Part 57 (1/2)

Silence.

Captain Pratt turned the gold k.n.o.b of his stick slowly in his thick, white fingers. He looked carefully at Lady Newhaven, as a connoisseur with intent to buy looks at a piece of valuable china. She was accustomed to being looked at, but there was something in Captain Pratt's prolonged scrutiny which filled her with vague alarm. She writhed under it. He observed her uneasiness, but he did not remove his eyes.

Were the boys well?

They were quite well, thanks. She was cowed.

Were they fond of skating?

Very fond.

Might he suggest that they should come over and skate at Warpington Towers to-morrow. He himself would be there, and would take charge of them.

He rose slowly, as one who has made up his mind. Lady Newhaven feared it would be troubling Captain Pratt too much.

It would be no trouble to Captain Pratt; on the contrary, a pleasure.

His hand was now extended. Lady Newhaven had to put hers into it.

Perhaps next week if the frost held. She tried to withdraw her hand. Oh, well, then, to-morrow; certainly, to-morrow.

”You may rely on me to take care of them,” said Captain Pratt, still holding her hand. He obliged her to look at him. His hard eyes met her frightened blue ones. ”You may rely on my discretion entirely--in all matters,” he said, meaningly.

Lady Newhaven winced, and her hand trembled violently in his.

He pressed the shrinking little hand, let it go, and went away.

CHAPTER XLVIII

”Le temps apporte, emporte, mais ne rapporte pas.”

”May I come in?” said the Bishop, tapping at Hester's door.

”Do come in.”

Hester was lying propped up by many cus.h.i.+ons on a sofa in the little sitting-room leading out of her bedroom. She looked a mere shadow in the fire-light.

She smiled at him mechanically, but her face relapsed at once into the apathetic expression which sat so ill upon it. Her l.u.s.treless eyes fixed themselves again on the fire.

”And what are you going to do this afternoon?” she said, politely. It was obvious she did not care what he did.

”I am going to Westhope on business,” he said, looking narrowly at her.

It was all very well for Dr. Brown to say she must be roused; but how were his instructions to be carried out?

”I am a great deal of trouble to you,” said Hester. ”Could not I be sent to a home, or a place where you go through a cure, where I should be out of the way till I'm well?”

”Have I deserved that, Hester?”

”No; but you know I always try to wound my best friends.”