Part 28 (1/2)

”You are mistaken, Elphinstone. But even so, my excellent brother, you might understand it--if your estate lay in the west and ran with Miles Chandon's.”

Tilda's small body stiffened with a gasp, 'Miles Chandon'--the name had sounded on her hearing distinct as the note of a bell. There was no mistake: it hummed in her ears yet. Or was it the blood rus.h.i.+ng to her ears as she sat bolt upright in the darkness, listening, breathing hard?

Sir Elphinstone, for some reason, had not answered his sister. When at length he spoke, it was in a changed tone, at once careless and more affectionate.

”See anything of Chandon in these days?”

”Nothing at all; or--to put the same thing differently--just so much of him as his tenants see. We were talking of tenantry. Miles Chandon leaves everything to his steward. Now, between ourselves, all stewards, land agents, bailiffs--whatever you choose to call 'em--are the curse of our system, and Miles Chandon's happens to be the worst specimen.”

”H'm,” said Sir Elphinstone reflectively. ”Poor devil!” he added, a few moments later, and then--Miss Sally giving him no encouragement to pursue the subject--”Ten minutes past seven--the car will be waiting.

What do you say to getting home for dinner?”

”If I may bring the Ham.” Miss Sally laughed and pushed back her chair.

”Wait a minute--we will wrap it up in the poem. 'Exit Atalanta, carrying her Ham in a newspaper'--how deliciously vulgar! Elphinstone, you have always been the best of brothers; you are behaving beautifully--and--and I never could resist shocking you; but we're pretty fond of one another, eh?”

”I've consistently spoilt you, if that's what you mean,” he grumbled.

They were leaving the platform. Tilda whispered to the boy to take hold of 'Dolph.

”And I'm goin' to leave yer for a bit.” She edged past him on hands and knees towards the vallance draperies. ”You 'eard what she said?

Well, keep quiet 'ere an' don't be frightened. If Sam comes, tell 'im I'll be back in five minutes.”

She dived out beneath the vallance, caught a glimpse of Miss Sally and Sir Elphinstone making their way at a brisk pace through the crowd, and hurried up the slope in pursuit. It was difficult to keep them in sight, for everyone made way upon recognising them, but showed less consideration for a small panting child; and the head of the field, by the exit gate, was packed by a most exasperating throng pressing to admire a giant motor-car that waited in the roadway with lamps blazing and a couple of men in chauffeurs' dress keeping guard in att.i.tudes of sublime _hauteur_. Sir Elphinstone, with Miss Sally on his arm, reached the car while yet Tilda struggled in the gateway. A policeman roughly ordered her back. She feigned to obey, and dropping out of sight, crawled forth past the policeman's boots, with her head almost b.u.t.ting the calves of a slow-moving yeoman farmer. Before she could straighten herself up Sir Elphinstone had climbed into the car after his sister, and the pair were settling down in their rugs. One of the chauffeurs was already seated, the other, having set the machine throbbing, was already clambering to his seat. The crowd set up three parting cheers, and Miss Sally, remembering her Ham, held it aloft in farewell.

But while Miss Sally waved and laughed, of a sudden, amid the laughter and cheers and throbbing of the motor, a small child sprang out of the darkness and clung upon the step.

”Lady! Lady!”

Miss Sally stared down upon the upturned face.

”Miles Chandon, lady?--where does 'e live?--For the Lord's sake--”

But already Sir Elphinstone had called the order. The car shot away smoothly.

”Elphinstone--a moment, please! Stop! The child--”

”Eh? . . . Stop the car! . . . Anything wrong?”

Miss Sally peered back into the darkness.

”There was a child . . . We have hurt her, I fear. Tell George to jump down and inquire.”

But Tilda was not hurt. On the contrary, she was running and dodging the crowd at that moment as fast as her hurt leg permitted. For in the press of it, not three yards away, by the light of the side lamp, she had caught sight of Dr. Gla.s.son and Gavel.

They were on foot, and Gavel had seen her, she could make no doubt.

He was bearing down straight upon her.