely to forget myself?” Christine murmured, looking out of the window. As she looked Dora passed by, and broad-shouldered young Mallam with her. “Oh, well, "bless the children!” she said, laughing. “It doesn’t do, though, to be too knowing—too much up to all Nature’s little trieks,” Grantley went on, as he came and stood beside her. “We oughtn’t to give the old lady away. She seems a bit primitive in her methods sometimes, but if we don’t interfere she usually gets there in the end. But we mustn’t find out all her secrets.” Christine looked up with a smile and the suspicion of a blush. "Oil, well, one can always forget them again,” she said. “With the proper assistance,” he agreed smiling. “And after all she’s very accommodating. If you do what she wants, she doesn’t earc a hang about your private reasons.” “I call that unscrupulous,” Christine objected. "Oh, yes, the most immoral old hussy that ever was!” he laughed. “I love her for that. In her matrimonial advertisements the woman is always rich, beautiful and amiable.” "And the man handsome, steady’ and constant.” “So we pay the fees —and sometimes get the article.” “Sometimes,” said Christine. “Of course, we always suit the description outselves ?” “A faith in one’s self —secure, impregnable, eternal —is the one really’ necessary equipment.” “So you’ve found.” “Don’t be personal—or penetrating, Christine. The forms of faith vary—the faith remains.” Christine looked up at him again.

Something in her eyes made him pat her lightly on the shoulder. “Oh, it’s all very well,” -she murmured in rueful peevishness, “but I shan’t be able to stand too much happiness here.” , ’ ' “Think of the others,” he advised, “and you'll regain the balance of your judgment.” To think or the others was decidedly, a. good thing. Reason dictated the survey of a wider field, the discovery and recognition of an average emerging from the inequalities. The result of such a process should be either a temperate self-satisfaction or a clear-sight-ed resignation. You would probably find yourself not much above nor much below the level thus scientifically demonstrated. But the ways of science are not always those of the heart, and that we are less miserable than some people is not a consolation for being more unhappy than others—least of all when the happy are before our eyes ami . the wretched farther off. Neither the preacher of Grrantley’s doctrines nor its hearer was converted. Grantley still wanted the best, and Christine, asking nothing so great, was the more aggrieved that, she was denied even what she demanded. Kate Raymore’s day came. Only Jeremy accompanied the family to meet the boat. Kate said they would want somebody to bustle about after the luggage. In truth, Jeremy seemed to her already as one of her own house. But he did not seem so himself. Eva ha<£ been very wayward, full, of admiration for Mr Mallam, and on the strict defensive against Jeremy’s approaches. He was so distressed and puzzled that he might have comforted even Christine Fanshaw, and that he was, in fact, exceedingly bad company for anybody. But the party did not ask for conversation. A stillness fell on them all as they wailed for the boat, Kate clasping her husband’s arm tight while her eyes were fixed on the approaching ship. The boy came down the gangway and saw them waiting. He was a goodlooking young fellow, tall and slim, with curly hair. Joy and apprehension shame and pride, struggled for mastery oh his face. Kate saw, and her heart was very full. His fault, his flight, his banishment were vivid in his mind, and by his insight vivid in theirs, too. But there was something else that his eyes begged them to remember—the struggle to retrieve himself, the good record overseas, the thought that they were to be together again for a while without fear and without a cloud between them. Their letters had breathed no reproach, and had been full of love. But letters cannot give the assurance of still loving eyes. He still feared reproach; he had to beg for love, and to fear to find it not unimpaired. “My boy!” whispered Kate Raymore, as she clasped him in her arms. "You’re looking well, Charley,” said Raymore, “but older, I think.” Yes, he was older. That was part of the price which-had fallen to be paid, and the happiness of reunion could not

