CHAPTER FIVE.
MR HAMPTON IS TOO LATE.
"Old boy asleep, Gertie?"
"Mr Saul, why have you come?" cried the frightened girl.
"Because I wanted to see you again; because I was tired of waiting downin that dreary old dining-room. Why, what a little tease you are."
Gertrude made a step to get on the other side of the bed, so as to placethe old man between them; but Saul caught her wrist, and laughinglyswung her round.
"Won't do, my coy little beauty," he whispered. "I want to settle thatlittle matter."
"Uncle!"
"Ha!" ejaculated Saul in a fierce whisper. "Wake him if you dare! Ifyou do I'll swear you asked me to come up and sit with you. Now lookhere--tell me, Gertie, the old man has left you all his money?"
"No, no, no," she cried eagerly, "nothing at all."
"Don't believe it, darling. Trick to throw me off the scent; but I'm onit safe, and I'm not going to be tricked."
"Then ask uncle when he wakes," cried the girl, flushing up angrily, asshe snatched her hand away.
"No, thanks; don't want a bottle or jug thrown at my head. But I don'tbelieve you, you artful little jade. It's all your cunning way to leadme on. He has left you all his money, darling, and you've played yourcards splendidly; but it would not make any difference to me if youhadn't a penny. You are going to be my little wife."
"Never!" cried Gertrude, with a hurried glance at the sunken features onthe pillow.
They both spoke in a low, quick, subdued whisper, and as if under theinfluence of the same dread lest the old man should awake.
"Don't talk stuff, my darling. Think of your position."
"I tell you I am penniless," cried Gertrude excitedly, as she felt thatSaul's advances were mainly due to his belief in her future wealth.
"All the more need for you to listen to me, darling," whispered Saul, ashe threw his arm round the girl's waist, and held her in spite of herstruggles. "When the old man dies, if you are as you say, what's tobecome of you?"
"I shall not tell you," cried Gertrude, striving to escape.
"Then I'll tell you. There's that nice little idea in your head that mybeloved cousin--that Yankee vagabond--is coming back to marry you, sothat all is to be happy ever after. But suppose he does not come?"
"He will come; your uncle has sent for him."
"Ah, he may have sent, but the fellow may not come. He may be drownedif he did; and even if he does come, that's no reason why he shouldmarry you."
Gertrude, finding her efforts vain, ceased struggling, but stood there,panting heavily, and waiting her opportunity to free herself from theintruder's grasp.
"Better come to an understanding, Gertie, and let's begin to be friendsat once. George Harrington must be a Wild West ruffian, not fit to makeyou a husband, so don't think any more of that. I know, as well as canbe, that he will never come back here; and if anything happens to him,as something is sure to happen, seeing what sort of a character he is.I shall be master here."
"You?" cried Gertrude, with dilating eyes, as she again tried to getfree.
"Yes, I; master of the houses, and lands, tenements, messuages, and allthe rest of it; above all, my little struggling pet, master of you."
"Ha!"
They both turned sharply, and Saul Harrington started back, for thathoarsely-sounding ejaculation came from the bed, and there, with thelamp shining full upon his cavernous eyes, sat the old man, glaringwildly at his nephew, and pointing towards the fireplace withoutstretched hand.
"Uncle, dearest," cried Gertrude, running to his side, and clinging tohim; but he did not heed her, only remained pointing towards thefireplace.
"Why is he here?" panted the old man.
"Only a little visit, uncle. Don't be cross."
"A lie?" panted the old man hoarsely. "Money--always money," and hestill pointed excitedly towards the fireplace, forgetful of the factthat he had a bell-rope close by his hand.
"Not very polite to your nephew, uncle," said Saul coolly.
"I heard--all," he said. "If you would marry him--because you will havemy money. That's why--I wouldn't leave it to you--strong and fierce--frighten you into accepting him--when I'm gone. But I knew better. Nolie, Saul Harrington; she hasn't a penny. But you'll be master, eh? IfGeorge does not come--if George dies--eh, Saul? Yes, I had forgotten--next-of-kin, I suppose, and you would seize everything, eh? Yes, I knowyou; but no, Saul Harrington, no, no, no! I'll take care of that. Youdid wrong in coming here to-night. Ring, Gertie, ring."
"Yes, uncle, dear."
"My solicitor--I want Hampton directly, he is to be fetched. No, no, mydear nephew, if George Harrington does not come home you shall not bemaster here, next-of-kin though you be. Hampton, Gertie--send forHampton. I did not think of that. Ring--ring!"
"Yes, uncle, dearest, I have rung," whispered Gertrude, as she vainlytried to calm the old man. "Lie down now and rest, and Mr SaulHarrington will go. Don't--pray don't talk like this."
"No, no--don't go, Saul. Stop and see my solicitor--stop and hear thecodicil to my will. I'll have it made right directly. Never be masterhere, Saul--no, not if George dies--never be master here. Scoundrel,robbed me living, now you would rob me dead; but--but--you shall--Ha!"
"Uncle! Help!" cried Gertrude excitedly, as the old man's head droppedsuddenly upon her shoulder, for he had been working himself up into aterrible pitch of excitement; his eyes flashed, the veins on his browseemed to be knotted, and stood out in a thick network; and his handsclawed and gesticulated as his words came more broken and huskily, tillall at once, and without warning, his head fell, and Gertrude let himsink motionless upon the pillow.
At that moment the door opened, and in answer to the bell, thehousekeeper entered.
"Mrs Denton, quick--uncle!" cried Gertrude.
"Your master wants his solicitor, Mrs Denton," said Saul, coollywalking to the bedside and taking one of the old man's hands. "No," hesaid huskily, "a doctor."
"Yes, yes; the doctor, Mrs Denton--quick!" cried Gertrude excitedly,and the old woman ran out.
As the door closed behind her, Saul let the hand fall heavily and inertupon the counterpane.
"Uncle, dearest, speak--pray speak to me!" cried Gertrude passionately.
"Never again, my girl," said Saul quietly. "The fit has done its work.Too late."
"What do you mean?" cried Gertrude, staring all aghast.
"That the old man is dead," said Saul coldly; and he added softly tohimself: "If George Harrington dies. I am master here."