Part 114 (1/2)
They went on to the future. Thomas spoke of the selling up of all things, of their turning out of Ashlydyat. ”Is that decree irrevocable?”
Lord Averil interrupted. ”Must Ashlydyat be sold?”
Thomas was surprised at the question. It was so superfluous a one. ”It will be sold very shortly,” he said, ”to the highest bidder. Any stranger who bids most will get Ashlydyat. I hope,” he added, with a half start, as if the possibility occurred to him then for the first time, ”that the man Verrall will not become a bidder for it--and get it!
Lady G.o.dolphin turns him out of the Folly.”
”Never fear,” said Lord Averil. ”He will only be too glad to relieve Prior's Ash of his presence. Thomas, can nothing be done to the man?
Your brother may have been a willing tool in his hands, but broad whispers are going about that it is Verrall who has reaped the harvest.
Can no legal cognizance be taken of it?”
Thomas shook his head. ”We may suspect a great deal--in fact, it is more than suspicion--but we can prove nothing. The man will rise triumphantly from it all, and carry his head higher than ever. I hope, I say, that he will not think of Ashlydyat. They were in it once, you know.”
”Why could not Ashlydyat be disposed of privately?--by valuation? It might be, if the a.s.signees approved.”
”Yes, I suppose it might be.”
”I wish you would sell it to me,” breathed Lord Averil.
”To you!” repeated Thomas G.o.dolphin. ”Ay, indeed. Were you to have Ashlydyat I should the less keenly regret its pa.s.sing from the G.o.dolphins.”
Lord Averil paused. He appeared to want to say something, but to hesitate in doubt.
”Would it please you that one of the G.o.dolphins should still inhabit it?” he asked at length.
”I do not understand you?” replied Thomas. ”There is no chance--I had almost said no possibility--of a G.o.dolphin henceforward inhabiting Ashlydyat.”
”I hope and trust there is,” said Lord Averil with emotion. ”If Ashlydyat is ever to be mine, I shall not care for it unless a G.o.dolphin shares it with me. I speak of your sister Cecilia.”
Thomas sat in calmness, waiting for more. Nothing could stir him greatly now. Lord Averil gave him the outline of the past. Of his love for Cecilia, and her rejection of him.
”There has been something,” he continued, ”in her manner of late, which has renewed hope within me--otherwise I should not say this to you now.
Quite of late; since her rejection of me; I have observed that--that---- I cannot describe it, Thomas,” he broke off. ”But I have determined to risk my fate once more. And you--loving Cecil as I do--you thought I could prosecute George!”
”But I did not know that you loved Cecil.”
”I suppose not. It has seemed to me, though, that my love must have been patent to the world. You would give her to me, would you not?”
”Ay; thankfully,” was the warm answer. ”The thought of leaving Cecil unprotected has been one of my cares. Janet and Bessy are older and more experienced. Let me give you one consolation, Averil: if Cecilia has rejected you, she has rejected others. Janet has fancied she had some secret attachment. Can it have been to yourself?”
”If so, why should she have rejected me?”
”In truth I do not know. Cecil has seemed grievously unhappy since these troubles arose: almost as one who has no further hope in life. George's peril has told upon her.”
”His peril?”
”From you.”
Lord Averil bit his lip. ”Cecil, above all others--unless it were yourself--might have known that he was safe.”
A silence ensued. Lord Averil resumed: ”There is one upon whom I fear these troubles are telling all too greatly, Thomas. And that is your brother's wife.”