avail against it. His own hand had overthrown the flrat glory of his youth. It had died, not gradually, but by a violent death—the traces were on his face. There was a touch of awe in Eva's eyes as she kissed her brother—the awe evoked by one who had fallen, endured, and fought. He had to pay the uttermost farthing of his debt. ' Yet the joy rose supreme, deeper and tenderer-for the grief behind it, for the struggle by which it was won. because it came -as a victory after a heavy tight. To Kate it seemed as though he liad suffered for their sakes as well as for his own sin, since in sorrow over Trim and his banishment their hearts had come closer together, and love reigned stronger in their home. A strange remorse struck her and mingled with Ivor compassion and her gladness as she held her son at arm’s length and looked again in his eyes. It was hard to keep track of these things, to see how the good and tho evil worked, to understand how no man was unto himself alone, and not to accuse of injustice the way by which one paid for all, white all sorrowed for one. As they turned away to the carriage. Eva touched Jeremy on the arm. He turned to find her smiling, but her lips trembled. “If I drive back with them I shall cry, and then I shall look a fright,” she whispered. “Besides, they’d rather have him to themselves just now. Will you walk back with me?” “All right,” said Jeremy, curtly. His feelings, too, had been touched, so that his manner was cool and matter-of-fact almost to aggressiveness. He preferred to make nothing at all of walking back with Eva, though the way was long, and the winter sun shone over the sea and the downs, the wind was fresh arid crisp, and youthful blood went tingling through the veins. “It’s cold driving anyhow,” he added as an afterthought. It was not eold walking, though, or Jeremy did not find it so. It was in his mind that-now he had his.ehaneo, if he could find courage to use it and to force an issue. For him, too, Charley and Charley’s sorrow had done something. They had induced in Eva a softer mood; the armour of her coquetry was pierced by a shaft of deep feeling. As they walked she was silent, forgetting to torment him, silently glad of iris friendship and his company. She said nothing of Dora Hutting’s griod fortune, or of Mallam’s good looks now. She was thinking of her mother’s face as she welcomed Charley, and was musing on love. It was Jeremy’s moment if he could make use of it. But in this mood she rather frightened him, raising about herself defences different from the gleaming barrier of her coquetry, yet not less effective. He feared to disturb her thoughts, and it seemed to him that Iris wooing would be rude and rough. Suddenly she turned to him. “You’ll be friends with Charley, won’t you? Beal friends, I mean? You won’t let what—what’s happened stand in the way? You sec, he'll be awfully sensitive about it, and if he fancies you're hanging back, or anything of that kind, —” Her eyes were very urgent in their appeal. “Of course, I shall • be friends with him. I shouldn’t dream of—•” “Im sure you’ll like him for his own sake when you know him. And till then, for mother’s sake, for our sake, you’ll be nice to him, won’t you ?” “Do you care particularly about my being nice to him?” “Of course, I do! We’re friends, yot see.” Jeremy’s fear wore off; tho excitement began to rise in him; the spirit of the game came upon him. He turned to his work. “Arc we friends?” ho asked. “You’ve not been very friendly lately.” “Never mind me. Be friendly with Charley.” “For your sake?” “For our sake, yes.” “I said for your sake.” 'A smile dimpled through Eva’s gravity. “ ‘Your* is plural, isn't it ?” she asked. •. “Then—for thy sake?” said Jeremy. “That's singular, anyhow.” “Oh, for my sake,.then, if you think it worth while." • > “I don't think anything worth while except pleasing you, Eva. 1 used to

manage it, I think; but somehow it’s grown more difficult lately.” He stopped in his walk and faced her. She walked on a pace or two, but he would not follow. Irresolutely she halted. “More difficult? Pleasing me grown more difficult?” “Well, pleasing you as much as I want to, I mean ” Jeremy in his turn smiled for a moment; but he was in deadly earnest again as he stepped up to her and caught hold of her hands. “Now’s the time,” he said. “You’ve got to say yes or no.” “You haven't asked mo anything yet,” she murmured, laughing, her eyes away from hint and her hands in his. “Yes, I have, dozens of times—dozens and dozens. And I’m not going to ask it again—not in words, anyhow. You know the question.” “It's horribly unfair to—to do this to-day—to-day, when I’m—” “Not a bit. To-day’s the very day for it, and that’s why you must answer to-day.” A deeper note came into his words, deeper than he had commanded when he made love to Dora Hutting on these same downs not so very long ago. “I make love to you to-day because love’s in your heart, to-day. You’re wanting to love; it’s round about us, Eva.” For an instant she saw in him a likeness she had never noticed before—a likeness to Sibylla; Sibylla’s ardent, alldemanding temper seemed to speak in his words. “Yes, this is the day—-our day- And this day shall'be the beginning or the end. You know the question- What’s the answer, Eva?” He let go of her hands, and drew back two or three paces. He left her free; if she came to him, it must be of her own motion. “How very peremptory you are!” she protested. Her cheeks were red now, and the look' of sorrow had gone out of her eyes. Her br.eath came quick, and when she looked at the sea the waves seemed to dance to the liveliest music. At sea and land she looked, at the sky and at the wintry sun; her glance touched everywhere save where Jeremy stood. “The answer!” demanded. Jeremy. Now confidence rang in his voice. “You tyrant—you tyrant!” “The answer. Eva!” For a moment more she waited- Then she came towards him hesitatingly, her eyes not yet seeking his face. She came up to him and stood with her hands hanging by her side. Then slowly she raised to his face the large trustful eyes' which he had known and loved so well. “The answer is Yes, Jeremy,” she said- “For all my life and with all my heart, dear!” “I knew this was the right day!” cried Jeremy“Oh, any day was right!” she whispered as she sought his arms. “Yes, but I’m glad it was to-day,” ho said. “Now I shall be friends with Charley with a vengeance. I shall think of him now whenever I think of to-day.” “Yes, I’m glad it is to-day.” “To say nothing of the obvious advantage to-day has in not being yesterday or to-morrow, but just to-day. It isn’t that I did kiss you, or that I shall kiss you, but that I am —” Demonstrating tho virtues of the present, Jeremy left his Sentence unfinished. A couple of hours later he burst into Grantley Imason’s room, declaring that he was tho happiest man on earth. This condition of his, besides being by no means rare in young mon, was not unexpected, and congratulations met the obvious needs of the occasion. Sibylla, who was there, was not even very emotional over the matter; the remembrance of Dora Hutting inclined her mind towards tho humorous aspect—so hard is it to appreciate the changeful processes of other hearts. But Jeremy himself was excited enough for everybody, and his excitement carried him into forgetfulness of a solemn pledge which he had once given. He wrung ’Grantley’s hand with a vigour at once embarrassing and painful, crying: “I owe it all to yon. I should never have dared.it except for tho partnership that’s coming, and that was all your doing. Without your money ” “Damn you, Jeremy,” said Grantley, in a quiet whisper, rescuing his hand

and compassionately caressing it with its uninjured brother, ' The imprecation seemed to be equally distributer! between Jeremy’s two causes of offence, but Jeremy allocated it to one only-. , “Oh, good lord!" he said, with a guilty glance at Sibylla. - . ~ . “What money?” asked Sibylla. She had been sitting by the lire, but rose now, and leant her shoulder against the mantel-piece. Jeremy looked from her to Grantley. “I’m most awfully sorry. 1 forgot. I’m a bit beside myself, you know.” Grantley shrugged his shoulders rather crossly. “I won’t say- another word about it.” - “Olr, yes, you will, Jeremy,” observed Sibylla, with a dangerous look. “You’ll tell me all about it this moment, please.” “Shall I?” Jeremy turned to Grantley again. “I expect the mischief’s done now; but you needn’t have lost your memory or your wits just because you’re going to marry- Eva Raymore.” “Marrying does make people lose their wits sometimes,” said Sibylla coldly. Grantley’s brows lifted a little as he plumped down in a chair with a resigned air. “Tell me what you mean, Jeremy?” “Well. I had to put money into the business if I was ever to be more than a clerk—if I was ever to get a partnership, you know.” "And Grantley gave you the money?” “I’m going to pay it back when—when ” “Yes, of course, Jeremy dear. How much was i I ?” Grantley lit a cigarette, and came as near looking uncomfortable as the ingrained composure of his manner allowed. “Five thousand,” said Jeremy. “Wasn’t it splendid of him? So you see, I could afford ” “Five thousand to Jeremy!’’ said Sibylla. She turned on Grantley. “And how much to John Fanshaw?"’ “You women are all traitors. Christine had no business to say a word. It was pure business; he pays me back regularly. And Jeremy’s going to pay me back, too. Come, I haven’t done any harm to either of them." “No, not to- them,” she said. And she added to Jeremy: “Go and tell Christine. She’ll be delighted io hear about you and Eva.” “By Jove, I will. I say, I’ m awfully sorry, Grantley.” “You ought to be. No, you may do anything except shake my hand again." “I can’t help being so dashed jolly, you know.” With that apology he darted out. of the room, forgetting his broken pledge, intent only on finding other cars to hear liis wonderful nows. “It’s very satisfactory, isn’t it?” asked Grantley. “I think they'll get on very well, you know. He’s young, of course, and ” “Please don’t make talk, Grantley. When did you give him that money?” "I don’t remember.” “There are bank books and So on, aren’t there?” “How business-like you're getting!” ‘"Tell me when, please?” Grantley rose and stood opposite to her, even as they had stood in the inn—at the Sailor’s Rest at Fairhaven. “I don’t remember the date." He paused, seemed to think, and then went on: “Yes, I'll toll you, because then you'll understand. Ho came to me the morning of the day you—you went, over to Fairhaven. While he was there, Christine’s letter came. And I gave him the money because I wanted to put yon in the wrong as much as I could. Oh. I liked Jeremy, and was willing to help him—just as I was ready to help old John. But that wasn’t my great reason. My great reason was to get a bigger grievance against you—-for the way you had treated me and were going to treat me, you know.” “If it had been that, you'd have told me—you’d have told me that night in the inn. You must have known what it would have been to me to hear it then; but you never told me.” “1 wouldn’t part with the pleasure of having it against you — of nursing it against you secretly. I want you to understand the truth. Arc you very angry?” Sibylla appeared to be angry; there was a dash of red on her cheeks; her mouth and eyes looked dangerous. “Yes, I’m angry,” she said; “and I've A right to be angry. You’re good to

John Fanshaw; you’re good to Jeremy. Have you beau good to me?” “I’ve told you. It "Wns done m malice against you—and in a petty malice, I think now, though I didn’t think that then.” , "Doing it was no malice to me. You did it in lovo of me?” Her-words were a challenge to him to deny; and, looking at her, lie could not deny. He had never denied liis love for her, and he would not now. "The wrong you did me was not in doing it, but in not telling me; yes, not telling me about that, nor about what you did for John Fanshaw either.” “I couldn’t risk seeming to try to make a claim, especially when ” "Especially when making a claim on me might have saved me! Is that what you mean? When it might have made all the difference to me and to Frank? When it might have turned me back from my madness? All was to go to ruin sooner than that you should risk seeming to make a claim!” He attempted no answer, but stood very still, listening and ready to listen. Her voice lost something of its hardness, and became more appealing as she went on. "They’re allowed to know your good side, the kind things you do, how you stand by your friends, how you help people, how you lavish gifts on my brother for my sake. You don't hide it from them. They know you eon love, and love to give happiness. There arc only two people who mayn't know—tho two people in all the world who ought -to know, whose happiness and whose trust in themselves and in one another 'ie in knowing. They must be hoodwinked and kept in the dark. They’re to know nothing of you. For them you find tho bad motive, the mean interpretation, the selfish point of view. And you,’re so ingenious in finding it for them! Grantley, to those two people you've done a great wrong." He was silent a moment. Then ho asked: "To you and the little boy, you mean?” "No; lie’s 100 young. Anyhow, I didn't mean him; 1 wasn’t thinking of him. You know that sometimes I don't think of him—that sometimes, in love or in hatred. I can think of nothing in the world but you, but. you ami me. And it’s to . mo and to yourself that you’ve done (he wrong.” “To you—and myself?" “Yes, yes! Oh, what's the use of doing fine things if you bury them from me, if you distort them to yourself, if you won't let either me or yourself think them generous and good? Why must- you trick me and yourself, of all the world? Oughtn't we to know —oughtn’t we of everybody in tho world to know? What’s the good of kindness if you dress it up as selfishness? What's the good of love if you call it malice?" “I've spoken the truth as I believed it.” ‘‘No, I say no, Grantley! Y’ou’vo spoken it as you would have me believe it, as you try to make yourself believe it. But it’s not the truth!” She came one step nearer to him. “1 used to pray that you should change,” she said imploringly. “1 don't pray - that now. It’s impossible. And 1 don't think I want it. Don’t change; but, oh, be yourself! Be yourself to me and to yourself. You haven't been to either of us. Open your heart to both of us; let us both know you as you are. Don’t be ashamed either before me or before yourself, t know I'm dillieult I Heavens, aren't you —oven the real you —dillieult, too? But if you won't bo honest in the end, then God help ns! But if you’ll be yourself to me and to yourself, then, my dear, 1 think it would be enough.” He came to her and took her hand. “No man ever loved woman more than I love you,” he said. “Then try, then try, then try!” she whispered, and her eyes met his. There seemed in them a far off gleam of the light which once had blazed from them on the fairy ride. To be continued.